Does the future promise one converged communicator, PC, and personal media player device networked to other smaller, wearable devices in a personal area network, and that dock’s to other larger fixed in-home and in-vehicle communications and infotainment consoles? Intel’s I have seen the future, step into tomorrow Video captures that vision…

While Intel depicts this future vision, Apple's iPhone delivers the vision today and expect version 2 to take it further. Consider the following supporting food for thought on why…

At Home

The ipod is arguably the most successful personal media player in history, with enormously large memory capacity able to store volumes of video and audio consumed on the device directly or on larger screens or audio players via console-docking stations. Extend the docking station to the iPhone with Apple TV, and it can conceivably become an all-in-one set-top-box, gaming console, personal media player, information scheduler, communicator, and beyond—one that goes with you after leaving the home.

In the Vehicle

Some recently dismissed the idea that Apple gains anything by working with Mercedes on an in-vehicle navigation system. Again, the iPod is arguably the most successful personal media player in history, broadcast radio is all but a dead or dying media, and a majority of new vehicles come equipped with iPod connectivity built-in or as available aftermarket accessories. iPod’s are replacing legacy in-vehicle entertainment systems already, so why not navigation systems as well? While I agree it doesn’t make sense for Apple to consider making a dedicated PND or in-dash system for vehicles, it does however make sense for automotive manufacturers to equip vehicles with dedicated iPhone docking stations that couple as A/V media centers and navigation systems.