apple iPad prototype from early 2000s revealed in Jony Ive deposition

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

iPad prototype from early 2000s revealed in Jony Ive deposition

After the iPad launched, Steve Jobs eventually revealed that Apple actually started development on what would become the iPad prior to its work on the iPhone ? but we're now getting some details on just how long it was in development. Network World recently got its hands on portions of a deposition Apple designer Jony Ive gave at Samsung's request this past December, and he revealed that Apple was working on tablet prototypes "sometime between 2002 and 2004." What's more, the documents contained some grainy but revealing photos of a tablet computer prototype known as the "035 mockup or prototype" which Jony Ive dates to that same early-2000's period.

The pictures themselves show a device remarkably similar to what eventually became the iPad in 2010, but with a significantly thicker body ? it looks almost like the bottom half of an iBook attached to the more familiar iPad front. There's no "home" button to speak of, and there's a slit at the bottom that could be a marker for the iPad's eventual 30-pin connection port. While the design clearly changed over the ensuing eight years, its pretty remarkable how much of the iPad's form factor was set in stone so long before it launched. While there's no screen size listed in these documents, it certainly appears to be quite close to the tablet that so many are using today.

Source: The Verge

[TheElite]

Probably fake. Otherwise it shouldn't look like a press shot from the 1970's.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Or, the document has been 'xeroxed' so many times that the picture has degraded.

[threetonesun]

Look, I found an iPad prototype from the 1980s!

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Look, I found an iPad prototype from the 1980s!

1990s. The Newton was first released in 1993. </nitpick>

[Brandon H Supervisor]

Look, I found an iPad prototype from the 1980s!

apps are presented as icons in a grid lick fashion *gasp* lol

[threetonesun]

1990s. The Newton was first released in 1993. </nitpick>

Yeah, but they started working on it in the 80s...

Granted the one in the photo is clearly newer but... whatever. :laugh:

[FISKER_Q]

While the design clearly changed over the ensuing eight years, its pretty remarkable how much of the iPad's form factor was set in stone so long before it launched. While there's no screen size listed in these documents, it certainly appears to be quite close to the tablet that so many are using today.

A rectangle?

[.Neo]

Probably fake. Otherwise it shouldn't look like a press shot from the 1970's.

You and the people who liked your post never heard of a photocopier, that much is clear.

[techbeck]

You and the people who liked your post never heard of a photocopier, that much is clear.

Crappy photocopier thats for sure. I have copied images like that several times before on a copier and they came out better quality than that.

I am sure better photos will be leaked eventually.

[sanctified Veteran]

[Glassed Silver]

Crappy photocopier thats for sure. I have copied images like that several times before on a copier and they came out better quality than that.

I am sure better photos will be leaked eventually.

All it takes is a super old photocopier in the court that runs on eco mode (sensible) that scans docs, that are already copies.

This effect can be multiplied when using text mode instead of text&graphic or graphic mode.

You know, Apple's interest is not necessarily to publish HQ marketing pictures here.

Glassed Silver:mac

[techbeck]

All it takes is a super old photocopier in the court that runs on eco mode (sensible) that scans docs, that are already copies.

This effect can be multiplied when using text mode instead of text&graphic or graphic mode.

You know, Apple's interest is not necessarily to publish HQ marketing pictures here.

Glassed Silver:mac

Well, I would think these would be some pretty nice courts with new equipment considering the parties involved. Wonder if an old photo was pulled out of a cabinet some place that was copied with old tech. Who knows.

[Glassed Silver]

Well, I would think these would be some pretty nice courts with new equipment considering the parties involved. Wonder if an old photo was pulled out of a cabinet some place that was copied with old tech. Who knows.

You'd wonder what kind of old junk printers/copiers you can find in "noble" places... :laugh:

Glassed Silver:mac

[.Neo]

Crappy photocopier thats for sure. I have copied images like that several times before on a copier and they came out better quality than that.

Copies tend to degrade quickly when they're copies of copies. Beyond that there is age, brand, type etc.

[svmpatel]

Copies tend to degrade quickly when they're copies of copies. Beyond that there is age, brand, type etc.

Yeah, It's like the Asgard from Stargate SG-1... They were basically copies of copies until they became so degraded that they died out as a race.

[RadishTM Veteran]

Crazy how thick it is now compared to tablets nowadays but for a device that is a decade old, it's certainly a piece of remarkable engineering by Apple.

Going by the other pictures of the display on the prototype, looks like it had tiny vents for heat dissipation around the bezel?

Source: BuzzFeed

[qdave]

Nice huge screen!

Thanks for the better pics Radish.