The Financial Times is reporting that Apple is "racing to offer a portable, full-featured, tablet-sized computer in time for the Christmas shopping season".The revelation confirms rumours that surfaced earlier this year and earlier this month were confirmed by insiders as Apple targeting an October release. The FT believes the device could be launched as early as September.
It's expected the device will connect to the internet, like the iPod Touch, and possibly run the same software to connect to Apple's AppStore. The screen is rumoured to be 10" and the device is expected to cost $800. Apple has reportedly pitched the device to entertainment executives and according to one that spoke to the FT "It's going to be fabulous for watching movies."
The FT also claims that book publishers have been in talks with Apple about supplying their content on the devices to rival Amazon's Kindle ebook reader.
Image credit: Gizmodo, concept artwork. Not true picture of device.
A lot of other uses will depend on if it has webcam, speakers, etc.
Sony and now Apple getting into tablets.
Sony and now Apple getting into tablets.
Sony and Apple are kicking ass :p
To be honest a day is more then enough for more -- I mean anything less and sure it would get annoying but it's not a deal breaker. I don't know about you but I tend to be around computers quite a lot and I have a dock at home and a dock at work.
Sit down at my desk and sit the phone in the dock, bingo.
You're comparing a UMPC versus a tablet. They're two different products.
Besides, there's also screen resolution to consider.
Going along with all their previous product names, I think Tbook is probably unlikely. I think it's more likely to be called iTablet.
Expect the name to focus on a word like 'pad' or 'top', and probably trying to evoke an image of clouds/sky/open spaces to get a foot firmly and quickly into the door of cloud computing branding with the loudest marketing possible, to create the impression of first-to-market.
Also, expect marketing to focus on competing with Windows-based PC hybrid tablet/laptops, rather than the more successful netbooks that tend to run a distribution of Linux. Apple *will not* market againt Linux. They've invested a lot into the Vista vs OS X campaign, and will piggy back this next marketing effort onto that to keep the ball rolling. Consumers will be more receptive of an ad campaign that maintains a constant set of choices (Apple or Microsoft). With the netbook-friendly (and touch-friendly) Windows 7 coming out this fall, Apple is determined to have an arsenel of weapons stacked against it.
It should be noted that if Microsoft does NOT get Windows 7 onto netbooks very quickly, Apple will turn full snark and make an entire ad campaign out of mocking expensive hybrid touch laptops. Despite them being an entirely different market, Apple has a hard-on for a chance to parody MS's laptop hunter ads and get revenge for cost comparisons.
P.S. Linux users will have to just learn to deal with the reality that they desperately need Microsoft as a major player in the mobile PC market. Ubuntu is wonderful on netbooks, but it will die an embarassing and painful death if it stands alone in a market against Apple. So put down your MS voodoo dolls and root for Windows 7's success, or enjoy reducing Linux's chance at the mainstream to nothing more than a fond memory.
Last edited by Joshie on 28 Jul 2009 - 00:23
(Doh... Joshie, I did not read your comment before coming up with that name.
And a 10" screen dictates the price does it? There are no details on the inside specs yet... Maybe cast aspersions about the value for money when the device is actually announced.
I imagine that they would just remarket the on-screen touch keyboard as 'solving the problem' of swivel PC laptop tablets. The absolutely horrible ergonomics of a larger touch keyboad will be completely overlooked. Also, don't expect anyone to mention that having to set the tablet down to type two-handed means the screen can't angle toward your face unless it's tilted. This will 'officially' be addressed with a tilting platform accessory...
...which will be ignored by consumers in favor of resting it on their laps. This will ensure that the press finds out VERY quickly the first time someone is burned in a horrible laptop deja vu from the 90s.
/not-being-sarcastic-either
I think Apple can do it. The question is: will they do it right...
I think Apple
can
do it. The question is: will they do it
right
...
to me that is doing it wrong, I want a tablet to be a full featured desktop OS with "Tablet" like apps... not some suped up iPod touch... I want to be able to install all OSX apps on it not have to use some stupid app store...
I think it's be a great time to do this, while getting this line of Tablet computers out there
...he doesn't know the price either
And we all know what happens when you assume...
Also, you should be able to install any program on there, not just "Apple-approved" ones, like the iPhone.
I want to be able to write with a stylus also. Mathematical equations and whatnot, like in grapher. The engineering world will be happy if it supports all of what I mentioned.
Also, you should be able to install any program on there, not just "Apple-approved" ones, like the iPhone.
Judging by the screenshot that is running the regular OSX iTunes I would say that supporting regular OSX apps is not a far stretch.
iPhone OS is based on OSX and FreeBSD/Darwin kernels so it's a possibility -- I wouldn't get ahead of yourself quite yet.
...maybe I should rethink how I worded that.
you cant even play wow on that junk ..
over price yes rippoff yes just my 2cents
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