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Microsoft Reportedly Scheduled to Introduce Tablet Today

Vulpinemac said:
Maybe you should look at the MP2 and MP4 specifications. Even your 'analog' cable programming was digitized starting in the late '90s so more data could be fed through existing satellites in orbit. It wouldn't necessarily be in the receiver/cable box in your own home, but it would be on the uplink/downlink side where it's sent to and received from the satellite itself.

So yes, nearly everybody has been using Quicktime for about 10 years without even knowing it. The codec has changed now, but the new codec hasn't yet replaced all of the old Quicktime channels.
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I never post on here, but this is just a bit too misinforming to let slide. There is nothing "Quicktime" about MPEG-2 or MPEG-4. Quicktime, in its original form, used licensed video codecs from, amongst others, Sorenson. It used H.263 compression technology, which was standardized as a telecommunications standard through ITU-T. Apple was not a part of the standardization process. The current Quicktime uses H.264 compression technology, again standardized by the ITU-T (albeit this time with some - limited - contribution from Apple).

Bottom line: Apple did not invent either video streaming nor video compression. They made it easy to set up your own stream using Quicktime Broadcaster, a program that was unfortunately not used by many and that Apple quietly discontinued without much fanfare.

Quicktime does video compression and used to have applications associated with it for streaming. It wasn't an Apple invention, no matter how much people would like to revise history books in its favor.
 
The courrier concept is a great one, but does not go far enough. The ultimate portable tablet consists of a foldable screen that allows it to be both pocket-sized yet big screened. If a 10" screen can fold down to something pocketable, then you are cookin with Crisco! Until then, its just low saturated fat oils that are good for you, but fall short on taste. This is where we need to go....:rolleyes:

macbook-touch-beta-20.jpg


But alas, we are not there yet :(

Sorry the picture is so big!
 
*LTD* said:
Look back over the last decade. That's all you have to do. Macs. OS X. iPods, iPhones, etc. Figure out why these are such successful, desirable products, then assume the logical thing - that Apple will take all their experience in this area and apply it to their NEXT big product - like they've done before, and you'll have your answer. Shouldn't take more than a minute of deep thought.
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That has nothing to do with anything you say. You are talking about numbers. Numbers mean people buy but that doesn't show something is inferior or superior. Apple is very Trendy right now, but trends change especially since people are becoming more aware of Apples Totalitarian product management.
 
Reed Rothchild said:
Amen to that :).


Some of the comments on this thread make me feel embarrassed to admit to using Apple products. From my understanding of the current state of affairs, Apple have not mentioned that they have a fabled tablet to announce, nor have they announced a release date. It's amazing that some here are knocking Microsoft for actually talking about a real product.

FWIW, the mock-ups of the Courier look extremely well conceived. I hope that they will present something that comes even close to that. I also hope that Apple will come up with something that looks equally appealing, but won't be surprised if they end up with a super-sized iPod Touch umbilically linked to their iTunes store. Whatever happens, competition is such a great thing.
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An Apple tablet-like device is a certainty, and it'll be introduced this year, with all signs pointing to later on this month.

Just one piece of evidence among many:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...to_prepare_full_screen_apps_for_jan_demo.html
 
Mattie Num Nums said:
That has nothing to do with anything you say. You are talking about numbers. Numbers mean people buy but that doesn't show something is inferior or superior. Apple is very Trendy right now, but trends change especially since people are becoming more aware of Apples Totalitarian product management.
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Apple's been "trendy" for a little over a decade now. The trendiness has kinda become a habit.

Who exactly is becoming aware of "Apples Totalitarian product management"? You mean the developers that keep flocking to the iPhone and its App store that just keeps growing, or the consumers that hand Apple record quarters in a recession (in all areas)? The tech industry is on the edge of its seat waiting for Apple's Next Big Thing, and consumers are ready to stand in line to hand over their cash. Apple's "product management" is the most successful its kind, for everyone involved.
 
Mattie Num Nums said:
Apple is very Trendy right now, but trends change especially since people are becoming more aware of Apples Totalitarian product management.
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Insane.

I've never met one real person that ever said, "I won't buy Apple products because of their TOTALITARIAN PRODUCT MANAGEMENT (whatever that means)."

Sure, there are people who have any reason to not buy something. THAT is not a major reason why people don't buy Apple. Apple has always been trendy and upscale since the days of Mac. So over 25 years they should have become less trendy because of their xxx or yyy... they've become more popular and probably will continue to be popular for a good while longer. There's a good reason they are popular: well designed, easy to use, reliable products aimed to benefit specific markets. Most PC stuff is throw out for mass markets, not refined, and usually not aimed to specific use but to do everything that could make money in any niche.
 
My best guess is that rumors were flying that the Apple Tablet will be $999, and Ballmer looked at the other execs at MS and said "Hey, we could do that for about $599, right?," and the rest is history. Sure, it won't be as good as an Apple; it will be like comparing an HP laptop to a MacBook, but hey, I'm glad to see tablets coming to market one way or another. Tablets aren't for everyone, but for those that can use them (anyone who moves around in their job and doesn't just sit at a desk, like a doctor or a field worker will benefit).

UPS, FedEx, AppleStore employees already use touch devices in their jobs. A tablet is simply a larger version. Doctors and hospital workers will likely benefit a lot from tablets.
 
Ok, so we either get a revolutionary tablet which is ruined by Windows, or a crappy tablet which is ruined by Windows. That is vs Apple's tablet which will run either OS X, iPhone OS or something between the two. Wow, that sure is a hell of a competition! It'll be so hard to decide which one to buy...
 
Ballmer as King Midas, sort of

Ballmer is King Midas, sort of. Everything he touches or predicts turns to not gold....but fecal matter. He sneered at the iPod and he predicted zune success and iPod failure. He said the 'internet not created for something like the iPhone' and predicted failure. He beat the drums for 'Vista' only recanting slightly when the entire world (Grandma's included) said it was a dud. So, this woose should be the last guy to try and be like Steve Jobs playing role of CEO as media spokesman). He should join Dick Chaney in a hidey place.
 
Lesser Evets said:
Insane.

I've never met one real person that ever said, "I won't buy Apple products because of their TOTALITARIAN PRODUCT MANAGEMENT (whatever that means)."
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It means that Apple controls the User Experience to ensure it meets certain speicifc standards, all the time, across all of their products. Which no one else really does. Which incidentally is one of the cornerstones of Apple's success.
 
*LTD* said:
It means that Apple controls the User Experience to ensure it meets certain speicifc standards, all the time, across all of their products. Which no one else really does. Which incidentally is one of the cornerstones of Apple's success.
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I have.
 
Friscohoya said:
The courrier concept is a great one, but does not go far enough. The ultimate portable tablet consists of a foldable screen that allows it to be both pocket-sized yet big screened. If a 10" screen can fold down to something pocketable, then you are cookin with Crisco! Until then, its just low saturated fat oils that are good for you, but fall short on taste. This is where we need to go....:rolleyes:

[snip]

But alas, we are not there yet :(

Sorry the picture is so big!
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[Wipes drool from chin]
Guess what I'm going to be dreaming about tonight....
 
iphones4evry1 said:
Tablets aren't for everyone, but for those that can use them (anyone who moves around in their job and doesn't just sit at a desk, like a doctor or a field worker will benefit).

UPS, FedEx, AppleStore employees already use touch devices in their jobs. A tablet is simply a larger version. Doctors and hospital workers will likely benefit a lot from tablets.
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That is the issue Apple needs to address. Apple isn't going to shoot for such a market. If they are going to release a tablet, they are going to go for the consumer market. And to do that, they need to do something to convince the consumer they will want it. And I think the key will be how it fits into the Apple digital lifestyle. What that means and entails, I do not know. But I can only assume it will work with most if not all of Apple's other products in some way.
 
hindmost said:
Ballmer is King Midas, sort of. Everything he touches or predicts turns to not gold....but fecal matter. He sneered at the iPod and he predicted zune success and iPod failure. He said the 'internet not created for something like the iPhone' and predicted failure. He beat the drums for 'Vista' only recanting slightly when the entire world (Grandma's included) said it was a dud. So, this woose should be the last guy to try and be like Steve Jobs playing role of CEO as media spokesman). He should join Dick Chaney in a hidey place.
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It's Dick Cheney, and the man isn't in hiding. His predictions were at least accurate.

Let's be honest, what would you say about a rivals products when speaking to shareholders. "Don't worry, our own products may stink, but if you don't sell us all off now, we promise to have one good hit in 15 years..."

The guy obviously has to have a ton of bias, it's actually his job.
 
gibbz said:
I disagree. With the book type setup, will people be forced to use it lying lat on a table?
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I think if it's a "book type" then people will use it like a book :). The prototypes that have been flying around the net are two 7" screens that can be folded over just like a book.

500x_courier4.jpg



I like the idea of dual screens and making it "book like". For one, it protects the most delicate areas when folded up, and it probably applies at a sub-conscious level to those wary of high-tech gizmos but who can comprehend an "electronic book". You can even use the hinge area for storing bits and pieces (a stylus if you want to do real handwriting say). Overall it's a great looking concept. Not entirely sure this is what will be displayed at CES, but if so then way to go MS :).

Oh, and I'd also hope that it wouldn't be running a stripped down "tablet PC" version of Windows. I think they should take the hint from Apple and concentrate on the presentation requirements for the device - e.g. a digital notebook - and hide the OS as much away as possible...
 
ppdix said:
It sucks that other companies always beat Apple to a new game... And although Apple's tablet will certainly be better, it still loses the impact of being the first to which everyone else wants to catch up to and emulate... :mad:
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Man, you're not serious about what you wrote right? Who cares who's first. Apple has proven that being first isn't necessary. Um, are you forgetting that the cell phone industry really wasn't all that innovative or competitive until the iPhone arrived? Now every damn company is trying to make an iPhone killer. Copycat iPhone interfaces, bezel design and touch features. Apple was certainly the last to bring out a phone and all of a sudden other companies are following their lead.
 
HLdan said:
Man, you're not serious about what you wrote right? Who cares who's first. Apple has proven that being first isn't necessary. Um, are you forgetting that the cell phone industry really wasn't all that innovative or competitive until the iPhone arrived? Now every damn company is trying to make an iPhone killer. Copycat iPhone interfaces, bezel design and touch features. Apple was certainly the last to bring out a phone and all of a sudden other companies are following their lead.
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To be honest, iPhone isn't the best mobile phone...
 
Mattie Num Nums said:
<snip> Apple is very Trendy right now, but trends change especially since people are becoming more aware of Apples Totalitarian product management.
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Apple has been 'Trendy' and 'Cool' for almost 12 years now. Why? If it were just trendy, then wouldn't sales have stopped or even reversed by now?

Oh, I admit that sales of iPods have finally leveled off, but iPods still hold roughly 70% of the mp3-player market and the reduction of sales is more an indicator of people replacing old ones, not that something else is taking the market away from them.

On the other hand, if Apple were merely trendy, would sales of Macs, both laptops and desktops have slowed to match the rest of the market during this economic downturn? Why, when they are considered so much more expensive than other brands, have Mac sales been increasing by an average of 17% over the last two years while PCs, other than netbooks, have, at best, increased only 5% and for most companies actually fallen by 15% or more over the same time period? Only netbooks--the sub-$300 sub-notebooks--have shown any significant growth, and even their numbers are starting to fall from their incredible highs.

Yes, people are learning about Apple's so-called Totalitarian manufacturing processes, and they're appreciating what it means for the product itself. Why else would a running 50% of all new Apple buyers be people who have never owned an Apple before?
 
Some people need a life (and I don't mean iLife)

Will Apple’s tablet ever come out? The whole thing is just speculation, yet people bash actual products and ones with announced launch date. Has Apple Inc announced the Tablet? We don’t even know what it will be called, but some treat it as it is already out and anything else is just worthless junk. Has Apple linked the product with the end-of-January event where it is supposed to be ‘released’ and be available for shipping in March? Apparently Apple asked some developers to prepare for a demo. I don’t know, but there is so much speculation that it obviously makes people lose their sense of reality. I think an actual product is better than a rumour. If we believe these rumours, we will not have an Apple tablet until March. That is probably one of the longest product 'campaign' (I mean speculation and free advertising) in recent times. 'Constipation' is the word that might be used here.

I know that my jailbroken iPhone supports touch-screen. OS X does not. Windows 7 does. I don't like the mega-hyper glossy screen of my MacBook Pro. I prefer the Kindle for reading. So I don't know, what to expect from Apple. With so much disappointment with first generation Apple products, I might wait. But I'll keep an open mind. Unfortunately, on this site this is a rare virtue.

Why is it impossible that somebody else other than Apple is able to produce something nice? The industry is moving on, hopefully Apple is not getting lost in its own microcosmos.
 
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