Does Apple Share Our Dream?

Reuters deliver an interesting report that claims that Apple will take third-quarter delivery from Taiwan touchscreen specialist Wintek of a newly developed 10-inch touchscreen. Wintek already supplies small screens for Apple iPhones, and Reuters now report from a confidential source that Wintek now has received orders for the larger ones. However although Wintek have officially confirmed Apple is a major client they declined to comment on any new product development.

Taiwan media is rife with speculation claiming that Apple is currently developing a touchscreen PC and there are also claims that Taiwan's Quanta Computer, the world's top contract laptop PC maker, would manufacture the actual devices for Apple.
So as everyone speculates those potentially in the know remain tight lipped which obviously adds fuel to the fire. We have already speculated about a larger iTouch which with a 10” screen could certainly start to redefine the market bringing the weight of the Appps Store and its 250k applications, the power of Apples PC platform, iTunes, video and of course books all together under what would be a very compelling offer and in full colour for Christmas.

Such a move would seriously dent the eink looky-likies create a natural home for a media and start to separate the PC and the phone strengthening as opposed to weakening their offers. Alas it may be a dream – but it’s a good one!

Blackberry Appeal

News that RIM the makers of the email addicts BlackBerry now plans to launch a touch-screen version later this year was reported in the Wall Street Journal. The new touchy device, is named the Thunder and is to be sold exclusively through Verizon Wireless in the U.S. and Vodafone PLC elsewhere.

Also this week, RIM announced its BlackBerry Bold, a sleek smartphone with a keyboard aimed at its core base of business users and on Wednesday IBM said that it has started selling software allowing Blackberry customers to access its Cognos business intelligence software allowing customers to view real-time analytics on the state of their business on their BlackBerrys. IBM has also introduced programs to allow BlackBerry users to quickly locate and communicate with colleagues with expertise in specific business areas and also to access personalized content from their corporate websites.

Is the Blackberry coming out of the pockets of the business community with its touchy feely iPhone response or merely entrenching itself further into it with its alliance with business information and IBM? We think that we are seeing a device fighting to keep pace with those all around it and desperately seeking to pamper to its core base. It will be interesting to see a touch screen being used on a Blackberry but again maybe not.