A Mac-Phone?

I might actually like one of these if they ever get it beyond the concept stage!

http://www.barrons.com/articles/an-iphone-an-ipad-and-a-mac-walk-into-a-bar-1490380029

Lisa

I might actually like one of these if they ever get it beyond the concept stage!

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That's quite a combination. A triple threat!

Hey Lisa, are you going to buy a Red iPhone 7+? They look great but I don't believe Red is a color I would want to carry around. But my wife would love to have one.

This week i am going to see a dramatisation of 'The Machine Stops' written by E M Forster (A Room With a View etc) in 1909. First read when I was 16 and have never forgotten it as we become so dependent on technology. Prescient.

Free read, 12,300 words: http://manybooks.net/titles/forstereother07machine_stops.html

chscag said:

That's quite a combination. A triple threat!

Hey Lisa, are you going to buy a Red iPhone 7+? They look great but I don't believe Red is a color I would want to carry around. But my wife would love to have one.

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I think the phone/mac blend would be interesting IF they could get iOS to match the capabilities of a full OS. Using "mini-apps" with reduced capabilities on a laptop would not be that great.

As for a red phone - no desire. I have a case that I love but it covers the whole phone. I can only see a small glimpse of it's gold color so I would not see the red. I love the color red but I am not sure if I would like it on my phone. Besides I like my current iPhone and really don't like upgrading my phones. I upgrade because it is a financial advantage or the old phone has issues that can't be fixed otherwise.

Lisa

lclev said:

I think the phone/mac blend would be interesting IF they could get iOS to match the capabilities of a full OS. Using "mini-apps" with reduced capabilities on a laptop would not be that great.

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Apple uses a different hardware architecture in their mobile devices compared to what they use in the laptop and desktop machines. As a result, it's a different OS, and that requires that apps be re-written. Things like Microsoft Office, as a third-party app example, would be behind the curve in terms of being written and being updated compared to the Windows version, but MANY more people use iOS devices than the audience of people that use Mac OS devices. So, maybe it would actually "speed up" the development cycle.

Right now, you already have two of the four things that are in that link: Larger screen and full keyboard. Think iPad Pro with the Apple Keyboard. What you DON'T have is cellular phone capabilities and small form factor (meaning: fits in your pocket) for the "guts" of the device. In reality, Apple could accomplish this same thing WITHOUT having to snap your phone into the device: Create a device that provides screen mirroring and includes a bluetooth keyboard to pair to the phone. You could do everything without even taking the phone out of your pocket.

Considering that we're already paying (in some instances) close to the cost of a laptop when we buy a phone, it isn't so much of a reach to see where this sort of thing would be desirable. The downside to it that I see is that the cost of the screen/keyboard add-on would likely be pretty significant. AND it would drive the cost of the phone up even higher since higher resolution capabilities and much more processing power would need to be packed into those small form factor devices.

It's an interesting idea, but only one that I personally would have interest in if they could mass-produce the add-on piece and sell it at a very reasonable cost. We're already seeing app-mirroring items making it into vehicles with Apple CarPlay. Maybe there's a way to build on that... And maybe in doing so, we'll finally see in-car navigation and such finally die the death it deserves so that full-on screen mirroring or whatever will allow your PHONE to provide all of your in-car functionality (and we can stop buying it from the car manufacturers and not using it).

badshoehabit - Oh, you have added to my addiction! I did not know about the Many Books website. Now I have subscribed to it.... I love books and I am never without one to read. Electronic books has been fabulous for me - and has saved more than a few trees. Although, some books still need to be held so pages can be turned as read!

And I had to go read "The Machine Stops." What an interesting read. What was so scary is that it could actually be true one day. I know it sounds so "out there" but there was a day when phones were only attached to the wall and people communicated by writing on paper or actually talking - usually face to face. The fact that there are companies running commercials showing parents feeling accomplished because their teen looks up from their phone and actually talks to them should set off warning bells. Instead only few find this a problem.

I could stay on my soap box all day so I better get off ... for now.

Lisa

Ember1205 said:

Apple uses a different hardware architecture in their mobile devices compared to what they use in the laptop and desktop machines. As a result, it's a different OS, and that requires that apps be re-written. Things like Microsoft Office, as a third-party app example, would be behind the curve in terms of being written and being updated compared to the Windows version, but MANY more people use iOS devices than the audience of people that use Mac OS devices. So, maybe it would actually "speed up" the development cycle.

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I agree - different architecture with different application. But if we move to blend the two devices iOS would be the more popular option but getting the capabilities of a full OS would be a monumental hurdle. I have never viewed any of the forms of iPad as a fully functional computer. For my needs there are just too many limits and restrictions.

Ember1205 said:

Right now, you already have two of the four things that are in that link: Larger screen and full keyboard. Think iPad Pro with the Apple Keyboard. What you DON'T have is cellular phone capabilities and small form factor (meaning: fits in your pocket) for the "guts" of the device. In reality, Apple could accomplish this same thing WITHOUT having to snap your phone into the device: Create a device that provides screen mirroring and includes a bluetooth keyboard to pair to the phone. You could do everything without even taking the phone out of your pocket.

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Do you think Facetime helps bridge that gap now?

Ember1205 said:

Considering that we're already paying (in some instances) close to the cost of a laptop when we buy a phone, it isn't so much of a reach to see where this sort of thing would be desirable. The downside to it that I see is that the cost of the screen/keyboard add-on would likely be pretty significant. AND it would drive the cost of the phone up even higher since higher resolution capabilities and much more processing power would need to be packed into those small form factor devices.

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Oh, yes I am sure the cost would go up. Basically anything they create with more features cost more - kind of expected.

Ember1205 said:

It's an interesting idea, but only one that I personally would have interest in if they could mass-produce the add-on piece and sell it at a very reasonable cost. We're already seeing app-mirroring items making it into vehicles with Apple CarPlay. Maybe there's a way to build on that... And maybe in doing so, we'll finally see in-car navigation and such finally die the death it deserves so that full-on screen mirroring or whatever will allow your PHONE to provide all of your in-car functionality (and we can stop buying it from the car manufacturers and not using it).

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That would be cool. I have an Avalanche with in-car navigation that I don't use because my iPhone and Watch do a better job. I can ask Siri to find where I am going and map it. My in-car requires I know where I am going - which my husband will tell you I never know.

I just thought the whole idea was interesting. It remains to be seen if it ever becomes reality.

Lisa

In 2011, I had bought a new Tundra CrewMax Platinum. It was almost fully loaded and had Toyota's navigation and bluetooth systems in it. It was the worst, least useful, most trouble-ridden system in a vehicle I had ever owned. The system in a 2006 Acura I had blew the doors off of it.

That was the point at which I stated that in-car navigation was going to go the way of the dodo, and we would be able to plug in our phones and have the small form-factor screen mirrored to a larger in-vehicle screen that could provide touch feedback back to the phone. We're just now starting to see some of that with CarPlay and Android Auto, and I believe it will continue to improve until the phone becomes the center of the in-vehicle system.

Another that your phone needs to be able to do is carry around your health records. With TouchID and similar technologies from Android coupled with Near Field Communications and Bluetooth, we should be able to -receive- data from a health care provider's in-office device and transmit data back in much the same way we can load a credit card into our phone and use it to pay for our McDonald's coffee. Taking our records with us this way, and maintaining them securely on our devices, should be the norm in the future. When you go from one doctor to the next, you have all of your records with you.

Does FaceTime bridge a gap for devices that aren't cellular phone service enabled? Not really. It does in a way, but only if the person calling me is -ALSO- using FaceTime (which immediately rules out half of the smartphone carrying public and probably 65% of the population overall). When video calling is completely the norm and uses a completely ubiquitous protocol and communication method that works on any network, then it might have a shot. Google voice has a ten-fold better chance at bridging that gap because it can forward to all kinds of phones and can also be accessed with SIP clients. So, it would operate on more operating systems, more devices, and support more kinds of inbound and outbound calls than FaceTime could fantasize about right now.

I'm guessing everybody has seen the Windows 10 Continuum https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/Continuum
Kinda in the same vein.
I'm waiting for Apple to produce something similar. Mind you I have no feedback on how well the Continuum system actually works but I can imagine this becoming the future of handheld devices. After all the mob phone has become so sophisticated it seems silly to need more that one device of this sort if one could do everything.

Ember - I love your points. For me, car navigation is not necessary with a smartphone available. I LOVE the idea of having all my medical records on my phone so that I can interface with a doctor immediately. I would really LOVE it if I had my husband's records available on his phone too. I would probably have to wait until I bought him a phone with a lot more storage - like a terabyte or two. He has a lot of records... ;D But what a great idea.

Lisa

When you go from one doctor to the next, you have all of your records with you.

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Not necessary. Doctors already have the ability to immediately access your records as long as you give permission. And even if you were able to carry around your medical jacket with you, doctors will go back to your officially stored medical records for verification anyway. Nowadays, when you visit your doctor, chances are he or she will have a medical tablet along placing findings and any diagnosis into their computer system. Those computer records are then available to medical professionals who have reason to access them.

And if you lose your iPhone or iOS device that has your stored medical records, what then? If you think data on your iPhone is safe because it's passcode locked or iCloud locked, you need to think again. ;D

chscag said:

Not necessary. Doctors already have the ability to immediately access your records as long as you give permission. And even if you were able to carry around your medical jacket with you, doctors will go back to your officially stored medical records for verification anyway. Nowadays, when you visit your doctor, chances are he or she will have a medical tablet along placing findings and any diagnosis into their computer system. Those computer records are then available to medical professionals who have reason to access them.

And if you lose your iPhone or iOS device that has your stored medical records, what then? If you think data on your iPhone is safe because it's passcode locked or iCloud locked, you need to think again. ;D

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A) Doctors that are in the same healthcare group have immediate access
B) Doctors that are outside of the healthcare group do NOT have immediate access and require forms to be signed
C) "Permission Slips" are never signed until you show up for your visit and those records are not available for days or weeks AFTER you leave
D) Storage of things like health records could be done via meeting specific requirements of the device like having "strong passwords" and then NOT allowing TouchID to unlock the health records

I understand that having my medical records on my device poses additional risk. What if I have the opportunity to pick and choose what records I carry with me? How about going from a walk-in clinic on the weekend to a specialist on Wednesday? Maybe it's up to 30 days I can hold data there.

The reality is that your (and my) medical records are no less safe on my personal device than they are sitting in a healthcare provider's data center for a myriad of reasons.

As far as TouchID goes - I would argue that it should NEVER be allowed to unlock anything that's truly sensitive. In case no one has followed any of the news and such surrounding this in the US, courts have ruled that you can no compel someone to divulge their password (something they know) but you CAN compel someone for fingerprints (something they have). So, anything that's secured on your device with TouchID is fair game if you end up in a legal situation.

There are implications for TouchID's decreased overall security in non-legal situations as well, but much of that talk is "too dark" for forums like these. Let's just leave it at there are a lot of ways to get you to put your thumb on the sensor.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to security versus convenience. We all have to make our own decisions about what matters more in every situation.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to security versus convenience. We all have to make our own decisions about what matters more in every situation.

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I can't disagree with that.