From AirPower to deserted tablets, Apple’s highway to success is plagued by failures

Apple has scrapped plans to enter the automotive trade with its mysterious autonomous electrical automobile, as a substitute shifting focus to the wildly widespread world of generative AI. The venture noticed the corporate 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 corporate.

The so-called Venture Titan had reportedly been within the works since 2014. It may have confirmed stiff competitors for Tesla and others, given Apple’s historical past of disrupting numerous markets. The corporate did it with the iPod, iPhone, Apple Watch and, most lately, with its AirPods (the jury remains to be out on Imaginative and prescient Professional).

However not each venture has been a rousing success for the corporate. Previous to Venture Titan, there have been a number of Apple efforts that did not see the sunshine of day. Listed below are a few of the extra notable examples of Apple tasks that didn’t hit the market.

AirPower

Picture Credit: 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 customary to cost as much as three units at a time. Nevertheless, the corporate canceled the venture in 2019, citing failure to realize its “excessive requirements.” Apple changed the AirPower with its folding journey charger MagSafe Duo in 2020. However 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.

Tv

Apple’s tv (to not be confused with Apple TV) is one other instance of a long-rumored venture that did not materialize. Analysts and traders anticipated the arrival of a full-fledged ultra-high-definition TV set from the corporate again in 2011. Like Venture 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 primary iPad. In 1994, some early photos of the venture surfaced on-line, suggesting it was exploring the addition of a stylus and built-in digicam. Nevertheless, as former Apple government Dan Russell mentioned in a 2018 weblog submit, the corporate killed the venture as there was “no marketplace for a pill pc” on the time.

MessageSlate

The Vademecum wasn’t Apple’s solely failed try and design a desk. At roughly the identical time, the corporate was additionally engaged on a Newton OS-based venture known as MessageSlate (codenamed Senior). A trademark software for the machine appeared in 1993. Nevertheless, Apple scrapped it and delivered MessagePad, a smaller model of the MessageSlate prototype, later within the 12 months.

W.A.L.T.

Nicely earlier than the iPhone, Apple examined a “phone Mac” codenamed W.A.L.T. It appeared to have a touchscreen panel with stylus help and included options similar to fax and caller ID. Some early items of W.A.L.T. even surfaced on eBay for public sale. Nevertheless, Apple by no means mentioned the machine publicly.

PenLite

In 1992, Apple was growing one other pill. PenLite seemed to be primarily based on System 7.1 — the primary model of Apple’s Macintosh working system designed for PowerPC-based computer systems. Reviews instructed that it could have a stylus and a 25MHz Motorola processor. In contrast to the Vademecum, the PenLite was reportedly in growth with no digicam. Apple finally scrapped that venture, too. Very similar to the later machine, the corporate decided that the market merely wasn’t prepared.