Really? How could a "tablet" replace what is essentially a cellphone?
Is the "tablet" going to be that small and light? If it is, that sounds exactly like, er, iPhone.
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Snow Leopard's 'Keyboard Viewer' Sparks Renewed Speculation Regarding Mac OS X-Based Tablet
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Really? How could a "tablet" replace what is essentially a cellphone?
Is the "tablet" going to be that small and light? If it is, that sounds exactly like, er, iPhone.
I think you are missing the point. If you had a tablet you wouldn't need a phone with all the capabilities of the iPhone.
Just like if you have an expensive laptop you aren't going to buy an expensive tablet and would prefer Apple made a small media pad instead.
And that's the key.. I think Jobs sells you what you need/want least first.
If he had sold a full fledged tablet first, Apple would have lost a lot of iPhone sales. So he is going to save the best for last.
So it's either a feature on SL for a tablet. Or a feature to allow really blind people to use it?
At least some companies understand that "Touch based interface" aren't a replacement for good old fashion keyboards :
If Apple provides such a keyboard and flip around screen WITH touch capabilities, then that will be a very useful devices.
Anything else would completely suck.
If Apple provides such a keyboard and flip around screen WITH touch capabilities, then that will be a very useful devices.
Anything else would completely suck.
I don't like the convertible tablet designs though. I don't think it's an elegant design. i hope Apple comes up with something more interesting/elegant.
I think it also depends on what your needs are. I don't really need a laptop. I would mostly use a tablet for art and as an input device and media viewer. so keyboard function wouldn't be something that is important to me. But I can see how some people who would want to use it for school too would want a it to work more like a laptop.
Keep in mind, though, I think EVERY device Apple makes will have the touch capabilities of a tablet/iPhone.
Though, again, i think Mills is going to sell us the products we need least first.
First he will sell everyone and their brother an iPhone, tablet and iPod touch.. THEN he will put touch capabilities on every mac monitor, iMac and laptop in their line. I think they KNEW that from day one -- when they realized the implications of the touch technology. But they aren't going to tell us that! Because then we would hold out until we could get exactly what we wanted.
I think it also depends on what your needs are. I don't really need a laptop. I would mostly use a tablet for art and as an input device and media viewer. so keyboard function wouldn't be something that is important to me. But I can see how some people who would want to use it for school too would want a it to work more like a laptop.
Keep in mind, though, I think EVERY device Apple makes will have the touch capabilities of a tablet/iPhone.
Though, again, i think Mills is going to sell us the products we need least first.
First he will sell everyone and their brother an iPhone, tablet and iPod touch.. THEN he will put touch capabilities on every mac monitor, iMac and laptop in their line. I think they KNEW that from day one -- when they realized the implications of the touch technology. But they aren't going to tell us that! Because then we would hold out until we could get exactly what we wanted.
This is very interesting..
A Mac Tablet computer has been rumored for years now. If they do eventually release one I would like to see one that can take a SIM card so I don't need a USB dongle to access 3G HSDPA internet.
Will this be their "budget" notebook..only time will tell but I suspect they could be catering to a very "Niche" market if its too $$$$.
A Mac Tablet computer has been rumored for years now. If they do eventually release one I would like to see one that can take a SIM card so I don't need a USB dongle to access 3G HSDPA internet.
Will this be their "budget" notebook..only time will tell but I suspect they could be catering to a very "Niche" market if its too $$$$.
There goes a killer feature for the tablet, a large keyboard so you can touch type on the screen. Whatever.
I could go for the MacBook line transitioning to a convertible flip up multitouch tablet.
Larger than life - on 17" MBP
The biggest problem using it currently is that content doesn't seem to be aware of this keyboard viewer pallet. New windows open under it and don't resize to avoid it. To really be useful, it'll have to act more like the dock (or a "Modal View Controller" on the iphone).
The Laptop version of the keyboard viewer is actually larger than life sized when viewed on a 17" Mac Book Pro screen.
While the Desktop version is "almost" life sized.
Clearly any touch screen device at this point is likely to be smaller, so this helps give us a "perspective" as we speculate.
Wm
(I herby release these two png photos of my laptop to the public domain).
The biggest problem using it currently is that content doesn't seem to be aware of this keyboard viewer pallet. New windows open under it and don't resize to avoid it. To really be useful, it'll have to act more like the dock (or a "Modal View Controller" on the iphone).
The Laptop version of the keyboard viewer is actually larger than life sized when viewed on a 17" Mac Book Pro screen.
While the Desktop version is "almost" life sized.
Clearly any touch screen device at this point is likely to be smaller, so this helps give us a "perspective" as we speculate.
Wm
(I herby release these two png photos of my laptop to the public domain).
Tablet potential
Working in the medical field, here's an observation:
A tablet with a touch UI and an effective virtual keyboard that can be turned on and off with a touch will have a huge role and opportunity in advancing the electronic health records (EMR) that the Feds, the Prez, the insurers and the public wish to see happen.
Current keyboard, mouse and tablet pen UI is a challenge to use efficiently and adoption is slow.
Therefore, a lightweight and portable fingertouch UI as is being speculated in this thread and elsewhere will find a large audience in the EMR market (but an Apple tablet will have to have Mac OS using virtualization using the Windows OS or Boot Camp since >98% of EMR software is Windows based).
Working in the medical field, here's an observation:
A tablet with a touch UI and an effective virtual keyboard that can be turned on and off with a touch will have a huge role and opportunity in advancing the electronic health records (EMR) that the Feds, the Prez, the insurers and the public wish to see happen.
Current keyboard, mouse and tablet pen UI is a challenge to use efficiently and adoption is slow.
Therefore, a lightweight and portable fingertouch UI as is being speculated in this thread and elsewhere will find a large audience in the EMR market (but an Apple tablet will have to have Mac OS using virtualization using the Windows OS or Boot Camp since >98% of EMR software is Windows based).
I haven't seen this mentioned here yet, so...
Possibly much stronger evidence that that Apple's preparing the desktop OS for a touchscreen interface is appearance of several "Touch Event Handling" methods in the Cocoa API. For example, NSView gained the following in SL:
* acceptsTouchEvents
* setAcceptsTouchEvents:
* wantsRestingTouches
* setWantsRestingTouches:
There may be more scattered elsewhere in the API. While a better on-screen keyboard might have uses outside a touchscreen, I can't see how these methods would possibly be useful without one. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean it's for the tablet, but...
Possibly much stronger evidence that that Apple's preparing the desktop OS for a touchscreen interface is appearance of several "Touch Event Handling" methods in the Cocoa API. For example, NSView gained the following in SL:
* acceptsTouchEvents
* setAcceptsTouchEvents:
* wantsRestingTouches
* setWantsRestingTouches:
There may be more scattered elsewhere in the API. While a better on-screen keyboard might have uses outside a touchscreen, I can't see how these methods would possibly be useful without one. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean it's for the tablet, but...
9 to 5 Mac observed at the launch of Snow Leopard that the Keyboard Viewer feature found in earlier versions of Mac OS X has seen several changes that spark speculation that Snow Leopard may be showing hints of utility for touchscreen hardware such as Apple's much-rumored tablet computer. Notably, the Keyboard Viewer, which currently only reflects which keys on a user's keyboard are being registered by the system and displays keyboard layouts for modifier key combinations, can now be enlarged to a size that offers "finger sized" keys.
Image from Cult of Mac
Cult of Mac has picked up on the finding and extended the case to make a more complete argument for Snow Leopard as a touchscreen operating system. First, the report notes that in addition to the large Keyboard Viewer window, the option to activate the feature has been moved from the relatively obscure "International" section of System Preferences to the more prominent "Keyboard" section, hinting at movement toward considering the feature an input device.Cult of Mac also points to several new Dock features in Snow Leopard such as application-specific Exposé functionality and large icons within Stacks as further indications of an evolution toward touchscreen-friendliness.
A multitude of rumors surrounding an Apple tablet launch later this year or early next year have sprung up recently, but little is known about Apple's software plans for the device. While the operating system would presumably be based on existing Apple technologies, sources have yet to come forward confirming whether the tablet will use a Mac OS X-based or iPhone-based operating system.
Article Link: Snow Leopard's 'Keyboard Viewer' Sparks Renewed Speculation Regarding Mac OS X-Based Tablet
You really don't need a numeric keypad on an on-screen keyboard unless you are going to use your fingers. (The Snow Leopard onscreen has one - hit any numeric key when using the regular qwerty section and it appears) This might be a better hint that the keyboard is headed for a touchscreen tablet, but may always have been headed that way, so what's the diff?
..and the problem is...?
Since multi-touch is a core feature of Windows 7, why would anyone want to add the unnecessary complication of running Windows 7 as an OS virtualized under another OS?
Point 1: Windows 7 will be great for EMR software
Point 2: Windows 7 will be great for Windows 2003/2008/Vista/XP software...
Since multi-touch is a core feature of Windows 7, why would anyone want to add the unnecessary complication of running Windows 7 as an OS virtualized under another OS?
Point 1: Windows 7 will be great for EMR software
Point 2: Windows 7 will be great for Windows 2003/2008/Vista/XP software...
I think the new click and hold Expose gesture is one of the biggest indicators. Honestly I don't see the point of clicking and holding when I have screen corners to activate it. On a touchscreen, however clicking and holding on a dock icon would be very efficient and easy to use.
The one thing I do hope is that if a tablet is created and uses a capacitive touch screen that Apple has a way to use some sort of stylus. For general usage like browsing the web and looking at photos and the like a stylus is not needed, but it would be awesome to have multitouch + stylus in Photoshop. Pinch to zoom in then draw, pinch to zoom out, hold on a doc icon to switch apps...it would be pretty awesome I think. Typing would probably be one of the biggest problems, but having a stylus would help to alleviate that problem. Note: I am not saying to require a stylus, but rather to have one as an option if you need more accurate input.
The one thing I do hope is that if a tablet is created and uses a capacitive touch screen that Apple has a way to use some sort of stylus. For general usage like browsing the web and looking at photos and the like a stylus is not needed, but it would be awesome to have multitouch + stylus in Photoshop. Pinch to zoom in then draw, pinch to zoom out, hold on a doc icon to switch apps...it would be pretty awesome I think. Typing would probably be one of the biggest problems, but having a stylus would help to alleviate that problem. Note: I am not saying to require a stylus, but rather to have one as an option if you need more accurate input.
I agree with you on most points, but not on this one:
A tablet would not be a replacement for an iPhone or vice-versa. I can't see myself holding a 10" to my ear (you would look certifiable with a 15" tablet stuck to your ear...
). As with most Apple products, they will probably think of a way to make them complementary like the iPhone with Keynote or the Apple TV if you just happen to own both.
I think the recent rumor saying there will be two models, one running some form of iPhone OS and the other OS X sounds more accurate. If it is going to run OS X then they really need to make some changes to make it finger friendly for multi-touch. They also need to decide how it will interface with the App Store etc.
I have to say, I saw that keyboard when I installed Snow Leopard yesterday, and it is UUUUGLY! They should redesign it and make it look nice like the iPhone keyboard, or like an actual Apple aluminum keyboard.
I honestly don't care about tablets, but this feature is great for typing foreign alphabets that are hard to read at tiny size, like Thai. Also for seniors or people with low eyesight. One more reason to get Snow Leopard (10.6.1)!
Wouldn't that be 'your other left'?
OTOH, I think this is finding another excuse to keep talking about what you want to talk about ... Tablets!
Nope. Caps Lock only allows to enter capital letters. Just try it, open the Keyboard Viewer and try entering the "@" sign (Shift-2) using the mouse. Either I don't know something, or it is plain useless as a keyboard replacement. Unless you somehow use two mouse pointers. Or maybe two fingers on a multi-touch display.
I don't see how the keyboard poses any kind of challenge. Lack of a proper touchscreen, maybe. But the keyboard, when hidden underneath the screen and using the device in tablet mode is a non-issue.
You need a physical keyboard if you're going to type in a lot of information while sitting down.
I'd bet adoption is slow not because of the physical keyboard itself, but because of costs to benefit ratio.