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Apple to Release Subsidized Tablet Through Verizon Later This Year?

You guys just aren't seeing the vision! This is going to be a large iPod Touch which would both be much nicer for using at home as well as a BOOK READER. They are going to compete with the Kindle with this, perhaps transform the textbook industry. (Wouldn't THAT be great!) No more clunky expensive textbooks, just a simple device that lets you combine the textbook AND web research. For students this would be the BOMB. And for industry, medical, this could also be a huge thing. Me, I'd love it to be great for books/pdfs and make a much nicer web experience at home instead of the little small Touch.
 
GeekLawyer said:
My only point is that GSM devices have a larger potential worldwide market today. So, if Apple ships a 3G Tablet device, it makes more broad-market sense for that to be a GSM product. If such a product ships, as I said upthread, I don't care which 3G technology(/ies) it uses, so long as there's the option for an unsubsidized Tablet that relies on wi-fi for connectivity.
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True, gsm has potential, but they need to move the frequency to get better penetration into buildings. I think I read att is moving to the new block of frequencies to help their indoor reception.

Side note, what company is apple dealing with in china? Doesn't one of them deploy cdma and gsm side by side? With dual band radios? Nice if the iphone did that after the first of the year.
 
Black Belt said:
You guys just aren't seeing the vision! This is going to be a large iPod Touch which would both be much nicer for using at home as well as a BOOK READER. They are going to compete with the Kindle with this, perhaps transform the textbook industry. (Wouldn't THAT be great!) No more clunky expensive textbooks, just a simple device that lets you combine the textbook AND web research. For students this would be the BOMB. And for industry, medical, this could also be a huge thing. Me, I'd love it to be great for books/pdfs and make a much nicer web experience at home instead of the little small Touch.
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+1 This would totally rock and I think it may be what they're thinking about.
 
You are crazy to think that Verizon Wireless will only charge $30 a month for the data access on this device if there is not a voice option. Standard rates for VZW datacards and their now HP netbook are $59.99 a month. The $30 data charge is only when you have an accompanying voice plan as well, the same as AT&T.

24 months at $59.99 is over $1,400 for this rumored tablet on top of whatever the initial cost to purchase will be.
 
Black Belt said:
You guys just aren't seeing the vision! This is going to be a large iPod Touch which would both be much nicer for using at home as well as a BOOK READER. They are going to compete with the Kindle with this, perhaps transform the textbook industry. (Wouldn't THAT be great!) No more clunky expensive textbooks, just a simple device that lets you combine the textbook AND web research. For students this would be the BOMB. And for industry, medical, this could also be a huge thing. Me, I'd love it to be great for books/pdfs and make a much nicer web experience at home instead of the little small Touch.
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Not to mention use for music books and sheet music for musicians. Using pixel recognition to read gestures to turn pages - this would be a potentially groundbreaking device.
 
This is so stupid.

...so stupid I can actually see it happening, like having new software that supports tethering and MMS, and not being "allowed" to use it.

...like putting a color screen in an iPod but not letting it play video (remeber the iPod Photo?).

...like being the ONLY FREAKIN PC MANUFACTURER WHO WON'T INCLUDE BLU-RAY AS AN OPTION.

They're looking for a way to appear price-competitive, but it's really a pile of horse-manure. A tablet/netbook doesn't need to be amazingly fast. Just faster than an iPhone. The existing models that (according to apple) "suck" sure seem to be selling well. This is not a wheel that needs reinventing, but they'll do it anyways, even if it fails and is a really stupid idea (which it is).
 
I'd rather pay the full price ($799?) and not have a Verizon contract, and have it be Wi-Fi only. Its not likely to leave my house - even if it did, then I'd rather BT tether it to my iPhone.
 
GeekLawyer said:
My only point is that GSM devices have a larger potential worldwide market today. So, if Apple ships a 3G Tablet device, it makes more broad-market sense for that to be a GSM product. If such a product ships, as I said upthread, I don't care which 3G technology(/ies) it uses, so long as there's the option for an unsubsidized Tablet that relies on wi-fi for connectivity.
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The new generation communication chips that will be used by Apple will most likely have ability to connect with GSM,CDMA, WIMax, and WiFi. These chips are already being produced and are no more expensive or use anymore power than CDMA or GSM only chips of the past.

Therefore Apple might tie the tablet to Verizon in the US only! Apple might use GSM carriers in Europe and other countries.

Besides CDMA is not as "dead" as you think. Many new CDMA systems are being rolled out in South America and Africa. The reason is because CDMA is cheaper and requires 1/2 the number of cell towers to cover the same area as a GSM network. CDMA has definite advantages in countries with low population density over a large land area. CDMA is also technical benefits over GSM for faster and more efficient data transmission.
 
Ping Guo said:
How is a tablet anything but a niche device? Handwriting recognition is clunky compared to typing, and holding a tablet in one hand while inputting with the other seems awkward to say the least. Alternately, putting it flat on one's lap or on a table would be an ergonomic nightmare. Multitouch screens are great for iPhone-sized devices. We can thumb type and wipe it off easily when it gets smudged.

For larger devices, I think the returns are diminishing and a keyboard/trackpad becomes much more usable and versatile...

I'd like to put in my vote for less tablet rumors, more 12", 3lb, $999 Macbook Mini rumors.:)
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my guess... 7-8 inch device, still *can* hold like an iphone... and type the same way...
i dont think Apple will do the stylus thing... i wouldnt like it.. maybe Verizon,,, i hope its just an option, not a requirement.. kinda like the TOUCH is.... oh well... price,.. below.... 800 unsubsidized,, 450 subsidized....

oh... keep wishing....:rolleyes:
 
MacFly123 said:
I'll bet my life it will run the iPhone OS! :D I could list the MANY reasons, but I'm to lazy to type right now lol.
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I too think it will use iPhone OS (for reasons discussed before), but the 10" display size being rumored seems to be a bit on the large side for iPhone OS.
 
delhokie said:
I think the tablet is coming this year- we'll see an 'event' sometime in September for it's availability in October... I'm just not sure about the Verizon part... WiFi definitely, but if there is a $600-$700 touch device I think there is a lot of demand. If it can be tethered to a Verizon or AT&T device, then mobile internet connectivity is solved.

Assuming it has full blown OS X, I would imagine there would still be some way to piggy back iphone applications on it but I can't exactly see how to make that work with a different sized screen/resolution.
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This is a non-issue!

Apple programming constructs are screen size and screen resolution independent. for example, here is the [simplified] form of a granular line of iPhone code that creates a sub view to display an image thumbnail (within another view)

Code: 
thumbView = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(1, 1, 50, 50)];

In the above code the (1,1,50,50) defines a 50x50 pixel rectangle that will contain the thumbnail image.

Here, we have made the code device dependent, creating an absolute size rectangle by specifying absolute coordinate values.

A better way would be to make device independent like this:

Code: 
thumbView = [[UIImageView alloc] initWithFrame:CGRectMake(tvX, tvY, tvW, tvH)];

where:

tvX, tvY, tvW, tvH

are variables set by calculating a relative rectangle size based on the screen size and resolution of the device on which the program is currently running.

Most developers are aware of the potential of future devices with different displays. It is to their advantage to write device-independent code so say they can sell their apps on the new device.
 
SFStateStudent said:
Doesn't VZ already have a deal with HP's netbook? I'm wondering if there's enough room for all these netbooks/MacTablet? VZ charges $39.99 a month for their wireless netbook service....:eek::eek::eek:
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Isn't Verizon offering a FREE netbook with sign-up to their FIOS cable tv? Don't know if it is HP's netbook, but it is a good way to clear out inventory to make way for Apple's tablet, no?
 
olternaut said:
I normally would be excited about this but.....I just can't.

I can't help but wonder how many chinese workers were tortured or killed to get this device to market. :(
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If you really believe what you just wrote, I have some spotted owls to sell you.
 
Gregintosh said:
I don't think iPhone users would be the target market, as likely if this is just a bigger iPhone then it would be unnecessary for you to have both (especially if you also have a laptop), unless you're a fanboy and just want one of each of Apple's devices just for the hell of it.
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I think making it so cost prohibitive for iPhone users is a mistake. People do not want two cell phone contracts, but they would want an iPhone and iTablet.

Small White Car said:
I still don't understand the problem. I pay different companies for my home phone and my home internet.

Is that a terrible problem for me? I don't see how.
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You are already paying for cell phone service from AT&T, why would you pay for the same service twice? This is more like having two people provide electricity to your house, it makes no sense at all.

mambodancer said:
First, even if it were with AT&T you would likely have to get an update to your existing plan somewhat akin to a tethering plan on a smart phone.

Second, how best to get the mobile carriers to compete with each other than to go with Verizon. Let the competition begin for the consumers internet dollars. Esp. if Verizon offers the ability to make calls through the device. AT&T may then have to respond in kind.

This absolutely converges with the rumors about a Verizon deal that others (Scott Bourne, MacBreak Weekly) have been making. Again, this "tablet/netbook" device will not be like anything currently on the market if we can interpolate from various rumors/leaks/etc. that we have been hearing for the past year or so. This includes the rumored announcement/press release sometime in August. This would make a great springboard for the return of Steve Jobs and the timing would certainly be right for Q4/Q1 for Apple.
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Maybe if Apple is looking to break the AT&T contract without really breaking it. They can say it's not an iPhone on Verizon it's and iTablet, but still I find the idea questionable at best.
 
Everyone freaking out about Verizon.

Nobody said this was Verizon exclusive!

It sounds like the source came from inside Verizon. This leads me to belive that ATT will probably have the same device. Just the info came from a VZ insider so they only have their take on it.

It would be suicide for the tablet to be VZ and the iPhone on ATT people.
 
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