Apple Issues Invitations for January 27th Media Event

[mambodancer]

Uhh, Ohhh...

I can just see it now…

The stage is set, the demos done. Apple broadens the MacBook Air product line but shows no Slate. Steve begins to walk off the stage, hesitates, turns around and says…

“One more thing…”

He walks up to the MacBook Air, the audience holds their breath, he takes an iPhone from his pocket and launches an app as he proudly proclaims:

“Introducing Transformer Tech!”

The MacBook reconfigures itself “whoop, whamp, pfft, zirrr, whap, whap” into THE APPLE SLATE!

The crowd goes freakin’ ape crap!

Then, a bright light shines from the slate as it levitates off the pedestal. A hushed silence fills the hall.

Steve takes a step back, then another. A puzzled look on his face.

The slate speaks:

“This is the voice of Macintosh. This is the voice of World Control…"

 

[mcmlxix]

...that is other than the defunct iBook...

My iBook is still very funct, thank you very much.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

ie tap with four fingers to throw the paint at the canvas.

Non-targeted, randomly sized paint splotches are useful how?

Touchscreens and gestures are great for choosing items or even commands off a menu, but are useless for any manner of graphics or illustration work.

Fingerips: Fingerpainting.
Stylus: Drawing, Painting, Blending, Writing... anything where you need accuracy and control.

Even mice aren't accurate enough, which is why Illustration programs which were originally written for them are full of tools to define and refine curves and lines. And they're still tedious and time-consuming compared to what you do with a pen and a sheet of paper. An inch-wide circle area of uneven pressure from a fingertip is even worse. You can try it out on a Motion LE1700 running photoshop. It's pointless, and exactly why Wacom is in business selling simple digitizer pads and digitizer monitors at a premium.

 

[50548]

Apple's Latest Creation
appleSLATEstcreation

Apple Slate

Good point

 

[50548]

Yeah, although you have to think someone at Apple got yelled at for forgetting the State of the Union.

Apple doesn't want to share the spotlight with anyone — especially if this is as big as everyone is making it out to be (another leg of Apple's corporate stool).

The entire day is going to be filled with State of the Union preview coverage on all the major news networks (CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, etc). The is the first State of the Union of the first African American President of the United States. It’s going to be a big deal.

If you remember, the iPhone announcement took up quite a bit of the news cycle in January of 2007.

My local news stations even did stories on it.

If they had the chance it do it again, I’m sure they would pick another day.

Considering that the rest of the world counts for more than 50% of Apple's sales, and that it couldn't care less about a US president's annual speech, I would say that next Wednesday is absolutely fine for an Apple event.

 

[EvilEmpire1212]

I think this invitation works on many levels...

"Come see our latest creation."
Probably one great new product - the tablet. This doesn't mean there won't be iLife and iPod updates since these wouldn't be new "creations."

The iPod nano colors.
Probably iPod touch, and possible iPhones in multiple colors, and quite possibly, at lower price points. There is also a possibility of the tablet coming in multiple colors. While I am not particularly interested in owning a brightly colored tablet, netbooks of all colors are selling pretty well. If the price point for a tablet was low enough and a multitude of colors were offered, these could really be attractive from the get-go to a consumer-base much wider than techies with a hard-on for the latest and greatest.

The overall image...
I really think Apple will be marketing this tablet as a mobile device that can do it all - with a focus on content creation. I think the introduction of a new iLife suite that works well on this new device will be something Apple will want to promote heavily from launch. If Apple can convince the typical consumer that he/she can do pretty much everything they already do on a desktop machine and then some (social networking, web browsing, document creation, gaming, media sharing, etc) then this device could really take off.

Also, I'm excited to see what the print companies have to offer on a device like this. Imagine what textbooks would be like... you can have embedded video content, the ability to copy and paste portions of text for notation... maybe even the option to record the lecture and link it with sections of the text. Storytelling would change dramatically as well. Maybe we won't see media as Film/Video, Print, and Audio Recording anymore, but rather something in between. Maybe "bonus" materials for books/magazines like on a DVD/Blu-Ray.

This is all still speculation since there really isn't any hard evidence confirming the existence of a tablet, though the chance of their not being one at this point (with all the rumors and facts floating about) would be highly unlikely. The only thing that is safe to rely on is the fact that we're all super-amped for the upcoming event! Whatever Steve-o brings us will be revolutionary, I'm sure.

 

[Carniphage]

The overall image...
I really think Apple will be marketing this tablet as a mobile device that can do it all - with a focus on content creation.

Why would content creators need a tablet? They need powerful machines, with professional applications running on a desktop OS.

Content creation is not, and will never be a mass-market proposition. Content creation is always dwarfed by content-consumption. Music outsells musical instruments, TVs outsell video cameras - Books have always outsold typewriters.

This product will be a media consuming device, which puts it on the iPod side of Apple, not the Mac side of Apple.

Running apps will give it limited productivity functionality, but the focus will be firmly on reading, web-browsing, movies, TV, games and social networking.

In other words - pretty much all the stuff that normal people do with computers these days. For many ordinary people, this will be all the computer they need.

What if you want to create content? Buy a Mac!

C.

 

[EvilEmpire1212]

Why would content creators need a tablet? They need powerful machines, with professional applications running on a desktop OS.

I was referring to content creation for consumers, not professionals. I'm talking about the bloggers, the YouTubers, and those needing to create documents on the run... the consumers that iLife is targeted at.

 

[Carniphage]

I was referring to content creation for consumers, not professionals. I'm talking about the bloggers, the YouTubers, and those needing to create documents on the run... the consumers that iLife is targeted at.

As a market - that seems to be a niche of a niche.

And I still don't buy it. Even amateur writers need keyboards. Amateur video creators need external hard drives. Amateur artists need Photoshop (and a big monitor).

My money is firmly on content consumption.

On un-productivity.

C.

 

[ChocoTaco]

There is NO WAY on Earth this thing is only used for content consumption.

That would be the biggest waste of technology and research EVER. Just the FingerWorks HISTORY and what we have seen in the iPhone should tell you that.

The touch display on the iPhone wasn't put there for content consumption.. it was a stealth way of introducing and exploring the touch interface.. which will revolutionize how we interact with our computers.


http://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_han_demos_his_breakthrough_touchscreen.html

If Apple was only interested in content consumption for the tablet there is no way the iPhone has a touch interface. It's really overkill for such a limited application. The same would be true of a media tablet.

If the tablet was just being used for media they would likely just have a small touch pad like on the Mac laptops.

The touchscreen on the iPhone was prep for the tablet and the tablet is prep for the touch interface expanding to the entire Apple PC and monitor line. This is why you hear about touch tech going to the iMac now.

 

[Carniphage]

The touch display on the iPhone wasn't put there for content consumption..

Err.. Yes it was.
That's precisely what it is good for. It provides an immediate, highly responsive user interface which is brain-dead simple to understand. It means selecting and scrolling are super easy to understand. Touch is great at navigating lists and poking options.

The touch interface is perfect for the navigation of media. Not so good for drawing, or typing. Not so good for entering figures, or moving files.

Perhaps in the distant future I can see touch interfaces on large surfaces being used for organisation tasks (like film editing).

But this device won't be for anything like that. This will be an affordable media player competing with a range of other devices, from the Kindle to the Blu Ray player. The inclusion of web-browsing and apps will sweeten it.

And as a result it will be pretty much all the computer most ordinary people need.

C.

 

[ChocoTaco]

You are completely contradicting yourself though.

On one hand you are saying how intuitive it is to use the touch interface yet ignoring how that intuitiveness would be just as successful in ANY application.

This is why it is silly to think you would spend all this money and time developing a superior interface and not use it for everything. So you are going to go back to an archaic keyboard and mouse for some other application?

It makes no sense... And there is no reason this tech can't be used for any application now. The only thing preventing it is redesigning applications. Which is likely what Apple has been doing since the success of the iPhone.

 

[AidenShaw]

I think you need to get yourself a hobbie or a girlfriend even.

Or boyfriend....

 

[Frazzle]

Well-- State of the Union speech was just announced to occur on Wed 1/27. So the headlines in all the papers Thurs AM are going to revolve around SOTU rather than Apple Slate. Apple should have moved their earnings announcement.....

All the tech publications will talk about the "Slate of the Union"
Maybe Obama will even make Freudian slip - he loves his gadgets after all.

 

[lilo777]

The overall image...
I really think Apple will be marketing this tablet as a mobile device that can do it all - with a focus on content creation.

I think this is highly unlikely. Tablets might be OK (or even good) for content consumption but not for creation. Creation of quality content is difficult even with advanced input tools (precision mouse, pen/pad, 30" display, 4 core CPU with advanced graphics). One still needs a talant iPad could be good for children but it would be a very expensive crayola replacement

 

[lilo777]

You are completely contradicting yourself though.

On one hand you are saying how intuitive it is to use the touch interface yet ignoring how that intuitiveness would be just as successful in ANY application.

This is why it is silly to think you would spend all this money and time developing a superior interface and not use it for everything. So you are going to go back to an archaic keyboard and mouse for some other application?

It makes no sense... And there is no reason this tech can't be used for any application now. The only thing preventing it is redesigning applications. Which is likely what Apple has been doing since the success of the iPhone.

What new tech exactly are we talking about? So far I have not heard about anything new. Multitouch painting? Yeah, I wonder why artists never use multiple brushes when drawing on canvas

 

[ChocoTaco]

How many keyboards cost a thousand dollars?

This is going to be the most advanced input device ever created.

Did you watch that TED video above? Have you researched FingerWorks? Have you seen a Cintiq?

 

[ChocoTaco]

What new tech exactly are we talking about? So far I have not heard about anything new. Multitouch painting? Yeah, I wonder why artists never use multiple brushes when drawing on canvas

Did you watch the TED video I posted above? Have you seen the FingerWorks keyboard? do you realise that Cintiq art pads are moving to touch interfaces themselves with OLED buttons?

 

[lilo777]

Did you watch the TED video I posted above? Have you seen the FingerWorks keyboard? do you realise that Cintiq art pads are moving to touch interfaces themselves with OLED buttons?

Are you talking about FingerWorks keyboard that was introduced in 2004 and since then gained zero acceptance? I hope iPad avoids this fate

 

[ChocoTaco]

Are you talking about FingerWorks keyboard that was introduced in 2004 and since then gained zero acceptance? I hope iPad avoids this fate

It gained zero acceptance because it cost so much... and it was missing some pieces to truly work.

But.. that is the beauty of this concept. Who can afford to spend so much money on such an advanced keyboard.. no matter how great it works? Well.. what if on top of being the most kickass keyboard/user interface.. what if you can use this rich man's keyboard as a mobile computer too? Then you are truly killing 2 highly valuable birds with one stone.

This is why content consumption is a bonus.. not the actual true value. The true value is the User Interface.

It's going to make your mouse and keyboard look like garbage.

It really has at least triple the value of a laptop.

1. FingerWorks keyboard from the future
2. Media consumption device/e-reader
3. Cintiq drawing pad more sophisticated than anything those companies can possibly make.
4. And does everything the iPhone does if you have a bluetooth earpiece
5. laptop

The other way to look at it is as a Cintiq that doubles as a tablet... It makes those art tablets much more practical rather than just a luxury item for the average Joe who has been missing out on those capabilities throughout the history of PCs.

 

[dadoc04]

crossing my fingers for a cdma iphone.

same here....

 

[Pigumon]

Why would content creators need a tablet? They need powerful machines, with professional applications running on a desktop OS.

Content creation is not, and will never be a mass-market proposition.

C.

Are you kidding me??? Have you ever heard of "the internet" or "desktop publishing"? The internet's full of mass-market GARBAGE by people who don't know what they're doing. What about MS Publisher? Aimed at people who have no clue how to design a brochure, business card, letterhead, etc.

I've been up against "mass-market content creation" for almost 20 years! I've been turned down for work countless times by people who think they can do it themselves, and do, even though it's crap when they're done.

It shouldn't be mass-market, but it most certainly is.

As far as niches go, look at the nano, they specifically put a video-only camera in it for the "niche of a niche" uploading to (mainly) Youtube and other personal video sites. So yeah this will definitely be for mass-market content creation.

 

[Frazzle]

Oh dear. The more I look at that invitation, the more I'm getting the feeling that they will be introducing Aperture 3.0 which now includes Photoshop-like functionality. Or a Photoshop-like addition to iLife. They always said iLife is about creating.

Tablet? What tablet? - The collective sigh will be unprecedented.

Where exactly did all these rumors about a tablet being imminent come from? Why now? Is this Apple marketing at work with their controlled leaks?

 

[sphoenix]

Very few people are going to sign up to a data plan for a tablet, especially if they have an iPhone already.

Agree with this.

The average Apple consumer doesn't need another product that requires choosing a tariff for. A Mac for home use, an iPhone for the outdoors and work. Adding a third to that list will just turn your life completely systematic. In every direction you turn, you'll have a beautiful piece of technology staring at you.

My prediction is that Apple are starting to combine their two greatest products (the Mac & iPhone) and either simplify peoples' lives or draw attention away from home computers. The iPhone is only becoming 3 years old, there's plenty of features that can still be added to it within the next few years. On the other hand, Macs have been around for decades. So it's possible Apple are introducing this product to slowly replace the Mac and at the same time, keep up with technology standards.

Not a bad idea, but of course this is just the start of this new 'creation'. Video didn't come until 2 years after for the iPhone. I won't be surprised if basic features don't appear on this long-anticipated tablet.

 

[pionata]

I'm ready for a 50 inch screen... Come on Apple. 50 inch 1500X3000px

50 inch!
50 inch!
50 inch!
50 inch! (with integrated blueray)



Gosh please not a stupid ebook.
I can see everyone in the subway in a year with their iTablewhatever pretending to read or work on their impressive yet useless piece of technology.

At some point technology does becomes useless. Do you really need a cheap camera in your music portable player? Let the Camera be a camera, a music player a music player, and a book a book. And just try to make better computers. Gosh the 30" screen wasn't updated in like 5 years.