Apple Purchased iSlate.com in 2007. Apple's New Tablet Called iSlate?

[Mark Booth]

We'll, since my prediction of the iSlate name way back on October 27 looks to be entirely accurate, I'll make a couple more predictions about Apple's forthcoming iSlate.

1) It will be formally announced on January 26 (yeah, I know, this is an easy one!).

2) It will feature some significantly cool voice recognition features and, perhaps, talk back in a reasonably "intelligent" manner.

3) In addition to having a multi-touch screen, it will have a forward-facing camera that interprets in-air hand motions. Potential example: Flicking your finger in the air to cause pages to turn on the screen.

Over 20 years ago, Apple was toying with the idea of a Knowledge Navigator.... A tablet-like device with highly sophisticated features (even by today's standards). Apple envisioned a device that allowed us to connect to the sum total of all human knowledge. And, to a large degree, that has come to pass in the last 20 years thanks to the internet. But we still don't have a device that works quite like Apple's vision in 1987. So, maybe the iSlate will be, to one degree or another, a realization of at least part of Apple's dream? I mean, wouldn't we all just LOVE to have one of these??

Apple's Knowledge Navigator

BTW, I find it curiously interesting that that 1987 video features deforestation maps over a period of time and the last year for the maps is 2010! Coincidence?

Mark

 

[jettredmont]

iSlate = is late. Not going to happen.

Exactly. Echos of expertsexchange.com here.

 

[Tower-Union]

Knowledge navigator = Slate with Wikipedia access

 

[ipacers]

I read somewhere that iSlate was a backup name for the iPhone in case negotiations with Cisco over the name 'iphone' didn't work out. Explains why Apple bought the domain name in 2007. - Just a theory

 

[flottenheimer]

The editor of the NY Times DID call it the 'Apple Slate'.

Does anyone have a link for that article?

 

[appleguy123]

With all these ideas.. idk what to think. I'lll just wait and see


Why? I think he has a good point there. iSlate could simply be the program for drawing and writing...

That's ingenious! I hope that it will be that way. iSlate would be the perfect name for a note-taking app that would have shape and drawing functionalities (a la Newton).

 

[olternaut]

We'll, since my prediction of the iSlate name way back on October 27 looks to be entirely accurate, I'll make a couple more predictions about Apple's forthcoming iSlate.

1) It will be formally announced on January 26 (yeah, I know, this is an easy one!).

2) It will feature some significantly cool voice recognition features and, perhaps, talk back in a reasonably "intelligent" manner.

3) In addition to having a multi-touch screen, it will have a forward-facing camera that interprets in-air hand motions. Potential example: Flicking your finger in the air to cause pages to turn on the screen.

Over 20 years ago, Apple was toying with the idea of a Knowledge Navigator.... A tablet-like device with highly sophisticated features (even by today's standards). Apple envisioned a device that allowed us to connect to the sum total of all human knowledge. And, to a large degree, that has come to pass in the last 20 years thanks to the internet. But we still don't have a device that works quite like Apple's vision in 1987. So, maybe the iSlate will be, to one degree or another, a realization of at least part of Apple's dream? I mean, wouldn't we all just LOVE to have one of these??

Apple's Knowledge Navigator

BTW, I find it curiously interesting that that 1987 video features deforestation maps over a period of time and the last year for the maps is 2010! Coincidence?

Mark

If it's not going to be called the "MacTouch" then it shall be henceforth known as the "iPad".

I hate the term "iSlate" it is dumb....period. If they must continue to use the "i" moniker then let it be known as the iPad.
So shall it be written.....SO SHALL IT BE DONE!

 

[olternaut]

I read somewhere that iSlate was a backup name for the iPhone in case negotiations with Cisco over the name 'iphone' didn't work out. Explains why Apple bought the domain name in 2007. - Just a theory

Dude, your a genius. Everybody who uncovered this "evidence" of the name iSlate are a bunch of knuckleheads.

 

[olternaut]

We'll, since my prediction of the iSlate name way back on October 27 looks to be entirely accurate, I'll make a couple more predictions about Apple's forthcoming iSlate.

1) It will be formally announced on January 26 (yeah, I know, this is an easy one!).

2) It will feature some significantly cool voice recognition features and, perhaps, talk back in a reasonably "intelligent" manner.

3) In addition to having a multi-touch screen, it will have a forward-facing camera that interprets in-air hand motions. Potential example: Flicking your finger in the air to cause pages to turn on the screen.

Over 20 years ago, Apple was toying with the idea of a Knowledge Navigator.... A tablet-like device with highly sophisticated features (even by today's standards). Apple envisioned a device that allowed us to connect to the sum total of all human knowledge. And, to a large degree, that has come to pass in the last 20 years thanks to the internet. But we still don't have a device that works quite like Apple's vision in 1987. So, maybe the iSlate will be, to one degree or another, a realization of at least part of Apple's dream? I mean, wouldn't we all just LOVE to have one of these??

Apple's Knowledge Navigator

BTW, I find it curiously interesting that that 1987 video features deforestation maps over a period of time and the last year for the maps is 2010! Coincidence?

Mark

Well, flexible display technology does exist as well as multiple point touch screen technology. All we're missing now is consumer grade artificial intelligence. I wonder how long it will be till that is finally ready for the public.

 

[MorphingDragon]

Well, flexible display technology does exist as well as multiple point touch screen technology. All we're missing now is consumer grade artificial intelligence. I wonder how long it will be till that is finally ready for the public.

And a quantum processor!

 

[iBrick]

iHate the name iSlate and iMsick of all iReleated names. Hey apple- uSuck at naming products! Of course the name does not matter... These things or gonna sell like iHotcakes.

 

[cmaier]

And a quantum processor!

And GaAs and ball bearings.

 

[qrayg]

It certainly "is late"

 

[cmaier]

It certainly "is late"

I wonder how many more people are going to make that joke.

 

[olternaut]

I wonder how many more people are going to make that joke.

In the coming weeks unfortunately a whooooole lot of people.

 

[mortea]

Uses for a tablet..

There are two thingsg I think could be influencing the release of a mac tablet that have barely been mentioned..
1. The Nook/Kindle/eReader whatever.. They cost as much as netbooks and are effectively tablets. The app store/itunes is already setup as a media distribution system.. The trick there is the deals with book companies, but then again apple made a lot of deals with music companies in the past to make itunes fly.

2. A tablet market I haven't seen properly addressed and Apples old bread and butter, artists. For a number of years now there have been big bulky things like the cintiq's from wacom.. wildly expensive and externally powered. How about a table that works well for artists.. to go out and sketch things.. draw out ideas at work.. etc.. Maybe the hardware equivalent to iMovie of the iMovie, Final Cut pair

Other than that.. of the ideas I've seen on here I like the testicular interface and the clamshell idea.. but not together.. ouch..

 

[nothingGrinder]

The iSlate is only hype for better laptops

I believe that there are more things Apple plans to do with their Multi Touch technology as illustrated in my blog post here:

http://blog.nothinggrinder.com/slate-theory

 

[AidenShaw]

I wonder how many more people are going to make that joke.

A neighbor works for Apple in Cupertino - I made the joke, and he laughed because he'd never heard it before.

Then quickly said "there is no Islate".

 

[kdarling]

This is interesting. "Slate" is an outdated term for small, individual chalkboards used by schoolchildren in the 1800s.

Well, yes, that's exactly why tablets without keyboards have been called "slates" since at least the early 1990s.

Referring to such a type of device is why the NY Times editor spoke in this meeting about "the impending Apple slate".

He didn't say "iSlate". That name was made up by much younger people who had never heard of computer slates before.

It's the same as if he had said a new car was going to be a coupe, and everyone who'd never heard the term ran around saying it was going to be called the "iCoupe". Always possible, but not just because the term was used.

.

 

[LagunaSol]

Well, yes, that's exactly why tablets without keyboards have been called "slates" since at least the early 1990s.

But Ballmer said at CES that this was a "new form factor" that "they're calling Slates."

And Microsoft's website says "Touch screens may finally be ready for prime time, thanks to multitouch technology built into Windows 7."

"Finally???"

Thank you, Microsoft, for revolutionizing the world in 2010 with "touch screens," "multitouch technology," and "Slates."

 

[azsprty]

I just dont get all the excitment for this tablet. If you already have a mac and an iphone then whats the point. If the tablet and iphone run the same software then there is no need to own both.

 

[kdarling]

But Ballmer said at CES that this was a "new form factor" that "they're calling Slates."

No, he said "here are some new form factors in what we would call slate PCs". He was referring to different shapes and sizes.

Did he bring it up the term partly because of all the hype over the word lately? Of course. A lot of people didn't know about it.

The fact that tablets without keyboards have been called "slates" for almost two decades is something that cannot be denied. The term is just new to a lot of people who never paid attention before, just as most people never knew what a capacitive touchscreen was, or even a smartphone.

Thank you, Microsoft, for revolutionizing the world in 2010 with "touch screens," "multitouch technology," and "Slates."

Microsoft has been pushing touch computers and slates for a very long time. I've specified and programmed custom versions for our own enterprise apps since 2000. Finger-friendly is not a new thing in the industrial world.

But I agree, it's going to take Apple to break totally free of previous software and make a touch-oriented consumer slate. Microsoft tries too hard to support legacy apps. That has always been their albatross.