The Speculative Pre-History of the iPhone

harrymcc writes "The blogosphere is abuzz with rumors about 'iSlate,' Apple's supposed upcoming tablet. It's constructive to look back at coverage of the first iPhone in the months before it was announced. A high percentage of what was reported turned out to be hooey — as I remembered as I reviewed stories that said the iPhone would have a click wheel, a slide-out keyboard, and two batteries, and would run on an Apple-branded wireless network. I'm guessing that much of what we 'know' about iSlate is similarly off-base."

Speculation on speculation?

[UnknowingFool]

I remember when Jobs unveiled the first iPhone in Jan. 2007. For laughs, he showed a modified iPod with a rotary dial instead of the click wheel before he showed the iPhone. Really if it's one thing that we've learned from Apple is that nothing is true about their upcoming products until Apple announces it.

The product will not have an "i" prefix.

[Anonymous Coward]

They are launching a whole new branch of products and phasing out the "i' product all together in the next 3 years.

Just thought I'd add to the rumor mill.

--SJ

I hear...

[Anonymous Coward]

I hear they will open an Apple Bookstore.

Re:The product will not have an "i" prefix.

[stokessd]

"They are launching a whole new branch of products and phasing out the "i' product all together in the next 3 years."

I hope so, the "i"everything was annoying when it came out on crummy ugly gumdrop computers, and it hasn't gotten better over time. I had hoped that the two word naming was the "new hotness" IE frontRow, finalCut, etc. but no... Thankfully, the colored translucent plastic era seems to be behind us.

I'm still scratching my head over the tablet, it was obvious that a phone with a non-sucko UI was needed when the iPhone came out, and even before seeing the product, I could imagine how it would make my life better. With the tablet, I don't have such a clear image of how it will make my life worth living.

Sheldon