This article at AppleInsier discusses Intel’s new line of “ultra-mobile” processors and suggests that Apple could use them to create some slick new handheld devices. Especially gawk-worthy is a concept hardware photo of a horzontally-enhanced iPhone.

The small chip size makes a ton of sense for Apple’s mobile devices, but also note the lower power consumption. If I could pick one small flaw of the iPods is the battery situation that gets progressively worse as the internal battery dries up. I find even the brand new iPod Touch requires a lot more charging than I’d like.

And MacDailyNews inspires the possibility that Apple might use such a chip in a revived Newton or some tablet Mac:

“More specifically, those same people say, Apple has taken a liking to the upcoming 45-nanometer (nm) “Silverthorne” chip, agreeing to use it in not one but multiple products currently situated on its 2008 calendar year product roadmap,” Jade reports.

Not one, but multiple products? iPhone, iPod, and… something else? Drool, drool.

I recall back in 2005, Apple mentioned that one reason for the switch from Power PC to Intel was a future roadmap that looked more appealing for future products. From several-years-old Macworld article:

“Mac users have come to see that Apple had good reasons for kissing PowerPC goodbye. The company knows trends when it sees them: mobile computing has moved past being a mere fad among a few users to become a way of life for many consumers. Yet PowerPC chips aren’t traveling down this road. Apple also needs faster chips, with more room to grow, and a chip partner with a clear roadmap for the future.”

This ultra-mobile stuff presently emerging may be that roadmap coming to fruition. Perhaps something related to this chip-stuff will emerge at MacWorld 2008.

Disclosure: I own a tiny amount of Apple stock.

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