Lenovo Skylight
| Company type | Product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics, Computing |
| Founded | January 2010 |
| Founder | Richard Sapper (designer) |
| Defunct | May 28, 2010 |
| Fate | Discontinued, project cancelled |
Key people | Richard Sapper (designer), David Hill (VP of Brand Management) |
| Products | Smartbook device |
Lenovo Skylight represented a compact, portable computing device equipped with mobile data functionality, commonly referred to as a smartbook. This product, crafted by designer Richard Sapper for Lenovo, was introduced in January 2010 but discontinued within half a year.
Design
The concept for Skylight originated from Richard Sapper following a meeting on November 12, 2008, with David Hill, Lenovo's Vice President of Brand Management. Despite stringent time constraints, Sapper managed to produce two fully realized prototypes by December 18, 2008, initiating development even prior to receiving formal authorization.
Included with the device was a USB accessory initially designed as a detachable telephone headset to enhance its wireless communication capabilities.
History
In October 2008, Lenovo submitted a device to the FCC that was speculated to be this smartbook. Qualcomm anticipated unveiling a smartbook during an analyst event in November 2009. Lenovo presented a concept model with plans for an official reveal at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2010. The product was officially named "Skylight" in early January 2010, accompanied by detailed technical specifications.
The Skylight was intended for release in the United States via AT&T at a price point of $499 USD without requiring a contract, with customers expected to purchase separate data plans for 3G access outside Wi-Fi zones. The target launch timeframe was April 2010.
Distinctive design elements included a semicircular chassis, an enlarged touchpad, and a USB port protruding from the keyboard area. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon platform and running a customized Linux OS, Skylight emphasized internet browsing, messaging, and media consumption through an interface featuring widget-like "web gadgets."
On May 28, 2010, Lenovo announced the cancellation of the Skylight project via press release, indicating a strategic shift toward Android-based mobile devices instead.