Apple Tablet = iPhone OS or Mac OS X?

[jayenh]

Open a few apps and start Time Machine. Ouch!

gladly. we still have a couple of G4's used for production where i work. maybe not time machine, not needed, but entourage, firefox and photoshop/illustrator with some rather hefty files are not much of an issue.

infact someone had leopard running on an imac g3 (is that right? the purple CRT thing with the pointless handle). i'm not saying it was lightning fast, but it ran fine and was perfect for web browsing, email, and photoshop. maybe that was 10.4 rather than 10.5. either way, i get the feeling what ever spec the tablet ends up as, it will have way more horsepower than one of those.

 

[Tallest Skil]

1) It will get all its software from the App Store.
2) It's interface will be designed for its screen size and touchscreen.
3) The underlying system will be OS X and Cocoa.
4) It will have some feature we have not heard about yet.

1. So it will only be a niche and never mainstream.
2. Mmm. I wouldn't say so. The tablet is murky waters; you start designing an interface for it, it will either SUCK, or it will be full-fledged OS XI (as I have postulated), and we're nowhere near OS XI yet.
3. Bingo.
4. Bingo. (The ability to remove yet another feature and still be sold).

 

[cellocello]

1. So it will only be a niche and never mainstream.
2. Mmm. I wouldn't say so. The tablet is murky waters; you start designing an interface for it, it will either SUCK, or it will be full-fledged OS XI (as I have postulated), and we're nowhere near OS XI yet.

1. Like the iPhone?
2. Like the iPhone?

 

[Tallest Skil]

1. Like the iPhone?
2. Like the iPhone?

The restrictions of the App Store WORK for the iPhone because it's the iPhone. It will be popular regardless of what Apple does to it.

2. Same argument.

I'm thinking more along the lines of the Apple TV. If Apple doesn't let people make whatever apps they want to make for this tablet, it will always be a hobby; just a crippled "Big iPhone".

 

[cellocello]

But Apple will let people develop for this thing (presumably). Why would you think otherwise? It'll just have the "Tablet Store", or whatever they plan on calling it.

Who's to say this device won't be popular? Who's to say Tablet apps won't sell well?

And why would having a tailored UI, which it'll very likely have, be an issue? Why would that "suck", and why would it have to be "full-blown OS XI"? I don't understand what you mean by either of those statements.

 

[Tallest Skil]

But Apple will let people develop for this thing (presumably). Why would you think otherwise? It'll just have the "Tablet Store", or whatever they plan on calling it.

Bound by the restrictions put in place by Apple as to the content that will actually go on the thing.

And why would having a tailored UI, which it'll very likely have, be an issue? Why would that "suck", and why would it have to be "full-blown OS XI"? I don't understand what you mean by either of those statements.

Don't get me wrong; I'd love for them to bring the "OS XI" feel to a real device far sooner than the release of OS XI, but this early on, I just don't see the paradigm shift to a fully multitouch, mouseless OS. Apple's multitouch stuff isn't developed enough, unless they have nigh on a hundred patents they haven't released.

 

[cellocello]

Bound by the restrictions put in place by Apple as to the content that will actually go on the thing.

Right ..... ? I'm failing to see the problem. It'll be the same as the iPhone. As in, potentially a gigantic hit with mainstream audiences.

Don't get me wrong; I'd love for them to bring the "OS XI" feel to a real device far sooner than the release of OS XI, but this early on, I just don't see the paradigm shift to a fully multitouch, mouseless OS. Apple's multitouch stuff isn't developed enough, unless they have nigh on a hundred patents they haven't released.

I think we're thinking about this device in different terms. I'm not expecting a whole new computing platform. I'm expecting a device that'll order books and let me read them. That'll act as an air tunes remote. Stream an itunes movie for me to watch in bed. Maybe play a little game on. Compose a quick email. Possibly work with home-automation devices to control the lights, etc. Maybe do some video iChat on.

Think Front Row blown out meets iPhone with a little razzle dazzle sprinkled on top.

 

[techfreak85]

more os x then iphone. it will have iphone features, but it will run regular os x. The only thing is i think it will have a retooled itunes or more of a "media center" app for this digital album art stuff and music playing that will be more iphone-esque.

 

[Carniphage]

1. So it will only be a niche and never mainstream.
2. Mmm. I wouldn't say so. The tablet is murky waters; you start designing an interface for it, it will either SUCK, or it will be full-fledged OS XI (as I have postulated), and we're nowhere near OS XI yet.
3. Bingo.
4. Bingo. (The ability to remove yet another feature and still be sold).

1. App Store: The idea is to make a consumer electronics product that is *more* mainstream than a computer. Something like the iPod. Having software and content that *only* comes through iTunes will allow this to be an appliance. Buy TV. Buy Books. Buy Apps. Buy Music. But Newspapers. One "dragging gesture" purchase. No fees to Amazon.

2. Custom Interface. I don't accept the idea that Apple will release a 10" screen, with a multi-touch surface and then hand users the nightmare of trying to run un-modified desktop apps on it. This was the mistake that Project Origami made. It was a disaster then, it would be a disaster now.

This product will have an exquisite interface, with every pixel designed specifically for this form factor. (and this input method)


C.

 

[Luke1robb]

It isn't going to be a Mac
A 9 or 10" screen would make for a poor Mac OS X experience. (See the Origami Project.)
Desktop apps assume mouse and keyboard and large screen. They will just suck on a 10" multi-touch touch screen.

Apple don't want to go down the netbook path.
Apple do not want it to cannibalise sales of full priced notebooks.
So this isn't a Mac.

Couldn't agree more. See both Tim Cook quotes from Page 1 as further evidence for why this device will not be a "Mac".

It isn't going to be a iPhone OS device
ALL iPhone apps are built for a fixed-sized screen.
And this device does not have the same screen. And it almost certainly does not have the same type of processor.

Now, I'm a little confused here. When I said iPhone OS, I don't mean it will run every app in the App Store. What's to say it won't run a base of iPhone OS and just run apps meant for the i_____?

We've already seen this happen with iPod touches, where you can't use some apps meant for the iPhone. Why not just make the app store even more extensive with i_____ apps?

Then when those apps sell, Apple can add those numbers to the "we sold (insert crazy number of apps) apps this (insert time period)."

Sounds like a great strategy to me!

So what is it?
I dunno... But. Here's my guesses:

1) It will get all its software from the App Store.
2) It's interface will be designed for its screen size and touchscreen.
3) The underlying system will be OS X and Cocoa.
4) It will have some feature we have not heard about yet.

1) We can agree on (see above)
2) Again, we agree
3) Isn't this a given as even iPhone OS has an underlying system of OS X and Cocoa?
4) Well that's just a given, haha

Although your guesses were pretty conservative, I give you credit for putting your neck out there with some predictions.

 

[michael.lauden]

i'm so ready for one of three things


1. for it not to come out
2. for it to come out and blow everything else out of the water
3. for it to come out with ATV type success. aka fail

 

[Luke1robb]

The restrictions of the App Store WORK for the iPhone because it's the iPhone. It will be popular regardless of what Apple does to it.

2. Same argument.

I'm thinking more along the lines of the Apple TV. If Apple doesn't let people make whatever apps they want to make for this tablet, it will always be a hobby; just a crippled "Big iPhone".

I am struggling to understand you here as well. Like I said a couple minutes ago, just as the App Store has iPhone only apps that iPod touches can't use/download, the App Store will have i_(insert name of "Tablet" device)_ apps that only that device can download.

I struggle to see the difference in strategy and idea here.

Furthermore, as I said above, I believe Apple will not create a different app store for the "Tablet". Rather, they will have a "Tablet" section of the "redesigned" (see Cook's comments) App Store. This will allow Apple to claim a higher number of apps sold and keep everything under one roof.

Why create a new store just for this one product? If they did that, iPod touch owners could argue that they deserve their own store as well.

 

[cellocello]

... the App Store has iPhone only apps that iPod touches can't use/download, the App Store will have i_(insert name of "Tablet" device)_ apps that only that device can download.

Is this true? I've never noticed iPhone only apps.

What apps are usable by the iPhone and not the iPod Touch and vice versa? Where did iPod Video users buy their games from (I never owned one)?

 

[Tallest Skil]

Is this true? I've never noticed iPhone only apps.

What apps are usable by the iPhone and not the iPod Touch and vice versa? Where did iPod Video users buy their games from (I never owned one)?

I would assume that a soft requirement would be anything that uses the microphone (Ocarina, et al), unless the microphone from the earbuds with the buttons and mic works on the iPod touch.

 

[Luke1robb]

i'm so ready for one of three things

1. for it not to come out
2. for it to come out and blow everything else out of the water
3. for it to come out with ATV type success. aka fail

I'm not really a betting man, but I'd bet one of your predictions will happen, haha.

Is this true? I've never noticed iPhone only apps.

What apps are usable by the iPhone and not the iPod Touch and vice versa? Where did iPod Video users buy their games from (I never owned one)?

I would assume that a soft requirement would be anything that uses the microphone (Ocarina, et al), unless the microphone from the earbuds with the buttons and mic works on the iPod touch.

On top of the microphone, any app that needs 1) A cell signal, 2) GPS, etc.

And these aren't just "soft" requirements, see: http://tinyurl.com/kwopuz

As for Cello's question about iPod Video users, they downloaded the games from iTunes itself. I guess one could argue that Apple could just make Tablet users buy from iTunes, but why? It's already busy (literally and visually) as it is.

 

[harry20larry]

I think it will be this:
Imagine 3 iphone screen next to each other.
With the ability to launch multiple application (3) on each section. With the new 3.0 software it will become very productive because you will be able to copy across info without having to close and relaunch apps to get the info. I could also imagine a method of making an app whole screen (this will work well with apps that use the iphone interface, but games with have to be stretched).
There will of course be dedicated apps for it but I don't see why apple wouldn't capitalise on the huge app catalogue it has.
-my two cents

 

[imaketouchtheme]

I think it will be this:
Imagine 3 iphone screen next to each other.
With the ability to launch multiple application (3) on each section. With the new 3.0 software it will become very productive because you will be able to copy across info without having to close and relaunch apps to get the info. I could also imagine a method of making an app whole screen (this will work well with apps that use the iphone interface, but games with have to be stretched).
There will of course be dedicated apps for it but I don't see why apple wouldn't capitalise on the huge app catalogue it has.
-my two cents

There is no way in the world I would ever purchase such a product. That's like having a computer that you aren't aloud to resize the windows.

 

[Tallest Skil]

I think it will be this:
Imagine 3 iphone screen next to each other.
With the ability to launch multiple application (3) on each section.

Not happening.

(this will work well with apps that use the iphone interface

How?

but games with have to be stretched).

They would all be stretched.

I don't see why apple wouldn't capitalise on the huge app catalogue it has.

Because they're already capitalizing on it by selling the iPhone and iPod touch. Eventually, the iPod touch and its family will be all that you can purchase, meaning the hundred million unit market will be of touchscreen App Store devices.

The tablet is a thing of its own.

 

[Luke1robb]

I think it will be this:
Imagine 3 iphone screen next to each other.
With the ability to launch multiple application (3) on each section. With the new 3.0 software it will become very productive because you will be able to copy across info without having to close and relaunch apps to get the info. I could also imagine a method of making an app whole screen (this will work well with apps that use the iphone interface, but games with have to be stretched).
There will of course be dedicated apps for it but I don't see why apple wouldn't capitalise on the huge app catalogue it has.
-my two cents

Although I think the idea of having 3 apps open on one screen might be cool for somethings, it just doesn't make sense. PLUS when you look at the dimensions of this thing (I've created a cut out of the estimated size), it just wouldn't work. Sorry, but I'm gonna have to agree with the Tallest and imake on this one.

Because they're already capitalizing on it by selling the iPhone and iPod touch. Eventually, the iPod touch and its family will be all that you can purchase, meaning the hundred million unit market will be of touchscreen App Store devices.

The tablet is a thing of its own.

So Tallest, are you saying you think the "Tablet" will have its own App Store, independent of "the" [current] App Store or are you saying it will be a part of it? If the latter, I'd like to hear your rational.

100 million unit market? What are you refering to?

 

[Luke1robb]

So from what I can tell and what I've picked up from discussion so far:

People who are saying Mac OS X are more likely to say that because they want it and/or they can't envision a "Tablet" without a full version of Mac OS X.

and

People who are saying iPhone OS are more likely to say that because they think that Mac OS X would be too hard to use for the "average" user and that the complication of mac full applications being implemented for the device.

Also, there is thoughts that for $600-900, Apple wouldn't put something close to a full Mac OS X on this device.

Am I right in my summarized evaluation?

Thoughts?

 

[Carniphage]

Now, I'm a little confused here. When I said iPhone OS, I don't mean it will run every app in the App Store. What's to say it won't run a base of iPhone OS and just run apps meant for the i_____?

My guess is that the OS will be OS X (underneath) with a new version of Cocoa Touch.
But I am expecting a more sophisticated user interface than the iPhone.

I would not expect to see a Finder. (file browsing)
But I would hope that a tablet might let me browse photographs, videos and music in a more visually dynamic way the iPhone.

The iPhone springboard only shows applications. No data, no documents.
I would expect the main interface of the tablet be different. It would in some way allow direct manipulation of both.

C.

 

[colmaclean]

I would not expect to see a Finder. (file browsing)
But I would hope that a tablet might let me browse photographs, videos and music in a more visually dynamic way the iPhone.

Like the Apple TV? As most of my video library is divx, if this device is locked into iTunes, it's lost one potential customer...

Then again, I'm sure there'd be a thriving jailbreak community!

 

[Luke1robb]

My guess is that the OS will be OS X (underneath) with a new version of Cocoa Touch.
But I am expecting a more sophisticated user interface than the iPhone.

I would not expect to see a Finder. (file browsing)
But I would hope that a tablet might let me browse photographs, videos and music in a more visually dynamic way the iPhone.

The iPhone springboard only shows applications. No data, no documents.
I would expect the main interface of the tablet be different. It would in some way allow direct manipulation of both.

C.

I think you're probably right here. This thing will not be close to full Mac OS X, definitely closer to iPhone OS, but it will be more feature rich and capable than the iPod touch. I think the apps will look and feel the same, but just more usability and screen space, so great capabilites.

 

[Carniphage]

I think you're probably right here. This thing will not be close to full Mac OS X, definitely closer to iPhone OS, but it will be more feature rich and capable than the iPod touch. I think the apps will look and feel the same, but just more usability and screen space, so great capabilites.

Yep,

The increased size would mean there'd be more gestures - for example gestures for two hands.

And the increased screen space mean the display might even use windows to allow more than one thing on the screen at one.

It's all quite exciting!

That said, I still have no idea what it would be for .. or why anyone would buy one.

C.

 

[cellocello]

Yep,

The increased size would mean there'd be more gestures - for example gestures for two hands.

And the increased screen space mean the display might even use windows to allow more than one thing on the screen at one.

It's all quite exciting!

That said, I still have no idea what it would be for .. or why anyone would buy one.

C.

Hmm ...

I'm not quite sure about 2 hand gestures, unless there's a specific "this thing stays on a table" use case. I'm inclined to think we'll see more in the line of 4 and 5 finger gestures. That being said, there's plenty of reasons to think they'll want you to put this thing on a table and use 2 hands on it. Although, that does seem a bit Surface-y to me, and I think Apple wants to avoid that comparison.

Windowing. Um, again, I'm not so sure about this. Given that we've pretty much concluded that his thing (if it exists) will be finger-driven, I doubt they'll introduce much in the way of window management. Dashboard style widgets, that 'fly in' over your content, on the other hand ....

I can see the market for this thing, and I can see why people would want it - the only real problem is price. Even if this thing has a great screen for reading books on (which a standard LCD isn't), and has great sound (for enjoying audio and video content), and does all kinds of neat tricks (new ways to "touch your media"), I'm hard pressed to believe people will spend >$500 for it or that Apple will charge <$300 for it.

There's a bunch of logistical problems with this device. There has to be a "killer app" or "killer purpose" for this thing - something that makes people have to have it, no matter the cost - and I'm not quite sure what that is yet.