Yeah, I'd be leery of buying an Apple even if after they open the SDK. On the other hand, I'm known to be stubborn. I made my choice in early September: Apple's handheld line was insufficient and closed, Nokia's was open. And I like my Nokia. But it's possible for Apple to get me back.

Assuming the "NewNewton" is indeed a slightly bigger iPod Touch type device, with some extra capability, here's what I'd want for Apple to win me back:

1) add bluetooth to the iPod Classic (so it can be a storage device for the iPod Touch, iPhone, and New-Newton)

2) have some form of physical keyboard on the New-Newton (twist screen micro-laptop format, pepper-pad/q1/wibrain split keyboard, slide-n-tilt micro-laptop format) (though, I will probably accept if they have a different type of virutal keyboard than the iPhone; the original samsung q1 had a virtual keyboard which was split like their later model's physical keyboard, and translucently hovered over your screen ... the larger formfactor of the newnewton rumor might make that feasible, and I'd accept that as a possible substitute for a physical keyboard, esp. as it must be usable in landscape mode with ssh and vnc ... but only having the option for the iPhone type keyboard, usable only in portrait mode, wouldn't be good enough)

3) don't put a GSM radio in the New-Newton (so it's not tied to any particular service); but do have bluetooth PAN and DUN, and enable those on the iPhone and iPod Touch, so that you can use your iPhone, or _any_ bluetooth phone, as your internet gateway for the New-Newton and the iPod Touch.

4) ssh client built in (ideally: Terminal application with command-line open ssh, just like on a Mac or NIT), VNC and Apple Remote Desktop (all available on the NewNewton, iPhone, and iPod Touch)

5) beef up the iPod Touch so that it has all of the same read/write apps that the iPhone has, just no phone call ability, and no SMS app. Everything else should be identical. These should also all be on the NewNewton.

6) add an iChat client to the iPhone/iPod-Touch/NewNewton

7) allow the iPod-Touch and NewNewton to use bluetooth to fully control the iPhone, or any other phone with the right bluetooth profile.

8) continued strong support for syncing to the desktop, but also add syncing with Google for contacts, calendar, and email.

9) the NewNewton should have full AJAX, Flash, and Java SDK's. Python and Perl would be nice too. It's ok with me if these aren't available on the iPod Touch and iPhone, but only if it's a footprint issue (not enough storage, not enough CPU, not enough RAM), and not just a "we don't want you to run it on those devices" issue.

10) the iPhone, iPod Touch, and NewNewton must all support bluetooth keyboards (both HID and SPP mode). Some form of external display would be nice too (doesn't have to be a physical connector; a VNC server would be good enough ... OR if you dock them to a Mac, having the ability to transparently access all of your device's functionality (apps, phone calls via desktop apps, etc.) on your Mac desktop, would be good enough)

11) a Skype client for the NewNewton would be nice (I don't think the iPod Touch has a microphone for that, so I wouldn't expect to see that, plus it would then compete with the iPhone).


In this arrangement:

a) the iPod classic becomes your "pocket storage device" that you don't really have to directly touch ... and they can keep you buying these older iPods just for that purpose (or to use directly if you don't have the other devices)

b) the iPhone is your personal area network gateway to the internet if you need GSM type mobility instead of only having wifi.

c) you can pick either an iPhone, an iPod Touch, or a NewNewton as your handset, depending on size and formfactor needs (such as the NewNewton having a physical keyboard, whether or not you want/need Java apps, etc.).

(so, if you don't need GSM, and you don't need the bigger screen, put an iPod Classic in your pocket and the iPod Touch in your hand and ignore the Phone part; if you want the bigger screen, GSM, and 160GB of files, you carry a NewNewton, iPhone, and iPod Classic; if you want EVDO instead of GSM, then just substitute a suitable EVDO phone into that plan (apple shouldn't balk at that; they've already sold you 2 devices in that picture); etc.)


But that's just my minimum requirements. They would also have to show me that the release of the SDK really is a way to let the community develop for the platform. No more bricking for adding apps.


And, note, if Nokia looks at that same list, and finds what functionality is missing, the N8x0 already fits role #c quite well. If Seagate gets the DAVE out the door, or Agere gets the BluOnyx out the door, then those can fill role #a for Nokia's participation in this list. The NITs are _mainly_ just lacking some key apps and syncing ability (and said bluetooth storage device, and the ability to remote control a bluetooth phone). If Nokia finished this list first, then I probably couldn't be lured back to Apple in any way (esp. if Nokia can sync with Thunderbird contacts, and puts in a real IMAP client ... ).

I don't believe Apple will be able to name their tablet the iTablet like everyone thinks... Already take by this company. Which, btw, is really odd...

iPhone was already taken too.

johnkzin: No offense, but I don't see the point of these wishlists..you think Apple is going to read these forums to see how to win the Nokia users back? They will choose features that will bring Apple profit, not per se what users say they want.

As neat as an Apple tablet would be (mostly just because it would force everyone else to bring their A-game to the tablet market), I'm not convinced. But beyond that, I really doubt the 'big PDA' form factor.

They have the iPhone. They have the touch iPod.
What market would they capture by making it the size of a 5x7 pad? Are there alot of people holding off from a touch iPod because they really wanted it to be about an inch longer on each side?

The only thing that remotely makes sense is an 8.5x11-ish slate. That'd neatly round out the demands for a mac ultraportable (just buy a bluetooth mac keyboard if you need to type) and exist as something very distinct from the iphone and phone-less iphone. That size would at least have a definable purpose and niche.

Also, supposing the SDK isn't a horrible joke - the iphone and touch are going to be true competitors to the NITs in very short order.

Apple would probably make something extremely similar to the Amtek iTablet.

Of course, if Amtek asks $2,237 for that thing, I don't see Apple going any lower.

So, I shouldn't say what's on my mind? I shouldn't communicate my preferences? or communicate them in a way that might cause Nokia to also notice them, and perhaps get there first? (perhaps I posted a similar list in an apple oriented location, but felt they might be discussion worthy in this thread, as well)

You seem to come from the perspective that all communication must be of a practical goal oriented outcome (it would be the only perspective that would keep more fanciful posts, such as the one you're railing against, from being valuable). You might want to reconsider that.

a number of people clearly want what would be an updated zaurus (convertible tablet with wifi, bluetooth etc) running newton software! The amtek thing is pretty big and its display isn't particularly hi resolution - the sony tx2 is 1366x768 in 11" for example.

why not buy a flybook and put OSX on it?