Apple Working on a Tablet Mac?

[ChrisA]

[*]The unit should maintain binary capability with the iPhone/Touch machines. This means a ARM processor. Frankly this is a good thing as you can most likely get a SMP machine based on ARM processors that simply can't be done with Intel in a reasonable power profile.

Why? Do you have binary files that you need to move between the iPhone and the new tablet? If it is just an application then it could be universal. Or the install process could look at your device and get the correct binary for it. The best design could not tie you toa processor type but would allow changes in the future go un-noticed by most users

 

[EagerDragon]

Hope this "Helping Apple" is very late in the game and that we see this puppy and what it has to offer in Jan.

Where all those negative votes come from anyway???

 

[fafner]

iLike

I think that a iTablet must combine both multi touch and stylus, like a combination of a Wacom Cintiq and a iPhone.

I have for many years used a notebook (a physical one) great to jot down some sketches in meetings, some text etc and can also be used as a diary/logbook to remember who I have talked to, what we have decided.

Here is a scenario from my life: “I am an Engineer/designer so I like to draw ideas, which will evolve during time, start with a mind map (excellent on a iTablet) or a capture of a whiteboard. Or why not by connecting different iTablets (think bonjour services) into a large ‘virtual sketch board’, where we can interact with each others sketches. Then I refine the sketches, add annotations and weblinks. Go to my office, create a CAD model (on my desktop) sync the documents (meeting agenda, requirements, patent documents etc) to my iTablet and then present them at a meeting, easy to interact using the multi touch, zoom in, pan, annotate etc. At the meeting I get a lot of response, which is synced back to my desktop where I can continue to work.”

So why not a tablet where I can access all my documents, (I don’t mainly createthem on the iTablet), I can browse them with the multi touch like in Leopard cower-flow mode. I can also annotate onto them, and attach audio recordings.

Today several implementations of audio transcription exists that works pretty well, why not going around, speaking to create e-mails by using a Bluetooth headset.

I have seen many new programs such as Google earth, Gogle Maps, Sketchup etc perform very well (much better than with mouse/keyboard) on a multi touch implementation, so we have to redefine the user interface.

Combine the iTablet with a decent camera that can be used as a scanner with OCR capabilities.

So for me the iTablet would be the companion I use in meetings, traveling etc, and back at my office I bring up the traditional desktop with mouse and keyboard.

When I m out doing daytrips I seldom create new material, I revise and interact with documents and presentations already created. Then of course I surf the web, read and create emails, but I don’t write long books when I move around and travel. If I go away for more than one day, than I bring my laptop.

Peter T

 

[slackpacker]

Honestly -


Hows MicroSofts HTPC or Tablet PC Doing....

I see people with Cell Phones or Laptops.... I never see a stand alone iPaq or PocketPC anymore....

What I'm thinking this may be is a new iPod 7" wide screen rather than a newton like device.

 

[EagerDragon]

If ASUS spilled the beans, I wonder what if anything Apple is going to do about it?

Report states "being manufactured" hope that means production units and not pilot units.

2008 is going to be interesting, damn where is that lottery ticket?

 

[bj3949]

My MacBook Touch Necessities

MACBOOK TOUCH NECESSITIES
------------------------------
1. It should come in 9 inch, 13 inch & 17 inch
2. Reversible/2-sided camera so you could shoot at other people while looking at your MacBook Touch.
3. Black
4. Express card support might not be necessary anymore because AirCard work on USB now
5. Ability to touch anything on screen like iPhone, however have a pop-out keyboard if you want to use a regular keyboard.
6. USB, Firewire, SD Card Support
7. Bluetooth
8. Airport
9. 200 GB HD mininum
10. 4 GB ram maximum
11. It would be awesome if it could scan. Not a "necessity" though
12. Speakers (quality)
13. Multi-touch pad
14. 8 hour plus battery life
15. GPS would be nice. Not a "necessity" though
16. Much improved screen over current MacBook Pro
17. SuperDrive with Bluray and HD capability. Bluray/HD Not a "necessity" though
18. 360˚ turning screen
19. One piece, not two. What I mean is the screen is the whole MacBook Touch, like iPhone. It would be cool though if there was a slide-out/pop-out credit-card- thin manual keyboard.
20. If whole device could be no thicker than iPhone, bravo Apple.
21. Universal iPod/iPhone Docking Station (maybe as a pop-out like keyboard)
22. Lastly, obviously an attached stand with a few height/positioning choices.

 

[brockm]

Cool, But...

This is really cool, but does anyone else think Apple needs to seriously hunker down and firm up on it's OS development instead of taking the developers off to work on every little pet project that comes along?

After two weeks with Leopard (as a developer myself), I have to say that the issues stacking up with Leopard are getting quite annoying. ie. A very broken Java Virtual Machine, files disappearing when copying over network shares, time machine doing awkward things like deciding it's going to randomly start using the boot volume as a backup drive, etc.

I know it's a new release and I know problems with third-party software are to be expected. I have no problem with that. I say screw backwards compatibility if it means moving forward

But the issue here is not third-party compatibility. There are serious bugs with Leopard, including some security flaws (with the firewall not working).

If you want to be really honest, I don't think Vista was this bad out of the gate. I know Vista had ****** driver support at launch, and everybody screamed and yelled about hardware not working. But was that really unexpected? Sure Vista had poor support for hardware, but then again, it supports more hardware than OS X does.

In my experience, Vista had very few, if any critical bugs in it's initial retail release.

Bottom line: I don't use Vista. I just want to break down the reality distortion field here, and make the point that Apple's attention to quality with OS X seems to be slipping as they become more focused on "consumer electronics". And in my first two weeks as a developer with 10.5, it's really showing.

 

[EagerDragon]

what would be the benefit of a tablet mac. i know the idea sounds cool and it (as is apple fashion) would look awesome, but what would one actually do with a tablet? just be able to draw/take handwritten notes vs. only type? isn't that why more and more college students are taking laptops to school - so they don't have to take handwriting notes?

maybe i'm off on practicality, but i'm just not seeing it . . .

if you want compact, bring on the 12" MBP!!!

Your hands and fingers are a lot more accurate than a mouse.
Organizing items in your folders, editing photos, editing video, taking the good old note, writting comments on a document including what corrections should be made, browsing the web, you name it. Set aside the mouse, wash your hands and just imagine actualy interacting with the Mac in one of the most natural ways. Distord a picture by pulling/pushing on the nose, wipe a background like you wipe something on a blackboard (no eraser handy) with your hands, etc. Add stars, pull the moon like in one of those "All Mighty" movies.

Imagination is the key, Apple is full of it, now we need to use ours.

 

[HiRez]

Awesome if I can fit it in my pocket. If not, I might as well carry a 12"

Yeah, that's how I feel about it. 1.5x iPhone size means 1.5x too big for my pocket, so why bother? That much extra size won't enable a lot more functionality, and as you say, it's hardly any more convenient that carrying a small laptop (most bags, containers, slots, holes, etc. tend to be about book-sized anyway), and some thing inbetween that and an iPhone is awkward to hold or carry.

 

[EagerDragon]

Was going to say something similar, but you beat me to it.

January has the potential to be fun and exciting, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves.

The rumor will go away when the product ships, understand or not ..... People want it.

 

[wizard]

A 720 x 480 device with reasonable playback quality, 32GB SSD (with expandability) AND fits in your pocket? You're kidding, right? I'd like a Xeon MacBookPro with a 750GB HDD, but it's just not possible.

Not at all! The technology for 32 Gb should be available next year or Apple could simply use multiple flash devices now. Understand that that is only doubling the current Touches memory foot print. As to the small HD displays I think if you search around with the sites of the LCD manufactures you will see that is a possibility but then there are options coming on line with respect to LCD screens. Nothing suggested here is impossible and given Apples track record with solid state storage very doable.

Also, this thing is a phone?? Nay, nay, nay. If it has ANYTHING to do with cell-carriers, it'll be EDGE (or comparable) for data and if it has ANYTHING to do with that, it'll be expensive to use, no matter what carrier you choose. I forsee wi-fi only (or Wi-Max (or comparable) in the future).

Nope can't accept that. The unit needs cell connectivity delivered in one way or another. Someone suggested a plug in card, that would be acceptable though probably not power optimal. The problem is that cell technology, as bad as it is, is available almost anywhere. You simply can't rely on WiFi. As to WiMax that is cell technology in my book in that it has the same marketing approaches.

High performance at a low power level... This does not exist... Even with a multi-core ARM.

I'm not sure you know what you are talking about. Everything is relative but ARM is the only approach that provides high performance at low power levels. Further we have yet to see a large number of ARM processor come out on the finer processes. There is a lot of potential for improving performance and power usage on ARM processors. The fact is that companies like Qualcom are working on chip sets that would be highly optimized for these sorts of devices. Give me an ARM on 45 or 65nm process that is both fast and power stingy and I will be happy.

The flip side of this is that as the processor becomes more power stingy the flash storage ends up using a large portion of the power budget. So improvements here wouldn't hurt either.

The existing iPhone (to some) is barely "pocketable" How do you expect a higher-powered device to be any smaller? And even if the device is the same size, how do you intend on cramming 720 x 480 into it? That doesn't even exist.

What the h**l do you have the pockets of a 5 year old? Come do you really expect ot make a statement like that and get no response.

In any event I thought I was pretty clear that I don't want a smaller device I want a bigger iPhone. Something slightly larger than a touch would do just fine.

Of course there's a market for a small hand-held HD, 32GB (expanable) device that can do EVERYTHING. We just don't have the technology to make it yet... not for another 5 years. But by then, you'll be wanting something even more grandiose that can't exist either. Get a grip on reality.

I guess this is where I really disagree with you the technology is not that far away at all. Maybe a few months at the most. The Flash issue will be taken care of at the beginning of the year. A better processor is just a matter of integration of stuff coming on line next year also. The screen should be doable now.

Dave, are you a newbie? No? How do you not know these things after almost 400 posts?

Nope not a newbie at all. I just read a lot of trades and I think you should too. Of course the trades are only part of it, look at what the hardware manufactures have already alluded to with respect to Android. Also look at the news release from outfits like SAMSUNG as they have pretty much layed out when new flash technology is coming on line. ARM is pretty open to.

So I can only suggest that one look at these resources to imagine what is possible. Not with technology three to five years down the road but with technology that is due for the new year.

-Clive

Dave

 

[wizard]

Honestly -


Hows MicroSofts HTPC or Tablet PC Doing....

Look at how well these devices work for the use cases described here.

I see people with Cell Phones or Laptops.... I never see a stand alone iPaq or PocketPC anymore....

Or Ipods. This is why I think these sorts of devices need to be multi purpose. As I;ve stated on threads in other forums people really don't want a bunch of electronics in their pockets. They want one device that covers a number of desires. So a device without cell or MP3 playing support is pretty low on the demand scale. Just look at Nokia's N800 series, something that had potential but no vision from the manufacture. contrast this with the iPod Touch with is limited in hardware yet obviously is the result of a vision.

In any event anything going into the pocket MUST be able to serve multiple roles like any good slave. The more flexible the device is the better it will be.

What I'm thinking this may be is a new iPod 7" wide screen rather than a newton like device.

Could be. I see the market for several devices to be honest. I just want one that can fit into the pocket and offer up a bit more than the current iPhone and Touch. I believe this is very doable by the spring.


Dave

 

[ucfgrad93]

I'll believe the Apple tablet when I see it. Man, this is the rumor that just won't die.

 

[pepinillo2012]

I can't tell if this is a fake or not.

New Mac Tablet

(Flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/98144406@N00/1890085378/

 

[Orng]

Know what would solve the battery life problem for the tablet? Just have "power-ups" randomly distributed throughout major cities and behind trees and garbage cans and stuff, and when you walk over one, the tablet says "x2 hours battery life" and you just keep on going.

Just make sure you find LOTS of them before you have to face the boss. Sometimes it helps to leave the room and come back to reset all the power-ups

Okay, back to the PS2.

I can't tell if this is a fake or not.

New Mac Tablet

(Flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/98144406@N00/1890085378/

It's not only merely fake;
It's really, most sincerely fake!

And in the name of the Lollipop Guild, we'd like to welcome you to Macrumorsland!

 

[asphalt-proof]

Your hands and fingers are a lot more accurate than a mouse.
Organizing items in your folders, editing photos, editing video, taking the good old note, writting comments on a document including what corrections should be made, browsing the web, you name it. Set aside the mouse, wash your hands and just imagine actualy interacting with the Mac in one of the most natural ways. Distord a picture by pulling/pushing on the nose, wipe a background like you wipe something on a blackboard (no eraser handy) with your hands, etc. Add stars, pull the moon like in one of those "All Mighty" movies.

Imagination is the key, Apple is full of it, now we need to use ours.

But that is kind of the point: WE have to think of some reason to use it. With the iPod its pretty much a given as to what the product is for, how to use it, etc. WHen the consumer has to come up with ideas as to how to use a product, usually the consumer goes looking elsewhere. This is why the Origami project was a non-starter. The producers were never able to convincingly show what niche the idea fit into. Sure it has nice characteristics for the medical community or warehouse workers etc. But those don't translate into consumer products very well. Its actually worse than consumer-beta testing. Your asking the consumers to come up with a reason to buy your product instead of providing one to them.

Maybe Apple (if this rumor is 'true') will come up with a compelling reason for buying an iTablet, but don't expect them to make one and then have us come up with a reason to buy it.

 

[Wild-Bill]

I'd rather see Apple paying attention to their existing product line (both hardware and software) than venturing into the tablet scene.

There are many things they could be working on, like updates, bug fixes, freezing issues, etc....

 

[dernhelm]

I can't tell if this is a fake or not.

New Mac Tablet

(Flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/98144406@N00/1890085378/

Let me help you out here.

IT'S A FAKE!

 

[surferuke]

32gb iphone

we already have seen the birth of the ultimate gadget: the iphone. it needs some more space for music, photos, and video and improved connectivity. i was an idiot and sold my 30GB ipod and then was a bit disappointed with the touch and didn't buy it. let's get excited about iphone 2 instead that is worth the 175$ verizon termination fee.

 

[wizard]

But that is kind of the point: WE have to think of some reason to use it. With the iPod its pretty much a given as to what the product is for, how to use it, etc.

Likewise the iPhones cell feature. This is why I think any device that Apple offers up must have either or both of these features.

WHen the consumer has to come up with ideas as to how to use a product, usually the consumer goes looking elsewhere. This is why the Origami project was a non-starter.

I tend to agree and rather like how you expressed the above. I will state though that net access and E-Mail access are now becoming consumer needs in and of themselves. Apple has been very smart in this respect as they focused on these features.

I do not believe however that most consumers will be happy with a device that only does E-Mail and net access in their pocket, It needs the functionality of other devices specifically mp3 playing or cell capability.

The producers were never able to convincingly show what niche the idea fit into. Sure it has nice characteristics for the medical community or warehouse workers etc. But those don't translate into consumer products very well.

On the other hand low cost consumer products can have application in industry. A $300 dollar web access device is better than a $3000 one. The only place that Apple messed up with here is the internal battery.

Its actually worse than consumer-beta testing. Your asking the consumers to come up with a reason to buy your product instead of providing one to them.

Well I tend to have an exception here with respect to that statement. When speaking about computing devices consumers often do come up with a reason to buy the hardware. That is one of the reasons that the supply of new apps for PC's seems to be endless.

Maybe Apple (if this rumor is 'true') will come up with a compelling reason for buying an iTablet, but don't expect them to make one and then have us come up with a reason to buy it.

I think the reasons are there. Combining cell phone and net access is very compelling if you look at the success of iPhone. Adding in the abilty to run the apps of your choice makes for a better product.

Now the problem is that one has to agree that net access is a compelling reason to have one of these devices. I'd have to say that it will be in the future and for many is now. It is a significant part of the equation. To sum up I believe these devices will be successful if marketed correctly. So we need the following:

1. Audio media player functionality
2. Cell phone access or at least the option.
3. Video play back.
4. E-mail
5. Web Browsing.
6. The applications of your choice.
7. Bluetooth

It should be noted that this sounds a lot like the Touch now. It would not take much to produce a slightly more enhanced version of Touch that adds the communications features. What it comes down to is a touch similar device with a larger screen - should be easy.

What demonstrates that there is potential here is the number of people that want their devices to do more and in the case of the Touch jailbreak the machine to get that. So in a sense they are showing Apple what is needed in a tablet.

Dave

 

[nagromme]

I have a million uses for a Mac in my pocket or a 9-10" laptop. Intel preferred over ARM.

I don't yet know what will be the best option for me--currently an iPhone would be best, but I'm waiting to see about ultraportable MacBook rumors. So I eagerly await whatever third option Apple may come up with.

 

[Yateball]

It won't happen.

Next...

Any evidence to support this seemingly ridiculous claim?
How can you just say "won't happen"... clearly apple has invested a lot into their multi touch technology.

 

[nagromme]

I'll believe the Apple tablet when I see it. Man, this is the rumor that just won't die.

That and the Intel switch and the Apple phone

Things that don't make sense in one year may come to make sense in a future year

 

[Yateball]

GPS Built-in would be freakin sweet

 

[AndyMulhearn]

The device I would buy in a second would be have the form factor of an iPhone, but with a 6 or 7 inch screen. Hopefully, overall thickness would be very close to the iPhone's. It would a light version of OSX with instant-on capability. 8GB or so of flash memory; maybe a hard drive option.

I would use it as a (i) PDA (assuming the inclusion of versions of iCal, Address Book, Mail, etc.); (ii) internet surfing device/Blackberry (when near WiFi); and (iii) media player. It would replace my iPod and my paper calendar. Maybe -- just maybe -- it could be a phone too (by using a Bluetooth headset).

Where do I sign up for one of those? It's just what I've been looking for.