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What Will be the Killer Feature of an Apple Tablet?

Eh.

Too many folks are thinking like computer people, not people who'll use a tablet.

Stop thinking of features or hardware/software offerings. Think of USES and FUNCTIONS. How will people use it in real life?

iPod=your music library in your pocket.

stuff like that.
 
If there's one thing I know about Apple...

is that I don't know anything about them at all. Every time they came out with a new product, I always scratch my head and wonder: why the hell they did or didn't do that.

People are so used to the think-inside-the-box of the PC industry. Just because Asus has a 7", 1.5Ghz Atom netbook with cramped keyboard doesn't mean Apple will do that (and hence fail). I thought "how much Apple could reinvent cell phones?" only to be pleasantly surprised by an all-touch cell phone running a killer OS.

For all the naysayers: wait until Apple announce their tablet, then judge. We all never know Apple!
 
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MINIGuy said:
Maybe not initially, but I suspect at some point the tablet will offer a 'clone device' concept whereby the Apple 'iPad' will offer the ability for high powered applications to be run on a 'cloned' or copy of your iPad back in the (North Carolina based?) Apple 'cloud'.
This would allow the tablet potentially much more computational horsepower than could be practically fit in a portable device without sacrificing battery performance. Run your whole iLife on cloud based apple servers and use your new 10" OLED based 'iPad' as a (VNC like) window to your own 'iWorld'. Seemless WiFi / WiMax / G3 / G4 connectivity, some local storage (64GB?) for HD Video / audio and easy realtime sharing of content.

Maybe?
Click to expand...

Wow! Great concept. Mobile me to
link to your home computer or sky server that is actually running a full desktop app. I think that could kill!
 
Could the killer app be "home automation"?

Obviously, Apple is not going to release just another tablet computer. I'm with John Gruber. It's got to be a game changer, and I think this could be the device to rule the digital home. People will also be use it to watch videos on trains and planes, read ebooks, and field workers might use it for data entry, but I think digital home might be its true calling.

It is going to build on innovations that they have been implementing elsewhere. As a starting point, we can assume that it will probably look more like an iPhone interface than the standard OSX interface. Multi-touch is a given, as is the accelerometer thing. Cloud computing will be an integral component. Third party apps will be heavily encouraged by Apple.

I could see this docking on your fridge door (and of course, being removable to carry around the house), to replace your paper calendar, post it notes, etc. It would do all the core stuff you would expect from a digital hub that is linked to some distant hard drive (in the home office, or in the cloud) -- calendar, view photos, control iTunes which outputs to Airport-expressed speakers, control AppleTV, look up recipes, check some fact on wikipedia, look up phone numbers, ...

Now the question is what else is it going to do?

I think third party apps will be encouraged to do things like control your thermostat and lights. People will use the device input their calorie counts or workout schedules or household budgets. Of course, apps will be developed for all sort of cool stuff around the house that we haven't even thought of yet. Maybe a built in camera will read bar codes and help manage groceries. Again, Apple will set the developer community loose to figure out how we can get value out of this thing.

"Where is my iPhone" will be a way to locate family members. You could see that being displayed on the fridge panel.

iChat could be integrated; maybe coinciding with this feature coming onto iPhones.

It might have 3G phone capabilities -- serving as a "base station" for your iPhone. We'll finally be able to get rid of our home phone, and people won't have to worry about being totally cut off if they loose their cell.

That's my 2 cents. The digital home is badly in need of a serious makeover -- and who else is going to crack this one open?
 
After reading through some of your posts, I just do not see this being anything spectacular. There are some great ideas but nothing that just screams wow!

I guess I am just not a tablet person.
 
dangleheart said:
I do not know about 'a' killer app but if I am given one I can see the following uses.

1. While working out, I can read. I do this with my iphone but with the tablet it is much better.

2. Web cam and video conferencing applications - natural fit

3. Business use: Web conferencing - Watch a presentation from anywhere

4. There is a whole lot of enterprise work flow/process flow which are currently satisified through custom systems. From obtaining signatures ( FedEx ), notifications, approvals, configuration, report viewing etc which all can use a hand held with a bigger display that people can carry along.

5. Today I use my iphone like a computer but I still need a laptop. My friend uses a BB with GoogleApps and his use of the laptop is steadily decreasing. With this kind of device, if done right, will make the use of laptop less and less frequent.
Click to expand...

Many of these features would be much better if the tablet supported full OSX - so you can install whatever client software which is needed for OSX on the tablet.

If it's ARM with the App Store, not only is there the hassle of waiting for the vendor to make the app - BUT YOU HAVE TO BUY IT AGAIN.


Rocketman said:
Portable (crippled) HD video as full
Click to expand...

On a 10" screen, even Itunes severely compressed "HD" videos would probably look OK.
 
I think a media tablet would be absolutely killer. I was not sure until I got my wife a Kindle and she loves the thing. I am with media like she is with books. I simple notebook style cover is all you would need. I have an MSI wind that I thought would function a bit like that but I only use the netbook for work stuff.
 
neilsara said:
Obviously, Apple is not going to release just another tablet computer. I'm with John Gruber. It's got to be a game changer, and I think this could be the device to rule the digital home. People will also be use it to watch videos on trains and planes, read ebooks, and field workers might use it for data entry, but I think digital home might be its true calling.

It is going to build on innovations that they have been implementing elsewhere. As a starting point, we can assume that it will probably look more like an iPhone interface than the standard OSX interface. Multi-touch is a given, as is the accelerometer thing. Cloud computing will be an integral component. Third party apps will be heavily encouraged by Apple.

I could see this docking on your fridge door (and of course, being removable to carry around the house), to replace your paper calendar, post it notes, etc. It would do all the core stuff you would expect from a digital hub that is linked to some distant hard drive (in the home office, or in the cloud) -- calendar, view photos, control iTunes which outputs to Airport-expressed speakers, control AppleTV, look up recipes, check some fact on wikipedia, look up phone numbers, ...

Now the question is what else is it going to do?

I think third party apps will be encouraged to do things like control your thermostat and lights. People will use the device input their calorie counts or workout schedules or household budgets. Of course, apps will be developed for all sort of cool stuff around the house that we haven't even thought of yet. Maybe a built in camera will read bar codes and help manage groceries. Again, Apple will set the developer community loose to figure out how we can get value out of this thing.

"Where is my iPhone" will be a way to locate family members. You could see that being displayed on the fridge panel.

iChat could be integrated; maybe coinciding with this feature coming onto iPhones.

It might have 3G phone capabilities -- serving as a "base station" for your iPhone. We'll finally be able to get rid of our home phone, and people won't have to worry about being totally cut off if they loose their cell.

That's my 2 cents. The digital home is badly in need of a serious makeover -- and who else is going to crack this one open?
Click to expand...

All good ideas, but can't all of this already be done (or at least should be) with an iPod Touch? The touch is the perfect form factor for what you describe as it's no bigger than a remote control and could, if the right apps emerge be easily used to control a host of devices in your home, after all it can already control AppleTV, iTunes, your stereo Speakers, make phone calls over wi-fi, instant messaging etc.... It's almost there already...

Just my opinion of course; will be exciting to see what apple do with it, if they do release a tablet... ;)
 
I (still) feel that the apps needed to make his amazing is porting over (even a gimped version) of iLife. Edit your pics on the go with MULTITOUCH, edit video transfered from your iphone or even tablet itself. Got a tune in your head like I always do? Jot it down in garageband. Do that and bring it to the iPhone as well and we're in business. :apple:
 
PruneTracy said:
I (still) feel that the apps needed to make his amazing is porting over (even a gimped version) of iLife. Edit your pics on the go with MULTITOUCH, edit video transfered from your iphone or even tablet itself. Got a tune in your head like I always do? Jot it down in garageband. Do that and bring it to the iPhone as well and we're in business. :apple:
Click to expand...

Cool ;) That's why i think full OSX would be the vital component here...
 
AidenShaw said:
Many of these features would be much better if the tablet supported full OSX - so you can install whatever client software which is needed for OSX on the tablet.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more ;) Keeping my fingers crossed....
 
MacBookReader

The tablet will open to reveal two screens, one a multitouch color screen, the other a multitouch low-power electronic ink screen like the kindle. Both screens will support an iPhone style virtual keyboard. Turn it one way to type on the color screen to control the kindle screen, turn it the other way to type on the kindle screen to control the color screen. It runs OS X, it runs "Kindle OS." You can twist the screen so that it looks like a book reader.
 
While I'm no expert at all on this, here's what I think WOULD be "Killer Features" for this possible tablet thingy:

>Retains Pocket Portability- Somehow, some way, you can keep this thing without a case or backpack. It might not be the most comfortable fit, but it keeps it. Think Vaio P, only better implemented. Perhaps the ten inch screens are super wide like the rumored chocolate?

> Mobile Television- There was a user who posted about having TV being broadcasted in all digital now. Why would it be so hard for apple to introduce something of their own slingbox? Release this by the side of a new airport/time machine hub that can act as a wireless television broadcaster. Integrate it tightly the Apple TV (AND GIVE IT BLURAY? =D ), so Apple finally has a viable media CENTER, not just application.

> Mini Display in/out- This, in my opinion, would be BRILLIANT. It would turn the tablet into a possible external display for the macbook pros. A multi-touch interface for the laptop would be gorgeous, especially if it could be used as an accelerometer controller for games from the App store. They could be very legit games, too, if they're focussed on MBP.

I think if it has two of these features, they'll be able to push their way into the market. I see the built in 3G like everyone else, but I also see an unsubsidized version available for a much higher price. With a plan, I's estimate $499. Without, $999.
 
Tablet that runs full OS X but can switch to iPhone OS. Can be docked at home and used with the bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Has dual use screen OLED and e-ink. Can switch to reading mode with e-ink for using like a kindle (and have advantages of long battery life from non lit screen). Can use with a stylus for drawing/handwriting and multitouch for normal use. Can annotate and highlight on ebooks(and it will remember it).

7" $349US with 3G or 4G contract
10" $499US with 3G or 4G contract
13" $699US with 3G or 4G contract

FREE initial purchase for University students who buy all their textbooks from the iTunes Store.(but still sign a 3G or 4G contract)
 
Apple to Gesture into Your Living Room - Large Screen TV

All of you are missing the next step for Apple and Steve Jobs.

First Apple won the MP3 market

Second the Smart Phone

Next the living room

Apple TV will only be a part of the solution. As always it will be easy to access entertainment and information as only Apple can deliver. The key is the glass track pad and the ability to control your large screen TV from 8 to 10 feet away. As we now use the new Macbook track pad with the new gesture controls we will soon be able to control our large TV and a new world of entertainment and information in our living room. If Apple creates such a device our world will change. Now that Apple has created gestures controls for the glass track pad with a virtual keyboard we can control our large screen TV like never before which will provide the next big product for Apple.

What could the consumer gain in value?

First, they would obviously get HD TV, but with better control. That is the Apple TV could offer a DVR ala Eye TV that offers TV and a great DVR.

Second, an enhanced Apple TV with all the features it has today (podcasts, Youtube, movie and TV rentals/purchases and the Ipod for the large screen TV features) with more portals like Hulu and other entertainment portals. In addition more news and knowledge portals like the BBC, WSJ, CNN, NYT and others. This would offer entertainment and news on demand with the strength and instant access of the Internet. This would be powerful and valuable to consumers.

Third, enhance Apple TV so we can do more with movie rentals ala NetFlix with more movies and better pricing. Perhaps a subscription service.

Fourth, enhance Apple TV to access the web directly to open up the internet as a window on your large screen TV.

Fifth, telephone service ala Magic Jack with caller ID on your TV and answering machine functions.

Sixth, is the actual use of the glass mouse pad to access and manage your large TV from 10 feet. The gesturing to move windows around, stack them, start and pause them. I think we all have seen CNN reporters use a large screen touch pad TV to present news. If we the consumer can do this type of actions from our couch we can have a richer experience. The other way to look at this is turning your large TV into a super Mac.

And this is just the begining.
 
An Uninformed Take on It

Long-time reader but first-time poster here, so pardon me if I'm long-winded.

I've gone back and forth on this. As a dinosaur who actually reads books [Nelson Muntz] HA-ha [/Nelson Muntz], I would buy an eBook reader of this type. The Kindle is just too limited. This could display magazines, newspapers, textbooks, etc., properly, unlike the monotone Kindle display. I'm a declining demographic though.

I remember when Steve Jobs was excoriated for saying "Nobody reads any more." I pricked up my ears at that, because it sounded like classic misdirection, and I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop ever since.

The argument that if it won't go in your pocket, you might as well get a laptop appears incontrovertible to me, but what do I know? I do know that consuming video content on the go is a big and growing market for the iPhone and iPod touch. I'm not keen on watching, and am absolutely unwilling to pay for, video content that isn't (at least) Standard Definition (640 x 480). Currently the iPhone/Touch screen is only 320 pixels wide.

2.5 inches divided by 320 gives a dot pitch of .198 mm. It's striking that displays, whether CRT or LCD, have been stuck at a minimum of .2 lines/mm for about 20 years now. If they could even increase that to 6 lines/mm instead of 5, and 86 the bezel altogether, an iPhone/Touch would only have to be about 3/8" wider to get a 480-line display. Is that too wide? Not for me, but again, I'm a dinosaur.

Currently the iPhone can record VGA video, but can't display it. In my opinion, that's a situation that can't last. Also, if you scale up 6 lines/mm to a 10" 1.5:1 display, it's exactly 1280 lines wide! Coincidence? Could the tablet have a 720p camera? Who knows?

Long story short, I would probably buy one, but whether it's a flop or a huge hit is completely beyond my predictive powers. It'll be fun to watch though.
 
This is the first "editorial" that Ive seen on the front page. Not saying it's bad, just surprised. There's really no news or rumors here.
 
it's an accessory to the iCar. A removable tablet that has GPS, 3G connectivity and you can take it with you when you leave. Google Maps, streaming internet radio, and restaurant reservations. If you don't take it with you, it's a low jack for your car. Find my iPhone, find my iCar.
 
The Must Have Features Are...

Three features to make a keyboard less necessary.

1) Voice Recognition: Bigger & Better than Voice Commands on iPhone. You talk it types. Ask and it does it. ("Send this photo to Bob Smith. Whoosh! It's gone. No opening applications/No dock.)
2) Handwriting Recognition: this has been underdevelopment for years and not quite perfected. Now it is.
3) Multi-Touch unlike anything anyone has ever seen. So many gestures and facial recognition than can believed. Facial recognition recognizes the user, rotates to their homescreen, an asks some questions: " Would you like to check your email? Listen to some music. Surf the Web? Play a game? voila: it does it!

Eyesight camera built behind the screen.
Also acts an eBook reader like the Kindle.

New iLife app called boutique; people love to shop online; it takes care of everything for you. It securely pays for the transaction, shipping, finds the best deal, etc. with less effort; securely stores your shopping info, takes care of everything else through voice and facial recognition. tracks everything for you. VIGOROUSLY challenges Amazon.com by making your tablet a major player in the shopping market. Boutique will be amazing. No logging in, no entering cards, shipping info etc. Beats using Google. Challenges Google Adsense. Boutique will be revolutionary.

A wireless bluetooth keyboard will an optional accessory.(pop-up keyboard appears like the iPhone.)

Optional bluetooth wireless headphones.
 
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