Well, you could have a look at the Guardian app. This UK paper - it has one of the most successful websites in the world, all of which (except the crosswords) are free. It has just launched an app which fits all the news into it, and which you can use to read it all offline. The app costs less than £3, but that's better than the £0.00p they get from web-reading or the iPhone version of the site. iTunes has shown that a substantial number of people are prepared to pay for stuff that you can get free elsewhere. That's what Apple has been doing with teh NYT and all the other desperate newspaper/magazine publishers. Finally, of course, the tablet would actually lead to changes in the way publishers (and others) put their stuff together - form would drive content - with more itneractivity, videos etc etc.
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What is the Ultimate Role of the Apple Tablet?
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Well, you could have a look at the Guardian app. This UK paper - it has one of the most successful websites in the world, all of which (except the crosswords) are free. It has just launched an app which fits all the news into it, and which you can use to read it all offline. The app costs less than £3, but that's better than the £0.00p they get from web-reading or the iPhone version of the site. iTunes has shown that a substantial number of people are prepared to pay for stuff that you can get free elsewhere. That's what Apple has been doing with teh NYT and all the other desperate newspaper/magazine publishers. Finally, of course, the tablet would actually lead to changes in the way publishers (and others) put their stuff together - form would drive content - with more itneractivity, videos etc etc.
Just like iSlate could also be read as "is-late", especially after the rumor mill has been buzzing about this thing for so long. I don't think they'll use iCon, but it's still my favorite. Would love to see Steve announce a name from left field and completely take everyone by surprise.
Alright, I'll chime in on this...
Apple's experience with the iPhone and iPod Touch will more than likely result in a larger media/internet device. This is not to say that it will be limited to these tasks, but that will be its primary purpose. A great portion of Apple's profits have been through the sales of media and apps, so I see no reason why they will not look to continue/expand this area. Why make a larger media device? Well, the iPhone, as good as it is for a device in its format, is just to small for extensive media play(Video) and reading. Its OS is limited as well in its inability to run two apps at the same time. I believe the primary purpose of the tablet will be to overcome these limitations.
So, what do those of us that might want more than a larger improved media device get out of this? As we have already seen with the iPhone, developers will find fantastic ways to use a tablet and its expanded OS. It should be able to become a more than adequate text and image editing device. Certainly not one that runs full blown Adobe apps, but close enough to make it useful and productive. Given recent announcements of online (cloud based) applications, the opportunities become limitless. This brings up one of my favorite possibilities in the tablet becoming an input device for existing Apple hardware and apps.
Note: While I am typing this on my PowerBook Al G4 12", it was quite rare for the last couple of years. I stopped using my laptop almost completely until a few weeks ago. Then for some reason I suddenly started carry my laptop again. I just got tired of the limited screen space. I believe an Apple tablet would very easily fill the gap. Add my wireless keyboard and mouse, and you have a laptop. Nice.
Apple's experience with the iPhone and iPod Touch will more than likely result in a larger media/internet device. This is not to say that it will be limited to these tasks, but that will be its primary purpose. A great portion of Apple's profits have been through the sales of media and apps, so I see no reason why they will not look to continue/expand this area. Why make a larger media device? Well, the iPhone, as good as it is for a device in its format, is just to small for extensive media play(Video) and reading. Its OS is limited as well in its inability to run two apps at the same time. I believe the primary purpose of the tablet will be to overcome these limitations.
So, what do those of us that might want more than a larger improved media device get out of this? As we have already seen with the iPhone, developers will find fantastic ways to use a tablet and its expanded OS. It should be able to become a more than adequate text and image editing device. Certainly not one that runs full blown Adobe apps, but close enough to make it useful and productive. Given recent announcements of online (cloud based) applications, the opportunities become limitless. This brings up one of my favorite possibilities in the tablet becoming an input device for existing Apple hardware and apps.
Note: While I am typing this on my PowerBook Al G4 12", it was quite rare for the last couple of years. I stopped using my laptop almost completely until a few weeks ago. Then for some reason I suddenly started carry my laptop again. I just got tired of the limited screen space. I believe an Apple tablet would very easily fill the gap. Add my wireless keyboard and mouse, and you have a laptop. Nice.
its simple - this is the end of the mac
Well not quite - programmers, pro video editing and a few other tasks will need a mac. Everyone else will want the tablet. They will replace the iMacs and Macbooks. (not overnight). Us programmers, enthusiasts, and graphic pros will still need a Mac to deal with large files, etc.
Support costs and the ability to run unsigned software kind of doom the open natured Mac and PC. Don't forget about the hassle to backup, install apps, uninstall apps, etc. People just don't want that. Apple can sell an iPod touch for $200 only because support costs are so much lower than a macbook.
When you buy a new tablet to replace a lost or old one, you just log in and everything will appear, just as you left it.
I see no reason why there won't be 5" and 70" versions of this (not right away). It could have a USB port with only 'Made for the apple tablet' peripherals plugging into it, like keyboards, printers, etc.
PCs and Macs are just way too much for the average person's computer needs. They want email, web, tv, movies, books, photos and personal video. They don't want backup, restore, hard drive crash woes, unsigned applications and wonky extensions.
Well not quite - programmers, pro video editing and a few other tasks will need a mac. Everyone else will want the tablet. They will replace the iMacs and Macbooks. (not overnight). Us programmers, enthusiasts, and graphic pros will still need a Mac to deal with large files, etc.
Support costs and the ability to run unsigned software kind of doom the open natured Mac and PC. Don't forget about the hassle to backup, install apps, uninstall apps, etc. People just don't want that. Apple can sell an iPod touch for $200 only because support costs are so much lower than a macbook.
When you buy a new tablet to replace a lost or old one, you just log in and everything will appear, just as you left it.
I see no reason why there won't be 5" and 70" versions of this (not right away). It could have a USB port with only 'Made for the apple tablet' peripherals plugging into it, like keyboards, printers, etc.
PCs and Macs are just way too much for the average person's computer needs. They want email, web, tv, movies, books, photos and personal video. They don't want backup, restore, hard drive crash woes, unsigned applications and wonky extensions.
They also want MS Office (or equivalent), iLife (or equivalent), etc. The web versions aren't popular or full-featured yet, and it's yet to be seen whether there will be tablet versions of these things. So far MS Office alternatives, even fairly good ones, aren't generally good enough to lure very many people away. If the tablet is intended to replace the mac, it's arriving about 5 years too soon.
agree with you. this has nothing to do with simply reading ebooks. this device will be able to do more. at least the same as the iphone 3gs.
Media, news, games
End of mac? Get real.. mac are not going to end quite easily.
It's going to be a bigger iphone with a dedicated app store (small apps, games) and some light cloud computing. No pro apps. If you are a pro user doing graphical work, How the hell would you do anything on a 10" (or 7"!) screen?? I mean, it's even hard to work on a 15" lcd!
This thing won't be made for working, but for consuming. Consuming media, news, games.
Here you go:
- The iphone was "Phone, Music player, Internet."
- The Islate will be "Media, News, Games."
End of mac? Get real.. mac are not going to end quite easily.
It's going to be a bigger iphone with a dedicated app store (small apps, games) and some light cloud computing. No pro apps. If you are a pro user doing graphical work, How the hell would you do anything on a 10" (or 7"!) screen?? I mean, it's even hard to work on a 15" lcd!
This thing won't be made for working, but for consuming. Consuming media, news, games.
Here you go:
- The iphone was "Phone, Music player, Internet."
- The Islate will be "Media, News, Games."
For my wants/needs,
It needs to be able to play HD video (even just YouTube HD), browse the web, have decent WiFi, run a few apps and be capable of a little text entry.
I'm not sure if it needs local storage other than synced copies of iTunes stuff? Maybe this thing will be like an Apple TV with integrated display on steroids rather than an iPhone?
I don't think it needs 3G or GPS but the latter would be a wasted opportunity if not included.
More here...
It needs to be able to play HD video (even just YouTube HD), browse the web, have decent WiFi, run a few apps and be capable of a little text entry.
I'm not sure if it needs local storage other than synced copies of iTunes stuff? Maybe this thing will be like an Apple TV with integrated display on steroids rather than an iPhone?
I don't think it needs 3G or GPS but the latter would be a wasted opportunity if not included.
More here...
How do you type a lenghty e-mail on this thing comfortably ? E-mail is not a read-only media.
And Word processing will always be important for the kid's homework or writing resumes/letters for job searches.
Tablets won't replace computers anytime soon. Tablets seem to be focused on content consumption, and this thread seems to indicate that that is what people see them as. The majority of uses people get out of their personal computer is content creation.
They are very much complementary devices, unless you already have a content consumption device (which most people do, it's called the iPod).
A few thoughts...
I recall an article in 2008 that made a very god point regarding posture and the certain aches and pains that present themselves with tablet use. The neck and shoulder pain is a real concern using a device as heavy as the MBA and holding it in front of one's face.
I'm confident there will be very intelligent scribble recognition and speech recognition; my Gateway tablet did this 7 years ago.
I think a lot of people are fantasizing about a 'Minority Report' experience. That's all well and good and sells movies but as I discovered with MagicPrefs for the Magic Mouse, the ability to retain countless gestures and swipes and number of digits is not reasonable.
Give me an advanced eBook, much like a larger iPhone for $500 and I'll bite. When I say, "advanced," I'd like the ability to utilize existing iPhone Apps within the device; occupying perhaps 30% of the screen's area. Give me subscriptions to popular news sources (SF Chronicle just went to $3.00 today) for much less than the print version. Download these sources automatically while I sleep so as to access them without Internet connection.
As I was scrolling through Google Reader this morning it occured to me to measure the window size I was using, 8 inches diagonally. Think about browsing any number of webpages, when you click option+Green button you'll find most websites are 6-7 inches across.
I recall an article in 2008 that made a very god point regarding posture and the certain aches and pains that present themselves with tablet use. The neck and shoulder pain is a real concern using a device as heavy as the MBA and holding it in front of one's face.
I'm confident there will be very intelligent scribble recognition and speech recognition; my Gateway tablet did this 7 years ago.
I think a lot of people are fantasizing about a 'Minority Report' experience. That's all well and good and sells movies but as I discovered with MagicPrefs for the Magic Mouse, the ability to retain countless gestures and swipes and number of digits is not reasonable.
Give me an advanced eBook, much like a larger iPhone for $500 and I'll bite. When I say, "advanced," I'd like the ability to utilize existing iPhone Apps within the device; occupying perhaps 30% of the screen's area. Give me subscriptions to popular news sources (SF Chronicle just went to $3.00 today) for much less than the print version. Download these sources automatically while I sleep so as to access them without Internet connection.
As I was scrolling through Google Reader this morning it occured to me to measure the window size I was using, 8 inches diagonally. Think about browsing any number of webpages, when you click option+Green button you'll find most websites are 6-7 inches across.
I think you're half right.
Ten years ago they skinned NEXT to look like a Mac. We still had the single pointer, same desktop metaphor.
Three years ago they put NEXT on a phone. Now we have multiple finger inputs but not enough screen space to really take advantage of it.
I reckon this heralds a change in terms of what Apple would like to be the desktop metaphor for the next 25 years.
LOLJan 26, 2010 KEYNOTE
SJ: Hi, Im Steve Jobs and we have some great products for you Today.
Audience : clapping, cheering.
SJ: Let me show you some stats_
Audience :*Ohhhhhh, Uhhhhhhh,*Ahhhhh
SJ :*We have some new updates to our products and services, New OS, apps, games_
SJ : We have some new partners for our future products (Verizon, T-Moble, Sprint) others
Audience :*Ohhhhhh, Uhhhhhhh,*Ahhhhh, Yeahhhhh, one geek faints.
Audience :*Thats it?
SJ : I have one more thing to show you_
Audience :*clapping, cheering,*Ohhhhhh,*Ahhhhh, Yeahhhhh
SJ : Takes out the New MacBook /(tablet)*
SJ : BOOM!!!!
Audience :*Faints, crying,*clapping, cheering, WOW! Ooooooooohhhhhhh, Yeaaaahhhhh
Internet : Twitter crashes again, over Apple news.
SJ: We have a great Super Bowl Ad I think you will enjoy.
Audience :*Yes, Yes, Please, Please,
SJ : Lets take a look.
Audience :*OMG! clapping, cheering,*Ohhhhhh,*Ahhhhh,
SJ : I think you will enjoy this new line up, thank you for coming.
Audience : Geeks walk out and start blogging on their iPhones.
Im thinking the same
This is wrong. You need to understand resolution vs screen size.
You can have a 15" LCD with 1440x900 resolution, or one with 1920x1200 resolution. I guarantee you will need smaller windows, inch wise, on the higher resolution display. That's because of a little thing known as PPI, pixels per inch.
Unfortunately, most sites aren't "some inches" across, they are "some pixels" across. Higher resolution displays can display more information and still be readable. Some displays have far too many inches to far too little pixels however, and you get pixelated images and need to make the windows much largers inch wise to see all your information.
I'm not 'gonna turn this into a DRM debate so I'll only make a few comments along those lines. DRM sprang forth as an effort to curb piracy.Whether it was/is effective is still up for grabs but honestly, I can't say I blame them for trying. That said, I have an iMac, MBP,
TV, iPhone and numerous iPods and I can't think of a single instance where I've purchased digital media and have not had access to it on the device of my choice. Your mileage may vary.I never implied that companies have not found a way to derive revenue from web based subscriptions and I have no doubt they will continue to do so with, for better or worse, porn leading the way.
...but the revolution has begun. You see, the revolution is not about the media; it's about how we interact with the media and both the iPod Touch and iPhone are wildly successful examples. The revolution is about breaking free from the physical keyboard/mouse/trackpad "infested" (couldn't resist that) devices and creating *truly* portable devices; hence the birth of the touch UI. Think about it. Can you imagine a physical keyboard-based iPhone? It couldn't work. Well, it could work but if made in such a manner we would be relegated to up arrows and down arrows and side arrows and menus and submenus and oh the humanity! LOL Think Palm Pilot. 'Nuff said.
You see, ultra-portability and usability demands that each and every square inch of the device be utilized to its maximum potential and physical keyboards 'kinda defeat this purpose. This is the beauty of the touch UI. You only see what you need and you only need what you see. You need to enter data and *poof*, a keyboard appears. When you're done entering said data, *poof* it disappears. 'kinda relevant and 'kinda OT, the iPhone and iPod Touch don't really have a UI. Not really. What most people refer to as the iPhone OS UI is, in its simplest form, a springboard for apps. each with their own application-specific UI and this cannot be duplicated on a device with a physical keyboard/mouse/trackpad. At least not on a device the size of an iPhone. Capesh? But maybe I digress...
So, you may be saying, WTF does all of this have to do with the impending release of the <insert whatever you choose to call it>.
Ahem...
In its simplest form, the iSlate is an ultra-portable, media-centric device utilizing Apple's *newest* touch UI. It will allow users to interact with their media in new and exciting ways.
...but wait, there's more! LOL
The device as I have just described will be in a 10.1" form factor (the sweet spot for portable computing), allowing for digitally delivered eBooks and eMagazines and ePeriodicals all available at the, you guessed it, iTunes digital newsstand. How cool is that? I mean, haven't you seen at least a few of the bazillion concept videos circulating around the intraweb? National Geographic with imbedded video and audio just a swipe or a gesture away.
...but wait, there's more! LOL
Eh, that you're 'gonna just have to wait for.
For some reason I find myself conjuring up images of 'peeps pounding away command-line entries on their keyboards and swearing that the mouse will never catch on because it is simply too unwieldy. But again, maybe I digress...
So, is there a demand for a device such as this? Well, Apple is willing to bet their server farm on it and I say, "Viva la revolucion!"
-rant over-
Islate will be something like this, but with multitouch, appstore, and apple-style aestethics.
The fight between nokia and apple has just begun...
I'm pretty sure it could :
Also, when you think about it, a Touch Screen is just a trackpad built on top of a screen. A virtual keyboard is just a physical keyboard displayed with pixels instead of plastic. The iPhone didn't reinvent anything with a touch based UI. It just used existing concepts and applied them to the screen instead of an attached input device.
The fact that physical keyboards/trackpads are all still very popular and that not everyone loves Touch UI tells us that the "Touch revolution" is in fact a "Touch Evolution". It's not about Touch replacing everything else, it's about Touch being just another option. Keyboard/Mouse/Trackpad/Touch Screen. They all fit together.
I don't get (couldn't resist that) why some of you don't get that there is more than one way to do things.
Once again, well stated, buddy. It is indeed an evolution and I am not implying that non-touch based devices are going the way of the dodo bird overnight.
However, the devices you have pictured (with the exception of the Rrhoid) have all sacrificed a large amount of screen space for the sake of a physical keyboard and in doing so have become limited in their scope of capabilities.
I don't think these new breed of publications will be tablet-exclusive, just like some of those apps aren't iPhone/iPod Touch exclusive, although the majority probably are. I agree with you in that sense.
But, for that $799 price tag that you mean, I'm assuming that Apple has added all kinds of other cool stuff that makes this thing worth while. If this was simply a Kindle on steroids for just under a grand, I don't see it being successful. But there has to be something unique and very impressive about this device if Apple and Steve Jobs are as excited as they seem.
That's where the big mystery lies. Like you said, why spend the money on something you can get on a laptop you already have? We'll find out soon I guess.
I appreciate your pointing that out. I do understand PPI and have carefully chosen monitors accordingly, I'm happier with my 20" ACD than I was the 24" ACD. Google Reader is a site that is independent of resolution minus embedded YouTube or pictures. I was simply surprised that most windows work for me at 8 inches (700x480) well look there that sounds reasonable of a tablet, account for tap and pinch to zoom and we have a very capable PPI.
In reality I can imagine the tablet being 1280x720. Although for a 7-inch device we'd be squinting at a sky high 209 PPI?!
Islate will be something like this, but with multitouch, appstore, and apple-style aestethics.
The fight between nokia and apple has just begun...
That has got to be the fugliest thing I have ever seen. Can you imagine some Apple engineer presenting that to Jobs? LOLz.
Using existing concepts (keyboard etc.) and applying them as an on-demand overlay on the screen, if you will, *did* reinvent the way we interact with our mobile devices. Mind you, I"m not saying that Apple singlehandedly invented the touch UI; I'm merely saying that they put it all together in a nice, tight, shiny, user friendly package.
Apple tablet should be a big size remote control, use tablet interface will 10" wireless monitor to remote all you mac anywhere thought internet or wifi, will a netbook core, it also can read ebook, play movies & use some app like iphone!