Interesting, see the comments below.
Based on what I've heard on TWiT Network's This WEEK in Tech and MacBreak Weekly shows, here's my three-day "wild guess" on what we'll see on January 26, 2010:
Learned something new today because I've never heard of those resources.
1) We will have not one, but TWO different tablet computers, one with a 7" screen and one with a 10.1" screen. Both screens will be LED backlit (for now) to keep power consumption reasonably low.
Well there better be two because I see the 10" screen as being to big. At least for the way I currently imagine using it.
The 7" device would be even better if it folded in half. I know the industry is working on screen technology to do that but I'm not sure if it is ready for prime time. What I really want is a pocketable device that has a bigger screen than my iPhone. It might even work as a cell phone too but that is big for a cell phone.
2) The 7" version will offer 64 GB of flash memory, while the 10.1" version will offer 128 GB of flash memory. Mind you, if the next-generation flash memory is available by the time the tablet computers reach retailers in April 2010, we could get 128 GB for the 7" version and 256 GB or the 10" version.
Yep! Those are more or less the sizes I'd expect in the base models. Each of the devices should come in a fat version though.
3) The touchscreen could sport some soft of haptic touch feel--though the technology used is still unknown.
This is the most interesting part of Apples patents. That is how do you deform a glass display. To that I'd answer you don't and instead use a softer display that might be had from something like an OLED. That solves the material issue there then you have to come up with a reliable mechanism to deform that display a few thousands of an inch.
4) It will use improved versions of the CortexA8 ARM CPU and PowerVR GPU, using PA Semi technology that Apple owns because Apple bought out PA Semi. These improvements will speed up performance and allow for flawless playback of HD video downloaded through iTunes (720p plus full interactive LP liner notes).
Yes but how will those improvements be made that is the question ad further how many CPU and GPU cores are we going to get? As to the extensions to the A8 I could see Apple simply deleting the ARM supplied vector hardware and reverting back to the Alt-Vec technology of the past (with modern day enhancements). Or they could go one step further and make those vector units independent execution engines as some ARM producers are doing.
5) It will run a new, "intermediate" MacOS X version that is more functional than the iPhone OS but less functional than MacOS X 10.6.2 found on real Mac computers. This new MacOS X variant allows for true multitasking and cut-and-paste, and will use an interface designed specifically for touchscreen functionality.
I don't like your terminology here at all. At the core IPhone OS and Mac OS are the same thing, this is something people continually mis. The difference is the IPhone exposes a different interface kit and has tighter control over the execution of user apps.
I fully expect that the tablet will use an enhanced version of the frameworks we currently see in the IPhone. How much of that gets back ported into IPhone OS 4.0 I don't know. The obvious problem is the lack of space on the IPhone, both in the physical sense and the computer sense. RAM is a very limited commodity on the current devices as is screen real estate.
6) Will include 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless network connectivity as standard, with optional GSM 3G HSDPA/HSUPA / CDMA 3G EVDO multi-standard cellular network connectivity (probably using a Broadcom chipset).
Err this point really bothers me! Personally I'd want some sort of 3G or 4G capability but they will severely limit adoption by corporations if the device does not come without that support. So models without a cellular requirement are really needed.
Further even though I want that cellular connections I don't want to be tied to a network of any kind for an extended length of time. If the tablet comes with a regressive contract then no thank you. Even more so if the thing is locked to a carrier. I want to be able to swap sim chips based on the best connection available where ever I'm currently located. That is if I drop in to Ireland for a few weeks I want to be able to easily connect to the local carrier, if the next location is Brazil or China I like wise want to get online with the best available local service.
7) External connectors will include iPod dock connector (for charging and syncing through USB 2.0 port) and Mini DisplayPort connector (with optional Mini DisplayPort to HDMI 1.3) adapter.
Why in the hell would anybody want a Mini DisplayPort connector on this device. I'm not mad at you as I've seen this brought up on numerous forums around the net and I don't get it. These are very personal devices with a use case that doesn't make sense when combined with a larger monitor.
Personally I'd rather see a USB port or two (standard connector), and a wired ethernet port for when all else fails. Lastly it would be nice to have a hardware port for adding accessories to the device such as barcode scanners, temperature input devices and other hardware accessories. Of course knowing Apple they likely don't give a rats ass about integrating accessory hardware but it would make for a very widely adopted platform in business. In any event I'm convinced that a hardware port would actually find more use than a DisplayPort connection.
Pricing will be US$549 for 7" version, US$749 for 10.1" version.
Nope; way to high. First this is an ARM based device likely with a SoC solution which means rather small and low cost motherboards. Second Apple has said they don't know how to make a computer of under $500 dollars which kinda is like telling the world they have a target price. That would mean at least one of these units would come in under the $500 dollar mark. Probably by a significant amount like maybe $400 for the 7" model with the 10" device hitting the $500 dollar mark.
I look at it this way they are targeting the netbook crowd and the I need to get my E-Mail crowd with this device. That means being price competitive because the whole reason for the netbooks success is price and little else. In any event look at the price of the iPod Touches which in many ways is exactly what these devices will be hardware wise. Apple makes a good penny on these, especially as Flash prices have fallen. So what apple does in the end is pay a little more for a higher performance and higher integration SoC, puts it in a tablet and lowers the prices on the current Touch devices to keep margins level.
Dave
