Report Claims Tablet is 'iPhone on Steroids', Runs on iPhone OS Kernel

[neilw]

I already own an iPhone and a Macbook. This is just going to be a gimmick.

So, sight unseen, with only the sketchiest information, you dismiss something that Apple has been refining for *years*? I fail to understand this mentality. If you have so little regard for Apple's capabilities, why are you even here?

Skepticism regarding the form factor is warranted. Complete dismissal in the absence of concrete information is, at the least, puzzling. This product may be a gimmick, and it may go down in flames quite spectacularly, but do you really know enough right now to draw that conclusion?

I felt the same way about those who dismissed Avatar as crap before it was even released. Judge on the final product, especially when coming from someone with an exemplary track record. Then, if you don't like it, have at it.

 

[ShiftyPig]

I'm just going to start calling this thing iGinger.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

My guess for the islate:

- 10.1" LCD screen with multitouch
- 1gb of RAM
- dual core cortex arm 9 processor
- 32 gb SSD
- an hybrid o.s beetween mac osx and iPhone gui, closer to aniPhone than a standard macs but with full integration of iTunes, an evolved app store and a cool gui+hardware idea for text imput.
- some online storage disk could be possible for the new iLife suite (10/20gb)
- Bluetooth, wifi, no 3G, no stylus, nor USB or any port at all (no minidisplay)

599/699$ for the price

Pretty good guess except your price is too low if there's no 3G to subsidize it. Check out the price of the smaller screen, unsubsidized iphone. Then, let that be your guide for guessing the right price for this bigger/better device. No 3G means the likes of AT&T or Verizon will NOT be chipping in on helping buyers give Apple the full price that Apple will want for this thing.

My belief is that the low end of an unsubsidized iPhone is going to be $799, though I can easily imagine the rumored $999 price (much easier to imagine +$200 vs. -$200).

With a 3G contract though, I think we can see the "shockingly low" price also recently rumored, probably down in the few hundred range of the iPhone.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'd like to have onboard video out as well in addition to other peripheral connectors. Then again this is starting to sound like a Tablet PC instead of a dock connector only Apple device.

I think it just about MUST have video out in some form, as a mobile computer without it really won't compete with the idea of taking the laptop at all. If the laptop almost always wins this battle, then why buy a Tablet at all? Thus, some form of video out seems extraordinarily likely in my thinking.

 

[zacman]

Only CrapStore apps = show stopper

Though I fear Apple wants to introduce the Store concept for OS X too. They just make so much more money when every developer has to pay 100 USD a year to release an application even when it's freeware. And not to mention the 30% tax for commercial applications.

 

[mwstudio]

iTablet 3D???

Since the entire tablet screen would be a sweetspot for 3D lenticular lens Apple should blow everyone away with a 3D enabled display. This is the future why wait?

 

[Eidorian]

I think it just about MUST have video out in some form, as a mobile computer without it really won't compete with the idea of taking the laptop at all. If the laptop almost always wins this battle, then why buy a Tablet at all? Thus, some form of video out seems extraordinarily likely in my thinking.

I wouldn't want to carry a dock around either when you could just use a built in output.

 

[applefanEUPB]

If so it's just a toy and I don't need another iPhone.

 

[paradox00]

I think it just about MUST have video out in some form, as a mobile computer without it really won't compete with the idea of taking the laptop at all. If the laptop almost always wins this battle, then why buy a Tablet at all? Thus, some form of video out seems extraordinarily likely in my thinking.

The iPhone has video out...

So yes video out is very likely, one could almost say a given.

 

[paradox00]

Only CrapStore apps = show stopper

Though I fear Apple wants to introduce the Store concept for OS X too. They just make so much more money when every developer has to pay 100 USD a year to release an application even when it's freeware. And not to mention the 30% tax for commercial applications.

On the other hand, OSX upgrades would likely be free, maybe hardware costs could come down. It isn't all downsides. I'd never want OSX to be completely closed but an App store could be a good thing.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I already own an iPhone and a Macbook. This is just going to be a gimmick.

I think the people who already have an iPhone won't like this Tablet because they won't get it at the advertised (subsidized) low price (without a 2nd contract).

I think people who own a good iTunes connected laptop won't like this Tablet because the Laptop will be able to do everything a mobile computer is supposed to do... in a package that is only a little heavier and a little thicker.

The segment of the former that might go anyway are the ones who desperately want the bigger screen (or who would buy anything that Apple rolls out). The segment of the latter who might buy anyway are probably those who haven't already locked into the iPhone (and iPhone contract).

There is a scenario where all this new print content turned digital is EXCLUSIVELY available to Tablet owners only... and maybe that would make it an appealing 3rd device to lug around. But I see exclusivity as highly unlikely: why would the publishers want to sell to a tiny segment when they could reach millions of iTunes connected devices already in place?

Net: if you already have a good iTunes-connected laptop, it's hard to imagine a Tablet concept that makes you want to lug a 2nd large screen around... unless you don't have an iPhone and it can double as your phone (subsidized of course). If you already have a laptop & iPhone, it gets really challenging to imagine what else this will offer you (beyond "cool") to make it worth paying up the unsubsidized price likely attached to it.

 

[iMacmatician]

Pretty good guess except your price is too low if there's no 3G to subsidize it. Check out the price of the smaller screen, unsubsidized iphone. Then, let that be your guide for guessing the right price for this bigger/better device. No 3G means the likes of AT&T or Verizon will NOT be chipping in on helping buyers give Apple the full price that Apple will want for this thing.

I use the iPod touch's price and go from there.

 

[ShiftyPig]

Alright, who is the wiseguy who registered K48AP.com today???

 

[jontucker]

K48AP???????????

 

[ShiftyPig]

On the other hand, OSX upgrades would likely be free, maybe hardware costs could come down. It isn't all downsides. I'd never want OSX to be completely closed but an App store could be a good thing.

iPhone OS updates aren't free for iPod touch users.

Apple would play the "not a subscription" card and charge for it. OSX going completely closed would kill it.

 

[hugo7]

More juicing

iphone-on-steroids

Wasn't the same description used to describe the game-changing Nexus One? Oh dear.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I use the iPod touch's price and go from there.

I respect the idea of thinking of it as a super "touch" vs. a super "phone", but then this super mobile device won't have always-on access to the web. That makes it a lot less usable from a mobile device point of view, as it would then be tied to wifi (hopefully wimax) sources, rather than getting what you need to know from it, whenever you need to know it.

If it is competing with devices like Kindle, it needs to match that device's ability to get content via 3G from anywhere at anytime. However, if it is going to "fit" into the Touch/Phone lineup of Apple products, it will need to be more than just a Kindle (more than just a 3G only to buy stuff function), as mobile Safari seems like a feature that will heavily differentiate it from Kindle and Kindle-like devices. How do you get mobile anywhere without 3G?

If it is competing with netbooks, it needs to do a pretty good job against all that a small laptop can do. Since we know Apple won't compete on price, it is going to need to do a bit more than what those devices can do. Again, an always connected 3G source contributes to justifying a higher (Apple) price.

And before someone pitches 3G data only at some super low monthly rate, note that any 3G option gives this full mobile phone capabilities- be that through standard voice 3G or through mobile VOIP. A lower priced- but full 3G connection would become the cheapest option for anyone who needs mobile phone communications.

For myself, I really hope it is more iPhone than Touch, as I think that's the major draw (for me)- I don't have an iPhone. If it comes with the mobile connected limitations of the Touch, why not just buy the smaller Touch?

And I still believe the 3G subsidy model is how we get the "shockingly low price." I can't imagine all this hype and "gee whiz" buildup for something Apple launches at $299-$499 or so in 2010 (without AT&T or Verizon, etc chipping in on the rest of the TOTAL amount Apple wants for this thing).

 

[wilycoder]

If this rumor is indeed true, then I won't be buying one.

 

[iMacmatician]

For myself, I really hope it is more iPhone than Touch, as I think that's the major draw (for me)- I don't have an iPhone. If it comes with the mobile connected limitations of the Touch, why not just buy the smaller Touch?

For all the other features of the tablet that aren't on the iPod touch?

I don't want a contract. I would like the choice of 3G or no 3G on the tablet.

 

[gohanmzt]

Correct!!

To everyone that wants this to run "full" OS X, you do realize that even if it did, NONE of your current applications would run, right? Things like MS Office, Photoshop, etc would all need to be rewritten for ARM. Adding emulation (like Rosetta) would just make it unbearably slow running those applications. You'd still have to wait on all the software vendors to port the applications you want. At least by running iPhone OS you get a built-in catalog of available applications.

I was thinking just that, and that Apple MUST have a tablet-ready set of common use apps, you know, the apps that almost everyone uses right now and that won't run on the tablet because of the ARM processor.

That is assuming that the thing exists.

 

[*LTD*]

To everyone that wants this to run "full" OS X, you do realize that even if it did, NONE of your current applications would run, right? Things like MS Office, Photoshop, etc would all need to be rewritten for ARM. Adding emulation (like Rosetta) would just make it unbearably slow running those applications. You'd still have to wait on all the software vendors to port the applications you want. At least by running iPhone OS you get a built-in catalog of available applications.

Eventually, App Store applications will become as powerful as their .dmg counterparts. We'll be doing full word-processing and image editing on our tablets.

Tablets (though not the way we understand them pre-Apple's tablet) WILL replace notebooks in time. It's a ways off, but it'll happen.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I don't want a contract. I would like the choice of 3G or no 3G on the tablet.

I forecast that you get that. 3G will not be mandatory.

So, you can buy an unsubsidized one with no contract for (my guess) $799 or so. Or you can "buy" a subsidized one with contract for (my guess) $299-$399 or so.

I think Apple sells more of these Tablets if they build in the option for 3G. The option is key for those already in an iPhone contract (no 2nd contract required because they can pay up for an unsubsidized one), or for those who will be satisfied at having the "ultimate" mobile device only connected when they can find an open wifi (hopefully wimax) hotspot.

For those that don't yet own an iPhone, this could be a compelling alternative. And since it is not a phone, it may not be locked into the AT&T exclusive arrangement, so this could be a way for those on Verizon, etc to get an "iphone"-type device NOW. That is a big market hungry for iPhone-like features but stuck on non-AT&T networks (or choosing to NOT become an AT&T customer). Personally, I'm in this group, hoping the Tablet can double as an iPhone. It becomes much less appealing (conceptually) to me if it lacks 3G as an option.

 

[akac]

100%. In fact, if Apple does release one locked down with a useless iphone OS, I'll personally start the pot with a $5,000 donation to fund any hacker group that can get OS X running on it.

I'm not sure how that would help you. First, its a totally different processor. No OS X app would run.

 

[Jimmy James]

If this device is a suitable replacement for an iPhone (too big) or a laptop (probably too limited) it will have a huge market.

As it is I'm not giving up my phone and I'm not giving up my home computer (laptop) and I'm not getting a third device.

OTOH, if they can implement ebook reader type viewing while keeping the benefits of a traditional screen, well, that would be quite something.

 

[kdarling]

Alright, who is the wiseguy who registered K48AP.com today???

Not sure too many people would type that in

It's also always possible that each preliminary tablet has a different model number, in order to track down information leaks. Not likely, but possible.