Derailing the Apple touchscreen UMPC fantasy

So, if you've been paying any attention to tech news over the past few days, you have probably seen an Apple UMPC rumor floating around. The cats behind these latest whisperings seem to be super-duper whizzes with Photoshop and possess pretty active imaginations. Apparently, when they heard that people were speculating on a new type of touchscreen Apple device, they decided to whip up a couple of specs, the not-so-tasty image above, and a dust cloud of hype based off of a post made on a personal -- yet largely unread -- Apple news blog. It seems to have worked, save for one small problem: there isn't one verifiable or reliable piece of information in the whole thing. Maybe Steve Jobs will see the mock-up and decide to make this thing for real so we can all get a sweet new device -- but really just so the rumor-starters in question won't be proven wrong.

[AC @ Dec 27th 2007 5:41PM]

"there isn't one verifiable or reliable piece of information in the whole thing"

Why are you reporting it then...!

[Joshua Topolsky @ Dec 27th 2007 5:53PM]

The whole point of this post is to shed some light on the rumors, and introduce a healthy amount of skepticism into the debate. We're not reporting on the device, we're reporting on the rumor of the device, and questioning why so many other people accept it as fact.

[OneLove @ Dec 27th 2007 6:27PM]

This whining is getting so old.

[Logboy @ Dec 27th 2007 7:14PM]

hmmm I agree. I have not seen any photoshop'd mockups and no real rumors other than someone's hopefull comments. This is the first place I've seen an actual photo of (obviously someone's wet dream) an Apple UMPC. Did you Make it?

All the rumors I've heard are in the 12 inch notebook realm and the Fox movie deal and Mac Pro updates.

[Logboy @ Dec 27th 2007 7:17PM]

oh..I take it back. I just saw the same janky mock-up on BGR. :)

[fred @ Dec 27th 2007 7:30PM]

let's cut throgh the nonsense and spin.

Engadget, and other blog sites report on this nonsense because they know that the Apple fan base will click like mad to get to any and every website that pushes this trash.

Clicks = page views and maybe ad dollars.

Do you see many blog sites running rumors based on mock-ups of a Sony product or Samsungs?

Heck you will see comments here from people that are so in Apple's back pocket that they are happy to buy one even if it's fake!

Sites like this would be stupid not to tap into that brand of foolishness even if it annoys the heck out of most of the readership.

This posting dispelling the story is just a CYA so they can keep a air of journalistic integrity by not appearing to be Apple rumor pushers.

[Logboy @ Dec 28th 2007 8:03PM]

Wow Fred, you sound angry...some dumb gadget blog is nothing to get angry about. Are you okay?

[Josh @ Dec 27th 2007 5:42PM]

My iPod touch works fine for a low key PDA, i can email, check the news and even write essays on it. To me those qualities make it a UMPC but i suppose it lacks the customizeability of a full fledged PC.

[Galicki @ Dec 28th 2007 12:58AM]

You can write an essay with the Touch/iPhone? Props to you. I could barely get out a simple text message without having to hit the backspace 5 times.

[Pouya @ Dec 28th 2007 11:46AM]

Just because you arguably could doesn't mean you should.

[Cochell @ Dec 27th 2007 5:42PM]

apple needs to perfect some of the devices they threw into the market already. No need to put out another half assed attempt with an amazing concept.

[roole @ Dec 27th 2007 6:52PM]

Ummmm.... ignoring AppleTV (an abomination), what exactly is 'half-assed' that Apple has put out recently? And, in what way is it 'half-assed' (i.e., compared to what)?

[Cochell @ Dec 27th 2007 7:14PM]

where shall I start?
iPhone battery replacement or lack of,
$100 rebate to early iPhone customers because quote "we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these."
IE i half assedly (if thats a word) entered into a market with my skimming strategy thus failing so i need to issue a rebate so people dont hate me.
need I say more, i shall:
tactile feedback that many (if not all) touchscreen are seriously lacking.
ipod, poorly made, scratching the screen, etc.
pwned? I think so.

[roole @ Dec 28th 2007 12:02AM]

I don't know if you do, but I actually own an iPhone. Have owned one since June 29. And no, I did not wait in line. Given that it was a completely voluntary purchase on my part and it so happnes that I could comfortably afford it, I did not at all feel 'skimmed' when the price dropped.

Sure, it has some minor annoyances (e.g., still waiting for cut/copy/paste, and for voice-activated dialing, but those are a long way from 'half-assed'). But **by far**, it is one of the finest V1 electronic products I have consumed (relative to what was promised). The fact that it did everything that it promised -- granted, not much more -- and did so in a fairly simple, intuitive, user-friendly way is a rarity in consumer electronics these days.

As to the keyboard, that is a purely personal p.o.v. Speaking for myself, I have found it infinitely easier to use the iPhone to enter text than my Blackberry (which I do not use any more).

If the iPhone is your example of a 'half-assed' Apple product, all I can say is, I wish the consumer electronics world would offer me larger menu of such half-assed products. (Btw, could you give me an example of a 'full-assed' V1 product that you've consumed lately?)

[Cochell @ Dec 28th 2007 9:06AM]

First let me say that I will not be replying to this post after this point. With that being said: please conduct a little research before you reply to posts you know nothing about; I understand that you purchased an Iphone, you didn’t wait in a long line. Now, what are you going to do when the battery begins to fail? Plus, there is no need for a "" around Skimming. Let me educate

The practice of ‘price skimming’ involves charging a relatively high price for a short time where a new, innovative, or much-improved product is launched onto a market.

The objective with skimming is to “skim” off customers who are willing to pay more to have the product sooner; prices are lowered later when demand from the “early adopters” falls.

The success of a price-skimming strategy is largely dependent on the inelasticity of demand for the product either by the market as a whole, or by certain market segments.

With that being said, normally the Skimming lasts an extended period of time generating great profits and in turn creating a black market for this good i.e.: Iphone that consumers want to own, but cant find because the general public has consumed it. Therefore, since the product didn’t disappear off the shelves as apple predicted they had to lower the price to stimulate demand. EPIC FAIL. Pathetic, and to keep the customers they already had, they needed to offer a rebate. EPIC FAIL.
To continue with the Iphone let me just start the list again: lack of 3G, it's a closed device, and only Apple will be releasing software for the iPhone,
"There is no opportunity right now for third party development," Apple's Greg Joswiak
there’s no Flash, or Java, The 2 megapixel camera, You can’t import more or use your MP3s as ringtones, There’s no wireless synching with your Mac, no video recording or video output, or microSD memory card capabilities, though the iPhone does already come with 4-8GB of onboard memory. There’s a “heap overflow” bug in the Safari browser that translates into a malicious website can hack into your system even if you just visit it for a second. Even though the iPhone has a 3.5mm jack, it’s recessed in such a way that it actually doesn’t work with most 3.5mm headphones, Other then the background that appears when dialing calls, the user interface themes on the OS are unchangeable. There’s no HOME or STOP buttons on the internet browser, and the period and comma buttons don’t appear on the main keyboard screen.

Pwned? Again? I think so

[John Shields @ Dec 28th 2007 9:50AM]

"First let me say that I will not be replying to this post after this point." That comment is great. It's the online forum equivalent of stating all your points, then clamping your hands over your ears and screaming "LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

It's easy to knock a V1 product for what it doesn't have. There's a reason we're seeing a flood of new touch-enabled handsets; the market wants it. But, no, don't praise it for its ingenuity.

Oh, hey, the screen smudges, don't forget that one.

[Pouya @ Dec 28th 2007 11:46AM]

@ roole

Nokia N95 8GB and LG Voyager, etc.. are examples of non-touch and touch screen phones, respectively, that I would not consider half-ass.

[Shmapple @ Dec 28th 2007 12:18PM]

@ Roole

"Ummmm.... ignoring AppleTV (an abomination), what exactly is 'half-assed' that Apple has put out recently? And, in what way is it 'half-assed' (i.e., compared to what)?"

It is insane how far reaching Apple's iPod halo is. Looking past the iPod, Apple hasn't been all that successful this past year. Both the iPhone and AppleTV have failed to meet expectations. And with regards to Apple computers, market share rose only 0.3% worldwide in 2007.

Well the iPhone was rated as one of the biggest disappointments of 2007 by several reviewers (see, e.g., PC Magazine). Look past the lovely screen, and there are plenty of warts. Call quality is iffy (worse than other phone on the AT&T network, according to several reviews), the virtual keyboard is a challenge, and the device doesn't support 3G wireless networks, voice dialing, or stereo Bluetooth headsets. The camera is only 2 megapixel, lacks autofocus, and doesn't have flash. It was hyped up to be THE mobile Internet device, yet it doesn't support flash and uses Edge (unless you happen to be in a wifi hotspot...but they are not as easy to come by in public as we would like to believe and most of those are not free). The phone is also closed to 3rd party applications. Email management lags behind other smartphones, particularly the Blackberry. Battery life is not very good and then there is the whole issue of having to go through Apple when something does happen to it. The iPhone's lead in interface technology has already shrunk as newer phones released in 2008 have already closed the gap.

As you mentioned, AppleTV was a big flop. AppleTV exists to stream iTunes content onto HD TVs, but would you like to explain to me how much HD content is available on iTunes. . . mmmhmm. . . AppleTV also doesn't play DVDs, let alone play video games (see, e.g., Xbox 360 and Playstation 3). Nor is it a DVR. You can't plug your iPod into it or connect directly to the iTunes store, though the hardware should let you do both (and don't bother using AppleTV without iTunes). . . It supports only two video formats, MPEG-4 and H.264, freezing out other media formats. File size is limited to 4GB. Data transfer is slow. There are many media players and gaming consoles that do a better job than AppleTV, but as a Apple fanboy, you previously posted that AppleTV version 2 is one of the most anticipated products of 2008. . . interesting.

[Distractedfocus @ Dec 27th 2007 5:45PM]

This is a fake... there are too many butttons

[L @ Dec 27th 2007 5:55PM]

:D

Thanks!

[Rob @ Dec 27th 2007 5:49PM]

That is the worst mock up so far. Get creative with this or do not publish.

[Elliott @ Dec 27th 2007 6:07PM]

I agree, it needs some spinners...

[GregA @ Dec 27th 2007 5:57PM]

I think apple will release an uber small laptop computer that is basically nothing but a thin client that will connect to your apple desktop computer, and sites like Engadget will hail it as a new and exciting technology. Then when the engadget critics point out that this technology has been around for a couple of years now, engadget will retort that it took apple to bring it to the masses...

At the same time, apple will allow their server products to host virtual mac computers, with the revolutionary technique of virtulization.

The line of products will be released in june to an adoring press and throngs of enthralled iFans.

Apple stock will continue to climb to 300, but Apple will continue to refuse to perform a stock split because they don't want to market their stock as a discount stock.

[Zak @ Dec 27th 2007 6:18PM]

Soooo... you have a problem when somebody makes an existing technology easy to use and brings it to the masses? That's what it sounds like you're saying. Yeah, such a shame Apple did that with USB, I mean I'm sure you hate all the thousands of USB devices you can buy now. And hey, how about that whole "point and click" thing? Damn Apple for popularizing that! We would all be better off if we just used DOS! In fact, screw all technology and progress! I want to live in the past, in a cave, with my Penny Farthing and an abacus as my only companions. You're all going to burn in hell, you future-heathens!

[roole @ Dec 27th 2007 6:55PM]

You might as well join the party, no? :-/

Oh (and this is Finance 101), stock splits amount to a hill of beans -- no more than "give me a $10 bill and I'l give you two $5 bills."

[roole @ Dec 27th 2007 6:59PM]

My post was meant as a response to GregA.

[GregA @ Dec 27th 2007 7:54PM]

Zak,

Um... No, not at all. You are far to insecure in your Apple iFandom. I was merely offering a prediction of what the product is, and how the roll out will proceed. IMO, this is a good thing, and the type of product offering I described would be very disruptive to the business computer space.

roole,

Stock price does matter. Lower priced stocks have a lower perception of risk. Also, the cost to buy in is more manageable. I did say I think that a product offering like his would drive the stock price to 300... I don't see how that is a criticism. Oh I see, I am not salivating at the altar of Jobbs. Gotcha. My iFandom is not pure.

[roole @ Dec 27th 2007 8:32PM]

The stock price for Berkshire Hathaway was $137,200 today, and that of GM was $26.

Now, which stock do you think is more risky?

A sincere piece of advice (you can take it or leave it): Please spend some time learning about basics of finance before venturing into stocks.

[jere @ Dec 27th 2007 10:36PM]

GregA:

iFandom? Is that what we call people who point out good things about apple now? Give me a break, it's like people are only allowed to cut down a company. If they say there's something good about it, we may as well label them a fanboy, voiding their argument.

[Zak @ Dec 28th 2007 11:50AM]

GregA - "Um... No, not at all. You are far to insecure in your Apple iFandom. I was merely offering a prediction of what the product is, and how the roll out will proceed. IMO, this is a good thing, and the type of product offering I described would be very disruptive to the business computer space."

BS. The fact that you use derogatory phrases like "iFan" both in your original post and your responses makes it pretty obvious that objectivity is not your strong suit. Did you even read what you posted? If all you were doing was "offering a prediction", then you could have left out everything about Engadget hailing it as a new product then the masses pointing out that it's been around for years, and the sarcastic use of "the revolutionary technique of virtualization".

I'm not sure how stupid you think I am, or everybody else responding to you, but I promise you I would have to be quite a few more baskets short of a picnic to buy into your pathetic excuses. On second thought, since you think I'm an Apple fanboy you probably think I'm just dumb enough to believe you, because obviously anybody who likes Apple is stupid. Right? Or at least too stupid to call you out on your passive aggressive shots at Apple.

Anyway I think you're just jealous. Yes, Apple uses a lot of technology that existed previously, and yes, Apple simply repackages the technology in a way that is simpler and easier to use, and yes, Apple gets credit for bringing that technology to the masses. You just wish you had thought of doing it first. Hey so do I, I mean I'd enjoy being worth $20 billion. But you have issues with people giving Apple credit for doing that, including Engadget, "adoring press" and "enthralled iFans". Really? If Apple shouldn't get credit for bringing USB to the masses, then who should? If Apple shouldn't get credit for bringing an entirely new UI and brand new functionality to the mobile phone, then who should?

Jobs himself has said that what he does is find what he thinks is a problem, and he sets out to fix it. Usually that involves changing how it works or how you use it, it doesn't mean he creates brand new technology from nothing necessarily. There's no big secret here, everybody knows that's what he does. He doesn't invent PCs, he makes PCs that are easy to use and are aesthetically pleasing. He doesn't invent mobile phones, he makes mobile phones that are easy to use and are aesthetically pleasing. Are you seeing the trend here?

And again, LOL at you trying to weasel your way out of your original post. Do you really think everybody's sarcasm detectors are broken?

[Shmapple @ Dec 28th 2007 11:52AM]

@ Zak

Using the QWERTY touch keyboard on the iPhone and "ease of use" should never directly or indirectly be associated with each other.

[GregA @ Dec 28th 2007 12:56PM]

Zak,

Well thanks for proving my deeper point for me. You sure are gonna look like an idiot when Apple fails to deliver a thin client next month, arn't you?

[Russ @ Dec 27th 2007 6:05PM]

The microscopic UI is completely outside the realm of what an apple design is all about, namely ease of use. I can see speculation about a device, but this is pathetic.

IMO the UMPC rumors are being generated from people seeing new possibility with a touch after the dev kit is released next year.

[Hobbes @ Dec 27th 2007 6:09PM]

You're not really derailing anything. It's well known already to be a rumour and reporting it to be a rumour or fake is redundant at least.

Reading about rumours is what we do as Apple fans due to their policy of never revealing anything until it's launched. I wish it was different and we could actually plan and budget for the new devices ahead of time. Guess that's what makes these devices appealing in a way. We can only dream about them until they're finally released and we know what they really are.

I would be an early adopter of an Apple touch screen laptop. I already own a Tablet PC and unfortunately I have to run Vista on it. It's the worst OS I ever ran (well, maybe second when compared to Windows ME). I only use the tablet as a ebook reader, so I don't suffer too much with Vista crap. Come on Apple!!!! We want a tablet laptop. I do.

[Stetson @ Dec 27th 2007 6:19PM]

Didn't you guys go through this same thing with the rumors of the fat nano?

[OneLove @ Dec 27th 2007 6:22PM]

Its more likely that the next iphone will have a slide out keyboard.

[Ondra Soukup @ Dec 27th 2007 6:24PM]

just for the record, the mockup is horrible!

[Steve A. @ Dec 27th 2007 6:27PM]

I'm really getting tired of blogs going crazy about every single rumor that comes out about supposed Apple products. Yes I know this post is attempting to dispel a rumor, but really, most of us didn't know about it to start out with, nor do we care. Your linked blog only has 5 digs, no one cares.

How about this Engadget? Wait to report on things until they're announced or verifiable - use a reliable source instead of giving us your opinion of an obvious photoshop. Even though it's a rumor, this 'story' neither confirms or denies the idea behind this UMPC, and doesn't even attempt at getting an 'official' word from Apple. You guys are just guessing too. Leave the rumor mill (dispelling or otherwise) to the amateurs.

[AJ @ Dec 27th 2007 6:34PM]

Zak, I think you're missing GregA's point. I don't think he's riled at Apple, but at people who talk like Apple invented these concepts when all they did was design good interfaces for them.

[Zorbacain @ Dec 27th 2007 6:46PM]

I would like a pmp with the storage of the Archos 705, the versatility and freedom of the N95 and the ease of use of the itouch. Oh, and its gotta double as a blow up doll.

[Zak @ Dec 27th 2007 6:47PM]

Nah, read his post again. He's not just taking shots at people who claim Apple invented everything. Look at the last line of his post, for example.

[AJ @ Dec 27th 2007 6:57PM]

True, the last line complains about Apple keeping their prices artificially high.

[jd @ Dec 27th 2007 6:46PM]

goodie.

i need a device just like this: ultra portable, funtional, doesn't have to be power, but more powerful than pocket pc.

[Rex @ Dec 28th 2007 10:21AM]

If that is what you need then give one of the many UMPCs already out there. They have been on sale for a while now.

[fourthletter @ Dec 27th 2007 8:24PM]

" all they did was design a good interface for them"

Oh is that all ? you mean they took a poorly though-out device and actually made it work ?
The interface is everything in computer design it dictates how everything works.
I'm not a fanboy for apple i own a mix of both PCs and Macs and am still stumped why no other tec company can make interfaces to Apple's quality.

[oldchap @ Dec 27th 2007 8:29PM]

This will be an e-book reader people. Watch out Kindle.

[OneDamnGoal @ Dec 27th 2007 8:42PM]

I just made a mockup out of paper using the size of the 5.2″ 800 x 480 touch screen mentioned in the article. I've made it about six inches wide and three and a quarter inches high horizontal. it might make a nice companion with the new Apple Wireless Keyboard. The new wireless keyboard to me was always evidence that apple was rolling out a tablet-like device. DAMMIT APPLE, just make the P.A.D.D. that I always used to see on Star Trek

[wickedpheonix @ Dec 27th 2007 9:10PM]

Well, it may not be a UMPC specifically, but it will be a UMPC, sub-notebook, ultraportable laptop, tablet PC, or some other form of what's considered "mobile computing" these days.

Given that, there are some rather reliable sources: namely, EVERY SINGLE SOURCE AT APPLE THAT LEAKS THESE THINGAMAJIGS. I mean, ThinkSecret and all of its brethren have reported on this for quite some time and they do have very real and reliable sources - its really just a matter of both what kind of device and when the Wall Street Journal will report this as fact before the keynote.

[Constable Odo @ Dec 27th 2007 9:50PM]

So what if it's a fake. It's a concept, that's all. I certainly wouldn't mind if Apple came out with something similar to this. I just want something bigger than a touch and smaller than a MacBook to use for simple browsing and watching stored or streamed videos. As long as it runs a full version of OSX it should be perfect for me. If it can output decently to an HDTV, all the better.

[Miles @ Dec 27th 2007 11:35PM]

What are you talking about?
It's already out.
It's called the iphone.
Best UMPC ever.