What Will be the Killer Feature of an Apple Tablet?

[SactoGuy18]

I think it's likely that the initial tablet will sport an LED backlit LCD panel intially, than as the costs come down switch to an OLED panel. The reason is simple: you need pretty long battery life for the tablet, and even with an LED-backlit LCD panel power consumption will be reasonably low.

 

[macerroneous]

File management for tablet

I've convinced myself that the tablet will run on iphone OSX, mainly because Apple wants to save Mac OSX for its "real" (ie more expensive) models. One of the things iPhone lacks is file management (except for the new search iPhone function) In fact, file management is pretty much delegated to iTunes, which is running on your PC (I mean that generically) rather than on the mobile device itself.

Maybe the tablet will actually be running a version of iTunes on the device itself, more or less wrapped around the iPhones OS. I'm not smart enough to know how difficult it would be to make this appealing to the user. Any takers?

edit: I really want my tablet to run REAL Safari so I can watch HULU or Lost. Can we also put Safari on there outside of iPhone OS?

 

[LizKat]

We've already got the iPhone and the iPod Touch. Do you really think apple needs another device like this? Aren't they running the risk of killing off one of these devices by over saturating the market?

Absolutely not. I use my iPhone and 3 iPod touch for completely different things. And while I could part with one of the iPod touch when a tablet finally shows up, I probably wouldn't. But I'd love to have that tablet. There are some things I could do with third party apps on an iPod touch or iPhone but don't because of eyestrain - spreadsheets for instance. I'm usually home so I just use a computer instead. I'd use the tablet for that, definitely.

 

[macerroneous]

But wait, there's more

Since I've convinced myself the tablet will not run Mac OSX, I now have to give you a reason to buy the tablet in addition to the iPhone or iPod Touch. I believe there are not one, but 2 KILLER features that Apple has deliberately withheld from iPhone OSX which are obvious features required to make the tablet successful.

1. Bluetooth keyboard. duh. It's been apparent to me since day one that my iPhone productivity would be much greater with an external keyboard. Apple decided long ago that you're gonna have to buy the tablet if you want this feature.

2. Multitasking. That's a pretty new issue to me, but thanks to y'all here I can see that it's important for productivity.

Third necessary feature is a cradle/dock for the desktop.

I believe these 3 feature are necessary, but once included, will give you a perceived NEED to buy. Of course, Apple is sitting on a host of other Apps it can optimize for inclusion on the tablet, some of which will also run on an iPhone.

 

[LizKat]

~snip~

2. Multitasking. That's a pretty new issue to me, but thanks to y'all here I can see that it's important for productivity. ~snip~

Yeah. I actually use two iPod touch at once sometimes, one to make notes and another to surf / use a specific app. It's enough of a drag to make me stop and go get a laptop after awhile.

 

[iMacmatician]

Maybe the tablet will actually be running a version of iTunes on the device itself, more or less wrapped around the iPhones OS.

That's what I'm thinking too.

edit: I really want my tablet to run REAL Safari so I can watch HULU or Lost. Can we also put Safari on there outside of iPhone OS?

I wouldn't be surprised to see "extended" versions of existing iPhone OS apps on the tablet. Versions that make use of the larger display and additional processing power.

 

[firewood]

How many people actually use tablets at the moment?

Everybody who has an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Except the display is really too small for a lot of people who need reading glasses.

 

[macerroneous]

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How many people actually use tablets at the moment?

Everybody who has an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Except the display is really too small for a lot of people who need reading glasses.

I concur.

 

[jwpoore]

Graphics

However this isnt very important (depending on use) but it would need to have a decent enough card to allow for youtube videos. My MacBook gets VERY hot and rather loud when just trying to watch youtube videos. But then again thats me, i wouldnt really have a need for a tablet but if the price was right then i'd be game for it. It should also have some video out capeabilities and the SD card slot the new Uni Pros have to allow for more expansion on the go.

 

[hugothomsen]

Missing Tablet

The reason why tablet pcs have failed is that they are tablet PCS - clunky, more expensive than similar laptops and not adding enough value.

Killers :
- Thinner than a MBA
- A4 or A5 size screen
- Lighter than a MBA
- Fast enough to use an ePen so it feels like writing on paper
- High res to capture fine detail
- Smart enough to recognise handwriting
- Built-in 4G, Wireless and Bluetooth
- Very good battery - cordless charging ???

and

- allows taking notes, make drawings, and transfer to a PC or Mac for further processing
- price that is significantly lower than the cheapest MacBook (this will be an extra device)
- Built in microphone for notetaking, poss camera
- A stand that folds out of the case to position tablet vertically

I can definately see a gap - I am in many meetings where I would love a device that I can take notes on, and transfer directly to my MBA. Think of students at lectures, the doctor doing the rounds, the stock checker in the supermarket, the police officer making a report ....

Yeah, it just may be possible that Apple can bridge that gap. I think it HAS to be a pen thing though - this is a handheld device, so you cannot type fast enough, and the onefinger approach on the iPhone is fine for short messages, but not for long texts. And there IS a gap between dedicated entry with both hands on the keyboard, and notes on the go on the iPhone that can be filled by a tablet.

Go on, Apple, amaze us again !

 

[naman34]

Round-Up

Ok,
just did a very in-depth study of all the rumours, and well, I conclude that It's definitely coming maximum by next year.
It has a very high chance of being tied to verizon.
Verzion is rapidly rolling out 4g services.
4g is different from cdma. and as this won't have any voice, it doesn't consist of any separate technology.
A verizon official, confirmed that he has spoken to steve jobs personally in the last 6 months of such a device. He however, refused to divulge any more details. If there was nothing in the works he would have just denied it. But as there's something in the works, he's been sucked into the apple veil of secrecy, and is now hiding facts.
There is a small chance that, it may not be a tablet at all, as there are still chances of an iphone nano, or a cdma iphone as the exclusive deal with AT&T will soon end.
Still high probability of the tablet, as Tim Cook said something about a new product line-up in a recent financial announcement.
Well all said and done, we can't assume a tablet is in the works, but I think its safe to assume that apple is going to launch a new kind of device really soon, which in itself usually a thing to rejoice.

 

[MrSEC]

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I concur.

Another "I concur." The ipod touch is nice while taking a dump,or while at work on lunch break,but just sitting around the TV and surfing I find it to be too small,and a netbook is too big,heavy,and runs windows,or linux....unless you hack it.

 

[JFreak]

I would only be interested if the thing offered +12 hours of continuous use in full throttle, including wireless networking and perhaps driving an external display.

 

[whiteboytrash]

Does anyone know if MS Paint will be ported to the new MacBook Touch ?

 

[iMacmatician]

Apple tablet likely to release in November

Actual announcement expected in September

Things are becoming a bit clearer on the upcoming Apple tablet product. From what our sources are telling us, you can shift this product over from the ‘maybe’ column to the ‘it is going to be released’ column.

From what our fruit-based sources tell us, you can look for the Apple tablet product to retail in the $700 to $800 price range. You can expect application and functionality-wise for it to act very similar to a large iPod Touch, but the wrinkle is, as we told you previously, Apple has been at least talking it up behind closed doors to the carriers, so we suspect that at least a model of it will offer cellular wireless 3G connectivity.

The parts have been settled upon, from what we have been told, but Apple is looking to get aggressive with the pricing; and while the prototype has been completed, it will at least at first have the involvement of a variety of OEMs that will be making parts for the product that will be assembled by an integrator. This was the only way that Apple was able to get the exact parts that they wanted for the project.

What is interesting now is that Apple appears to be looking toward entertainment and gaming as playing a big role on this product. From what we have been hearing, Apple will be making a big push to capture at least some of the gaming market with this device, which could put at least some hurt on both the PSP and possibly the upcoming mobile Xbox product.

Our sources suggest that the real sticking points are two: the first is the actual raw cost of the hardware that is being used in the product. Like all companies, Apple would like to get the price of the actual hardware down to increase its margin on the tablet. The second issue continues to be the software. Apple does not want to release it until it has enough software in the pipeline for this product that will help drive the success of the unit.

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/14887/1/

 

[frankjosh123]

Am I the only person to see the killer tablet needed feature as a no brainer...

Virtual laser projected keyboard so you don't have to type on the screen and have the entire screen as a viewer.

Also second to that, the first MAC Hi Def viewing experience and burner.

 

[revbarabbas]

Easy: A good way to type

The worst thing about tablet pc's are their text input. Hand writing sucks, the on screen keyboards suck. Apple needs to make something that doesnt get in the way and is easy to type with.

Apple has already demonstrated with the Newton that true handwriting recognition is already a reality for them, unlike the obtuse Palm handwriting which made you learn a alternate alphabet for it to recognize letters. But I doubt that they will go with handwriting input for a tablet. A popup keyboard a la iPhone seems more appropriate. Perhaps they will make it transparent so it doesn't take up half the screen, I would hope.

The real problem is the pricing and the market for this device...I can see the applications for the medical field and for professionals in business but for the common consumer a $799 tablet is not economical considering the limitations of a tablet device to a laptop. If it is going to use an ARM chip it probably won't be running OS X but something more along the lines of a more feature rich iPhone OS. I also don't like that the rumors are pointing towards a package deal with Verizon as opposed to AT&T...so we would need two wireless plans if we were to use the tablet and an iPhone? Thats nonsense!

All in all I think that a tablet product for Apple is a terrible idea, apart from the medical field tablets get very little consumer or business use, and if they are marketing this as a new multimedia player what about a blu-ray or dvd drive? Are we expected to rip our own video libraries or pay for digital copies from the iTunes store? I mean dvd ripping is a relatively easy thing to do for the average hacker, but the general public is not aware of how to do it, or that it's even possible or legal.

I'll end this diatribe with a warning to Apple...just because it has an Apple symbol on the back doesn't mean it's going to sell well, in fact I'm hoping it doesn't so the whole idea of tablet computers goes away.

 

[LagunaSol]

All in all I think that a tablet product for Apple is a terrible idea, apart from the medical field tablets get very little consumer or business use,

Perhaps because no one has yet made a consumer-worthy tablet?

in fact I'm hoping it doesn't so the whole idea of tablet computers goes away.

Wow, there's a visionary attitude!

The future of the tablet is a given - it's only a matter of when - not if - it can be executed successfully.

 

[macerroneous]

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Easy: A good way to type

The worst thing about tablet pc's are their text input. Hand writing sucks, the on screen keyboards suck. Apple needs to make something that doesnt get in the way and is easy to type with.

Apple has already demonstrated with the Newton that true handwriting recognition is already a reality for them, unlike the obtuse Palm handwriting which made you learn a alternate alphabet for it to recognize letters. But I doubt that they will go with handwriting input for a tablet. A popup keyboard a la iPhone seems more appropriate. Perhaps they will make it transparent so it doesn't take up half the screen, I would hope.

The real problem is the pricing and the market for this device...I can see the applications for the medical field and for professionals in business but for the common consumer a $799 tablet is not economical considering the limitations of a tablet device to a laptop. If it is going to use an ARM chip it probably won't be running OS X but something more along the lines of a more feature rich iPhone OS. I also don't like that the rumors are pointing towards a package deal with Verizon as opposed to AT&T...so we would need two wireless plans if we were to use the tablet and an iPhone? Thats nonsense!

All in all I think that a tablet product for Apple is a terrible idea, apart from the medical field tablets get very little consumer or business use, and if they are marketing this as a new multimedia player what about a blu-ray or dvd drive? Are we expected to rip our own video libraries or pay for digital copies from the iTunes store? I mean dvd ripping is a relatively easy thing to do for the average hacker, but the general public is not aware of how to do it, or that it's even possible or legal.

I'll end this diatribe with a warning to Apple...just because it has an Apple symbol on the back doesn't mean it's going to sell well, in fact I'm hoping it doesn't so the whole idea of tablet computers goes away.

You are a big meany!

 

[revbarabbas]

Yes they do, there's even an on-screen keyboard button on the login screen (on Windows 7 anyway, I dunno about Vista.)

Yes Vista has it too...I was just at staples playing around with one of their touch screen PCs and noticed that it had an onscreen keyboard in addition to a standard keyboard.

 

[revbarabbas]

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You are a big meany!

I know. Sorry

 

[revbarabbas]

Perhaps because no one has yet made a consumer-worthy tablet?



Wow, there's a visionary attitude!

The future of the tablet is a given - it's only a matter of when - not if - it can be executed successfully.

I'm sure someday the tablet will be a prominent part of the computing world...but I just don't LIKE them. Almost all of them have been thus far underpowered, overpriced, and clunky. While I'm sure the iTablet will be sleek and sexy it will still be slow and the interface will be full of "work-arounds" to make it easier to use instead of just being practical like a standard netbook or laptop.

 

[LagunaSol]

I'm sure someday the tablet will be a prominent part of the computing world...but I just don't LIKE them.

...so far.

Perhaps "someday" is defined not by you but by the folks who actually make it happen, no?

it will still be slow and the interface will be full of "work-arounds" to make it easier to use instead of just being practical like a standard netbook or laptop.

And you know this...how?

With a good input system (say, shape writing?) and a touch-oriented OS, I can see a tablet being easier to use and more practical than a standard netbook.

 

[revbarabbas]

...so far.

Perhaps "someday" is defined not by you but by the folks who actually make it happen, no?



And you know this...how?

With a good input system (say, shape writing?) and a touch-oriented OS, I can see a tablet being easier to use and more practical than a standard netbook.

Now I know you're arguing just to argue...but I thought I would just express my honest opinion. And shape writing in my opinion is a workaround to a standard keyboard, so is a popup keyboard....because it takes up part of the screen to be utilized. And "someday" would be defined by the consumer not the producer...they can't force people to buy them. And netbooks are practical because they are based on a tried and true form...the standard keyboard and touchpad, which have been around for years and have been accepted as the practical standard...while the popup keyboard and handwriting recognition have seen some rocky acceptance among the general public, I mean with the Palm OS you had to learn an entirely new alphabet that wasn't exactly intuitive...and even with the Newton it wasn't perfect though it was true alphabet recognition. I really think you're just being (dare I say) fanboyish about this tablet idea.

Will they sell better than any other tablet ever made...yes they will, but only because it's an Apple product, not because it has any real practical application for the general public that hasn't been covered better by the laptop or netbook market.

 

[LagunaSol]

Now I know you're arguing just to argue...but I thought I would just express my honest opinion.

Actually, I'm just arguing against your points that I disagree with by expressing my own honest opinion. I'm not attacking you personally...

You claim that tablets suck and that Apple shouldn't make one, yet admit that someday tablets will be the Big Thing. So Apple shouldn't make one until...they are the Big Thing? And the first ones to make this new Big Thing is.....?

(Hmm, maybe Apple? Maybe now?)

And shape writing in my opinion is a workaround to a standard keyboard, so is a popup keyboard....because it takes up part of the screen to be utilized.

A keyboard isn't necessarily the end-all-be-all. It's just the best thing we've come up with so far. Someday we'll all look back at keyboards and laugh.

And "someday" would be defined by the consumer not the producer...they can't force people to buy them.

Absolutely. But one can't consume something that is not being produced. In other words, what Apple has demonstrated quite capably over the years is sometimes you have to create a market. Not just supply an existing one.

while the popup keyboard and handwriting recognition have seen some rocky acceptance among the general public

I think the automobile faced similar consumer resistance back in the day.

I mean with the Palm OS you had to learn an entirely new alphabet that wasn't exactly intuitive...and even with the Newton it wasn't perfect though it was true alphabet recognition.

Yes, Palm's Graffiti and Newton handwriting recognition both sucked in their own special ways.

When at first you don't succeed...

I really think you're just being (dare I say) fanboyish about this tablet idea.

Ah, there it is - throwing the "fanboy" card (it was just a matter of time). I.e. you disagree with me so I must be an Apple cultist.

I prefer to think of myself as a technological optimist.

I'd love to see a well-executed tablet. If it happens to be made by Apple, great.

Will they sell better than any other tablet ever made...yes they will, but only because it's an Apple product, not because it has any real practical application for the general public that hasn't been covered better by the laptop or netbook market.

Ah, the "Apple fanboy" paranoia again.

Maybe it will sell because it will be truly great? Who knows - neither of us have seen this mythical beast.

And Apple's customers have proven extremely capable of turning their backs on half-baked Apple ideas.