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Last Minute Leaked Photos of Apple Tablet?
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No man, the thing is bolted down to make sure it doesn't leave room
Steve Jobs said it was the most important thing he has done (carve out a new product group?) so the last thing he would want is leaked photographs and his competitors getting getting information about the device...Probably this setup is for usability testing and a tester does not need more than to be able to see and touch the screen. Probably the hardware design division just have the tablets 'lying around' (under cloth)...
Looks like the dock connector is on the side though:
What's that on the left? It looks like there's a whole pile of shiny cases, a pile of tablets? Also, from this photographs it looks more like it's not really bolted down to the table, but perhaps it's some type of prototype case clamping the touchscreen to the hardware or something?
Is it sad when that is actually one of the things I am excited about with the new tablet. I mean, obviously, I will pick one up and am very excited in general. Given I play Farmville quite a bit, and having to move my mouse and click all the time, this just seems like heaven. Anyways.
Maybe I really should get some sleep. I have class at 10 for gods sake.Have we had live video of any Apple Events since the early 2000's? There is your answer.
not from apple, but 9to5mac is claiming it will have a live audio stream, possibly even video. here is their heading "A new way to experience the keynote, coming tomorrow"
9to5mac Live Audio Stream
However, having only an option for a very expensive, unlocked 3G+WiFi model would severely limit sales. IMO, they won't sell many units at say $1000 (unlocked 3G+WiFi) so they need a WiFi-only model to hit the $600 to $700 price point (without commitment to a 3G data plan).
Apple will probably highlight my proposed $399 to $499 WiFi/3G model (with data plan) but there will be a lot of users who won't want to commit to yet another multi-year subscription data service so they have to offer a reasonably priced alternative for those that can make do with just WiFi.
I can't believe some of you still have the guts to say that this will be a "complete failure" if they don't do this or do that. If you are right, hats off to you and I stand corrected, but I'd be really careful about those kind of predictions. If history has taught as anything it's that most people do not really care about the detailed technical specs but are rather convinced to purchase if they are sufficiently wow-ed... which Apple has always been very good at.
But some people seem to be coming to the incorrect conclusion that a device (with a high wow-factor) needs to introduce something incredibly new. I don't believe that is true. I don't need any never-before-seen feature on this device, I just want it to work much better than any other device of this class before it. The iPhone does not really do anything other phones of its class don't do, but it does everything much more nicely. That is what I am hoping for this tablet/e-book reader device as well.
But I could be wrong, and this thing actually flies and teleports you, so what do I know.
But some people seem to be coming to the incorrect conclusion that a device (with a high wow-factor) needs to introduce something incredibly new. I don't believe that is true. I don't need any never-before-seen feature on this device, I just want it to work much better than any other device of this class before it. The iPhone does not really do anything other phones of its class don't do, but it does everything much more nicely. That is what I am hoping for this tablet/e-book reader device as well.
But I could be wrong, and this thing actually flies and teleports you, so what do I know.
I'm following this because I'm interested to see what direction Apple goes in, as I feel the tablet will be an indication of the kind of product they are focusing on. Is it going to be a supercharged iphone? Or is it going to be an actual computer worth doing normal tasks on. As others have said, the architecture of the OS is going to be the main determinant of this, imo, moreso than any structural aspect (not to say that certain gesture and screen innovations aren't going to be factors). Honestly, I'm not a huge iPhone fan (*waits to get railed upon by the whole forum*), and see it as a concise, plain OS, that simply has apps that are easily installed. I have a Windows mobile phone (HTC touch pro), and besides the obvious complaints, I find that the interface is much more visually appealing and enjoyable to use. I don't wan ta machine that merely hosts other apps, I want it to be it's own device, that is intuitive, and powerful. I want something closer to a modbook, than a iPhone essentially. I know people are saying mobile computers aren't going the route of desktop OS, but just because that has been where some devices have gone, does that mean that is what we have to want to happen? Sure, maybe it'll grow on me. Maybe millions of people are buying these devices, but the last time I checked, appeal to the masses is still a logical fallacy when it came to validating the quality of an idea.
My company publishes educational graphic novels, and we are very keen to offer our books through an iTunes/App Store type of service. But we are also realistic about pricing.
We currently offer ebook versions of our titles on the Kindle and on Panelfly (an iPhone graphic novels app). None of them including our "hardback" editions, are priced higher than $9.99. Most are 40 to 50 percent off the physical book price.
I personally feel that $9.99 represents the upper limit for what customers are willing to spend on mainstream ebooks. I can see higher prices being charged for college textbooks and the like, but not for general fiction or graphic novels.
Whatever the resolution it will have to be a 1.5 aspect, to allow for relative scaling of iPhone apps.
So 1080x720 (assuming it's even that high).
Even if the functionality is significantly different than that of the iPhone (no doubt it will be), I must say that this design, if real, is a bit underwhelming. It's one thing to avoid re-inventing the wheel; it's another thing to rehash a three year-old design.
While there's a chance this was an intentional leak by Apple to get us all thinking down another track, I doubt it. Most people aren't checking out these kinds of rumors sites so a photo like this isn't going to make it into the mainstream consciousness. That's why I think it's probably real. Apple would gain very little by releasing a photo of a 'fake' or prototype tablet before they release the real deal at 10:00 PST.
So a bit disappointed with what I see (no, I don't mean software or human-device interaction... that might still be cool).
While there's a chance this was an intentional leak by Apple to get us all thinking down another track, I doubt it. Most people aren't checking out these kinds of rumors sites so a photo like this isn't going to make it into the mainstream consciousness. That's why I think it's probably real. Apple would gain very little by releasing a photo of a 'fake' or prototype tablet before they release the real deal at 10:00 PST.
So a bit disappointed with what I see (no, I don't mean software or human-device interaction... that might still be cool).
I agree with you, but what's sad is that those "crazy/insane specs" are the kinds of things we'd all really like to see in a device like this. The kinds of things we'd say "holy cow, they just pwned the entire market with ideas we never even thought of before." I think the closer we get to launch, all signs point to "big iPhone," which couldn't be more underwhelming. Add in another data plan you'll have to "subscribe" for, and it's just a mess.
I'm sure it'll still be a hit and people will come up with "justifications" as to why they did it this way, but it sure isn't what I'm looking for it a tablet...
If that's the case, then it won't even be able to display HD video (minimum 1280x720).
I can't imagine them sticking with this oddball 1.5:1 aspect ratio for a media consumption device. If it were mainly for video, they might go to 1.777...:1, HDTV ratio, but this is too long and skinny for books. Therefore I think they'll go with 1.6:1, like a MacBook screen. The same dot pitch as the iPhone (assuming the widely-reported 10.1" diagonal size) would give you 883 x 1413, so 800 x 1280 is easily doable. The same dot pitch as the Droid would give you 1252 x 2003, so full HD is quite possible as well.
well.. the iPhone doesn't have DVD resolution either...
720p would be nice to have, don't think it's a requirement for them to view HD videos with it, though. a little squashed might be just fine
I must admit I dismissed the idea of a tablet, thought it would be a pointless thing and didn't see a need for it. However the more I read about this product, the more I begin to see the benefits of using it at work. Certainly looking forward tomorrow (for me) to read what the actual product is and the pros and cons. Could very well be my next Mac product.