iPhone to Further Influence Future Apple Devices And UMPCs

by Tanner Godarzi Sep 28, 2007

The iPhone marked the beginning of a revolution, a change in how people interact with computers and each other. But as we progress through the technological food chain, the iPhone will be one of the building blocks for a truly mobile experience.

The other important thing to understand here is that the iPhone and even the iPod Touch aren’t the be all and end all of mobile computing, but rather an evolutionary stepping stone that will influence future designs heavily.

I know what you’re thinking: “how can the iPhone be a mobile computing platform, isn’t the UMPC failing at that?” Which is a valid reason, what severely crippled these devices was the feeble attempt at replicating a desktop environment without changing the software or hardware to the needed specifications of a gadget you take on the go.

UMPCs and the like weren’t optimized, or at least were done very poorly, for their cramped quarters. Even then it fit in the middle of two totally different products which caused conflict between smart phones and laptops. What would persuade me, in looking for a device that would accommodate my needs in a mobile device, from a laptop or smart phone? The whole point is I can fit the smartphone in my pocket and use a phone interface or I can stick the laptop in my backpack and use a desktop interface in full glory, well almost. A UMPC, on the other hand, takes a laptop, shrinks it, then axes off the keyboard and forces you to use a desktop OS on a horribly res’d screen, a whole 7 inches of triple digit pixel glory.

So back to the iPhone. It won’t solve all these problems and if it does we won’t see the changes any time soon, but the influence will be massive. See, the iPhone is one of the few devices to utilize a multi touch interface, a.k.a. using two hands to type, or do anything for that matter. Now what else requires two hands? Oh, a keyboard and mouse! How many hands does a smart phone and UPMC need? Umm, how about one?

Who ever heard of one hand computing besides some lonely geeks and maybe someone eating at their desk? Anyway, I don’t want to blast the UMPC platform too much, I’d like a 5 inch mobile tablet I could stick in my pocket, but nothing is optimized!

What would the iPhone bring? Well if these manufacturers can grasp two badly needed concepts from Apple it’d have to be multi touch and totally revamped, optimized OSes.

If not, then manufacturers will have to learn the hard way from Apple whether or not the iPhone does it, the iPod Touch, or even then the fabled Apple tablet.

I could see Apple entering the UMPC market but taking touch computing mainstream; their product line and focus is shifting heavily towards mobile everything. Sure, it might create a few bastardized products, and some with no orientation or sawed off features in the same design to differentiate itself, but ultimately it will be Apple paving the way and everyone catching up again.

Comments

  • With the new update, Apple proved definitively why the iPhone is NOT an UMPC, not even a smartphone.  I don’t know of any UMPCs that are so closed and locked-down that installing 3rd party apps voids the warranty and which will cause it to get bricked on the next firmware update.

    Beeblebrox had this to say on Sep 28, 2007 Posts: 2220
  • I quite agree: despicable.

    Benji had this to say on Sep 29, 2007 Posts: 927
  • When Apple brought the Mac out originally, they decided to avoid putting the function keys on the keyboard. Those keys were commonly used for formatting and other functions of regular programs - but Apple want to make people learn to use the mouse.

    I imagine that back then, if we’d had blogs, people would have said Apple was stupid for not replicating that feature. “Why not have both?”.

    The key to making a miniature tablet (or big iTouch) successful will be helping people to change the way they think about the device. Cutting out useful programs that COULD run may be required… though I do think that Apple needs to offer an alternative so that their device can still meet people’s NEEDS smile

    Greg Alexander had this to say on Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 228
  • I Think apple is great I hate microsoft I hope they go down I love the iPhone because of my iPhone I’m a mac guy fuck windows sue them for copying apple on there silverlight it looks exactly like safari

    brandon Flores had this to say on Oct 04, 2007 Posts: 1
  • Beeblebrox, congratulations, you finally found one.

    Benji had this to say on Oct 04, 2007 Posts: 927
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