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Every few months it seems a requirement for the tech press to re-discuss the idea of Apple making a PDA. We all know Apple's been thinking about it, they'd be silly not to. But a new article has surfaced on the topic, this time with actual rumored details. That's right, actual rumored details!

Thank MacNET V2 for fueling the latest hopes for an Apple PDA:

It will use an OS X-like OS, having full integration with iCal, Mail, Address Book, iSync, etc. It will be QuickTime driven, with support for the new codec’s, including Mpeg-4. The display will offer 65k colors and will be as large as the largest Sony Clie (there's that Clie thing again). The screen will be touch-sensitive, using Ink as the input software. Just imagine the latest Clie (!) with an Apple twist, meaning a whole new design concept, a flip screen, and a keyboard, FireWire, USB and Bluetooth. And it will be hard-drive based, using the same hard drive in that the new iPod mini uses, but I'm told the drive will be bigger. I have no idea what the cost will be, nor do I have any information about the processor, RAM, or anything else. However, it won’t matter if you have a Mac or PC, it supposedly works with both platforms through the introduction of iSync with Windows and an arrangement with Microsoft. (you don't think Apple advertised iLife '04 as being "Microsoft Office for the rest of your life" for nothing, did you?)

Honestly, I really hope Apple gets into the game, but this device sounds more like a dream than reality. The alleged release is July of this year, so we'll only need to wait a few more months to find out. As always, the FCC will have to let the cat out of the bag first, since it has a Bluetooth radio that must be approved by the commission.

Related News:
Rumors of an Impending Apple PDA Are False (12/29/2003 10:22:56 PM) - Every few months it becomes popular to find a small piece of evidence that supports the imminent release of an Apple PDA and blow it way out of proportion. Such is the case now, thanks to a misinterpreted article in eWeek that ran December 15th.