Apple Tablet Speculation Continuing to Gain Attention
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Stately
macrumors 6502a
Hrududu
macrumors 68020
As long as Steve Jobs is running the show, the Newton name will remain nothing more than a memory. Newton is unfortunately associated with a product that failed, and Steve wouldn't want to give John Scully the gratification of calling this new tablet Newton.
Stately
macrumors 6502a
I still think a lot of people here are still thinking very much in the box of what a tablet from Apple will be. Too many are thinking what it SHOULD be based on what they think it has the capability of being because of the preconceived notions they have from devices prior. Apple does things differently, remember that. This device most probably will be about things that we didn't expect. Think outside of the box.
If there's a keyboard, it will be Bluetooth.
Apollo21
macrumors member
An OS with a built-in error of 30 pixels for any touch interface it's given?? This makes no sense at all. The touch interface would sense a touch, and then send that information to the OS. I would love to see your source for this.
Rocketman
macrumors 603
Wouldn't that be effectively instant boot? With the power management they have been doing, some sort of very low power apps can run in the background like receiving messages for example.
Is an iPhone with a charged battery ever really "off"?
Rocketman
my 2 cents
I also wished that the tablet ran MacOS X, but most of the facts point to the contrary. Here are some of the arguments against it. Its processor is expected to be a ARM derivative (after Apple acquired PA Semi), rendering current applications useless without a recompile. The performance will be worse than the notebooks, but probably with an excellent battery life.
Apples products usually try to avoid cannibalizing the higher end, where it has bigger profit margins, and the specs tempt people to choose more expensive products. A MacOS X tablet would obviously compete with one of its best selling products (MacBook), and there is already a ultraportable (MacBook Air). The current strategy has been working very well.
Apple has already made some comments (remember what Jobs said about the kindle) and moves that seem to focus on digital content, which means that the interface has to be something that would look more like the iPhone than the normal MacOS X.
And finally Apple history shows that it goes for simple and intuitive designs, adding extra functionality with time. The interface is the key. There is a lot of room for innovation here. Apple can build a machine that covers all the basics in the internet connected life.
Having said all this, I probably wouldnt buy this tablet because I need my notebook, its power and flexibility.
We will have to wait and see what Apple has created.
I also wished that the tablet ran MacOS X, but most of the facts point to the contrary. Here are some of the arguments against it. Its processor is expected to be a ARM derivative (after Apple acquired PA Semi), rendering current applications useless without a recompile. The performance will be worse than the notebooks, but probably with an excellent battery life.
Apples products usually try to avoid cannibalizing the higher end, where it has bigger profit margins, and the specs tempt people to choose more expensive products. A MacOS X tablet would obviously compete with one of its best selling products (MacBook), and there is already a ultraportable (MacBook Air). The current strategy has been working very well.
Apple has already made some comments (remember what Jobs said about the kindle) and moves that seem to focus on digital content, which means that the interface has to be something that would look more like the iPhone than the normal MacOS X.
And finally Apple history shows that it goes for simple and intuitive designs, adding extra functionality with time. The interface is the key. There is a lot of room for innovation here. Apple can build a machine that covers all the basics in the internet connected life.
Having said all this, I probably wouldnt buy this tablet because I need my notebook, its power and flexibility.
We will have to wait and see what Apple has created.
mattster16
macrumors 6502a
This is my favorite part right here:
"Others are not so sanguine about the prospects of an Apple tablet being able to serve as an all-in-one device capable of replacing users' computers, media players, and e-Book readers.
"What we've found in the past with these multi-function devices is that they're better for ad-hoc purposes, like quick and dirty tasks," said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with Yankee Group. 'They're not for any prolonged, high-performance use.'"
This is just the classic example of analysts who fail to grasp the fact that Apple has redefined product categories and will continue to do so. These are the same people who said things like 'people don't surf the web on their smartphones or use a multitude of 3rd party apps so we don't see the iphone becoming that successful'. I can kind of agree when they say this won't replace computers, but who knows what Apple will pull. They should know by now that it's hard to speculate on Apple's rumored products - they'd be better to just refrain from doing so and protect their reputations.
"Others are not so sanguine about the prospects of an Apple tablet being able to serve as an all-in-one device capable of replacing users' computers, media players, and e-Book readers.
"What we've found in the past with these multi-function devices is that they're better for ad-hoc purposes, like quick and dirty tasks," said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with Yankee Group. 'They're not for any prolonged, high-performance use.'"
This is just the classic example of analysts who fail to grasp the fact that Apple has redefined product categories and will continue to do so. These are the same people who said things like 'people don't surf the web on their smartphones or use a multitude of 3rd party apps so we don't see the iphone becoming that successful'. I can kind of agree when they say this won't replace computers, but who knows what Apple will pull. They should know by now that it's hard to speculate on Apple's rumored products - they'd be better to just refrain from doing so and protect their reputations.
CmdrLaForge
macrumors 601
I definitely hope that it will run Mac OS X apps and not just tiny little iPhone apps. We will see. The only information currently available is that there is a high chance that Apple is indeed working on a device. And thats not even sure.
cmaier
Suspended
What he's probably referring to is the fact that apple says the minimum interface element size is 40px - in other words, if you space things less than 40px apart, the human finger will have trouble hitting the one that is intended. Of course the 40px is based on iphone dot pitch.
You want a lot and frankly running an IPhone OS superset would give you that.
The current limitations with respect to apps has more to do with available RAM than any inherent weakness in iPhone OS. Before slagging iPhones OS take a serious look at it's SDK.
Doesn't make sense especially on ARM hardware. What the tablet needs is a 100% highly compatible superset of iPhone OS.
You have no idea what you are talking about. There is nothing weak about iPhone OS underneath the user API it is pretty much the same as Mac OS. The difference is the user inteface tool kit which is tuned for a phone sized device.
The current limitations with respect to apps has more to do with available RAM than any inherent weakness in iPhone OS. Before slagging iPhones OS take a serious look at it's SDK.
People collect their porn on iPhone so this should be a snap on a tablet.
I've seen this need posted on several forums and have to wonder what are you guys thinking and how do you suppose that a tablet would do well for this application. Frankly I see the idea as a bit stupid. Given that I might be missing something IPhone OS could do presentations right now given the right hardware.
The file structure is already there. All Apple needs to do is to write an app to access it.
Rocketman
macrumors 603
AT&T Preparing for the iTablet
AT&T Cloud:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=27369&tag=nl.e550
Rocketman
AT&T Cloud:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=27369&tag=nl.e550
Rocketman
I cannot believe it would be anything other than locked down tightly. Apple likes a revenue stream.
Chris
iMacmatician
macrumors 601
There have been rumors for a long time but I think this is the first of the "current" set of rumors.
NT1440
macrumors P6
I'm pretty sure if this thing were to be cloud based, apple would be using that multibillion dollar server farm they just started in NC. There is no reason why they would want to trust AT&T as they already don't have a good relationship. I think once the exclusivity of the iphone contract ends, things between at&t will really have the light shed on them.
Don't be too sure about your point of view with respect to Jobs and Newton.
First; Newton did not fail, it was AXED. From the standpoint of a business decision it was pretty smart as Apple was not expected to make it another year.
Newton did not fail. If you had a sense of history and Apples state at the time you would understand that.
As to reusing the Newton name again there are good and bad points to that. But I will agree with the other posters the last thing we need is another "I" device. I'd actually would like to see Apple use another common name for an apple variety.
Dave
First; Newton did not fail, it was AXED. From the standpoint of a business decision it was pretty smart as Apple was not expected to make it another year.
You seem to think Steve hated the Newton. I don't belive that to be so. He could have sold off the tech especially at a time when Apple needed the cash. He didn't and made a point to keep and continue the technology development. So obviously Steve saw some value here.
Newton did not fail. If you had a sense of history and Apples state at the time you would understand that.
As to reusing the Newton name again there are good and bad points to that. But I will agree with the other posters the last thing we need is another "I" device. I'd actually would like to see Apple use another common name for an apple variety.
Dave
Sweetbike40
macrumors 65816
Wouldn't something like this with OSX be too similar to the MacBook Air? I'd think it would be half the price of the Air to be an option.
NT1440
macrumors P6
Laptop != tablet (which will surely have features the air simply won't be able to have)Wouldn't something like this with OSX be too similar to the MacBook Air? I'd think it would be half the price of the Air to be an option.
CaryMacGuy
macrumors 6502a
I think that this device would be best marketed as a student companion. I can picture students using this one device to replace all their textbooks, paper notebooks, and laptops at the same time. I can see it as a fabulous device for reading (and highlighting) textbooks. It could have a great touch friendly version of iWork and would connect to the internet with either WiFi or a mobile carrier data connection. Finally it would run iPhone OS app in a window that emulates the iPhone form factor.