Ultra portablity? I do know that everytime I think of the Apple tablet, I'm reminded of Star Trek.
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What is a tablet even good for?
- Thread starter MrCheeto
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Bull. It was clear it would be a smartphone, something that was useful long before. Sure they made it way more than a smartphone, but anybody that doubted it as useful for a moment was blind.
At this moment, it's going to take something completely new to make it useful because, currently, there's no useful tablets that A. don't fit in your pocket and B. aren't used for work, like what doctors carry.
At this moment, it's going to take something completely new to make it useful because, currently, there's no useful tablets that A. don't fit in your pocket and B. aren't used for work, like what doctors carry.
For the first year it wasn't a smartphone. It was little more than a web tablet with built in phone until they allowed apps.
So you're saying it wasn't a smart phone until you could install apps, right?
But...smart phones didn't have that capability until after the iPhone...
The iPhone was a smart phone, or what a smart phone was at that time. It had the equivalent of a full-size keyboard, email, web, address book, note or memo capabilities, a calendar and computer-syncing. THEN they evolved it beyond the smart phone.
With the tablet, they have nothing to start with. There are no useful tablets today unless they fit in your pocket (like the iPhone) or are used for quick note-taking with hand-writing (like the tablets at your doctor's office).
Apple will have to unleash something super-revolutionary to make the tablet something. The Macintosh was a new computer, the iPod was a new MP3 player, the iPhone was a new smart phone, but this has nothing to build on.
Oh, and if it's just an e-reader...go to hell, Apple.
But...smart phones didn't have that capability until after the iPhone...
The iPhone was a smart phone, or what a smart phone was at that time. It had the equivalent of a full-size keyboard, email, web, address book, note or memo capabilities, a calendar and computer-syncing. THEN they evolved it beyond the smart phone.
With the tablet, they have nothing to start with. There are no useful tablets today unless they fit in your pocket (like the iPhone) or are used for quick note-taking with hand-writing (like the tablets at your doctor's office).
Apple will have to unleash something super-revolutionary to make the tablet something. The Macintosh was a new computer, the iPod was a new MP3 player, the iPhone was a new smart phone, but this has nothing to build on.
Oh, and if it's just an e-reader...go to hell, Apple.
Um, huh? Every smartphone had apps. PalmOS and Windows Mobile each had thousands. Even RIM had a bunch.
Heck, there were even stores to buy these things (websites) and you generally side-loaded them (though in some cases you could buy right from an icon on the phone itself, like Sprint PalmOS devices).
What are you talking about?
What?
Symbian and Windows Mobile-based smartphones had applications for years before the iPhone was even announced. Many of them even had browser-based app stores. Handango has been around since the late 90’s. They even had an iPhone-like integrated app store in early 2007.
I bought my first smartphone with apps in 2003 from Nokia. It actually used iSync to sync iCal calendars, Address Book contacts and Safari bookmarks via Bluetooth. Quite a revolution (or so I thought) for 2003.
What will the tablet be? I don’t know. I know it won’t be what any of the analyst or tech pundits are predicting. Jobs knows the conventional tablet has limited utility. He’s said that several times.
It won’t just be an eBook/magazine/periodicals reader, larger iPod touch, Web tablet, etc.
It’ll be something different. Otherwise they wouldn’t be doing one.
This is a project years in the making. Its roots likely even predate the iPhone.
It's always a blast to read things from people who honestly and earnestly believe that there were no mobile apps before iPhone . . . no mobile color touchscreens . . . 
Yes, its all awesome and worth buying until you find out that the ads overtake the magazine.
I thought this YouTube video was an impressive demo of a specific text book app and how it can integrate elegantly with the touchscreen and video/internet/etc on an anonymous* tablet. This combined with other well integrated media apps will make the tablet a hot commodity. The real question for me is still the ergonomics - - I'm looking forward to see what Apple's design wizards have come up with.
*"...and it's close than you might think!"
*"...and it's close than you might think!"
FAIL
You think I didn't consider this before posting? Hell I have one of these in a box somewhere. And guess what? They DO fit in your pocket, albeit awkwardly. I vividly remember Polyester-clad ******s reaching into their jacket pocket to retrieve this whenever they got to chance to show it off. The kind of people that took all their cues from Miami Vice.
keffinthx
I'm a Electrotechnical Engineering student, so I'm aware of everything consumer-electronics related.
I can answer the topic question bearing in mind my day to day life, and the way the Portuguese society (where i include myself) deals with technology.
I can tell you though that Portuguese people are not used to pay for any kind of digital media. If its not for free they either get it illegally or they don't get it at all, saying that, i personally believe that a digital media oriented device will be a fluke in this country. People wont have anything to play there, they wont use it on the bus, on the sub-way or the train.
Personally i'm excited about consuming digital media in the way some of the rumor videos show, i wont use on the bus, train or sub-way. At home i have my laptop. On the road i might use the iPhone, but not more than that.
My current computing needs are well satisfied with my non-uni body late 2008 MBP, and an iPhone for when I'm commuting between home and university.
Since the MBP its my only machine and a carry it around all the time, it would be helpful to get some device similar to a netbook with a touchscreen interface. Something like: 10' touch screen, 1kg, and some way to use a physical keyboard and mouse, i would definetly buy.
Any other form factor its a no-go for me. The same for the rest of Portugal.
Is this factor relevant to the Apples decision about the tablet form factor? Sure no. But I'm also sure that there many more society's in the world that operate the same way. Is that relevant? I think so.
PM
PS: Sorry for any English mistakes, I'm not a native speaker!
I can answer the topic question bearing in mind my day to day life, and the way the Portuguese society (where i include myself) deals with technology.
I can tell you though that Portuguese people are not used to pay for any kind of digital media. If its not for free they either get it illegally or they don't get it at all, saying that, i personally believe that a digital media oriented device will be a fluke in this country. People wont have anything to play there, they wont use it on the bus, on the sub-way or the train.
Personally i'm excited about consuming digital media in the way some of the rumor videos show, i wont use on the bus, train or sub-way. At home i have my laptop. On the road i might use the iPhone, but not more than that.
My current computing needs are well satisfied with my non-uni body late 2008 MBP, and an iPhone for when I'm commuting between home and university.
Since the MBP its my only machine and a carry it around all the time, it would be helpful to get some device similar to a netbook with a touchscreen interface. Something like: 10' touch screen, 1kg, and some way to use a physical keyboard and mouse, i would definetly buy.
Any other form factor its a no-go for me. The same for the rest of Portugal.
Is this factor relevant to the Apples decision about the tablet form factor? Sure no. But I'm also sure that there many more society's in the world that operate the same way. Is that relevant? I think so.
PM
PS: Sorry for any English mistakes, I'm not a native speaker!
High chance. Apple is not going to create a Netbook to compete with the low-end market. A Tablet isn't exactly low-end so I guess that's where Apple can hit the spot with its marketing.
I dont care what its good for, im going to buy it because A. its apple B. Its new C. its cool D. Im running out of new gadgets to buy.
Whos with me?
Whos with me?
Not Portugal...
Haha ok. I have a meeting with USA tomorrow, if they join hopefully the rest will follow and i wont need portugal.
Going back to the original post - the tablet isn't about trying to better the netbook in the netbook area - it's about being a great tablet in the tablet form factor.
It has its own niche, and from the leaked information masquerading as rumours, we can see it evolving as content deals are underway, and old media tries to bootstrap itself into the 21st e-media consumption century.
Talking about clouds - though it's been talked about in passing - no one has definitively pinned down the use of the North Carolina data centre Apple will (according to rumours) have ready by the end of this year. It's a big data centre from what I gather. If you want servers, that might be it.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/20/ipad_musings/
Per the last couple of posts on the laser light style keyboard, I can see this being a cool way to use the tablet, but my guess is it won't make the tablet Rev A. Hopefully Apple allows BT connections so we can use a BT keyboard, and then whoever makes those laser projecting keyboards can sync with the tablet, hell maybe even have a stand built into it.
The little bit that people have spoken about the battery I don't see how this is going to be a huge issue. If were just looking at the size of a battery, a 10" tablet will have 3? or 4 time the actual size of the iPhone. If it's 1mm or 2mm thinker that's alot of battery space. Take into account it won't likely be running a C2D CPU, no keyboard backlighting, likely no fans, or other laptop type parts eating battery life I can see this thing going 20+ hours for web/email type use and 6 or so hours for video playback. (at least I hope)
OLED would make this possible but I am doubting we see OLED due to price. The 11" OLED TVs I've seen out this past summer were over $2,000, add in computer parts even 6 months later I doubt were under a grand for a tablet with OLED.
The little bit that people have spoken about the battery I don't see how this is going to be a huge issue. If were just looking at the size of a battery, a 10" tablet will have 3? or 4 time the actual size of the iPhone. If it's 1mm or 2mm thinker that's alot of battery space. Take into account it won't likely be running a C2D CPU, no keyboard backlighting, likely no fans, or other laptop type parts eating battery life I can see this thing going 20+ hours for web/email type use and 6 or so hours for video playback. (at least I hope
) OLED would make this possible but I am doubting we see OLED due to price. The 11" OLED TVs I've seen out this past summer were over $2,000, add in computer parts even 6 months later I doubt were under a grand for a tablet with OLED.
What's an Oversized iPhone (tablet) good for? Especially if you have an iPhone, MacBook, or some combo of the two?
If a tablet is just a bigger iPhone, one of the reasons why you might want it if you have a MacBook and no iPhone is because you cant operate Apps on the MacBook!
If the tablet is just a bigger iPhone, and you already have an iPhone, the reason why you might want it is there are a lot of existing Apps (and simple potential Apps) that will be so much more functional and amazing on a larger screen
- Photo editing with photo apps will be so much easier.
- Educational apps that my 3 year old use well be much more impactful for her on a larger screen.
- More, larger text on the screen will be easier on my aging eyes.
- It can REPLACE and drastically improve our clunky NAV system in the car Just need some way to attach it over the existing NAV system screen.
- It can work great as a hands free phone if you can see the screen and touch the buttons easier (assuming a good App is developed)
- It can replace the Entertainment system in our car on long trips at least for the kiddos. This can be hung on the back of a car seat, interfaced with Bluetooth headphones, and they can watch content already on the tablet, so you dont have to cart around DVDs. Not to mention other video content available through other apps that access the internet.
- Two-player video games will now be easier to play. I would imagine Bluetooth controllers coming out and Apps being modified to allow two-player with controllers.
- Surfing the net will be easier when I can see a whole web page.
If you have a MacBook and an iPhone, some of the reasons you might want it could be that you want to use apps on a larger screen, or you want larger video but dont want to carry a MacBook around:
- Use it at the gym while working out on cardio machines.
- Use it in the car in place of an entertainment system (as described above).
- Use it anywhere in the house that you dont have Cable TV hooked up, like the kitchen or bathroom, or out by the hot tub. You have access to sites like Hulu, which you may or may not have access to on your TV. Just need some good propping options. Sure you can use your laptop for video, but much easier to move a tablet around.
- Easier to write notes with your finger. There are some apps that already recognize writing this would allow better ones.
- I can see a tough version of the tablet for young kids you send them to school with their tablet and the opportunities for curriculum to be created for the tablet are endless. This is different than a PC, because it will work for kids that dont read or type yet. It can all be touch interface. The teacher can have a large screen in the front to guide the kids. There can be ways to ensure each kid is working through and learning the lesson well, like online classes.
-
A few other things, if the tablet just has a few more capabilities than the iPhone has now, or even just a new app.
- Could replace your Apple TV (with a streaming app, probably already exists?). Seriously, with a streaming app and the $50 cable, why would you even need an Apple TV? Maybe you can do this with an iPhone and the $50 cable, but that makes it hard to answer the phone when you are in the middle of a long movie.
- If you can connect wirelessly to the TV (maybe there is a wireless box that hooks into the HDMI slot on the TV), you can definitely replace Apple TV and have the most amazing remote ever designed.
- Could replace your Cable Company! See above. A Boxee app will be Cable TV killer.
- Hoping it can run more than one app at once, so you can be talking on the phone and running the NAV system, or editing a photo, etc.
- If it can share your existing iPhone line, and there is an App that lets you configure rules for where the line is residing. Like if the iPhone is withing 3 feet, the tablet takes over.
- Some of the mock-ups of magazines on the tablet are really incredible. Again, you just dont get the same interactivity with a laptop, and the iPhone screen is too small.
- A Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so you have the option of using it as a notebook computer, albeit, a notebook with very little storage. No big deal to create some sort of stand / attachment that allows you to position it on your lap, on a table or on the airplane seat in front of you.
- Graffiti (the old palm pilot writing code) or something like that recognizes handwriting, and the ability to use a stylus or perhaps even your finger to write. Or maybe your finger with a special tip that provides a better point. This would be good for the iPhone too!
Thoughts
- Will battery life be much longer due to more space for a bigger battery?
- How much memory will it have? There is already a 160 GB iPod, so can we count on at least that much? That seems more than ample for a mobile computing device.
I find it appealing without much more than what the iPhone does. Imagine if it can do something new and surprising.
If a tablet is just a bigger iPhone, one of the reasons why you might want it if you have a MacBook and no iPhone is because you cant operate Apps on the MacBook!
If the tablet is just a bigger iPhone, and you already have an iPhone, the reason why you might want it is there are a lot of existing Apps (and simple potential Apps) that will be so much more functional and amazing on a larger screen
- Photo editing with photo apps will be so much easier.
- Educational apps that my 3 year old use well be much more impactful for her on a larger screen.
- More, larger text on the screen will be easier on my aging eyes.
- It can REPLACE and drastically improve our clunky NAV system in the car Just need some way to attach it over the existing NAV system screen.
- It can work great as a hands free phone if you can see the screen and touch the buttons easier (assuming a good App is developed)
- It can replace the Entertainment system in our car on long trips at least for the kiddos. This can be hung on the back of a car seat, interfaced with Bluetooth headphones, and they can watch content already on the tablet, so you dont have to cart around DVDs. Not to mention other video content available through other apps that access the internet.
- Two-player video games will now be easier to play. I would imagine Bluetooth controllers coming out and Apps being modified to allow two-player with controllers.
- Surfing the net will be easier when I can see a whole web page.
If you have a MacBook and an iPhone, some of the reasons you might want it could be that you want to use apps on a larger screen, or you want larger video but dont want to carry a MacBook around:
- Use it at the gym while working out on cardio machines.
- Use it in the car in place of an entertainment system (as described above).
- Use it anywhere in the house that you dont have Cable TV hooked up, like the kitchen or bathroom, or out by the hot tub. You have access to sites like Hulu, which you may or may not have access to on your TV. Just need some good propping options. Sure you can use your laptop for video, but much easier to move a tablet around.
- Easier to write notes with your finger. There are some apps that already recognize writing this would allow better ones.
- I can see a tough version of the tablet for young kids you send them to school with their tablet and the opportunities for curriculum to be created for the tablet are endless. This is different than a PC, because it will work for kids that dont read or type yet. It can all be touch interface. The teacher can have a large screen in the front to guide the kids. There can be ways to ensure each kid is working through and learning the lesson well, like online classes.
-
A few other things, if the tablet just has a few more capabilities than the iPhone has now, or even just a new app.
- Could replace your Apple TV (with a streaming app, probably already exists?). Seriously, with a streaming app and the $50 cable, why would you even need an Apple TV? Maybe you can do this with an iPhone and the $50 cable, but that makes it hard to answer the phone when you are in the middle of a long movie.
- If you can connect wirelessly to the TV (maybe there is a wireless box that hooks into the HDMI slot on the TV), you can definitely replace Apple TV and have the most amazing remote ever designed.
- Could replace your Cable Company! See above. A Boxee app will be Cable TV killer.
- Hoping it can run more than one app at once, so you can be talking on the phone and running the NAV system, or editing a photo, etc.
- If it can share your existing iPhone line, and there is an App that lets you configure rules for where the line is residing. Like if the iPhone is withing 3 feet, the tablet takes over.
- Some of the mock-ups of magazines on the tablet are really incredible. Again, you just dont get the same interactivity with a laptop, and the iPhone screen is too small.
- A Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, so you have the option of using it as a notebook computer, albeit, a notebook with very little storage. No big deal to create some sort of stand / attachment that allows you to position it on your lap, on a table or on the airplane seat in front of you.
- Graffiti (the old palm pilot writing code) or something like that recognizes handwriting, and the ability to use a stylus or perhaps even your finger to write. Or maybe your finger with a special tip that provides a better point. This would be good for the iPhone too!
Thoughts
- Will battery life be much longer due to more space for a bigger battery?
- How much memory will it have? There is already a 160 GB iPod, so can we count on at least that much? That seems more than ample for a mobile computing device.
I find it appealing without much more than what the iPhone does. Imagine if it can do something new and surprising.
"there are a lot of existing Apps (and simple potential Apps) that will be so much more functional and amazing on a larger screen"
I agree. More (screen) is different as Clay Shirky may say.
It would allow Apple to move ATV to be a higher end 1080 experience for the HDTV. ATV through HDTV allows others to watch at the same time, and also local storage of media etc.
The curious thing about screen sizes - 10.x" screen could fit iFrame (1/4 1080) nicely. However, iFrame is smaller than 720p. It'll be interesting to see what they go for, and whether upscaling iFrame to 1080p would work).
I think there's another piece to the media puzzle. I get the sense that there's a missing piece - the ATV turned from hobby to Boxee box killer for example.
OS 4.0 seems to have stopped us seeing any new iPhone, tablet etc pics - I could imagine that the tablet OS will in some way give a head nod to what's going to happen with ATV. The tablet screams the need for Apple to have sorted out the way for content management, rights management. I'd imagine Apple would like the use of video to be able to transfer effortlessly between HDTV using ATV and tablet.
We haven't seen the option to dock an iPhone/Mac really to a TV and use that to display video - And it's something that would be cool - it's that dock connector puzzle piece in a way. Phones are just about getting to the capabilities of transmitting HDTV content (barring the battery cost) - If you could transfer and sync rights and then redownload/stream content via the ATV instead, that would be one way, otherwise you're needing to shift/copy a file from the phone to the ATV (and maybe back again) ala rental video being watched on an iPhone and MacBook.
I wouldn't see Apple offering BT keyboard & mouse - that cuts into MacBook territory. Same reasons for why iPhones don't have support for them.
Definitely agree that its not too hard to imagine the tablet doing lots of new things. It's not Project Natal style throwing away the rule book (See Molyneaux videos) but its getting there- this has the capability to disrupt some v. stagnant/non-innovative publishing markets - newspapers, magazines, journals and books.
I agree. More (screen) is different as Clay Shirky may say.
It would allow Apple to move ATV to be a higher end 1080 experience for the HDTV. ATV through HDTV allows others to watch at the same time, and also local storage of media etc.
The curious thing about screen sizes - 10.x" screen could fit iFrame (1/4 1080) nicely. However, iFrame is smaller than 720p. It'll be interesting to see what they go for, and whether upscaling iFrame to 1080p would work).
I think there's another piece to the media puzzle. I get the sense that there's a missing piece - the ATV turned from hobby to Boxee box killer for example.
OS 4.0 seems to have stopped us seeing any new iPhone, tablet etc pics - I could imagine that the tablet OS will in some way give a head nod to what's going to happen with ATV. The tablet screams the need for Apple to have sorted out the way for content management, rights management. I'd imagine Apple would like the use of video to be able to transfer effortlessly between HDTV using ATV and tablet.
We haven't seen the option to dock an iPhone/Mac really to a TV and use that to display video - And it's something that would be cool - it's that dock connector puzzle piece in a way. Phones are just about getting to the capabilities of transmitting HDTV content (barring the battery cost) - If you could transfer and sync rights and then redownload/stream content via the ATV instead, that would be one way, otherwise you're needing to shift/copy a file from the phone to the ATV (and maybe back again) ala rental video being watched on an iPhone and MacBook.
I wouldn't see Apple offering BT keyboard & mouse - that cuts into MacBook territory. Same reasons for why iPhones don't have support for them.
Definitely agree that its not too hard to imagine the tablet doing lots of new things. It's not Project Natal style throwing away the rule book (See Molyneaux videos) but its getting there- this has the capability to disrupt some v. stagnant/non-innovative publishing markets - newspapers, magazines, journals and books.
"I get the sense that there's a missing piece - the ATV turned from hobby to Boxee box killer for example."
I meant that Boxee on the tablet (you can already bootleg it onto the ATV), or an App similar to Boxee, could be a Cable TV killer. It is unbelievable how much content is streaming for free on the internet already, and streaming video from your own laptop or iMac is a no-brainer - ATV does this now.
"We haven't seen the option to dock an iPhone/Mac really to a TV and use that to display video - And it's something that would be cool - it's that dock connector puzzle piece in a way. "
You can do this with a $50 Apple cable that connects the iPhone / iPod touch to the television. Not sure about what the picture quality ends up being - I guess that is one area I personally have less concern for, but know it is a big deal to most people. You can put it in a universal dock and use the apple remote as well. I found it not to be too practical with the iPhone, just because I need to use it as a phone at the same time.
"OS 4.0 seems to have stopped us seeing any new iPhone, tablet etc pics - I could imagine that the tablet OS will in some way give a head nod to what's going to happen with ATV."
I think you are right about the missing link here - a simple, high quality connection to a TV. I think they have purposely not provided this up to now on laptops because they wanted to sell Apple TVs. I see way too much overlap between Apple TV and the Tablet for the Apple TV to survive. Not to mention the lack of attention it has gotten lately, and the 3.0 upgrade debacle. I think if the Tablet comes with the right App and a good way to connect to the TV, it will compete head-to-head with the Boxee Box. And it will be 4 x the price of an Apple TV.
"I wouldn't see Apple offering BT keyboard & mouse - that cuts into MacBook territory. Same reasons for why iPhones don't have support for them."
If the tablet is just an oversized iPhone with lots of Apps, can it really replace what you can do with a laptop? I think a keyboard / mouse would just be something that would make some Apps easier to navigate. And if the Tablet doesn't come with much storage then it won't be able to replace a laptop or iMac.
"Definitely agree that its not too hard to imagine the tablet doing lots of new things. It's not Project Natal style throwing away the rule book (See Molyneaux videos) but its getting there- this has the capability to disrupt some v. stagnant/non-innovative publishing markets - newspapers, magazines, journals and books."
The App Store is already an overwhelming mess, just imagine what it will be like when the functionality of existing Apps can be totally changed in tablet format, and all the new Apps that will work in tablet format that couldn't work well on the iPhone / iPod touch. (assuming it operates Apps)
I meant that Boxee on the tablet (you can already bootleg it onto the ATV), or an App similar to Boxee, could be a Cable TV killer. It is unbelievable how much content is streaming for free on the internet already, and streaming video from your own laptop or iMac is a no-brainer - ATV does this now.
"We haven't seen the option to dock an iPhone/Mac really to a TV and use that to display video - And it's something that would be cool - it's that dock connector puzzle piece in a way. "
You can do this with a $50 Apple cable that connects the iPhone / iPod touch to the television. Not sure about what the picture quality ends up being - I guess that is one area I personally have less concern for, but know it is a big deal to most people. You can put it in a universal dock and use the apple remote as well. I found it not to be too practical with the iPhone, just because I need to use it as a phone at the same time.
"OS 4.0 seems to have stopped us seeing any new iPhone, tablet etc pics - I could imagine that the tablet OS will in some way give a head nod to what's going to happen with ATV."
I think you are right about the missing link here - a simple, high quality connection to a TV. I think they have purposely not provided this up to now on laptops because they wanted to sell Apple TVs. I see way too much overlap between Apple TV and the Tablet for the Apple TV to survive. Not to mention the lack of attention it has gotten lately, and the 3.0 upgrade debacle. I think if the Tablet comes with the right App and a good way to connect to the TV, it will compete head-to-head with the Boxee Box. And it will be 4 x the price of an Apple TV.
"I wouldn't see Apple offering BT keyboard & mouse - that cuts into MacBook territory. Same reasons for why iPhones don't have support for them."
If the tablet is just an oversized iPhone with lots of Apps, can it really replace what you can do with a laptop? I think a keyboard / mouse would just be something that would make some Apps easier to navigate. And if the Tablet doesn't come with much storage then it won't be able to replace a laptop or iMac.
"Definitely agree that its not too hard to imagine the tablet doing lots of new things. It's not Project Natal style throwing away the rule book (See Molyneaux videos) but its getting there- this has the capability to disrupt some v. stagnant/non-innovative publishing markets - newspapers, magazines, journals and books."
The App Store is already an overwhelming mess, just imagine what it will be like when the functionality of existing Apps can be totally changed in tablet format, and all the new Apps that will work in tablet format that couldn't work well on the iPhone / iPod touch. (assuming it operates Apps)