And one more thing: if this information were real, why hasn't Apple Legal yanked it off the net yet?
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Apple Tablet Coming?
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Assume this for a Tablet:
- G3 Powered
- Thinner than 1"
- ~6 hrs battery life
- No optical drive (CD/DVD/etc)
- Bluetooth enabled
- Airport Extreme enabled
- No 56K
- No 10/100
- 10/20 GB HD
- SD Card slot
- 256 RAM
- nVIDIA/ATI graphics
- OS X / OS X "CE"
- Speakers
The way I see it... if there really is a tablet, Apple would be smart to target a market segment that would want a machine that has more capabilities than even the highest end PocketPC's but not necessarily have the full capabilities of even the lowest end laptops. That means, Apple needs to hit a pricepoint of $800. I think that is an impossible pricepoint for Apple to hit and still breakeven... especially in this market.
- G3 Powered
- Thinner than 1"
- ~6 hrs battery life
- No optical drive (CD/DVD/etc)
- Bluetooth enabled
- Airport Extreme enabled
- No 56K
- No 10/100
- 10/20 GB HD
- SD Card slot
- 256 RAM
- nVIDIA/ATI graphics
- OS X / OS X "CE"
- Speakers
The way I see it... if there really is a tablet, Apple would be smart to target a market segment that would want a machine that has more capabilities than even the highest end PocketPC's but not necessarily have the full capabilities of even the lowest end laptops. That means, Apple needs to hit a pricepoint of $800. I think that is an impossible pricepoint for Apple to hit and still breakeven... especially in this market.
The specs and size of this (8-8.5" screen, stylus instead of keys) don't seem to match any other recent product. Not a PDA, not a Windows tablet. So I'm not sure it ought to be compared to them.
A Mac OS system of that size would be neat, but expensive. I'm betting it's a cheaper--but more limited--iPod-type device. Video?
Either way, I'll have to see it before I call it doomed or not.
After all, wouldn't you have said an Apple MP3 player was doomed if you heard that rumor before iPod? Or an Apple broswer if you heard that before Safari? Or a 17" PowerBook? Or Macs migrating to UNIX for that matter...
A Mac OS system of that size would be neat, but expensive. I'm betting it's a cheaper--but more limited--iPod-type device. Video?
Either way, I'll have to see it before I call it doomed or not.
After all, wouldn't you have said an Apple MP3 player was doomed if you heard that rumor before iPod? Or an Apple broswer if you heard that before Safari? Or a 17" PowerBook? Or Macs migrating to UNIX for that matter...
Re: Wow...and wow again
Well that's quite obviously NEVER going to happen. Video recording on a tablet PC. That's about as useful as taking a picture on your cell phone. (Stupidest feature EVER!!)
If a tablet Mac does come out... be sure it will include all features in OS X... just like the XP Tablet editions.
Originally posted by smashedapart
So let me get this straight, here are the features everyone wants in this new device:
- Mp3 playback
- voice recording
- video playback
- video recording
- picture/slideshow viewing
- wireless internet/Airport Extreme
- cell phone capabilities
- household remote capabilities
- screen input
- bluetooth
- docking station
- wireless mouse and keyboard support (that still doesn't exist yet)
- a dvd drive
...and we want all of this in a 5x7x1 inch enclosure. Uh huh.
Well that's quite obviously NEVER going to happen. Video recording on a tablet PC. That's about as useful as taking a picture on your cell phone. (Stupidest feature EVER!!)
If a tablet Mac does come out... be sure it will include all features in OS X... just like the XP Tablet editions.
Want a new-look tablet?
Then go no further...
http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macproto/Newton2.html
Then go no further...
http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macproto/Newton2.html
The pieces are in place
ATI has their Imageon graphics device, design for high end PDAs (or low end laptops). Designed for video and low power.
IBM has there 405G? PowerPC processor designed for PDAs (and other low power embedded systems).
iPods are cool, but something more needed.
PDAs (palms and pocket pc) are boring and sales are slow.
I like my Newton, PDAs ... when you have a newton, PDAs are so limited.
But Steve will stay away from Newtons ( bad history, Sculley
)
ssshhh, I would really like to see the hand writing recognition of the Newton in a new cool (non Sculley tainted) device
ATI has their Imageon graphics device, design for high end PDAs (or low end laptops). Designed for video and low power.
IBM has there 405G? PowerPC processor designed for PDAs (and other low power embedded systems).
iPods are cool, but something more needed.
PDAs (palms and pocket pc) are boring and sales are slow.
I like my Newton, PDAs ... when you have a newton, PDAs are so limited.
But Steve will stay away from Newtons ( bad history, Sculley
)ssshhh, I would really like to see the hand writing recognition of the Newton in a new cool (non Sculley tainted) device
this sounds a little crazy
but what if this is some kind of uber remote for the "hub" and digital media center that you connect to your home entertainment system that is then networked wirelessly. the rumor of the other casing could be the actual box that connects to the system and the infrared sensor would actually be to communicate with current t.v.'s, dvd's, stereo's, etc. it could communicate with the actual box via long range bluetooth from anywhere in the house and surf the internet from the airport (which it also uses to transfer data to the "box". This would be apple making the digital hub ultimately the way it should be. control it all from the remote/ tablet/ web terminal/ pda/ whatever.... this would be an accessory for your current computer, not a replacement. Oh, well, just a thought!!
(ducks and covers)
but what if this is some kind of uber remote for the "hub" and digital media center that you connect to your home entertainment system that is then networked wirelessly. the rumor of the other casing could be the actual box that connects to the system and the infrared sensor would actually be to communicate with current t.v.'s, dvd's, stereo's, etc. it could communicate with the actual box via long range bluetooth from anywhere in the house and surf the internet from the airport (which it also uses to transfer data to the "box". This would be apple making the digital hub ultimately the way it should be. control it all from the remote/ tablet/ web terminal/ pda/ whatever.... this would be an accessory for your current computer, not a replacement. Oh, well, just a thought!!
(ducks and covers)
For those who think "Oh, they'll NEVER do that..."
Take a moment to think of where computer-based technology will take us, say, five years from now. What devices/software/services will you be using in the office, at home, on the road, with your family, etc. (Consider where things have come in the last 5 years and at least double that progress.) I'm serious...think about "Daily Life in 2008".
Got a vision in mind? Well, someone has to develop those things as well as the supporting infrastructure. Someone will take the first step with each. Apple historically is good at this, at least from the standpoint of technology and innovation even if not with regard to marketing.
So if you were in the higher echelons of Apple, would you be thinking about how to do the same things better, or about doing different things? Once a trend is obvious to others, it's too late to cash in on that trend. Steve Jobs knows this, hence his oft-repeated views about PDAs. The trick to surviving and thriving is to identify the trend before it is one...build a bandwagon rather than getting on one that's already moving. It's risky, of course, but that has been Apple's business approach of late.
Do I think Apple's next "one more thing" will be a tablet, or a PDA, or a camera, or a ... ?? Nah -- others have been there and done that. "Think different."
~ Teqanjel
Take a moment to think of where computer-based technology will take us, say, five years from now. What devices/software/services will you be using in the office, at home, on the road, with your family, etc. (Consider where things have come in the last 5 years and at least double that progress.) I'm serious...think about "Daily Life in 2008".
Got a vision in mind? Well, someone has to develop those things as well as the supporting infrastructure. Someone will take the first step with each. Apple historically is good at this, at least from the standpoint of technology and innovation even if not with regard to marketing.
So if you were in the higher echelons of Apple, would you be thinking about how to do the same things better, or about doing different things? Once a trend is obvious to others, it's too late to cash in on that trend. Steve Jobs knows this, hence his oft-repeated views about PDAs. The trick to surviving and thriving is to identify the trend before it is one...build a bandwagon rather than getting on one that's already moving. It's risky, of course, but that has been Apple's business approach of late.
Do I think Apple's next "one more thing" will be a tablet, or a PDA, or a camera, or a ... ?? Nah -- others have been there and done that. "Think different."
~ Teqanjel
well said!
Have faith is apple. They haven't led me a stray yet.
Power On old Power Macs
450MHZ
390 gig HD
Radeon 8500
1 gig RAM
FCP 3.0.4
Have faith is apple. They haven't led me a stray yet.
Power On old Power Macs
450MHZ
390 gig HD
Radeon 8500
1 gig RAM
FCP 3.0.4
Re: Re: Wow...and wow again
While the resolution obviously isn't the highest resolution nor the best quality for a digital picture, having a d-cam integrated in your phone is extremely handy and is actually a lot of fun for those moments when you wish you had a camera with you. Not to mention the fact that the photos can be mailed out from your phone the moment it's taken...
Video with sound is hitting the markets in force now and by summer, there should be a lot of neat new phones to play with.
Cheers.
Tokyo, Japan
While the resolution obviously isn't the highest resolution nor the best quality for a digital picture, having a d-cam integrated in your phone is extremely handy and is actually a lot of fun for those moments when you wish you had a camera with you. Not to mention the fact that the photos can be mailed out from your phone the moment it's taken...
Video with sound is hitting the markets in force now and by summer, there should be a lot of neat new phones to play with.
Cheers.
Tokyo, Japan
Re: Re: Wow...and wow again
The reason they put cameras into phones is because the phone companies want to generate new revenue streams. The curve for voice usage flattens out after some point (people can only talk so much on the phone), but data transmission (mmmmmh, big juicy pictures) is much more scaleable and offers new possibilities to charge people. They try to create a need...
Apple is much more subtle in its ways. They do things in style. The iPod is all about 'less is more', and I am sure a new 'tablet' (if it comes out) will have a similiar appeal: something beatiful enough to just be sitting on your desk as a picture frame, with a very simple interface to manage your calendar, take notes, manage other devices (playlist etc.). I don't see OSX on it though...it just does not seem to be the right os for a little device with a small screen.
The reason they put cameras into phones is because the phone companies want to generate new revenue streams. The curve for voice usage flattens out after some point (people can only talk so much on the phone), but data transmission (mmmmmh, big juicy pictures) is much more scaleable and offers new possibilities to charge people. They try to create a need...
Apple is much more subtle in its ways. They do things in style. The iPod is all about 'less is more', and I am sure a new 'tablet' (if it comes out) will have a similiar appeal: something beatiful enough to just be sitting on your desk as a picture frame, with a very simple interface to manage your calendar, take notes, manage other devices (playlist etc.). I don't see OSX on it though...it just does not seem to be the right os for a little device with a small screen.
Re: For those who think "Oh, they'll NEVER do that..."
Better come out with a device when the trend already started than before it started (or when technology is not quite ready): Think Apple Newton, Think iPod
Better come out with a device when the trend already started than before it started (or when technology is not quite ready): Think Apple Newton, Think iPod
Re: Wow...and wow again
Look at ALL the features you listed above and tell me which ones require much more than a motherboard with it's accompanying ports, a mini HD, possibly an optical drive, and a thin touchscreen/kiosk. Is the wireless portion the aspect that will make this device too "bulky", or would it be the playback/viewing abilities?
Damn those pesky, intangible, yet physical space hogging capabilities!! [slight sarcasm inferred here]. Possibly you were referring to the huge microprocessor?
All of the other hardware necessities have already been implemented in 1" thick enclosures. They're called PowerBooks. If an optical drive is indeed an option, a CD/DVD is less than 5" in diameter BTW. Did you want to go measure the opening for the slot load drives now? I'm sure Apple will make use of the extra 2" in the overall 5"x 7" [if accurate] enclosure somehow.
Quite the realist, and an optimist to boot!
Yeah, I'm sure Apple and SJ are shaking in their sneakers for having made such a popular, high quality product like the iPod that has more features than advertised. A good rule of business to follow is, "Under Promise and Over Deliver".
I don't think that Apple has given everyone delusions of grandeur as much as they've seemingly given you an inadequacy/paranoia complex.
Originally posted by smashedapart
So let me get this straight, here are the features everyone wants in this new device:
- Mp3 playback
- voice recording
- video playback
- video recording
- picture/slideshow viewing
- wireless internet/Airport Extreme
- cell phone capabilities
- household remote capabilities
- screen input
- bluetooth
- docking station
- wireless mouse and keyboard support (that still doesn't exist yet)
- a dvd drive
...and we want all of this in a 5x7x1 inch enclosure. Uh huh.
Look at ALL the features you listed above and tell me which ones require much more than a motherboard with it's accompanying ports, a mini HD, possibly an optical drive, and a thin touchscreen/kiosk. Is the wireless portion the aspect that will make this device too "bulky", or would it be the playback/viewing abilities?
Damn those pesky, intangible, yet physical space hogging capabilities!! [slight sarcasm inferred here]. Possibly you were referring to the huge microprocessor?
All of the other hardware necessities have already been implemented in 1" thick enclosures. They're called PowerBooks. If an optical drive is indeed an option, a CD/DVD is less than 5" in diameter BTW. Did you want to go measure the opening for the slot load drives now? I'm sure Apple will make use of the extra 2" in the overall 5"x 7" [if accurate] enclosure somehow.
Quite the realist, and an optimist to boot!
Yeah, I'm sure Apple and SJ are shaking in their sneakers for having made such a popular, high quality product like the iPod that has more features than advertised. A good rule of business to follow is, "Under Promise and Over Deliver".
I don't think that Apple has given everyone delusions of grandeur as much as they've seemingly given you an inadequacy/paranoia complex.
Probably the same reason they haven't yanked threads in regards to 10.3 Panther, PowerPC 970's, larger capacity iPods, 15" PowerBook revisions,....
Less is not more when it comes to use and functionality. If you want more design cliches lets start with form follows function.
Define the function of this device, and since it is a computing device define multiple functions for this device that are of use to users in Apples market share.
It does not make sense to have a tablet. Think ergonomics for a second. If I want something to take around the house to watch movies am I going to lay it down flat and stand over it - no, and I am not going to hold the whole time. If I want to surf the web around the house why do I want this machine I go bag to the same problems, that I don't have with a pre-existing product TiBook + Airport.
A tablet does make sense for people who need to have something they can write on and view in certain situations which are by and large job related. That means you are pitching this device to business not consumers. And business mainly large ones - enterprise is not apples market.
Make something cool and the market will follow is something the tech industry does not do anymore. It got away with it trying during the bubble for a while but we all know how that turned out.
Give me a variety of benefits to the consumer that is in Apple's market and are not offered by Apple's pre-existing products with an attractive yet feasible price and I might start to believe this rumor.
If Apple even thinks about I say if you want to spend money getting the company somewhere give it to IBM or pre-develop and put manufacturing into a place so those G5s can hit the cluster nodes and PMacs and work on making all apps work in a distributed fashion at the push of a button.
Want to do something pretty and innovative - bring visualization forward with beatuiful and easy to deploy apps.
Define the function of this device, and since it is a computing device define multiple functions for this device that are of use to users in Apples market share.
It does not make sense to have a tablet. Think ergonomics for a second. If I want something to take around the house to watch movies am I going to lay it down flat and stand over it - no, and I am not going to hold the whole time. If I want to surf the web around the house why do I want this machine I go bag to the same problems, that I don't have with a pre-existing product TiBook + Airport.
A tablet does make sense for people who need to have something they can write on and view in certain situations which are by and large job related. That means you are pitching this device to business not consumers. And business mainly large ones - enterprise is not apples market.
Make something cool and the market will follow is something the tech industry does not do anymore. It got away with it trying during the bubble for a while but we all know how that turned out.
Give me a variety of benefits to the consumer that is in Apple's market and are not offered by Apple's pre-existing products with an attractive yet feasible price and I might start to believe this rumor.
If Apple even thinks about I say if you want to spend money getting the company somewhere give it to IBM or pre-develop and put manufacturing into a place so those G5s can hit the cluster nodes and PMacs and work on making all apps work in a distributed fashion at the push of a button.
Want to do something pretty and innovative - bring visualization forward with beatuiful and easy to deploy apps.
Re: Re: Wow...and wow again
I agree, why have camera phones been all the hype? I want bluetooth dammit!
I agree, why have camera phones been all the hype? I want bluetooth dammit!
Have you been to an Apple Store lately?
Strange the way the Pro section of the stores all have "Business' Run Better On A Mac" screensavers. The big pictorial signage also focuses on the same subject. Not to mention the readily available printed business materials, and all the new business leasing/finance options that weren't available just a few months ago.
Did I mention that there are on-site Business Specialists [yes, that's their title] who have their business cards attached to informative business flyers as well?
Also, why are there recurring presentations in the theatre areas of those stores that are dedicated to business applications like QuickBooks, MYOB, etc. Call me crazy, but I don't think that home users are the demographic who attend those presentations.
I know that Apple has only been able to implement xServe solutions in 100 of the Fortune 500 companies in less than a year, but does that give them any reason to shift some focus to the business sector?
Oh, but back to your point. A tablet device that would benefit business people in which Apple has has no market, right?
For some reason, at this very moment, I can't get that C&C Music Factory song from the early 90's out of my head. It was called "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..."
Re: Re: unsure
...and Macwhispers, and LoopRumors, and...
MacRumors moderator, Arn [who BTW was the FIRST and ONLY person to report the introduction of new 12"/17" PowerBooks the night before the release], also went so far as to say in today's post: "Rumors for an Apple Tablet accumulated prior to MacWorld San Francisco - with an number of reliable sources pointing in the same direction -- the ongoing development of an Apple Tablet."
The eyebrow raising portion of that comment being the second half stating that sources that Arn and/or MacRumors staff believe to be reliable.
I don't know about you guys, but the fact that it took MacRumors awhile to post this subject suggests to me that the delay may have been attributed to some fact finding on Arn's behalf, which resulted in enough substantiated evidence to justify posting this on the front page.
...and Macwhispers, and LoopRumors, and...
MacRumors moderator, Arn [who BTW was the FIRST and ONLY person to report the introduction of new 12"/17" PowerBooks the night before the release], also went so far as to say in today's post: "Rumors for an Apple Tablet accumulated prior to MacWorld San Francisco - with an number of reliable sources pointing in the same direction -- the ongoing development of an Apple Tablet."
The eyebrow raising portion of that comment being the second half stating that sources that Arn and/or MacRumors staff believe to be reliable.
I don't know about you guys, but the fact that it took MacRumors awhile to post this subject suggests to me that the delay may have been attributed to some fact finding on Arn's behalf, which resulted in enough substantiated evidence to justify posting this on the front page.
interesting hole
from macwhispers:
"The underside has two compartment openings; one is 66mm x 106mm; no cover is being injected at the same plant."
i find it very interesting that 66mm x 106mm is almost exactly the size of an ipod. coincidence? we shall see!
from macwhispers:
"The underside has two compartment openings; one is 66mm x 106mm; no cover is being injected at the same plant."
i find it very interesting that 66mm x 106mm is almost exactly the size of an ipod. coincidence? we shall see!
'less is more' is a catchphrase, it implies 'used in appropriate manner' because otherwise it would be nothing more than a contradiction.
Take the iPod, for example: very simple, design (case, controls), very simple UI, very good use and functionality. They did not try to be everything to everyone, they focused on one thing (at first) and they did that very well.
Again, if they make a tablet or any other small device, it should not be a full computer in the form of a tablet, it should have more specific purposes and serve those well.
'Form follows function' is more of a design ideology IMHO, and Apple is lightyears away from that one. But I think they use LIM on their latest hardware (not on Aqua, obviously
)
Re: interesting hole
It is actually 1mm short...will have to do some pushing...oh wait, new iPod rumor....aaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Originally posted by requies
from macwhispers:
"The underside has two compartment openings; one is 66mm x 106mm; no cover is being injected at the same plant."
i find it very interesting that 66mm x 106mm is almost exactly the size of an ipod. coincidence? we shall see!
It is actually 1mm short...will have to do some pushing
...oh wait, new iPod rumor....aaaaaaaaaaaaaah