Apple Worked on Mac Tablet, 15-Inch MacBook Air, and iPod 'Super Nano,' Internal Email Shows

Internal Apple emails have revealed that the company discussed offering a Mac tablet, a 15-inch MacBook Air model, an iPod "Super nano," and more.

macbook air 13 inch
An email shared by the Twitter account Internal Tech Emails, disclosed as part of Epic Games' legal dispute with Apple, shows an Apple executive team meeting agenda written by Steve Jobs from August 2007, just two months after the launch of the original iPhone. The document sets out discussion points for a number of Apple products that were never released.

The agenda refers to a 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ model for 2008. The ‌MacBook Air‌ that actually debuted in 2008 was a 13-inch model, and in 2010 the company introduced an 11-inch version. The 15-inch display size was kept for the MacBook Pro only and never came to the ‌MacBook Air‌, but there is now concrete evidence that the company was seriously considering a larger ‌MacBook Air‌ variant.

Rumors about a 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ model recently resurfaced, with Apple reportedly looking once again at offering a larger screen size on its ultra-thin laptop.

The document also refers to a Mac tablet. This device may simply have been a precursory concept to the iPad, which was introduced in 2010, but it is of note that the company specifically considered a tablet form factor for the Mac at first.

The agenda mentions an iPod "Super nano," priced at $199 and seemingly set to launch in 2008. This price point is $50 more expensive than the 4GB base model third-generation iPod nano that was released just one month after this email was sent. The iPod Super nano appears to be a distinctly different device to the third-generation iPod nano, but it is possible that it could have been an alternative name and price point for this device instead.

Finally, the email mentions a "new iPod shuffle" for 2008, but this model was seemingly never released. The second-generation iPod shuffle launched in 2006, and the third-generation iPod shuffle launched in 2009. There were two new series of colors released in February and September 2008, but no new model. It is possible that Apple originally planned to launch the third-generation of the device in 2008, but after delays it may have been pushed to the following year.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air

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Top Rated Comments

and 1989 others Avatar
52 months ago
Ill bet there is a room somewhere deep inside the Apple campus full of prototype devices that never made it to market.

I would love to see inside that room.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
infinitejest Avatar
52 months ago
Of course they've tested macOS on a tablet. Of course they've considered a 15 inch MacBook Air. Is this really surprising?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Freeangel1 Avatar
52 months ago
Even the current M1 laptops that are out I looked at. The screen real estate was SO SMALL.
So I say Bring on the 15" MacBook Air.
16 to 17" is my favorite in a laptop.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macinfojunkie Avatar
52 months ago
A big company considers many different ideas before going to market with final offerings that have the most appeal and best chance of success.... now that's revolutionary! /s.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rpmurray Avatar
52 months ago
A memo from 1972 found in the back of a drawer in my desk says I was considering buying a flying car by 2001. That product never materialized.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scupking Avatar
52 months ago
A 15inch air would be great! They should have a 13 and 15 Air and a 14 and 16 pro.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)