Apple Investigating a Range of Tablet Screens From 4 to 12 Inches?

[DeepIn2U]

How about an Apple POS system? (Point of Sale)

They have the technology and the niche is currently owned by Symbol (a Motorola division).

That *could* explain the various screen sizes.

Anyone thought of an Apple IP phone? To compete with Cisco? Again, they have the technology and could pull it off...

Woah! Hold your horses there buddy.

1. POS system. Are we talking static system in stores or portable? Its not just Symbol that offers them and not all are PPC devices, most or pure WinCE or worse. Also, getting into such a market means replacing the wireless link, the database in use, servers, links to other corporations and their DB for the orders or shipments received. More than you thought of. However, Apple does use their iMacs for their stores for static point of sale terminals.

2. Go up against CISCO?!! You realize that the whole PBX, IPSEC is CISCO's bread and butter right? This is industry standard technologies. Apple in the past is known for mixing standard tech with their own proprietary tech =/ never good for business.

Avaya also participates heavy in this industry. And its more than just the "iphone" that users or corporate business' wish to use their smartphones to have 1 line with - personal out of WLAN range, corporate line when in range.

To get into this corporate business Apple is up against:
Microsoft (Exchange is going pure Unified Communications)
IBM (again UC via Lotus Notes/Domino and sub applications)
Avaya (PBX phones, terminals)
CISCO (same as Avaya - larger margins larger customer base)
Polygon (VoIP ... Video/Voice over IP with HD definition).
etc etc.

I like your thinking ... and Apple SHOULD for the love of god start catering to the corporate world too. I still feel Jobs is scorned due to that Lemons commecial long ago.

 

[londonmystery]

I would love to get my hands on a 12 inch one!

Now thats funny, lmao.

 

[rdowns]

How about an Apple POS system? (Point of Sale)

They have the technology and the niche is currently owned by Symbol (a Motorola division).

That *could* explain the various screen sizes.

Anyone thought of an Apple IP phone? To compete with Cisco? Again, they have the technology and could pull it off...

Really grasping at straws here. Apple is a consumer electronics company. They are hardly entering the retail POS or IP phone markets.

To me, the questions are whether they position this product an as iPod or as a computer and whether it will run iPhone OS or OS X.

The marketer in me says it will be tied to the App Store where development will explode even further and Apple can start raking in some cash from app sales. Apple didn't open the App Store to sell 99¢ and free applications.

 

[mdriftmeyer]

How about an Apple POS system? (Point of Sale)

They have the technology and the niche is currently owned by Symbol (a Motorola division).

That *could* explain the various screen sizes.

Anyone thought of an Apple IP phone? To compete with Cisco? Again, they have the technology and could pull it off...

Well said.

 

[o0samotech0o]

Isn't it about time Apple made a really revolutionary product, like the iPhone was when it came out. All it seems to be now with apple is product revisions. If this tablet is 'normal' i'll be a bit miffed..That is if it really is actually real.

Haven't felt the feeling like when the iPhone was unveiled for ages..

-Sam

 

[SandynJosh]

How about an Apple POS system? (Point of Sale)

Uhmmm...there's an app for that.

On the idea of Apple picking one product out of several different size screens, What if they are planning on coming out with a couple size choices, both having the same form factor as the iTouch/Phone, just scaled up.

The current iPhone/Touch software allows for auto-scaling, so it would be a no-brainer to suddenly have a family of devices, not just a single tablet.

 

[Razeus]

This tablet rumor is getting out of hand. I'm putting this up there with the iPhone Nano. Ridiculous.

 

[pelicanflip]

those tablets will NEVER replace a notebook. they are in addition to a desktop and an iphone.

they are a toy for all the times you don't want to drag you notebook out of a bag and wait for it start up. and they are for all the applications where the iphone is just too small.

i want one in 8" - 12 " inch. only requirement is that most of the mac application run in some form and that most of the iphone apps run. battery life should be epic, wifi and 3G/4G. great screen, please a stylus, less than $799.

obviously it's not meant to replace a notebook or any other laptop. Same thing as the Macbook Air, it's just a nice thing to have, but by no means an actual replacement for a much more powerful laptop like the MBP.

 

[Nausicaa]

I still think that with an associated app store and open sdk, an Apple tablet computer would be a huge hit. I'm convined the iPhone app store is a large reason for its success. The possibilities would be nearly endless - especially with the added screen size and (likely) processing power.

I do wonder if the technology is there yet. For a device like this to be successful it needs to be light-weight, reasonably powerful, and not to expensive. Too heavy and slow, and it won't be dynamic enough to meet it's potential. Too expensive and it will only find a niche audience - limiting the potential for an app store.

Other than that, I don't see too many reasons why people wouldn't get a well-designed tablet over a more conventional laptop. It will of course need a more robust OS than the iPhone, and perhaps some native software apple can use to show off its potential (see iWork/iLife - perhaps with a new app for artists and designers). As an artist myself I'd appreciate some way to recognize pressure sensitivity, but I'm not holding my breath. The main drawback is the lack of a keyboard. But aside from lengthy word processing, I imagine Apple has a completely workable solution for text input.

Some people have been looking at this as a media device or a universal remote. That sort of functionality seems way too limited for the likely cost of such a device (I think $700-800 is totally unrealistic).

 

[QCassidy352]

so we've moved from rumors of a tablet to rumors of several tablets. now that's what I call progress.

(FWIW, I think there's no way apple will release more than one size of this thing, whatever it is, at least at first. they'll keep it simple at first and expand the line later if there's demand for it.)

 

[profets]

What I am thinking a killer app for a larger iPhone/Tablet would be is as a peripheral device for your primary computer... thnk of it as a "keyboard" from the future, completely customizable and that has actual computing power in addition.... oh yeah.. and on top of that, while you aren't using it as a peripheral it would also be the ideal personal media player available.

What I am thinking is that if you just try to market this Mac Tablet as a pure media device it seems kind of redundant to a laptop or even your primary PC. BUT if you market it as primarily an interface device that you use with your current computer.. be it Mac or pc then you have a killer app for this device. And this is on top of all the things it can do that the iPhone and iPod can do as well.

So when I say use it as a peripheral let me flesh that out a bit. let's say you are a film student.. and in your spare time you make a lot of student films. You know how there are those machines editors use when making films that have all kinds of buttons and sliders to make editing more efficient and easily controlled? They have the same thing for audio editors too.. like a big panel with all kinds of sliders etc.

Well.. the iPhone touch interface in a tablet form would be the PERFECT interactive canvas for making all kinds of customizable interfaces for this purpose. Any application you could think of you could have a custom control panel designed to use in conjunction with your primary computer. And the great thing about this is that rather than having this tablet that is JUST a low tier laptop.. instead you have something that can be used with your primary computer to make it more powerful and easier to use.

Basically, I view this as being an attachment for your computer, be it apple or PC, that makes it better and more usable.. whether it is by making a custom control panel with all different kinds of controls.. or as an input device for drawing OR just as a way of multitasking. Rather than having to upgrade our computer the tablet is a way of adding another monitor.. or another control method or just more RAM for multitasking.

So you could attach the tablet to your computer and it works in conjunction with it communicating and controlling it or working in tandem with it. Imagine you want to use your primary PC for some big task like rendering something.. your tablet could work in conjunction with your PC to play music so as not to sap your main computers resources. But what makes it so great is that it is connected to your computer rather than just isolated.

My only questions are whether Jobs WOULD do this.. would he make a device that works with Windows machines? And could he do this.. is it logistically possible to make a device like this that could work seamlessly with both macs and PCs as a peripheral for all different kinds of apps. If Jobs isn't going this route that I envision is it possible the Mac touch tablet could later be modified and customized for this purpose contrary to Apple's plans or in addition to them?

you have some very interesting ideas there, and i like them quite a bit. but i don't see apple selling a device this complex.. if they were to sell, i would think its something that people would buy and can use out of the box without worrying about a computer

 

[AidenShaw]

Apple should buy OQO and make this thing with Mac OS X inside. The full Mac OS X in your pocket with just 450 g:

OQO model 2+
http://www.oqo.com

Note the 3G on the OQO:

Integrated Gobi worldwide 3G EV-DO Rev. A / HSPA

The future of global connectivity has arrived. Qualcomm's Gobi™ Global Mobile Internet is the first embedded multi-mode solution that supports both of the world's leading 3G cellular standards (EV-DO/HSPA). The OQO model 2+ incorporates a proprietary penta-band antenna for broad international coverage and is operable as an open-SIM device on GRPS/EDGE, UMTS, and HSPA.

When traveling internationally, you can switch from one network to another by acquiring a new SIM card from a local carrier. As well, the OQO model 2+ can be used on both Sprint and Verizon wireless networks.

A key benefit is that the 2+ with embedded Gobi is not locked to any particular carrier. You can change carriers at any time. Gobi can help streamline your asset management with a single global SKU that can be used with multiple carriers and geographies.

Gobi modules are capable of speeds up to 7.2Mbps and upload speeds up to 2.0Mbps.
​

Think that Apple could do that - let their customers choose any 3G carrier that they want?

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Really grasping at straws here. Apple is a consumer electronics company. They are hardly entering the retail POS or IP phone markets.

To me, the questions are whether they position this product an as iPod or as a computer and whether it will run iPhone OS or OS X.

The marketer in me says it will be tied to the App Store where development will explode even further and Apple can start raking in some cash from app sales. Apple didn't open the App Store to sell 99¢ and free applications.

Research more. Apple doesn't sell 99c and free apps. Developers do that. Developers also sell apps for > $50 on the App store.

 

[Ericatomars]

hmmm... is bigger always better?

please the last thing i wanna see is a bunch of dudes carrying man bags... they are never appealing or cute

 

[wigby]

[update] story seeded by apple

this is such a bogus story that apple deliberately told kaufman bros. or someone near them who spread it around. apple does not want too many sources pinpointing one tablet size with one set of specs so they are spread misinformation.

apple did the same thing right before the iphone 3gs. remember all the conflicting stories? some were from apple. some were from "journalists" and some were from fanboys. put all those sources together and you get a website like this one.

not that theres anything wrong with macrumors

 

[biscuitboy]

Mac tablet

Hopefully it'll be large enough to accomodate an Apple designed e-reader for books available thru iTunes.

 

[RyanR.]

I feel a iTab & a iTab Pro in the near future. I'm really looking forward to this thing. Now I just need some money

 

[Macman1993]

I would love to get my hands on a 12 inch one!

Sorry can't resist: Thats what she said!

I think that a 12 inch tablet would be to much but a 7-10 inch screen with multi touch and maybe a stylus for handwriting would be nice. I think if apple put a virtual keyboard on a device that big it would have to be pressure sensing screen. If it didn't people wouldn't be able to rest their fingers on the "A S D F J K L ;" keys as they just start typing. I know when I type I often leave fingers sitting on a key or 2 especially when I am just starting typing. Although some software might be able to fix this for most situations what if a user wants to set some hotkeys then they wouldn't work, so if apple were to build in pressure sensors then for typing the device would know only to type that key if the same amount of pressure as you put on a key to push it down when typing. That way people can leave their fingers sitting on the device and still be able to type easily.

 

[shiftmx05]

That would actually be 4 times the size as we're talking about the diagonal measurement.

Well actually...
He said he wants double the size of the iPhone
so if the iPhone screen is 3.5 inches Diagonally...
Im pretty sure that double that is 7 inches :/

 

[brandonzar]

As a grad-student who walks around campus all the time I would love for Apple to release a 9-10 inch tablet to replace my 15" MBP. The MBP is more than I need most of the time and I can always use my iMac at home or one of the computers in the lab if I need more computing power.

In order for the tablet to replace the MBP though it is going to need a few things:
-Has to run full Mac OSX, the iPhone OS would be a waste of my time because I have several specialty programs that I doubt will show up in the app store and if it can only run 1 app at a time it would be useless
-Must have a dock so that I can use a USB or bluetooth keyboard while at my desk
-Adobe Flash
-An SDHC card slot like the new new MBP's, extra space for music and movies and a way to get content (like PDFs) on the device without having to download it from the internet or use email (this is sorely missing on the iPhone)
-Speech to text input and handwriting recognition with a stylus
-processing power equal to the MacBook Air
-Not tied to a mobile phone carrier, it's bad enough having Apple tell me what I can use the device for without someone else chiming in

I'm guessing this is way to much to ask for from Apple though as I'm sure that they are more interested in producing the next media marvel because that is where they make their money (I can't really blame them as they do need to make money). Whatever it is that they release, it will likely be hamstrung with hardware and software limitations just like the iPhone.

Sorry for the pessimism but I'm getting really frustrated with the iPhone's limitations as the novelty has worn off and I'm trying to get some work done on it.

 

[mixel]

I know the chances are slim to non-existant, but i'd really like wacom/pressure sensitive input support in any tablet machine.

Without it the machine would likely be a gimmick to me.. With that it could be a godsend.

 

[Roy Hobbs]

Hopefully it'll be large enough to accomodate an Apple designed e-reader for books available thru iTunes.

I don't see an iTunes eBooks store happening. Why compete with the Amazon Kindle Store and the Barnes and Noble store?

If the could strike a deal for in app purchases from Amazon that would be perfect, Apple gets a cut and I can re use my Kindle purchases on the new tablet.

 

[Shake-N-Bake]

you have some very interesting ideas there, and i like them quite a bit. but i don't see apple selling a device this complex.. if they were to sell, i would think its something that people would buy and can use out of the box without worrying about a computer

Thanks! I think you may be right. I could see Jobs approaching this as you say.. I know he likes simplicity and a simple sales pitch.. BUT what I think seperates this product is that unlike a laptop, or a desktop, this touch tablet is believed to not be powerful enough to be a real stand alone computer. So, when you consider that, I think you need this synergy with your desktop to be really successful. I also think it would be kind of crazy to have such a revolutionary and expensive product and use it in such a limited fashion. But, it would require a huge amount of R&D to develop this concept. So it's possible they could let this use for it grow organically on it's own when users get their hands on it.

Here are some more thoughts I have on this concept of using the touch tablet as an interface device/peripheral..

The problems as I see it is demand for such an input device is near zero today.

I agree there is little to no demand here right now. But I believe this is because people don't realize the capabilities. If they did I think they would go nuts over this idea.

A good way to think of this is as a SUPER customizable keyboard... I have seen a lot of hype for a keyboard that had customizeable OLED buttons. This touch interface would kick that things butt so bad it's not even funny.

BUT.. on top of that great feature.. you can also use it for tons of other things... AND it allows you to use that extra power it provides on the go as a modular computer to make your home system more powerful by adding multitasking. It takes something that is completely redundant and a luxury on it''s own.. and then by allowing it to work with your computer makes it extremely valuable and useful.

On top of that I don't see a general way to use a tablet with desktop apps.

I have a lot of questions about the logistics of it. How efficient would it be? Would it slow your computer and user interface down?

But if that wasn't an issue I can see COUNTLESS uses for this. Think of it this way... the ONLY use for your normal keyboard would be for text editing. But for EVERYTHING else I could see this tablet interface as being incredibly efficient. Think of when you are using photoshop.. you could use your main monitor for all kinds of reference images or for storing color palettes but do all your image manipulating on your touch screen. Or if you are editing video you would have your playback image all on your main monitor and then use your touch interfacer for all the manipulating and control.

I do think it would take a lot of time to really understand how to use a system like this efficiently and intuitively.. lots and lots of R&D.. but the reason for that is all the capabilities and new possibilities this kind of interface would provide. The possibilities are limitless IMO.


Also.. imagine using MULTIPLE of these Mac tablets in this fashion. You could have all kinds of interactive control mechanism or display mechanism for different element of your computer. The possibilities are truly incredible.. but it requires actually playing with them to explore those possibilities fully I think.

This actually makes me wonder if we will see Apple move away from the iMac design and move to a central appliance like system. So you would have your central brain computer and then multiple modular visual/touch pads people use for monitoring and controlling their computer.. all working together and interacting.. like parts of one large brain.

If you want more capabilities or control you buy another tablet and it grows organically.

 

[Full of Win]

I know the chances are slim to non-existant, but i'd really like wacom/pressure sensitive input support in any tablet machine.

Without it the machine would likely be a gimmick to me.. With that it could be a godsend.

As an owner of a Tablet PC since 2004, I'm also for this as well. However, I think we have a better chance of seeing an Apple-Microsoft merger than this happening. Besides, the aftermarket has provided us with other options, albeit expensive ones.

 

[wwooden]

I would love to get my hands on a 12 inch one!

That's what she said.......