I love technology, and technology loves me.
I’ve been working on some new ideas for iTunes 8. The text at the bottom will be replaced by icons & text in future versions.
This work is an extention of my previous iTunes 8 mockups.
At the bottom of the page you will see a horizontal playlist and below that a horizontal library list. Both would be replaced by icons and would scroll left and right.
The imagined 2008 Product Roadmap covers only the major products in Apple’s arsenal and ignores peripheral devices. A full breakdown of each product specifications is available below.
Macbook Touch - Large Multitouch screen 20cm X 12cm X 1.5cm
Macbook - The technical specifications remain much the same (albeit faster processors), however a new chassis, 4mm thinner than the 2007 model and a Multitouch keyboard radically change the Macbook’s appearance and functionality. The Multitouch keyboard is effectively a flat surface area covering the area previously occupied by the keyboard. The track pad is gone. The area switches between keyboard mode and mouse by pressing a key or using a Multitouch finger gesture. The keys are lit for use in the dark (similar to the Macbook Pro), and printed on the flat surface area, with raised lines on F and J key. No more sticky fingers on the screen!
Macbook Pro -
Mac TV -
Roughly twice the size as the Mac Mini, Mac TV incorporates many of the connections found on both the Mini and the Apple TV, with some notable additions and exceptions. Although composite connectors have gone in favour of two HDMI slots and one DV they are available with a DVI to composite at extra cost.
One of the most interesting software additions coming with the Mac TV is an application called MultiSpaces. MultiSpaces is automatically activated when connecting two keyboards and or mice to the Mac TV. This is an extension of Leopards Spaces technology, which allows the users to have multiple desktops. Using MultiSpaces you can split the screen equally in two (or more if your screen is big enough) giving each user has their own desktop to do with as they want. In case you are wondering only one audio channel remains open at any time, on a first come first served basis. Now you can watch TV and surf the web.
Yes, PVR functionality is included.
iMac - iMac gets bigger! The range begins at 22â€, with 24†in the middle and a new 32†model arriving in March. The 32†model is the thinnest, and is wall mountable. MultiSpaces is active on all models, but only the 32†model carries PVR functionality.
Mac Pro -
Peripherals
 Multitouch Input (combining keyboard and mouse functionality). Layed in a solid wood or aluminium. Bluetooth conectivity. (think luxury Wacom tablet).
iPhone
I would be surprised to see a new iPhone so soon after the first one, and would hope Apple spend their time improving the functionality of the first before moving on and launching the second. However the irresistible urge to improve their products and pressure from the mobile phone carriers may be too much. Hardware improvements in the new iPhone will be 3G (depending on battery life, something Apple wasn’t and still won’t be willing to sacrifice), improved camera on the phone, louder speakers, and more flash storage. Software improvements will bring the ability to save from safari to a folder on the phone, copy and paste functionality, and the ability to record using the microphone.
Mac Mini
Something going to happen here, otherwise you have to explain why Apple upgraded its MacBook to the Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor, but kept the Mac Mini using the older Intel GMA 950 graphics processor. If i were a betting man, i’d bet a change is due, and they didn’t want to spend any more money upgrading the graphics processor with only 6 months before the newly redesigned Mac Mini arrives.
I’d add that the Mac Mini is in a prime position to replace the Apple TV as a functionally more rounded product. Giving you access to your email, internet, applications, music and video. The only thing its waiting for is a little more beef in the specs, and perhaps a fresh look, (by all means, call it the new Apple TV+), its no secret that Apple has been itching to get rid of the Mini in its current form.
Ultra-Portable MacBook
There has been a lot of talk about an Ultra-Portable from Apple in 2008. Based on the information from Toshiba, we should be seeing 32GB, 64GB and 128GB NAND Flash storage in 2008. With the 128GB module not coming out until May 2008, any ultra-portable Apple creates would most likely have a) two 32GB versions, or b) two 64GB versions, making a max of 128GB storage using the latter configuration. Based on the estimate that the iPhones’ multitouch technology costs $33.50 per phone, i wouldn’t be surprised to see the ultra-portable come equipped with that technology. How Apple plans on implementing a touchscreen on a portable, be it a swivel screen, or something unique, we will have to wait and see.
The iPhone II will be better, so if you can wait, wait. Having said that, I love my iPhone, and I’m glad I didn’t wait more than 3 minutes past 6.05pm on that cold Friday evening to buy it. It will be a commercial success, provided February 2008’s SDK allows third party developers enough access to do what they are already doing with the various hacks available today. But enough of what will be, and more of what is..
Packaging
The iPhone is packaged with Apple’s usual attention to detail. Once you get past the difficult to remove plastic vacuum packaging, you lift off the lid and sitting inside a clear plastic shelf, expose the iPhone. Underneath the manuals are packaged inside a light cardboard envelope, along with the lint free cloth, dock, USB cable, and mains plug.
The phone’s aesthetics
The iPhone is larger than any of my previous phones from Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, or Sony-Ericson, and about the same weight as an old 30GB Video iPod. I’m not keen on the silver bevel, but the screen is superb, as posted elsewhere its very tough to scratch, which bodes well for its long term use.
Activation & Syncing
I was warned at the O2 store that it could take up to 8 hours before my new phone was operational, but it only took 20 mins (I was an existing O2 Customer), and within an hour i was syncing music and taking calls. A couple of issue with the syncing;
1) I could only sync with Outlook and Internet Explorer. I would like to sync with Firefox too.
2) Ringtones is not operational by default, (although a work around exists).
Other than that, syncing is a breeze with simple features, such as when more than “a user defined %†of data is being changed in the sync it can be set to warn you before syncing.
The Interface
The interface is the reason this phone has had so much free advertising. If Apple replaced the multi-touch surface with a stylus based touch screen, the phone would still be memorable. Never mind the touch interface, which makes you think like this is the way it was always supposed to be done, the intuitive nature of the software is the real star.
That’s not to say the phone is not without its flaws. There are improvements i and others on the blogosphere have noted, that are necessary, some of which need to come sooner rather than later if Apple wants to retain control over its product. Just in time then as they announce February 2008 as launch date for the developers SDK, providing the ability for third parties to install (we hope) applications that do not rely on a permanent connection to the web (Open Office, Picasa Mobile please!).
iPhones lack of functionality
My early experience with phones from Nokia focused on navigating the software quickly, and they did a great job at a great pace. My last two Nokia phones the 6800 and N73 were slow to run applications installed by default, such as the photo browser which took 10 seconds to go from the start menu to seeing the photo. In an effort to chuck more functionality in the phones, no one took a step back, talked to customers and realised that they were finding it harder to sort through these additional functions, as a result most were not using them, and no one wanted more functions if it slowed down the primary operation of the device, the phone.
The lack of all this additional functionality begins to show after you have used the iPhone for a few weeks, but it doesn’t remove from the fact that I’ve used all the functions of this phone, and now want more, rather than having so much to begin with I couldn’t see the wood from the trees.
The iPod
The best iPod ever? Yes, but its still not perfect. More on this later.
Google Maps
This is the normal internet version, with some functionality enhancements for the iPhone. Double tap to zoom in, two fingered tap to zoom out in Google maps, very nice. The functionality extends to Map view, Satellite view, list with directions to and from locations, bookmarks and integration with your contacts, so you can add your favourite Italian restaurant.
iPhone - Safari
Maybe the best app on the iPhone is Safari. The web in your hand, not ground breaking on it own.. but coupled with the touch interface, tab zoom in and out of full screen web pages, bookmarks, tabs (very cleverly done Apple, i smiled when i saw what you did here). I’ve never surfed as much on the go before.. ever. Oh.. and the Search engine defaults to Google, but can be changed to Yahoo!
Some notes of caution: I’m finding Safari crashes when using Digg, probably the endless scripts those comment pages use. Without plug-ins (Flash, WMP, and Divx et al), and the ability to save web content locally this version of the web is limited.
The Pinch Functionality
The pinch function can be used in most apps, including Safari Mail, and Photo apps. It’s smart, but can take a little getting used to. The Google maps double finger tap to zoom out and single finger tab to zoom in work exceptionally well, and maybe better than the pinch function, although maybe thats because i find it easier.
Mail syncs with outlook without effort and manual setup is simple enough (wish it could be simpler). First time i ever used email on a phone was a Nokia 6800, then again i tried on my N73, then i gave up. I haven’t read email on my home computer since i’ve been using the iPhone… well maybe once.
The Camera
Its bad when compared to my older Nokia N73. No video, no flash, poor quality and a little pointless. It is better in bright light, but better isn’t great. No Auto focus either. I will say, it’s better than nothing, but only just.
Complaints and Recomendations for iPhone I software updates and iPhone II
1) I miss not being able to fast forward, rewind and stop play my music whilst the iPhone is in my pocket. Apple could solve this by adding some buttons in a future version (maybe on the back of the phone), or using the existing volume buttons, enable double click, so one click increases the volume, and two fast clicks change the track. The menu button can act as a stop play function. Yes in the settings you can enable to iPod function, which when you double tapping the menu button, brings up a back, forward, play, and stop play on screen menu, which is very nice, but not the same as physical buttons, you can touch without needing to see them.
2) I WANT TO SAVE DOCUMENTS ON MY iPhone! That includes saving anything from the web, including images.
3) I WANT TO ACCESS AND EDIT MY SAVED DOCUMENTS ON MY iPhone.
(Sorry i had to make those two very clear just in case Apple was listening)
4) Create Copy and Paste functionality. Two-finger-tap-hold, scroll (left, right, up, down) and release (automatically brings up list function, (copy & paste). You see.. easy, now chop 2 it!
5) Include two stick-on plastic screen protectors in the packaging, Apple forgot to do this with the Video iPods as well. I know its available by third parties, but I’m asking nicely. (I’ve since found out that the iPhones screen is very scratch resistant, and so far mine hasn’t got a scratch on it).
6) Headphone jack. I wonder when commercial thoughts took precedence over design and functionality? Apple deeply recessed the jack into the iPhone, making me unable to use my Sony headphones. Bad move, now my music sounds worse, and i listen less often (I’ve since had to purchase a converter available at the O2 Store, but it’s awful). I feel this is a bad one, that most other phone companies have in common, but even they have been coming round to the idea of using standard RCA jacks instead of proprietary ones. Must have been a f*ck up.
7) The photo app reminds me of Picasa, and I’m thinking you should join forces with Google on this. Picasa functionality on the iPhone would be sweet.
Let us select songs on the iPhone as our Ringtones.
In conclusion i would like to state my personal opinion, that all mobile phones should follow these basic points;
a) Make phoning people easier.
b) Make phoning people faster.
c) Additional products should repeat a) & b) replacing “phoning†for the additional products name.
I think Apple really nailed this one on the head. Sometimes more is just more, without adding value to the product. Making sure that your existing products are the best they can be, before adding more functionality is a smart move on Apples part. Although i agree with previous comments on the blogosphere that Apple most likely ran out of time to add the functionality, it helped them concentrate on making what functionality was left, better.
Wow what a product Apple have launched! (http://www.apple.com/iphone/) !! From the specs of the phone only the camera resolution bothers me. 2.0 mega pixels is very 2005, my current phone (a Nokia N73) has 3.2 mega pixels and i’m already chomping at the bit for the Nokia N95. Having said that i love everything else i’ve seen and read about it.. except that i have to wait till 2008 to realistically get my hands on it, and by then i will be wanting a 7-8 Mega Pixel camera phone. (yes i love my photography!). I hope this will have a positive effect on the industry in re-thinking how we can interact with a portable device, rather than sticking in the safe zone and rolling out higher spec’s but same interface. I love the touch sensitive screen, i hope its not difficult to use if you have large fingers, but i can’t be worse than most phones these days, (actually a cool afterthought would be to be able to re-size on-screen keyboard!). The way the photo application allows you to pinch photos reminds me of video i saw on UTUBE called Multitouch. Star trek never had it so cool.
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