New Apple device to focus on Movies! (with e-books & iChat thrown in)

When Amazon rolled out their Kindle device in late 2007, Apple's Steve Jobs must have been grinning from ear to ear. Even though Apple wouldn't be privvy to the detailed data and customer feedback that Amazon would soon be receiving, he knew that it would be a fantastic test bed for the e-book reader concept.

A few months later, Mr. Jobs was reported as saying "Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don't read anymore".

Since then it has become clear that the great strength of the Kindle concept is also it's greatest weakness: its focus on books and newspapers is simply too narrow for the device to reach its utopia; its inability to view other types of content such as movies will be seen as a glaring omission when Apple's new device is released. Sure, the later Kindles have limited web browsing and music support but who wants to watch Watchmen on a grayscale screen?! Even if you could.

As we know, Apple are skillfully adept at looking at the product offerings of rivals (or soon-to-be rivals), tearing them down to determine what works and what doesn't, turning things on their heads, and finally producing a product with a humdinger of a right-hook which few rivals even saw coming. Two cases in point: MP3 players and mobile phones.

So it goes without saying that the next breakthrough device which Apple will announce (probably in January) will have e-book support. However, that won't be the major focus. Instead, the new device will major on movies, movies, movies! With e-book support and the obligatory web browser thrown in for good measure.

While iPods are fantastic for playing music, they kinda fall down when watching a movie because the screen is simply too small. So how do Apple address this? Well - its not rocket science. The 9" screen of this new device would be ideal for watching the Watchmen, for example, while on a plane or while chilling out in Central Park. And guess what? When you want to read the New York Times, just open the e-book app and view it on that gorgeous 9" screen. (Steve Jobs always calls the screens on his new devices gorgeous).

In iPod's early days, Apple produced a model which could support video. This signaled the importance of, and Apple's intentions in, this area. Since then, Apple have taken the time to fully understand what the customer wants, and needs, from a mobile video device and has also been making investments in the back-end with a planned $1 billion server farm in North Carolina which will undoubtedly be used to serve video content. It's gearing up to unveil its breakthrough device.

Essentially, the new device will be a scaled-up iPod touch running an updated OS which has the ability to run native iPhone apps in either their regular size or scaled to fit the screen. It will not run a cut down Mac OS Snow Leopard; Get a Macbook if you want that.

As with the touch, the device will have WI-FI support. And, in an effort to further distance it from its smaller brothers, a front-facing camera brings iChat functionality - although no phone capability is present.

When the device debuts, the iTunes Book store will be announced, allowing users to download books and periodicals in the same way as they currently download music and apps.

So you heard it here, first: Movies. e-books. iChat. Suddenly Kindle doesn't look as attractive a proposition as it did yesterday.

In fact, comparing Kindle with Apple's new device will be more like comparing Obama's Mom Jeans to a pair of Armani's.

I know which I'd rather have.

Rod.
Grab my iPhone app here: www.itunes.com/apps/top-tens
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