I agree, Imalave.
In regards to, "if it failed once, why try again?" from crazy_will and the historcal posts of the QuickTake and (presumably) a prototype Pippin, the answer is this: all those old products were part of the old Apple, where the products were released to market in a completely unrelated way to the rest of the company. The QuickTake was released, but no iPhoto to go with it...
Apple are obviously working to a plan here, and some of the most underrated techniques have worked for them to great success: I remember way back when seeing Steve revamp the Apple product line into distinct categories (home/pro, portable/desktop). It is simple techniques like these that other companies are now bringing back, (like Nokia now distinguishing between consumer and business users, etc.) that simplify for the consumer, while focusing the company to specific and set goals. Remember when we were all wondering what the missing square was?
From a software standpoint, all their core investments seem to finally be at a point where they can start to complement each other - Rendezvous with iTunes, Firewire with iMovie/iPhoto, etc. All these things seem to point to a new device(s) which would put Apple far ahead of the pack.
After all, the only other company out there with such ability seems to be Sony (who make the memory cards that go into their cameras and then into their tv's, as illustrated before). A company like Microsoft would still need to develop an iTunes rival before making an mp3 player that was in the same league. And this goes for all the technologies...
So, anyway, I was thinking further about the QuickTime playback device, or Rendezvous set-top box - whatever we're going to call it:
What if the form factor was indeed that of a PDA? I was intrigued by dhunwick's confidence in a PDA device, but then tried to imagine what Apple would try and come up with.
I would assume that if it were a PDA, it would indeed be similar to the iPod (an iPad?). Hard drive memory instead of flash ram. Color screen - it would have to be.
But what OS would it run? Obviously not OSX. So have Apple been developing a 3rd OS? 1 for the iPod (I know that wasn't Apple, though), 1 for desktops (OSX) and a 3rd for a PDA?
If it were to have a hard drive, it would need a firewire connector. Data sizes are just too huge nowadays for anything else.
Bluetooth connectivity for basic functions like synching and connecting to your cellphone for comms.
Airport for high-speed access?
I don't know... this idea all falls apart for me, as the form factor just keeps on expanding - until I'm left with either a 12" iBook (hmmm... lovely) or a Newton 2100 form-factor (and we all know what's wrong with that).
As for functionality, what would it offer? Addressbook, mail, calendar... mp3 playback (compete with the iPod? possibly, if it were marketed as an "iPod-Pro") What else could they possibly stuff on it? With limited I/O speeds and small screen, I doubt you'd want to use it for webbrowsing - Sherlock perhaps? And why would anyone buy this considering Palms go for $100 now and there's a whole community of applications and developers?
Hardly something "revolutionary". Even if they pulled it off, it would still just be another PDA. Thanks. The world doesn't have enough.
But howabout if the Rendezvous settop box was built more in the form-factor of an iPod (ie. built to put in a bag and take to your friend's house, but not for use on busses and trains?). Would that make a difference?
I just see the argument for a PDA this way: when at home/work use a desktop. When travelling, use a laptop. When in between, use a mobile phone (most all phones nowadays have addressbook, mail and calendars). As long as they all talk to each other (iSync) what is the added value of a PDA? No wait, don't tell me. It's so I can store more than 150 phone numbers at a time in color.
