From AirPower to deserted tablets, Apple’s street to success is suffering from failures
Apple has scrapped plans to enter the automotive trade with its mysterious autonomous electrical automobile, as an alternative shifting focus to the wildly standard world of generative AI. The challenge noticed the company hiring outstanding executives from locations like Tesla and Ford. Its finish has led to job losses for some workers, whereas others have modified divisions inside the company.
The so-called Project Titan had reportedly been in the works since 2014. It may have confirmed stiff competitors for Tesla and others, given Apple’s historical past of disrupting varied markets. The company did it with the iPod, iPhone, Apple Watch and, most not too long ago, with its AirPods (the jury continues to be out on Vision Pro).
But not each challenge has been a rousing success for the company. Prior to Project Titan, there have been a number of Apple efforts that didn’t see the gentle of day. Here are a few of the extra notable examples of Apple projects that didn’t hit the market.
AirPower
Image Credits: Apple
Not each instance is from the distant previous. The wi-fi charging mat, which Apple first introduced in 2017, was anticipated to make use of the Qi commonplace to cost as much as three units at a time. However, the company canceled the challenge in 2019, citing failure to attain its “high standards.” Apple changed the AirPower with its folding journey charger MagSafe Duo in 2020. But in contrast to the AirPower mat, MagSafe Duo solely helps simultaneous charging of as much as two units: the iPhone and the Apple Watch or iPod.
Television
Apple’s tv (to not be confused with Apple TV) is one other instance of a long-rumored challenge that didn’t materialize. Analysts and buyers anticipated the arrival of a full-fledged ultra-high-definition TV set from the company again in 2011. Like Project Titan, Apple by no means publicly disclosed its existence earlier than it was reportedly scrapped years again.
Vademecum
Apple prototyped an early pill greater than a decade and a half previous to launching the first iPad. In 1994, some early photographs of the challenge surfaced on-line, suggesting it was exploring the addition of a stylus and built-in digicam. However, as former Apple government Dan Russell mentioned in a 2018 weblog put up, the company killed the challenge as there was “no market for a tablet computer” at the time.
MessageSlate
The Vademecum wasn’t Apple’s solely failed try to design a desk. At roughly the identical time, the company was additionally engaged on a Newton OS-based challenge known as MessageSlate (codenamed Senior). A trademark software for the machine appeared in 1993. However, Apple scrapped it and delivered MessagePad, a smaller model of the MessageSlate prototype, later in the 12 months.
W.A.L.T.
Well earlier than the iPhone, Apple examined a “telephone Mac” codenamed W.A.L.T. It appeared to have a touchscreen panel with stylus help and included options corresponding to fax and caller ID. Some early items of W.A.L.T. even surfaced on eBay for public sale. However, Apple by no means mentioned the machine publicly.
PenLite
In 1992, Apple was creating one other pill. PenLite gave the impression to be based mostly on System 7.1 — the first model of Apple’s Macintosh working system designed for PowerPC-based computer systems. Reports urged that it will have a stylus and a 25MHz Motorola processor. Unlike the Vademecum, the PenLite was reportedly in improvement with no digicam. Apple finally scrapped that challenge, too. Much like the later machine, the company decided that the market merely wasn’t prepared.