Apple abandons its automotive: Listed here are different initiatives the corporate has killed

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

Apple has scrapped plans to enter the automotive business with its mysterious autonomous electrical automotive, as a substitute shifting focus to the wildly well-liked 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 staff, 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 varied markets. The corporate did it with the iPod, iPhone, Apple Watch and, most just 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 here are among the extra notable examples of Apple initiatives 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 gadgets at a time. Nevertheless, the corporate canceled the venture in 2019, citing failure to attain 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 gadgets: 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 buyers 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 photographs of the venture surfaced on-line, suggesting it was exploring the addition of a stylus and built-in digital camera. Nevertheless, as former Apple government Dan Russell mentioned in a 2018 weblog publish, the corporate killed the venture as there was “no marketplace for a pill laptop” on the time.

MessageSlate

The Vademecum wasn’t Apple’s solely failed try to 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 system appeared in 1993. Nevertheless, Apple scrapped it and delivered MessagePad, a smaller model of the MessageSlate prototype, later within the yr.

W.A.L.T.

Effectively earlier than the iPhone, Apple examined a “phone Mac” codenamed W.A.L.T. It appeared to have a touchscreen panel with stylus assist and included options resembling 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 system publicly.

PenLite

In 1992, Apple was creating 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. Studies recommended that it will have a stylus and a 25MHz Motorola processor. In contrast to the Vademecum, the PenLite was reportedly in improvement with no digital camera. Apple in the end scrapped that venture, too. Very like the later system, the corporate decided that the market merely wasn’t prepared.