Apple Tablet to Run iPhone OS and Launch in May or June 2010?

[Full of Win]

All I want is something small that I can download pictures from my camera to and do some light typing/editing.

I don't care what OS they use, so long as they can deliver these functionalities.

 

[G4R2]

Once again for emphasis:

iPhone OS = OS X- Finder + Cocoa Touch

That's oversimplified of course. The iPhone OS is a recompiled version of OS X based on the same Darwin foundations as OS X, missing many of the components required for a desktop OS, but modified with a lot of components that are necessary for a touch based mobile device.

I wouldn't think that Apple would take the version of OS X running on the iPhone and modify it to run on a tablet. I think it's far more likely that it would take whatever version Apple is using for development of OS X and migrate that to a tablet in the same way it did with the iPhone. They would share the same lineage and perhaps a few of the components, such as Cocoa Touch. And they would all be a subspecies of OS X.

Despite these shared underpinnings, it's pretty clear from Microsoft's failed experience with the tablet form factor that desktop apps simply don't translate to a useful experience on a tablet. These apps, like iTunes and Excel, require or expect precision interaction via a mouse and text entry via a keyboard. That simply doesn't work on tablet. So yes, entirely new apps will be necessary to take advantage of the benefits of this form factor.

What seems to be confusing to a lot of users here is the distinction between the desktop UI, which uses Finder, and the iPhone's UI.

Are people saying that Apple should discard Cocoa Touch in favor of some other development tool for this yet to be released device? I would say that would be a huge mistake. They should leverage and expand Cocoa Touch to facilitate migration of apps to a new device.

Or are users here saying they don't like the way the iPhone arranges apps on the screen and thinks that Apple will use the identical interface on a tablet? I see it as unlikely that Apple will use the identical interface, but I do think that there will be similarities reflecting their shared purposes and utility. Regardless, the iPhone's current UI is far better suited for a tablet then OS X Finder's is. The hierarchical file structure of a desktop OS is simply too cumbersome for a mobile device.

Regardless of this, I would bet, and in fact support, and app store for a tablet. Forget the benefits this has for Apple's bottom line. The advantages for the users are apps that work. Sure, there is a price to pay but those unsupported app have found their way into the Jailbreak community. Having used Windows Mobile prior to the iPhone and as far back as when it was a PDA only option I definitely prefer the ease and security of the app store. And if users really want that mythical robust marketplace of quality apps they really should go to the competition. Is Apple doing a perfect job with the app store? Of course not and I wouldn't argue that they are. They are, however, improving, and it is hugely preferable to the alternative of unstable, buggy, and insecure apps found on other platforms.

 

[the vj]

This "leaking" was obviously a test ballon

The functionality has to be mayor than the iPhone.

And the resolution way higher.

 

[JGowan]

After considering things for a little longer, I think going with iPhone OS makes the most sense, from a business sense:

• It would be Windows customer-friendly
• I presume it won't make calls, so it doesn't cannibalize iPhones
• It's too big to cannibalize iPods
• It doesn't run your average software so it doesn't cannibalize Mac laptops
• It runs automatically well over 100,000 (by ship time) that all support multi-touch
• This software generates 30% back to Apple
• People already familiar with the iPhone/iPod touch will know immediately how this thing runs

I think Snow Leopard would be the wrong choice for now,... I think that if this thing goes over big, they'll probably bring out one that does Snow Leopard... Of course, input's always going to be a big problem with a tablet device if it's a full-fledged computer.

I think for presentations, movies, photos, music, web surfing, email, games, scheduler, this thing will be really nice.

 

[masmullin]

eInk

Without eInk, reading a book on a device like this will be hard on the eyes.

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

After considering things for a little longer, I think going with iPhone OS makes the most sense, from a business sense:

• It would be Windows customer-friendly
• I presume it won't make calls, so it doesn't cannibalize iPhones
• It's too big to cannibalize iPods
• It doesn't run your average software so it doesn't cannibalize Mac laptops
• It runs automatically well over 100,000 (by ship time) that all support multi-touch
• This software generates 30% back to Apple
• People already familiar with the iPhone/iPod touch will know immediately how this thing runs

I think Snow Leopard would be the wrong choice for now,... I think that if this thing goes over big, they'll probably bring out one that does Snow Leopard... Of course, input's always going to be a big problem with a tablet device if it's a full-fledged computer.

I think for presentations, movies, photos, music, web surfing, email, games, scheduler, this thing will be really nice.

Good points all and I agree.

If it doesn't have a keyboard why should it run a full OS? I mean a full-sized, tactile, responsive, hardware keyboard.

 

[polaris20]

How about no software? MS Office is required for a real computer (Please, don't insult my intelligence with rants about iWork, Open Office, Neo Office, or some other sort-of compatible package)..

I suppose Steve will decide what you can and can not load on it as well - better yet, Steve will decide what can be written for it...... And will it be able to run more than 1 app at a time...

I work for a living. I suppose iPhone OS would work for you and the rest of the fanboys who have nothing to do but play Super Monkey Ball all day - unfortunately, that won't work for the majority of the world...

"Don't insult your intelligence"? Being a bit dramatic, don't you think? Open Office runs extremely well, and fits the bill for probably 90% of MS Office users in terms of functionality.

I'm glad you work for a living. So do I, and I could get by just fine with Ooo.org, especially now that SL has Exchange support for Mail.

You're insulting people that do use alternatives to MS Office by making such an arrogant statement.

EDIT

I guess they don't actually work for a living at IBM.

http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/News/IBM-Throws-Out-Microsoft-Office

or the French:

http://www.osor.eu/news/fr-french-ministry-of-culture-switches-to

or the Italians:

http://www.metamorphosis.org.mk/old-articles/it-city-of-modena-switches-to-openoffice.html

or Singaporeans:

http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/softwa...o-OpenOffice-org/0,130061733,139163830,00.htm

or Verizon developers:

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-949913.html

Wow. That's a whole lot of real work not actually happening.

 

[Mister Snitch]

iPhone OS? boo!

Agreed. The tablet should have a unique look and feel. It should be more Newton-like, with elements from iPhone and OSX.

 

[dicklacara]

I think most fans of an upcoming tablet are really wishing for something that can run more powerful apps along with being able to do what is seen as minor like iphone games and smaller apps. Many are looking for a smaller computer basically, basically a true netbook in a much smaller form factor with only touch input. For this, true OSX is needed. Something like this would be fab for designers for instance that need to design, edit, and send and receive on the go. If something like this had a stylus and extremely sensitive input something like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnQHoCDxiRw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsfxdxmAUoo far surpassing the sensitivity of something like a Wacom and had a mini usb, forget about it, they would fly off the shelves literally.

Interesting video.

I am a paid iPhone developer. All the things in that video are well within the capabilities of the iPhone, albeit on a smaller screen. Further, they could be in color, with 3D shadings using OpenGL. The CoverFlow interface to the iPod app has much more complex interactive graphic animations with reflection and transformations.

A stylus is also possible on the iPhone. You can make a simple one with a thumb tack, aluminum foil and a pencil. Precision is [currently] limited by the touch drivers-- anything touch under 30-pixel diameter (1/8") is rejected as noise. Apple could implement a stylus mode and allow precision to a magnified pixel level. An intelligent stylus could send pressure information via BlueTooth to support painting, calligraphy, etc.

So, the above is certainly doable on a Tablet with larger screen, faster CPU/GPU, mor RAM, and iPhone OS X enhanced.

*

 

[dicklacara]

Once again for emphasis:

iPhone OS = OS X- Finder + Cocoa Touch

Well said, hear, hear!

That's oversimplified of course. The iPhone OS is a recompiled version of OS X based on the same Darwin foundations as OS X, missing many of the components required for a desktop OS, but modified with a lot of components that are necessary for a touch based mobile device.

I wouldn't think that Apple would take the version of OS X running on the iPhone and modify it to run on a tablet. I think it's far more likely that it would take whatever version Apple is using for development of OS X and migrate that to a tablet in the same way it did with the iPhone. They would share the same lineage and perhaps a few of the components, such as Cocoa Touch. And they would all be a subspecies of OS X.

Despite these shared underpinnings, it's pretty clear from Microsoft's failed experience with the tablet form factor that desktop apps simply don't translate to a useful experience on a tablet. These apps, like iTunes and Excel, require or expect precision interaction via a mouse and text entry via a keyboard. That simply doesn't work on tablet. So yes, entirely new apps will be necessary to take advantage of the benefits of this form factor.

What seems to be confusing to a lot of users here is the distinction between the desktop UI, which uses Finder, and the iPhone's UI.

Are people saying that Apple should discard Cocoa Touch in favor of some other development tool for this yet to be released device? I would say that would be a huge mistake. They should leverage and expand Cocoa Touch to facilitate migration of apps to a new device.

Or are users here saying they don't like the way the iPhone arranges apps on the screen and thinks that Apple will use the identical interface on a tablet? I see it as unlikely that Apple will use the identical interface, but I do think that there will be similarities reflecting their shared purposes and utility. Regardless, the iPhone's current UI is far better suited for a tablet then OS X Finder's is. The hierarchical file structure of a desktop OS is simply too cumbersome for a mobile device.

Regardless of this, I would bet, and in fact support, and app store for a tablet. Forget the benefits this has for Apple's bottom line. The advantages for the users are apps that work. Sure, there is a price to pay but those unsupported app have found their way into the Jailbreak community. Having used Windows Mobile prior to the iPhone and as far back as when it was a PDA only option I definitely prefer the ease and security of the app store. And if users really want that mythical robust marketplace of quality apps they really should go to the competition. Is Apple doing a perfect job with the app store? Of course not and I wouldn't argue that they are. They are, however, improving, and it is hugely preferable to the alternative of unstable, buggy, and insecure apps found on other platforms.

Great post!

*

 

[dicklacara]

After considering things for a little longer, I think going with iPhone OS makes the most sense, from a business sense:

• It would be Windows customer-friendly
• I presume it won't make calls, so it doesn't cannibalize iPhones
• It's too big to cannibalize iPods
• It doesn't run your average software so it doesn't cannibalize Mac laptops
• It runs automatically well over 100,000 (by ship time) that all support multi-touch
• This software generates 30% back to Apple
• People already familiar with the iPhone/iPod touch will know immediately how this thing runs

I think Snow Leopard would be the wrong choice for now,... I think that if this thing goes over big, they'll probably bring out one that does Snow Leopard... Of course, input's always going to be a big problem with a tablet device if it's a full-fledged computer.

I think for presentations, movies, photos, music, web surfing, email, games, scheduler, this thing will be really nice.

Your first and last points say it all!

*

 

[Rocketman]

Could the release time frame be related to embedded LTE chip releases?

Rocketman

 

[diamond.g]

After considering things for a little longer, I think going with iPhone OS makes the most sense, from a business sense:

• It would be Windows customer-friendly
<snip>

I think this is the biggest part. Apple probably can't get it to fly off the shelves like the iPods do if it isn't Windows Compatible. Full Snow Leopard won't help in that regard, so there is kinda no use in going there (yet).

I do believe at some point Apple would come out with a tablet mac, but I don't think this device would be it (assuming Apple wants duplication of the whole App Store win and Windows users to feel comfortable moving over).

 

[thegoldenmackid]

I def. agree with the logic that it makes the most sense from a business standpoint, but that doesn't mean that I am pleased about it.

 

[dicklacara]

Without eInk, reading a book on a device like this will be hard on the eyes.

Patient to Doctor: I have pain in the joints.

Doctor to patient: Stop going into joints.

Patient to Doctor: It hurts when I do this.

Doctor to patient: Stop doing this.

....

 

[Stately]

Good points all and I agree.

If it doesn't have a keyboard why should it run a full OS? I mean a full-sized, tactile, responsive, hardware keyboard.

Because large apps that require full OS DO work perfectly without a full sized hardware keyboard. What is the point of continuing to develop small devices if al they do is the same thing? Do you really think Apple will just make the same iphone in three or four different form factors just for fun? There needs to be a progression . . As we all know, there were many many more naysayers when the iphone was being released for the first time. People even actually called the iphone a stupid idea. The people that weren't just haters saw the vision (which wasn't hard to see anyway) and were on that very first line. It's the same thing over and over I guess . . some people need shrunken down devices that can do as much as larger ones. It's all about convenience right? What's the big deal?

 

[polaris20]

Without eInk, reading a book on a device like this will be hard on the eyes.

subjective. I read eBooks all the time for class on my MacBook, and would love to have this instead, since it'll likely be smaller.

 

[Warbrain]

This thought just popped into my head and I consider the worthlessness of the media pad...

We know Apple sometimes like to go evolutionary towards an end goal. Could this just be an evolutionary step towards a true tablet running Mac OS X and now the iPhone OS? They may want to see how this product would be received before turning towards the true tablet development.

 

[Stately]

Your first and last points say it all!

*

So, someone who likes windows wont buy an iphone then? I know people with pc's who use iphones. As far as knowing how it runs, I find it difficult to believe that it will stray so incredibly far from the way the iphone and ipods are used that people will get confused. Besides, sometimes new devices come with a small learning curve. Isn't that what gadgets are about? I bet some never even thought of having a track pad on their computer to control their mouse. If they look back though, they'll wonder how they ever did without it. We can only hope this same type of creation goes into this new device.

 

[HiRez]

Some of you guys really need to think hard about what you're asking for. Do you really want to try using the standard OS X Photoshop, Final Cut Studio, Excel, etc. on a small-screen (by desktop standards) device, with no mouse or keyboard, limited RAM and CPU, and low power requirements? It just wouldn't work well, if at all. Cocoa Touch is not where it needs to be in its current iPhone implementation, but it's a lot better suited to this stuff than desktop OS X is. Don't underestimate Cocoa Touch (ie. "iPhone OS"), it can be very powerful with a few additions (which Apple is adding all the time for the iPhone anyway). All the great iPhone apps already demonstrate this power, and some potentially great apps are only held back by the iPhone's small screen and limited power, and AT&T's network restrictions, which the tablet device will probably improve on dramatically.

A tablet running standard desktop OS X is a horrible idea. I used to think I wanted that, but I changed my mind after thinking it over.

 

[Mitch1984]

I was hoping for some sort of hybrid OS that can handle existing iPhone & Mac Apps.

 

[HiRez]

I think not, I would jump at the chance to put my App on another device, with not to much work on my side other than maybe changing the UI a bit more.

In fact as a iPhone developer, a larger screen more powerful device would allow me to have better apps, that can use this.

BTW there are only 10's of thousands of developers today for the iPhone.

LOL, I think you missed firewood's sarcasm there. I think you two are saying the same thing. Well, I think he was being sarcastic, maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Bonte]

Without eInk, reading a book on a device like this will be hard on the eyes.

eInk is better for reading but users want more than black and white textbooks, they want color, comics and games. Amazon is already selling way more books on the iPhone than on there own Kindle, a affordable tablet will rule the digital book business from the start.

 

[augur?]

more an input device

without having read the whole thread, i think iphone os would do great, if the tablet was seen as an input device more than a laptop. f

or me, who runs a macmini as a media center, such input device would be great – better than having remote control or iphone. you stream to it, what your mac (which you have stationery anyway, don't you?) does the whole day, if programmed. may it be a film, which you download to your home media center in your office via the tablet, after you watch it at home, and if you feel like having the end of it watched in bed, you just stream it to your tablet. some kind of the app called rowmote for the iphone, but more exhanced.

and through the day, you may have it as gadget with you. have it as wireless keyboard, if necessary. as remote, as input device in university. or plug a keyboard in it and use it as a word processor (or similar activities). bring it with you to the library, have it as a mobile media center with you.

but at all, i think, it couldn't be much more than that. so full osx wouldn't really be necessary. really necessary only would be multitasking resp. process in background.

 

[iMacmatician]

I've been saying it for a while...iPhone OS "extended."

Looks like we can (probably) put to rest those iMac and tablet predictions from that one guy on another forum (he said Mac OS X).

Sounds like Apple is slowly transitioning and getting people used to the idea of a fully touchscreen OS. So iPhone really was Steve's development platform for the next light-years ahead OS, interesting.

Precisely. (See my signature too.)

If this tablet does end up running iPhone OS I will definitely not be buying one, and it sounds like most everyone else won't be either. It just seems too coincidental that Mac OS X has been slowly integrating all these touchscreen friendly technologies into the OS to not use them.

Coverflow in the Finder
Top Sites in Safari
Expose in the Dock


All point to a Mac OS X touchscreen device.

What about all the other GUI elements that aren't touchscreen friendly?

LOL, I think you missed firewood's sarcasm there. I think you two are saying the same thing. Well, I think he was being sarcastic, maybe I'm wrong.

I also think he was sarcastic.