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Apple Tablet Set for Second Quarter Launch With Aluminum Casing?
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Anyone who has an entire work environment on a system incompatible with new, better hardware, that can do things the old stuff cannot. And visa-versa.
More people than you think.
Rocketman
This latest rumor just reinforces my belief that I'll find nothing in this potential product to add to or replace my Macbook.
The problem is that the iPhone already costs that much $599-699. Adding 3"-6" more of screen, faster CPU, faster GPU, and larger battery isn't very likely offset by dropping a voice cell radio (and possibly using older generation flash chips which consume more physical space). Also somewhat likely that will have cell data universal chip. so again no huge drop in costs from radios. Stuck on Wifi only limits the mobility (which much of the competition isn't limited to). Although Apple may have two models ( embedded cell data radio and not.. won't expect a huge diff in price unless also mixed into the onboard Flash storage size differences. )
More likely this is going to be priced higher than an iPhone.
Next month: Microsoft announces a new addition to the failed zune line with very vague details except for the "product" name:
Swine Slate
unless it is internal corp communication very few product date conversations are tied to financial quarters. Product releases are mostly discussed on calendar quarters.
Apple isn't going to say anything general public until end of January's. If this is a device that needs to get out and have wide testing before deployment on many different networks there will be a significant gap between when announced and ship. Similarly, if they expect as high initial buy rate on the device, would need 1-2 months of running the factory to have device inventory that will last and that the assembly process was consistently high quality. So April-May-June is about right. (earlier April-ish rather than later if start manufacture in Feb. ) And nevermind getting SDK updates out to folks outside of the "cone of silence" so can make application adjustments if necessary.
Apple's "cone of silence" approach doesn't really lend itself to new product line deployments going superfast since many of the folks who need the info to create stuff the end users want to use don't get the information after the big extravaganza show.
Nobody, but who the hell wants a Mac Pro, when travelling a lot? Besides, a Mac Pro might fund a MacBook Pro and a MacBook Air.
Actually, I also have a bootable external HDD that I use with Leopard. I still don't trust Snow Leopard.
Al
Let's hope. This and iPhone both.
... The latest report, however, suggests that Apple has settled on an aluminum case for the device.
Let's hope. This and iPhone both.
i really hope the islate will not be a rumor, just like the ipod touch getting a camera 
If there will be a tablet i'm so buying it. And i hope there are new iphones too
If there will be a tablet i'm so buying it. And i hope there are new iphones too
It's what people were saying, don't know how true that was. Mine worked perfectly. I think the major reason for the change was to make the phone more durable. Many had issues with their phones, even after dropping it only once. I have dropped my 3g approx 80 - 100 times with out a scratch. The screen finally cracked at the corner about 2 months ago, but it took dropping it, that many times. This ones a tank compared to the old one, even though I loved the design.
I agree. But what's the point of having a sexy, delicious phone, if it doesn't work because it was dropped one time lol?
My Dream Tablet
Mobile Connectivity: WIFI n and SIM card slot (3G or CDMA bto)
Screen: 7"-11" screen (bto) and Wacomesque quality (for touch and highly precise stylus input) + ereader mode
HD: 128GB SDD
CPU: Faster than 3Gs
GPU: Tegra2
OS: preferably Mac OS X but App store is fine with Movie, TV, Music and Magazine/News monthly subscriptions
Charging dock: wireless video/audio transmission from tablet, time machine built-in, Apple TV built-in, wireless charging pad, and SDK for both the charging dock and the tablet itself
Camera: 10 megapixel with flash
GPS with optional car mount
Price: WTF cares when you think this big (preferably under 1500)
Name: iDream
Mobile Connectivity: WIFI n and SIM card slot (3G or CDMA bto)
Screen: 7"-11" screen (bto) and Wacomesque quality (for touch and highly precise stylus input) + ereader mode
HD: 128GB SDD
CPU: Faster than 3Gs
GPU: Tegra2
OS: preferably Mac OS X but App store is fine with Movie, TV, Music and Magazine/News monthly subscriptions
Charging dock: wireless video/audio transmission from tablet, time machine built-in, Apple TV built-in, wireless charging pad, and SDK for both the charging dock and the tablet itself
Camera: 10 megapixel with flash
GPS with optional car mount
Price: WTF cares when you think this big (preferably under 1500)
Name: iDream
alu design would look great but be terrible for daily use
after two year experiance with a macair I would doubt that alu is the best choice for a handcarried device.
somehow the alu seems to attract dirt, stains, sweat, etc so best is not to touch at all. a small drop (yes I know: not the smartest thing to do...) causes the alu to bend at the corners (and to absorb the shock).
the iphone case is less cool however it seems more durable.
the last thing I want to do is wrap the tabled in some stupid protection case so I hope that whatever apple chooses its durable, resists typical stains and is chock-absorbing. just for traveling the scuba-suits are the best!
after two year experiance with a macair I would doubt that alu is the best choice for a handcarried device.
somehow the alu seems to attract dirt, stains, sweat, etc so best is not to touch at all. a small drop (yes I know: not the smartest thing to do...) causes the alu to bend at the corners (and to absorb the shock).
the iphone case is less cool however it seems more durable.
the last thing I want to do is wrap the tabled in some stupid protection case so I hope that whatever apple chooses its durable, resists typical stains and is chock-absorbing. just for traveling the scuba-suits are the best!
March is Apple's second FINANCIAL quarter. Apple never releases products according to the financial calendar, rather the normal calendar, thus March is in Apple's first quarter.
The tablet's specs are as follows:
- 10" inch multitouch screen;
- in-screen slot for desktop conversion (see related Apple patent);
- latest ARM processor with PA Semi specific chipsets;
- iPhone OS 4.0 implementation for higher resolutions and OS X-like features;
- no physical connectivity ports apart from power, USB and HD video out;
- 16 or 32Gb flash memory;
- 2Gb RAM;
- aluminum casing in the main model and also a cheaper white plastic version like the MacBook.
And don't forget, children:
MS IS DEAD. And so is DELL.
- 10" inch multitouch screen;
- in-screen slot for desktop conversion (see related Apple patent);
- latest ARM processor with PA Semi specific chipsets;
- iPhone OS 4.0 implementation for higher resolutions and OS X-like features;
- no physical connectivity ports apart from power, USB and HD video out;
- 16 or 32Gb flash memory;
- 2Gb RAM;
- aluminum casing in the main model and also a cheaper white plastic version like the MacBook.
And don't forget, children:
MS IS DEAD. And so is DELL.
Duty Free
As long as it arrives in the Sydney store before go overseas to take advantage of the Tax Duty break...
Aluminum casing would be nice...
I wonder if the guy Kirk and Scotty gave the transparent aluminum chemical formula to was Steve Jobs back in 86, and he sat on the tech all this time.... until now.
As long as it arrives in the Sydney store before go overseas to take advantage of the Tax Duty break...
Aluminum casing would be nice...
I wonder if the guy Kirk and Scotty gave the transparent aluminum chemical formula to was Steve Jobs back in 86, and he sat on the tech all this time.... until now.
While I agree it will be more expensive than the iPhone, there is also a case to be made that a bigger device can fit bigger parts. And in some cases the smaller and more custom a part, the more expensive it is.
CDMA phones don't typically take SIM-like cards. The SIM card is also not a radio. It is merely a card that holds some identity information (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SIM_card).
If it is going to be trivial to pop the SIM card out of an iPhone and into the Tablet ... can see ATT squirming in the network control room now.
There is almost zero need for a SDD. All that a standard disk container form factor will do is consume more space than necessary (e.g., would likely force the form factor to be thicker than it could be and we all know how Apple is aligned with that ) . That also connotes that the case will be conducive to being user opened (replaceable storage). Really don't see Apple doing that with this form factor.
Raw flash chips with a direct interface would be thinner to implement. To shave some costs will be multiple flash chips rather than the single one used in Phones/Touches. That why could use cheaper/more mature chips.
Tegra 2 is a SoC ( system on a chip). The CPU and graphics are integrated in one package.
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3714
You'd be looking at Nvidia's ION line if just wanted graphics only.
The "I want a more inexpensive laptop" folks I suspect are going to be very disappointed.
Thrown in the Kitchen sink while you are at it.
10 MP without a pretty high quality lens is going to be garbage. Again throw in Apple's "must be as thin/light as physically possible" and you likely have a problem with this secondary feature.
Similarly, would make much more sense if the camera was facing toward the user on this device as opposed to away. With 10" now have enough screen real estate to do something like iChat video conferencing. That is not going to work when the camera is on the back. Neither is it necessary for 10MP when doing streamed video either.
once the camera is on the same side as the screen it isn't going to be very useful as a still picture taking device. Nevermind trying to hold/pan/tilt/aim a tiny pinhole lens at someone with a 10" diameter slate in your hand.
Car mount where? Granted I've seen customized cars at shows with displays in the glove compartment , headrests , etc. However, I don't think most folks are going to a custom car shop to get one of these installed. So how could you put a 7-10" device on you dashboard or on the window without significantly reducing visibility? You can't. You'd introduce a forward blind spot in the drivers vision for sure. There is a reason why dash mounted GPS units typically top out at 4" and it is not just costs.
If priced at or higher than Apple's lowest priced laptop this device is major problems in adoption rate.
It is not so much bigger parts but either more and/or hotter parts. Hotter parts are cheaper.
However, I don't see Apple going with hotter parts. If they can do the slate fanless ( like the iPhone/Touch) than can probably make the case thinner and lighter. ( rumors about going to get stronger glass only reinforce that if can't punt structural integrity off to the case. ) Similarly hotter also typically means shorter battery life. Another feature which I seriously doubt Apple is going to sacrifice on this device.
I can easily see more Flash chips. The iPhone/Touch are basically limited to one due to space constraints to pack in all the gear into such a small form factor. With 10" you have a bit more area to spread out into. However, when is the last time an Apple product got thicker???
Apple could have done a MacBook thick "slate" years ago with the tech available. In part I think it is what you can do with the current tech is one reason this has taken so long to deploy.
Additionally, functionality being collapsed onto fewer chips can cut costs.
Screens (of same quality) are not cheaper. Bigger cases/glass are not cheaper (again of same quality). Neither is Apple likely to take a smaller profit margin (on a lower run rate than Phone/Touch).
Next gen CPUs are typically more expensive too. (again the "bigger"/"hotter" CPUs are usually old-tech. Old tech is cheaper than current tech.... e.g., selling the 3G phones are lower prices now that they are 2+ years old. ) A slate with CPU/GPU power equivalent to a Touch (which leads the "horsepower" deployment in the Touch/Phone line) makes no sense if trying to achieve product differentiation.
Could Apple beat the iPhone on price? Certainly; most of the slate/tablets being rolled out at CES do. Few of them though have the self imposed design constraints that Apple imposes on itself. It is NOT where could it be priced but where Apple will price it.
Look at Apple's product lines. They all use pricing very clearly seperate the models where there is even a hint of functionality overlap. High end iMacs don't overlap low end Mac Mac Pros. MacBook does not overlap MacBook Pro 13". [ The Touch and iPhone only have the illusion of overlap. The user pays way more for the iPhone harddware over the usage lifecycle, but Apple gets most of that money differential upfront. ]. If priced exactly the same going to create increased buyer angst over "which one do I choose". If separated will get more "Oh well, couldn't afford that other one anyway." episodes. Strategically throw in that smartphones prices are set to start declining ( lots of competitors in the market at this point and it is rapidly maturing as a market) and they need a higher priced point product just to tread water at the units @ this price point. If start out higher when iPhones slide backward in price these can slide down into the iPhones pricing slot.
[ think it was an accident that Apple announced 3B downloads and buying ad service on the exact very same day of Google's press conference? I don't. Is Apple paniced; no. Do they have substantive competitors; they'll acknowledge that if honest. ]
Committing to production quantities also makes secrecy next to impossible.
Its at least one concept.
I think that this has been extensively debated within Apple
But what I'll offer up is the idea behind the Gary Fong flip cage camera stand, specifically, just half of one.
Flipped down, it provides a stand.
Otherwise, it surrounds the device on 3 sides, which makes it easier to hold ('pinch') when in slate mode...and if the Slate has any I/O ports, this would also be a clever way to hide/cover these ports while you don't need them.
Finally, the stand could also be removable, although since it could be a clever place to incorporate one's antenna(s), maybe not.
-hh