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What Will be the Killer Feature of an Apple Tablet?
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The main reason Apple is so successful is that they are primarily a software company, but they also produce the hardware that the software runs on, giving them total control over the user experience. The Logitech Harmony is interesting in that it is a software programmable remote, but Logitech is primarily a hardware company. Apple could totally take over this space if they want to, at the cost of a couple of dollars to add infrared capability to the tablet, and a downloadable, updateable universal remote app. FYI, high-end Logitech remotes cost hundreds of dollars... would you rather pay hundreds for a less than optimal remote (with no Internet access), or pay much less with your existing Apple Tablet?
No......no they don't have total control.
They do the software and they design the hardware. They are still at the mercy of the component manufacturers and product assemblers.
Apart from Apple being a solutions company (Mac & OSX, iPod & iTunes & iTMS, iPhone & iPhoneOS & App Store) rather than a software company, I agree! It's an area crying out for improvement & standardisation.
I just think* Apple would see IR remotes as a cheap commodity, and instead would say "we can build a Bluetooth/Wifi remote that blows away users used to crappy old IR remotes, with CoverFlow artwork, and programme guides". Apple rarely do things the easy/standard way.
* Knowing Apple, and my luck, this'll be the killer feature when announced..
But they recently bought PA Semiconductor so they can create their own chips:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/pa-semiconductor/
And besides, Apple deals in such volumes these days, they pretty much get what they want from partners, or else. There are lots of manufacturers out there, not many companies with the conveyer belt of successful products that Apple has.
Agreed.
The big deal will be advanced multi touch and the gazillions of great apps and games that will take advantage of it.
I know that the album/book reader thing will be a selling point but the big deal will be the apps.
I guess the main question relates to the operating system.
I personally can't wait to see DJ and music software running on it and using it in my DJ setup instead of lugging an expensive portable around.
But the mind boggles at the opportunities for some amazing software developments.
I really believe this thing will be a HUGE success
I've read most of the posts here. They range from fanciful to practical, but I still haven't heard what I would consider to be a Killer feature. I asked this question in another thread, where everyone was suggesting the killer feature was the fact that it was a single unified entertainment device. That I really don't see: a too big iPod, an e-book reader that strains your eyes, a gaming device that isn't as good as a Nintendo or PSP, a nice GPS, and a really, really cool portable movie player.
That's what, hitting 2 out of 5? I suppose that .400 - which is Ted Williams numbers in MLB, but which most of us would consider a miss.
There has to be more. If this thing ran straight up Snow Leopard, they've got something. A bigger iPod Touch/iPhone? Not so much.
That's what, hitting 2 out of 5? I suppose that .400 - which is Ted Williams numbers in MLB, but which most of us would consider a miss.
There has to be more. If this thing ran straight up Snow Leopard, they've got something. A bigger iPod Touch/iPhone? Not so much.
The killer app is... all (most) of the above.... if the hardware platform is sufficiently flexible, then a lot is possible given the right software.
coming late to the party (and not all the way through the replies, so forgive me if this has been said)
a backlit screen will never be a kindle killer. don't believe me? take your laptop outside and read it. go on, i'll wait.
even in normal light, the backlight gets to your eyes after a while. there is a reason we still use paper for most things.
this doesn't mean the tablet would have to be e-ink to compete with the kindle. i have an OLPC which has a high contrast black and white mode (no backlight) that is very readable in full sunlight.
so it is possible. the question is: will this tablet have this feature? a low power "read" mode that better suits books than shiney color mode that better suits movies?
a backlit screen will never be a kindle killer. don't believe me? take your laptop outside and read it. go on, i'll wait.
even in normal light, the backlight gets to your eyes after a while. there is a reason we still use paper for most things.
this doesn't mean the tablet would have to be e-ink to compete with the kindle. i have an OLPC which has a high contrast black and white mode (no backlight) that is very readable in full sunlight.
so it is possible. the question is: will this tablet have this feature? a low power "read" mode that better suits books than shiney color mode that better suits movies?
Not to mention the Kindle's lifetime free network, week or more of battery life and $299 price.
They can get away with a much higher price if the value is there with enough features. A baked price that acts as "free" network access wouldn't hurt either.
Maybe. But if the rumors - around $800 - are accurate, I still don't see many choosing between this and a $299 Kindle, though. It just doesn't seem like a natural Kindle competitor, regardless of whether or not it represents value for money.
The tablet should have a translucent screen and when you hold it in front of you you see the world through Steve Job's reality distortion field!
More like the shrinking app. At the touch of an app icon iTab will resize itself to the size of a iPhone 3G...
I was hoping for more of a tablet that is geared toward free hand drawing and the likes, but it sounds more and more like a big sized iPod Touch/iPhone. Which brings up very good points that you all brought up in saying that it must have something that would make it worthy of buying. If people want to carry around something too big to put in their pocket, they'd probably spring for a macbook or macbook pro. And if they wanted something pocket sized, they'd go for the iPod tough/iPhone. If this is like a macbook pro but with a tablet form factor and stuff then it'd be cool to me, but that seems like wishful thinking and hoping. I do realize that they have off screen tablets though, so it wouldn't be the end of the world of this product wasn't for me. lol I'll probably end up with a MBP next year + a Wacom tablet.
i just grabbed a standard hardcover book off my shelf. The is 11" diagonally; the image size on a page is 9" diagonal, so a 9" screen tablet would show the contents of a standard hardcover book at the same size as the printed product, without scrolling. Granted, some textbooks are larger.