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Apple Tablet Launch to Coincide With iTunes Digital Album Enhancements in September?
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If Apple can get it on Oprah's "favorite things" list and Oprah is shown swiping through "photo albums" and passing it to her friends at the coffee table, it will sell BIG TIME!!!
Oprah and Bono first publicly announced the iPod Product Red line. Not Steve, not Schiller, not anyone from Apple.
I'm curious to know who the 3G service provider might be. Seems like I read somewhere that Verizon will be the lucky carrier to get this tablet first. Since I'm currently with AT&T and don't have any complaints with them I would like it to be available to them first.
But, I do currently have a laptop connect card with AT&T so if this tablet device actually has a USB port and will work with my laptop connect card I'll buy it regardless which carrier gets it.
Think iPhone tethering... Have an iPhone? Get a tethering plan for your tablet. That's what I would plan to do.
Sorry, nope. It will be a hybrid of the two but mostly on the iPhone OS feel.
Sorry, nope. No keyboard. But you can hook up an external USB keyboard if you want.
No ATOM, it draws too much power. It will be an ARM.
Nope. Not going to happen. Amazon will never release an eReader to compete against Kindle. You are dreaming.
What about the Ecosystem
What you are saying is equivalent to saying "There is no accessory for the Iphone and Ipod". Apple launches the product and all the vendors like Griffin, Bose.. will jump on...
Watching a movie on a tablet like this + Noise canceling headset has to be a better experience than watching the movie on an Iphone... or ipod.
Do not worry: there will be tons and tons of aps and accessories!
What you are saying is equivalent to saying "There is no accessory for the Iphone and Ipod". Apple launches the product and all the vendors like Griffin, Bose.. will jump on...
Watching a movie on a tablet like this + Noise canceling headset has to be a better experience than watching the movie on an Iphone... or ipod.
Do not worry: there will be tons and tons of aps and accessories!
That sounds like a good idea but I already have a laptop connect card with AT&T. That's why I'm hoping it has a USB port.
Which worries me somewhat. Apple is more than likely going to leverage it against Atom based netbooks that can run OS X/Windows.
Atom is nearly the ultimate sacrifice in performance in order to get x86 at its power and thermal envelopes. ARM is nice but still not x86.
I keep hearing this is supposed to be a media device replacement.
So let's examine this:
1) Audio - sure, it'll play audio as well or better than an iPod touch, but an iPod touch is a LOT more portable.
2) Digital Photo Album. Might be cool for this, but pretty darn expensive, and to be honest my iPod touch is every bit as big as I need it to be for this.
3) Replacement for portable DVD player. Yup dead on. Best use for this device. Every portable DVD player on the market essentially stops working within days or weeks. They get out of alignment, get gunk in the mechanism, whatever. This device would absolutely rock as a portable DVD player without the DVD. Yeah sure, it can't play DVDs, and your average person would be able to rip them, but you can download almost anything you want over iTunes, and that'll be good enough for most people. The rest of us will simply rip the DVDs they have. But is this better than hard-disk driven portable video players already on the market? It might be, but it would play a lot fewer formats.
4) eBook reader. I suppose it would work - but without eInk? Not gonna replace a Kindle anytime soon. Too hard to read on a backlit LCD display. Not impossible, just not as good on the eyes. It would have a bigger screen than an iPod touch, so that's at least something.
5) Game playing device. The app store is cool, but it wouldn't replace anyone's DSi or DSLite anytime soon. People buying PSPs might think twice, but probably only a small percentage would switch over. The app store is still kind of an "add on". It makes the iPod touch cool, because what was just a music player can now do a lot more. But if you're selling this as a gaming system - I'm not so sure.
It's a perfect system for the "portable video" market. It'll play music, slideshows, and even a few "light" games. You can read eBooks on it for short periods of time. If it has GPS/digital compass it would replace your TomTom/Garmin. You can't make phone calls on it, but you could surf the web if you can find a hot spot.
It feels like it might sell, but if you've already got an iPod touch, a GPS unit, and a portable game platform (DS, PSP, whatever) there really is very little justification for it. That's the state I'm in, and I'll bet there are quite a few others like me.
So let's examine this:
1) Audio - sure, it'll play audio as well or better than an iPod touch, but an iPod touch is a LOT more portable.
2) Digital Photo Album. Might be cool for this, but pretty darn expensive, and to be honest my iPod touch is every bit as big as I need it to be for this.
3) Replacement for portable DVD player. Yup dead on. Best use for this device. Every portable DVD player on the market essentially stops working within days or weeks. They get out of alignment, get gunk in the mechanism, whatever. This device would absolutely rock as a portable DVD player without the DVD. Yeah sure, it can't play DVDs, and your average person would be able to rip them, but you can download almost anything you want over iTunes, and that'll be good enough for most people. The rest of us will simply rip the DVDs they have. But is this better than hard-disk driven portable video players already on the market? It might be, but it would play a lot fewer formats.
4) eBook reader. I suppose it would work - but without eInk? Not gonna replace a Kindle anytime soon. Too hard to read on a backlit LCD display. Not impossible, just not as good on the eyes. It would have a bigger screen than an iPod touch, so that's at least something.
5) Game playing device. The app store is cool, but it wouldn't replace anyone's DSi or DSLite anytime soon. People buying PSPs might think twice, but probably only a small percentage would switch over. The app store is still kind of an "add on". It makes the iPod touch cool, because what was just a music player can now do a lot more. But if you're selling this as a gaming system - I'm not so sure.
It's a perfect system for the "portable video" market. It'll play music, slideshows, and even a few "light" games. You can read eBooks on it for short periods of time. If it has GPS/digital compass it would replace your TomTom/Garmin. You can't make phone calls on it, but you could surf the web if you can find a hot spot.
It feels like it might sell, but if you've already got an iPod touch, a GPS unit, and a portable game platform (DS, PSP, whatever) there really is very little justification for it. That's the state I'm in, and I'll bet there are quite a few others like me.
Nice! But I don't think that will happen on the tablet. It will be the iPhone OS with some added features. Give it a little time and Apple will get there like those videos!
Bono has truly gone over to the dark side, between funding the development of the Pre and starring in some ipodesque advert for Rimm. I bet the Apple assassins are out looking for him now.
True, you are right about the Atom. But when you consider that apple wants a whole new set of application to be developed for the MacTablet (new API's for display and input) the x86 compatibility no longer matters. So, I believe they're going with ARM to take advantage of the huge power savings.
The MacTablet will be
25% CPU+MEMORY+SSD
75% BATTERY
25% LCD+CHASE (titanium)
Another platform alongside the iPhone/Touch and desktop/notebook OS X? I thought it was bad enough getting a trumped up ARM tablet for $799.
I would definitely use something like this in bed [insert joke here]. I tend to surf a bunch and then do a lot of reading in bed and something like this would be perfect for that. If they want it to be a superlative e-book reader, I hope they don't skimp on the screen resolution. A higher dot pitch makes a large difference in the quality of the type and antialiasing of it. For a 10" screen I'd hope for something like at least 1440 x 900. That would essentially match the iPhone's density (160 ppi) at 170 ppi. 1600 x 1024 would be even better, yielding 190 ppi.
The iPhone has already replaced a lot of what I used to use my desktop and laptop for, this tablet-like Mac could further replace those things and be a little more comfortable to use for things the iPhone is too cramped for. But I guess the price is the key. At $500-$800 I might be persuaded, but if they're asking more like $1,000-$1,200 it probably wouldn't be worth it.
Also, if it's a Verizon-only device and I'd have to pay for a separate data plan in addition to the AT&T/iPhone and Comcast/cable modem, that'd be a deal-killer for me. They need to find a way to bundle access for all these devices because it really starts getting very expensive when you add it all up.
The iPhone has already replaced a lot of what I used to use my desktop and laptop for, this tablet-like Mac could further replace those things and be a little more comfortable to use for things the iPhone is too cramped for. But I guess the price is the key. At $500-$800 I might be persuaded, but if they're asking more like $1,000-$1,200 it probably wouldn't be worth it.
Also, if it's a Verizon-only device and I'd have to pay for a separate data plan in addition to the AT&T/iPhone and Comcast/cable modem, that'd be a deal-killer for me. They need to find a way to bundle access for all these devices because it really starts getting very expensive when you add it all up.
I'd buy one if Apple has some kind of deal with Adobe or Painter to make some kind of "light" application to digitally paint on it. I think it'll be easier for artists to directly paint on the screen rather on an added wacom tablet. Hopefully Steve won't have the "No Stylus" stance with this!
You idea is exactly why this thing has taken 4+ years to develop, going back to the drawing board 6 times. Your idea is utterly pedestrian, it's quite clear that if Apple intends it to compete with Kindle they'll have an answer to the eyestrain & battery Life. It's also quite clear it will also have a unique selling point, unlike just tossing in a touch, a gps and a nintendo, there'll be a clearer distinction about its purpose.
Um... Just like they didn't do that on the iPhone... OH WAIT!
Big difference between iphone or ipod touch and kindle. You did notice their difference in size. Amazon has no interest in getting into the PDA market.
Answer this question, why hasn't Amazon introduced a software version of kindle that runs on PC's and Mac like Mobi Pocket Reader? Because if they did they'll lose huge sales on their kindle to customers who prefer to just download the software version of kindle that you can download and install on your netbook or PC.
I spend a lot of time traveling between NYC and Boston on a bus. I'd love a 10 inch tablet to watch movies and access the internet on. That's all I'd need, but I have a feeling its going to have greater functionality than simply a giant ipod touch.
They should call it iWant...
No data plan required and out by December. Consider one sold right here! I don't want to take my 17" MBP on vacation and off weekends, but this would be sooo great for checking email, web browsing and movie watching.
No data plan required and out by December. Consider one sold right here! I don't want to take my 17" MBP on vacation and off weekends, but this would be sooo great for checking email, web browsing and movie watching.
I don't really see why Apple would launch such a device unless it was some limited device intended to be a companion to a mac instead of a replacement for one. How many people would actually buy such a device? I can't see Apple offering it for cheap. An unsubsidized iPhone 3GS costs $499. How much would a 10" screen version cost? I don't see it happening for less than $799. Can't stick it in your pocket like a iPod Touch of iPhone. The whole story just doesn't make sense to me.
Here is the original post on my prediction. As you can read I am 100% right so far.
Your predictions seem quite logical to me.
The huge cost is in the large touch LCD and SSD.
Lets see ipod touch with 32GB of memory and 3.5-inch (diagonal) display is $400.
So, what do you think a MacTablet with 64GB or 128 GB SSD and 9.x-inch (diagnonal) display would be? Let me take a guess, how about $800.
It makes a huge difference what contact mechanism Apple will use in the tablet.
Touchscreen, like what the iPhone has, works great as a mechanism for finger control. It doesn't work as well as a writing or drawing device. In particular, existing touchscreens are not pressure sensitive, which make them drastically less useful for artwork. A touchscreen-based Apple tablet will really be an over-sized iPhone in nature, useful for multimedia purpose but not as much for work.
Active Digitizer, like what modbook and most existing tablets have, works great as a mechanism for writing and drawing. Active digitizer allows for very fine control as well as providing pressure sensitivity. The downside is, of course, you cannot use your finger to control, unless the tablet also has a touchscreen. A digitizer-based Apple tablet will be great for work, essentially an official replacement of modbook. It will be very useful in graphic design and teaching--in the university I am teaching in, tablets are slowly getting used by more and more faculties.
Personally I really hope that the Apple tablet will have a digitizer and not just a touchscreen, as it will be so much more useful.
Touchscreen, like what the iPhone has, works great as a mechanism for finger control. It doesn't work as well as a writing or drawing device. In particular, existing touchscreens are not pressure sensitive, which make them drastically less useful for artwork. A touchscreen-based Apple tablet will really be an over-sized iPhone in nature, useful for multimedia purpose but not as much for work.
Active Digitizer, like what modbook and most existing tablets have, works great as a mechanism for writing and drawing. Active digitizer allows for very fine control as well as providing pressure sensitivity. The downside is, of course, you cannot use your finger to control, unless the tablet also has a touchscreen. A digitizer-based Apple tablet will be great for work, essentially an official replacement of modbook. It will be very useful in graphic design and teaching--in the university I am teaching in, tablets are slowly getting used by more and more faculties.
Personally I really hope that the Apple tablet will have a digitizer and not just a touchscreen, as it will be so much more useful.