Google China"s ex-President, Kai-fu Lee, made a blog post regarding Apple"s upcoming tablet, claiming inside information on the upcoming mystery device. Most of what he said is the same as what we"ve been hearing up until now. Regardless, it"s sure nice to hear it from a reputable source. This is what he had to say (translated via Google Translate):
"Apple in January plans to launch an Apple Tablet, priced at $1000 U.S. dollars below. According to informed friend said that this Tablet looks like a large iPhone, there are 10.1-inch multi-touch screen, and amazing user interface, 3D graphics, virtual keyboard, video conferencing, e-books, Internet this and other functions. Steve Jobs will launch the product in January. The most striking: Apple expected the first year of output at close to 10 million!"
Assuming Lee"s correct, Apple has extremely high hopes for the Tablet"s launch. Apple"s flagship product, the iPod, is their only device that has sold that well this past year. Engadget explains why Lee"s post has high credibility. "What really got our attention is Lee"s link with Foxconn -- the Apple OEM is one of the main contributors to Lee"s post-Google investment venture, Innovation Works, so there"s a good chance that Lee"s spoken to someone overlooking the manufacturing of a certain Apple device."
So there you have it. This is what we can expect:
- Steve Jobs will announce it in January (possibly on the 26th at their media event?)
- Apple expects to produce/sell 10 million of them in 2010
- Sub $1,000 price
- Looks like a large iPhone
- 10.1 inch multitouch screen
- Amazing user interface (safe to say it"s not Mac OS, or iPhone OS?)
- 3D graphics
- Virtual keyboard
- Video conferencing (webcam)
- Ability to read eBooks (probably download them too)
- Internet access (at least Wi-Fi, perhaps even 3G)