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Apple Tablet Computer Design Patent
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You're right about the consumer thing. But why would you need such a large tablet for a simple remote (assuming that fig. 9 is close to the real thing)? Really, for an effective iTunes remote, you don't need anything bigger than an iPod. Even if this 'remote' controlled other apps like quicktime and dvd player, it'd still be overkill. It's not cheap producing a touch LCD screen that size. You'd need a decent graphics processor to drive it, plus airport and a decent size battery. All in all, it wouldn't be a cheap, 'consumer' solution. Who'd be crazy enough to spend $400-500 for an iTunes remote???MontyZ said:
iBook / PowerBook option for artists
I just posted on my blog about the subject. I came up with this (dubious perspective) mockup.
My idea (for those who can't read french, therefore my blog) is to have a rotating screen that would allow switching a normal notebook to a tablet. I just wish my 12" iBook had this option so I could play with painter directly on the screen!
So it wouldn't be a new product but a BTO option for the current (or next) notebooks.
I just posted on my blog about the subject. I came up with this (dubious perspective) mockup.
My idea (for those who can't read french, therefore my blog) is to have a rotating screen that would allow switching a normal notebook to a tablet. I just wish my 12" iBook had this option so I could play with painter directly on the screen!
So it wouldn't be a new product but a BTO option for the current (or next) notebooks.
Attachments
Not a misconception at all
...And I'm a syndicated cartoonist, illustrator and graphic designer, so I also know a little bit about the markets I'm talking about.dongmin said:
That's only because of the disconnect between drawing on a tablet and watching a monitor. It's annoying not being able to watch your hand while you draw. And from what I've seen and heard from others in my field, they would love to get their hands on something like this.
The new Wacom Intuos 3 has several programmable buttons that have eliminated my need to use a keyboard, so no, pros no longer rely on keyboards for shortcuts. If an iTablet had a similar feature set, I and many other professional artists who use Macs (and are tired of spending hours scanning in hand-drawn images) would probably sell our left arms to own one of these.
Fair enough, I don't really know much about architecture, autoCad, etc... So let's leave them out of the equation (although I'm not convinced that they'd have no use for it) -- it still probably leaves a potential global market of illustrators and art students (not to mention whoever currently uses tablet pcs) numbering in the millions. I'm sure there are other uses for such a device that I haven't thought of.architects don't "draw" anymore. most people use AutoCAD which is heavily command-based. same for any kind of visualizing and modeling.
so if you're having to lug around a keyboard all the time to use photoshop, illustrator, autocad, etc., what's the point of having a tablet???
What you're suggesting is a tablet with a touch screen sophisticated enough to use for illustrating. As I referenced before, the 17" Cintiq goes for $1800, just for the display. Let's say a compact version, a 12" screen, can be had for 2/3 the price--$1200. Add that to the cost of an iBook, probably about $800 without the screen, and you're talking about a $2000 for 'low-end' system. As a frame of reference, Apple sold a total of 195,000 PowerBooks at an average price of little over $2000 last quarter. You see where I'm driving at??? A tablet geared for artists is gonna be expensive and end up being a limited niche product.Darrin Bell said:
And we haven't even discussed the whole question of what Apple can add that's not out in the market already. As you say, the Wacom Intuos are nice products, as are the Cintiqs. It's a good solution for people who like pen solution.
The vision I'm offering is at the other end of the spectrum: a consumer-level system with cheap touchscreens that you find in PDAs. It'd be priced in that magic sub-$1000 range. And it'd be designed specifically with consumer applications in mind, i.e. music, video, chatting, web surfing, etc. You can look at it as a suped up ipod or as a portable mac mini.
The Cintiq's way too expensive, but since I've seen Tablet PCs for about $1200 that include keyboards and hard drives, I'd wager Apple could keep the price below $1500. That's actually not that expensive, even for a starving professional artist like me.dongmin said:
I agree it would cost more than a Mac Mini, but I don't think the price would be outrageous. And Apple could simply do what other PC manufacturers have done and add a stowaway keyboard (make the screen swivel, or do something original) to turn it into a full-fledged laptop/tablet hybrid. As for limited niche products, that's what most people say the Mac is, and it's doing pretty well. I, for one, am not willing to predict that the niche for an iTablet would be too small to be successful.
I'm sure they can think of something.
Only if you don't mind being tethered to your desk all day. I'd like to be able to go sit out on the balcony or at the beach with my tablet on my lap and draw.
I'm a little confused about this. If it's a portable Mac Mini that means it's a self contained system with a screen you can "write" (or in my case, "draw") on. That sounds exactly like what I've been advocating, only with a slightly more sophisticated screen that has Graphire-level pressure sensitivity for those who want to pay around $1000 (and an option for one that has Intuos-level pressure sensitivity, for those who don't mind paying $1500-$2000 for it). IF Apple could keep the price in those ranges and make it appealing in some way that current tablet PC makers haven't (like they did with the MP3 player), I think this would have a good shot.
Darrin Bell said:
like that's Apple's business stratagy for the future?, developing products for
graphic designer & art students? Thats the 80's man. Yea, shareholders would love that product debut, watch the stock plummet.
(well then I'd buy some more i guess) I'll stick with my table, pen and paper for illustrating thank you and wacom for photoshop.
and as for a swivel screen that lies flat back on the notebook,..Uh,
i think thats what a PC tablent is. Apples not going to follow that route
I guess you missed the part where I said "not to mention whoever currently uses tablet pcs." I didn't mean to say they should design a product for graphic designers and art students (and other professional artists), I only mean to say that's one market it would appeal to (not the only one).speleoterra said:
Feel free to stick to those, I would be happy to switch. Having choices is good. As you know, different consumers want different systems.
I love when people only reply to parts of posts, ignoring the rest. Such as the part where I said "or something original." I'm sure if anyone could come up with a good solution to the keyboard issue, it would be Apple.
Anyway, I'm not predicting that's what Apple's going to do, I'm just saying that if they came out with something like that, I would buy one and there would be a market for it. I don't know if it would be a large enough market to be worth it, but then that's exactly how I (and other people on forums like this who contemptuously dismissed the entire concept) felt about MP3 players before Apple introduced the iPod. I was perfectly happy with my Discman.
If Apple could figure out a way to make a full-fledged tablet (not a thin client) appealing to the masses, that would be great. And I'm not as clairvoyant as others who seem to already know it wouldn't work.
Dr.Gargoyle said:
The design patent simply gives them protection for exactly what was granted: an "electronic device" (so turtle tank manufacturers are safe) with the illustrated form factor. If someone else wants to make a flat electronic thingy with a display on top, they will need to use different cabinet styling (different corners, or whatever) is all.
I like the idea, and you might be right. However, it is possible to imagine a stylus doubling as a pen, which would explain why there isn't a designated slot fro the stylus. As I see it it would be in line with Apples "less is more design". I don't have any problem envision Apple trying to sell me a $59 white plastic stylus/pen.
It may have been much less ambitious than a full-fledged computer. I'd be surprised if Apple didn't at least consider using a larger display for the iPod photo models before settling on the existing form factor.
"Yes, I see, this is going to be some sort of computer. Let's patent it" what is the point of that?
One thing is for certain, if this is going to be a tablet, it will probably find itself used mostly in an industrial setting. It is still more efficient to type. Besting the current form factor of the "notebook computer" is going to be hard.
One thing is for certain, if this is going to be a tablet, it will probably find itself used mostly in an industrial setting. It is still more efficient to type. Besting the current form factor of the "notebook computer" is going to be hard.
MOSR is reporting that the tablet was prototyped and dropped for lack of market.Sedulous said:
Personally, I doubt it was aimed at an industrial setting. Unfortunately, there are so many things it could have been - maybe a full fledged computer (basically a laptop in tablet form at the same price as a laptop) or a light OS (a Photo iPod with a big screen, dashboard, web browser, and maybe email or a pages 'lite').
I guess we may never know!
Greg
ps. I still like the idea that the tablet was a light OS and could also be a remote screen for a Mac, as I said earlier.
I found a link where someone describes the strange dock on the Mac Mini - perhaps it was a dock (for charging and higher speed data transfer) to the tablet.
http://www.lbodnar.dsl.pipex.com/macmini/macmini_ipod.html
Flash Main Memory?
I noticed today that Samsung is rushing its deliver of 2GB flash memory to market in in '06 instead of '07 as expected. Apple sources its flash from Samsung for the Ipods and is their biggest customer so no surprise on the rush but I found it interesting that Samsung pointed out they chained 16 of these cards together to form a single 32Gb memory. Likely too big physically to put into the size-obsessed iPod family but might fit into a tablet form factor nicely. Dumping the hard-drive in favor of flash based memory would give this tablet a dramatically longer battery life than anything comparable out there.
I noticed today that Samsung is rushing its deliver of 2GB flash memory to market in in '06 instead of '07 as expected. Apple sources its flash from Samsung for the Ipods and is their biggest customer so no surprise on the rush but I found it interesting that Samsung pointed out they chained 16 of these cards together to form a single 32Gb memory. Likely too big physically to put into the size-obsessed iPod family but might fit into a tablet form factor nicely. Dumping the hard-drive in favor of flash based memory would give this tablet a dramatically longer battery life than anything comparable out there.
I hope Apple will enter the tablet market in the near future.....
I am in the market for the tablet/convertable notebook computer and I hope Apple is working on the table notebook in its R&D dept in Cupertino (or wherever their R&D facilities are located). I think there is the market for the tablet/convertible notebook. I am intrigued by Lenovo X41 tablet, Fujitsu Lifebook T4020, Toshiba Tecra M4, or HP tc4200.
I am in sales and I take lots of notes at the meetings with customers and colleagues/management team and the thought of having all info in one slim table notebook is good way to improve my productivity. I already use a ultraportable PC notebook, iBook (for creating marketing materials), Palm LifeDrive (for managing contacts and appointments among others) at the same time. But, a good tablet will replace my binder-type notebook (which I need to carry with me all the time for note taking) and bunch of other paper folders I have to carry with me.
I read good reviews on XP's tablet edition and active digitizer input method. I think I will buy one of them by the end of this year. But, if there is an option, I prefer Mac OS to XP. But, sadly, Apple has not entered this market as of now.
I am in the market for the tablet/convertable notebook computer and I hope Apple is working on the table notebook in its R&D dept in Cupertino (or wherever their R&D facilities are located). I think there is the market for the tablet/convertible notebook. I am intrigued by Lenovo X41 tablet, Fujitsu Lifebook T4020, Toshiba Tecra M4, or HP tc4200.
I am in sales and I take lots of notes at the meetings with customers and colleagues/management team and the thought of having all info in one slim table notebook is good way to improve my productivity. I already use a ultraportable PC notebook, iBook (for creating marketing materials), Palm LifeDrive (for managing contacts and appointments among others) at the same time. But, a good tablet will replace my binder-type notebook (which I need to carry with me all the time for note taking) and bunch of other paper folders I have to carry with me.
I read good reviews on XP's tablet edition and active digitizer input method. I think I will buy one of them by the end of this year. But, if there is an option, I prefer Mac OS to XP. But, sadly, Apple has not entered this market as of now.
Help Us Writers!
I hate taking notes on paper pads, since I then need to transcribe everything to my Mac. But for me, electronic note-taking is a royal pain. Laptops are cumbersome, make a lot of keyboard-clicking noise in a lecture hall or meeting room, and present a sort of physical barrier between me and others. A tablet PC would work better, but the current tablets are way too large and heavy, because they're trying to double as full PCs. And PDAs are useless, as their screens are way too small.
What I need is a unit the size of a standard steno pad (about 6"x9"). Large enough to take pages of notes on (without constant scrolling) and to draw freeform tables and other things a lecturer might present or I might dream up. Small enough that I can hold it with one hand and use the stylus with the other, just as I'd use a steno pad. But it shouldn't be too thick or heavy, as I'd want to hold it for an hour or so.
The advantage of this form factor is that it could also be used as a writing utensil, as a collaboration tool for a couple of people at a cafe, as a free-form sketch pad, a comfortable e-book reader, PDA, web browser (if the unit had wireless), and even a media player. It wouldn't have to be a full PC (if you didn't want to implement all of these feature sets), and could be something you need to sync with your Mac in order to download video, pictures, etc. and upload your notes.
I've been waiting for this type of solution for about 5 years now, and not even the PC manufacturers have the foresight to produce something this size. Apple has created great products for video folks, for graphics folks, for musicians, etc. The last creative group is we writers, and this is the hardware solution we need. Please help!
I hate taking notes on paper pads, since I then need to transcribe everything to my Mac. But for me, electronic note-taking is a royal pain. Laptops are cumbersome, make a lot of keyboard-clicking noise in a lecture hall or meeting room, and present a sort of physical barrier between me and others. A tablet PC would work better, but the current tablets are way too large and heavy, because they're trying to double as full PCs. And PDAs are useless, as their screens are way too small.
What I need is a unit the size of a standard steno pad (about 6"x9"). Large enough to take pages of notes on (without constant scrolling) and to draw freeform tables and other things a lecturer might present or I might dream up. Small enough that I can hold it with one hand and use the stylus with the other, just as I'd use a steno pad. But it shouldn't be too thick or heavy, as I'd want to hold it for an hour or so.
The advantage of this form factor is that it could also be used as a writing utensil, as a collaboration tool for a couple of people at a cafe, as a free-form sketch pad, a comfortable e-book reader, PDA, web browser (if the unit had wireless), and even a media player. It wouldn't have to be a full PC (if you didn't want to implement all of these feature sets), and could be something you need to sync with your Mac in order to download video, pictures, etc. and upload your notes.
I've been waiting for this type of solution for about 5 years now, and not even the PC manufacturers have the foresight to produce something this size. Apple has created great products for video folks, for graphics folks, for musicians, etc. The last creative group is we writers, and this is the hardware solution we need. Please help!
Tablet PCs are getting lighter (while some of them are still heavy)
The new line of Convertable-type of tablet PCs (the ones with the sturdy hinge you can rotate the screen) are getting ligher. IBM X41 is about 3.5 lbs. (with a 12" XGA screen) and Fujitsu Lifebook T4020 is about 4.7 lbs (with a 12" XGA screen). They are both convertable version and you can use the keyboard if needed.
The light weight is slate type table PC. This type of tablet PC does not come with a keyboard attached to the unit. You can add a keyboard via docking station or USB. Even though the slate type is very light (less than 3 lbs), I prefer the convertable type as I would like to keep both keyboard and pen/screen input methods all the time with the unit.
I am seriousely thinking about buying Fujitsu T4020 or IBM X41 because of their form factor/features. I think either of them can replace my portfolio folder I carry with me for meetings (which is like 4 to 5 lbs, without other paperwork) Fujitsu is a little heavier than X41; but it comes with the optical drive in a unit (not as an add on like X41 and the most of the other tablet PC). I am also tempted by Toshiba Tecra M4 because of its high performance (albeit its poor battery performance and 6.5 lbs of heavy weight).
The new line of Convertable-type of tablet PCs (the ones with the sturdy hinge you can rotate the screen) are getting ligher. IBM X41 is about 3.5 lbs. (with a 12" XGA screen) and Fujitsu Lifebook T4020 is about 4.7 lbs (with a 12" XGA screen). They are both convertable version and you can use the keyboard if needed.
The light weight is slate type table PC. This type of tablet PC does not come with a keyboard attached to the unit. You can add a keyboard via docking station or USB. Even though the slate type is very light (less than 3 lbs), I prefer the convertable type as I would like to keep both keyboard and pen/screen input methods all the time with the unit.
I am seriousely thinking about buying Fujitsu T4020 or IBM X41 because of their form factor/features. I think either of them can replace my portfolio folder I carry with me for meetings (which is like 4 to 5 lbs, without other paperwork) Fujitsu is a little heavier than X41; but it comes with the optical drive in a unit (not as an add on like X41 and the most of the other tablet PC). I am also tempted by Toshiba Tecra M4 because of its high performance (albeit its poor battery performance and 6.5 lbs of heavy weight).