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

ibjoshua said:
Anyone willing to speculate on a name?
iTablet is a bit naff - although iPhone was too but now it has simply entered the vernacular.

I'm not married to these but how about:
Page, Slate, iPod Slate or Touch Slate.
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clearly the Itouch AIR should be a contender. :D
 
Shake-N-Bake said:
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?
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That sounds really cool. What if it could even act as simply a touch screen for your main computer displaying just what was on the screen but essentially be a touch pad (a really big one). This would allow you to have the benefit of the multitouch, but use the power from your main computer.

Oh... And of course that would only be part of it. As you said it could be customizable so it would do everything else you mentioned too.:confused::D
 
Can't wait to see what appears... watch it be a dodecahedron with a different size screen on each size. Just because.

Razeus said:
This tablet rumor is getting out of hand. I'm putting this up there with the iPhone Nano. Ridiculous.
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I wish this forum would quit posting rumors about stuff I don't like, and that they start posting ONLY rumors I like. TOO.
 
wepew said:
That sounds really cool. What if it could even act as simply a touch screen for your main computer displaying just what was on the screen but essentially be a touch pad (a really big one). This would allow you to have the benefit of the multitouch, but use the power from your main computer.

Oh... And of course that would only be part of it. As you said it could be customizable so it would do everything else you mentioned too.:confused::D
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Exactly! It could do both. I really hope they can do this. I think it takes something that is a luxury item and really makes it a necessity because of all the functionality it would provide by using these capabilities.



Also! Another way to look at this is to view this "i Interface" -- touch tablet as an Apple Parasite for Windows PCs.

Think of it like a parasite that comes along and takes control of a larger creature and controls it. So you have the power of the larger Windows computer but you TAME it with Macs brains -- Macs brilliant user interface, that is even more enhanced by the new iPhone touch/sketch interface.

Wouldn't all Windows users be willing to pay for this? And it would be a way for Apple to tap into the Windows market without them having to switch over completely.

Think of it this way.. who WOULDN'T want one of these if it worked this way? Every windows and Mac user would want one of these things.

It's a way for Windows PC owners to get the full Mac experience. I have 2 Windows machines myself and I use a program called Synergy to use one keyboard and mouse for both machines.. I wish I had the Mac touch tablet to control everything in the same way Synergy does but even better -- with the mac UI too!
 
Toy or full Mac OS X work device?

Haven't read pages 2-3, so my apologies if this has already been asked, but...

Will this tablet be an entertainment device (i.e., toy) running iPhone OS like the iPod or will it be a real computer running full Mac OS X? I would oh-so-love to own a small (<10in) full Mac OS X computer and carry it to work/school when needed. Something that runs Office, full Mail, etc. Lugging around my 15" MBP is simply not practical, and my EeePC, well, it's OK and it definitely does the job, but I just don't like Windows very much. In short, any chance for an Apple branded netbook?
 
I don't know why people see iPhone OS as a toy. It is just restricted if they opened it up it would be perfect for a small screen. It would be annoying to try and tap on things with OSX on a 10" screen.
 
wepew said:
This would allow you to have the benefit of the multitouch, but use the power from your main computer.
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But my Windows computer already has pervasive multi-touch - why would I want an add-on wart for that?


Shake-N-Bake said:
...view this "i Interface" -- touch tablet as an Apple Parasite for Windows PCs...
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We already have that parasite - the bloatware called Itunes.


Shake-N-Bake said:
Wouldn't all Windows users be willing to pay for this? And it would be a way for Apple to tap into the Windows market without them having to switch over completely.
Click to expand...

Why bother, when multi-touch is native throughout Windows?

Apple insists on an alien interface that abuses all standard Windows UI conventions - that makes their stuff rather difficult to use and look at.

Why would Windows users want to buy an alien HID from Apple? Look at the poor support Windows users get from Apple - why would they expect an HID to be any better? (Poor support - Itunes not ready when Vista released, "Boot Camp" drivers always a day late and usually a dollar short. Itunes bloat, QuickTime....)


puffnstuff said:
I don't know why people see iPhone OS as a toy. It is just restricted if they opened it up it would be perfect for a small screen. It would be annoying to try and tap on things with OSX on a 10" screen.
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Windows handles this problem with:

- the "10 foot UI" in Windows Media Center. Objects/icons are very big, and "next" and "back" are the best navigational tools.

- the resolution independence in Windows 7 makes it easy to make screen elements bigger - 125% is about right for my 12" multi-touch notebook. (You are right though - if you don't use a stylus you don't want buttons and icons to be much smaller than a fingertip.)
________

The iProd will be very interesting if Apple puts an "Iphone OS" as the default desktop - but you can minimize that "10' UI" and get to OSX underneath. The Iphone UI doesn't require the Iphone OS to be running underneath it.
 
AidenShaw said:
But my main computer already has pervasive multi-touch - why would I want an add-on wart for that?




We already have that parasite - the bloatware called Itunes.




Why bother, when multi-touch is native throughout Windows?

Apple insists on an alien interface that abuses all standard Windows UI conventions - that makes their stuff rather difficult to use and look at.

Why would Windows users want to buy an alien HID from Apple? Look at the poor support Windows users get from Apple - why would they expect an HID to be any better. (Poor support - Itunes not ready when Vista released, "Boot Camp" drivers always a day late and usually a dollar short. Itunes bloat, QuickTime....)
Click to expand...

Honestly, you might be right for all I know. I haven't worked with Macs.. but I always hear how great the UI is compared to windows. Maybe this would be a good way to find out though, if it would work.

From what I have seen of Macs though I have been impressed by the aesthetics of both their devices and their UIs. This is why I have been hoping they would make a tablet for so long. I have no real need for a laptop but I have been wanting a sketch input device so I haven't been able to justify buying one. Having one with all the capabilities of the iPhone/Ipod, and sketch capabilities, would be a great excuse to finally get a tablet and a Mac.

For some reason it is hard for me to imagine a UI worse than Windows. But I put up with it because I really can't afford Mac stuff. Ideally I would have both because both systems seem to have their own benefits and drawbacks. I think this system I proposed could be the best of both worlds.
 
resolution independence. If the device runs the iPhone OS, app store devs could make resolution independent programs to run on ipt/iphone sized screens as well as the proposed 10" tablet sized screen. Also, the only devices we've seen the iPhone OS on are the iphone and the touch. Who knows if the OS is scalable? Didn't Jobs say that iphone OS is essentially OSX when he first unveiled the originial iPhone? It won't be crippled by a 3.5 inch screen if they implement it into this tablet.

As for uses for this thing, I could see apps being made that will directly communicate with your computer. Garageband, for example. Need a keyboard? Get the app. Connect the tablet via usb/bluetooth/wifi to your mac and presto.

Maybe, the iphone and ipod touch were just products to test the waters to see how the app store would take off. You get tons of devs writing applications for these devices, and then the big product comes along. More power, more screen, more everything. Just my .02
 
Good post, hyroboarder! I hope you are right! Would USB or wifi be fast enough/powerful enough to control big apps with no latency though? Or would Firewire be best?
 
Good point. bluetooth most certainly would not in terms of large programs. Yeah i suppose FW could work.

How about a Numark Digital DJ mixer app for their mac/pc music suites?

Or a keyboard app with all those cool colored keys used for high end movie editing? The possibilities are endless! :)
 
hyroboarder said:
Good point. bluetooth most certainly would not in terms of large programs. Yeah i suppose FW could work.

How about a Numark Digital DJ mixer app for their mac/pc music suites?

Or a keyboard app with all those cool colored keys used for high end movie editing? The possibilities are endless! :)
Click to expand...

I know.. I really really hope Apple has this same idea. Imagine having multiple tablets, too? Especially when these things get really cheap.. then you could have them configured for your ideal setup. Each person could have their own custom display and control setup for the projects they do. I wish I worked at Apple on a project like this. It would be so much fun to explore this concept.
 
o0samotech0o said:
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.

Haven't felt the feeling like when the iPhone was unveiled for ages.. :(
Click to expand...

actually, you haven't had that feeling for two years.

we might be expecting "revolutionary" a bit too quickly, you think? (although i'm hoping for it too)
 
ibjoshua said:
...I'm not married to these but how about:
Page, Slate, iPod Slate or Touch Slate.
Click to expand...

well, "slate" implies a writing surface, and if one important function of a new device is as a media viewer, "slate" doesn't sound adequately descriptive. On the other hand, "touch" doesn't exactly describe the iPod touch, either--it describes how you use it, not what it does. True, the touchscreen was an exciting innovation but it's the means, not the end.

So what about the iConduit, to describe what the product actually does:

It's your conduit into viewing movies, tv shows. Your conduit to your contacts, your email, your document files and photos. Your conduit to books. Your conduit to your life; your conduit to the future.

Or substitute "iPortal" for "iConduit". The point remains the same.

As an aside, I'm hoping for something with either its own OS or the full MacOSX. I find the idea of developers pitching hundreds of computer (not phone) apps at me very appealing.
 
AidenShaw said:
...Look at the poor support Windows users get from Apple - why would they expect an HID to be any better? (Poor support - Itunes not ready when Vista released, "Boot Camp" drivers always a day late and usually a dollar short. Itunes bloat, QuickTime....)
Click to expand...

it sounds like apple's support for windows users has deteriorated to the level of, what, Microsoft support for Windows users? Have you read either of Mossberg's recent columns about the intro of the new Windows version? It's amazing the contortions (and expenses) Windows users tolerate.

That said, i'm not thrilled by the support Apple users sometimes get from apple, either. There are embarrassing flaws in Mail and iCal, given that they're the only choices that integrate fully with MobileMe, the iPhone, etc. If there were other choices for those tasks with full integration, it would be easier to say, "well, apple's offerings suck but it doesn't really matter." Given the actual circumstances, it does suck. And I'm a fanboy!
 
cstromme said:
That would actually be 4 times the size as we're talking about the diagonal measurement.
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and at the same resolution would allow three standard iPhone apps to run side by side with a 12 icon dock along the bottom. Which would a great set up for multi tasking.
 
rdowns said:
As cool as these sound, I still don't see the killer app here. If, as said, it's a movie/TV player and Internet surfing toy, forget it. I can see it replacing my laptop when it's time but I don't see me buying one in addition to a desktop, laptop and iPhone.
Click to expand...

It's not for people who have decent laptop or an iPhone. It's for people for whom an iPod Touch is too small, and a MacBook is too big/heavy/expensive and maybe even too hard-to-maintain. There are millions of potential customers who don't currently own any of those Apple products (except maybe an older iPod for music). Figure out what to sell these people, and it could be a killer hit, even if most MacForum regulars absolutely hate it.
 
DELLsFan said:
Well thanks ... I think. You may feel differently after the new Precious is released. And speaking of released ... it's ok to let your geek come out for some air ... into the light ... the Green light. :D

greenlantern.jpg
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"In brightest day
in blackest night
no evil shall escape my sight.
Let those who worship evil's might,
beware my power...
Green Lantern's light!"

Ahhh yeah another GL fan. Saw the animated movie and I'm surprised at how raw it really is. Liked it.

Too bad that this just cannot be made into a successful real life movie, yet.
 
my prediction for the "tablet"

it has a docking station that positions it like a monitor or laptop screen. this docking station can connect to a keyboard but there is an onscreen keyboard when it isn't docked.
 
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