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Apple Tablet Devices Detected in Mobile Analytics?

t0mat0

t0mat0

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Aug 29, 2006
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Apple has installed, and presumably testing 200 odd entertainment apps on 50 odd tablet devices, according to Flurry

flurry2300x114.jpg

Through their analytics, they've been seeing devices at Apple's Cupertino campus, with the testing ramping up over January (initially detecting devices back in October).

Flurry apps have embedded tracking code, allowing the app developer analytic services - so Flurry can track what device is using a Flurry enabled app. Flurry is assuming that the unknown devices = tablets - not too far an assumption.

200 different apps were in use on these unknown devices - and these are only the ones with Flurry.The largest number were games, then entertainment, news and books.

So there will likely be a gaming angle, and Apple sure must have those apps working well on the tablet. If you had a list of Flurry apps, you might be able to work out a few that will be ready for the/being shown off on Wednesday.

Flurry also detected a strong theme of sharing and social interaction, with an emphasis on social games, social networking, photo sharing and file transfer.
Click to expand...

They're seeing iPhone OS 3.2 (unreleased) as opposed to current iPhone OS 3.1.2. It ain't running Mac OS X.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/01...ino-based-users-testing-apps-on-apple-tablet/
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/25/apple-tablet-devices-detected-in-mobile-analytics/
I don't know about this one... I mean, it sounds entirely plausible, but still... Testing games on 50 tablets seems like they would be severely risking the potential for someone to leak legitimate information. Good find, nonetheless.
 
robfromabove said:
I don't know about this one... I mean, it sounds entirely plausible, but still... Testing games on 50 tablets seems like they would be severely risking the potential for someone to leak legitimate information. Good find, nonetheless.
Click to expand...

Those companies are likely under NDA, and likely they have the folks working on those apps to show on Wednesday basically locked down in the Apple campus - it has happened before - e.g. Laminar Research, the developers of X-Plane 9,ported their flight sim whilst at Apple's HQ for the Let's Rock media event September last year.

http://hyfen.net/out/links/2008-09/x-plane-gets-inside-peek/

EA - likely to have something (I saw I think on TechCrunch the likelihood of Mirror's Edge being there, as it was shown previously but as yet unreleased (and could do with a bigger display to show off on ?)
 
t0mat0 said:
It ain't running Mac OS X.
Click to expand...

You don't know that and a mobile analytics company can't know that if they're only looking at mobile app stats. Yes, it may be solely running the iPhone OS, but they don't and you don't know that for sure. Could be it runs both OS's. Won't know til Wednesday...
 
Clearly apple would not be capable of blocking programs from using an embedded tracking code in their test devices.

LOL
 
Seth Weintraub of 9to5mac.com gets an update:
Hi Seth,**
**
This is a fair question. We feel confident that we are looking at the tablet device for two main reasons, that I can share with you. Also note that, as a company, we have experience tracking new Apple hardware devices in the past.**
**
1) If this were an iPhone we were looking at, the hardware would tell us when we ask it (via the software). So we can rule out that this is an iPhone. Also, we already see verified iPhone devices testing OS 4.0 and these leave (Apple's Cupertino, CA) campus, whereas this device does not. This makes sense given the secrecy around the new tablet device as the launch event nears.**
2) The apps being tested match up to what the devices is supposed to feature (e.g., news, books, etc.). We cannot share further detail here due to Terms of Service agreements we have with customers that use our service, but feel that if you were able to see the data we see, at the level of granularity, it would be clear to you as well.**
**
Of course the truth will be revealed on Wednesday, but we wouldn't publish such a report without a high level of confidence.**
**
Flurry is not interested in building a business on rumor, but rather authority, credibility and accuracy.**
**
Thanks,**
**
Peter Farago**
VP Marketing**
Flurry, Inc.
Click to expand...

So they're seing OS 3.2 presumably something within the campus that isn't roaming outside which would link to a tablet more likely - with OS 4 on iPhones? I'd imagine Pinch Media Analytics and others to see stuff in their logs too.
 
Apple Tablet Devices Detected in Mobile Analytics?



Mobile analytics firm Flurry yesterday reported that it has detected in its usage data what it believes is evidence of approximately 50 tablet devices in testing at Apple's campus in Cupertino, California. According to the report, the devices are running an as-yet-unreleased iPhone OS 3.2 and have sampled approximately 200 traditional iPhone applications from the App Store.
Using Flurry Analytics, the company identified approximately 50 devices that match the characteristics of Apple's rumored tablet device. Because Flurry could reliably "place" these devices geographically on Apple's Cupertino campus, we have a fair level of confidence that we are observing a group of pre-release tablets in testing. Testing of this device increased dramatically in January, with observed signs of life as early as October of last year. Apple appears to be going through its cycle of testing and polish, which is expected from any hardware or software company as it nears launch.
Click to expand...
The mix of applications being tested on the devices appears to be weighted in favor games and other media and entertainment applications rather than more work-oriented productivity applications.

There has been some question as to how Flurry knows that the new device is the tablet, with speculation suggesting that it could simply be iPhones running iPhone OS 3.2 in testing. Evidence dating as far back as November has pointed to the testing of next-generation iPhone hardware, as well as possible testing of iPhone OS 4.0.

Addressing those questions, Flurry vice-president Peter Farago noted in the comments section of the company's report that it has seen evidence of iPhone hardware running iPhone OS 4.0, and those devices identify themselves as iPhones and leave Apple's campus. The devices presumed to be the tablet do not identify themselves and have not been seen anywhere except on Apple's campus. Farago also hints at usage data patterns it is unable to publicly share as further evidence of the tablet being in use. Still, questions remain about the validity of the data and the interpretation of it.

Article Link: Apple Tablet Devices Detected in Mobile Analytics?
 
The fact is, there is a tablet coming out Wednesday. Otherwise, Apple would have put a stop to all this hype or they'd find their stock plummeting as Jobs introduces iLife 10.
 
"testing and polish"??? - less than 48 hours prior to one of the most anticipated launches in years...what on earth could they polish that hasn't already been done in such a short period of time?
 
Eraserhead said:
Couldn't they just be iPhones running a software update?
Click to expand...

ACtually no here is the reasoning that this company gave 9to5mac when contacted.

Hi Seth,

Flurry inc. said:
This is a fair question. We feel confident that we are looking at the tablet device for two main reasons, that I can share with you. Also note that, as a company, we have experience tracking new Apple hardware devices in the past.

1) If this were an iPhone we were looking at, the hardware would tell us when we ask it (via the software). So we can rule out that this is an iPhone. Also, we already see verified iPhone devices testing OS 4.0 and these leave (Apple's Cupertino, CA) campus, whereas this device does not. This makes sense given the secrecy around the new tablet device as the launch event nears.
2) The apps being tested match up to what the devices is supposed to feature (e.g., news, books, etc.). We cannot share further detail here due to Terms of Service agreements we have with customers that use our service, but feel that if you were able to see the data we see, at the level of granularity, it would be clear to you as well.

Of course the truth will be revealed on Wednesday, but we wouldn't publish such a report without a high level of confidence.

Flurry is not interested in building a business on rumor, but rather authority, credibility and accuracy.

Thanks,

Peter Farago
VP Marketing
Flurry, Inc.
Click to expand...
 
It's weird that people would doubt that it was the tablet. By this time, it's pretty common knowledge that Apple is going to be releasing some sort of tablet device on Wednesday—in other words, as much as Apple wishes otherwise, it is clear to everyone that they are releasing new hardware. The secret isn't that they've got something new up their sleeve, rather, it's what that new thing will do.

ETA: I just saw that Steve Jobs himself even said in the Quarterly Earnings call that they're releasing a new product this week that they're really proud of. The rumor mill gets some things wrong, but not like this.
 
Doubt the Tablet will be running iPhone OS 3.2.

Most likely a new iPhone model.
 
Just my 2 cents, but couldn't it be that what they got are nothing more but the iPhone simulators used to test apps? The ones on computers... computers that wouldn't leave the campus?

And just because the apps are things that are related to the rumors of the tablet does not mean that they are for the tablet. Anyone can make any app for the iPhone and there will, no doubt, be some overlap.

I think this is just too quick of a jump.
 
I just thought, this thing better have flash. If it doesn't, it would fail. Imagine how many more then would sell if the Facebookers could play Farmville on it o.0
 
Sambo110 said:
I just thought, this thing better have flash. If it doesn't, it would fail. Imagine how many more then would sell if the Facebookers could play Farmville on it o.0
Click to expand...

"There's an app for that" ... oh, wait ...
 
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