iTablet?

Leprachaun

Any word on if this is going to be announced at the apple event this month or do you think we'll have to wait till january?

Owen

All of the gadget sites are saying January, and that the tablet is going to be a mainstream eReader too specifically for the likes of Magazines, etc.

Leprachaun

PaintDoctor wrote: »

All of the gadget sites are saying January, and that the tablet is going to be a mainstream eReader too specifically for the likes of Magazines, etc.

Yeah heard about the eReader thing. I don't think thats ever gonna take off for books,but I could see it working for digital magzines,yeah. If it supports all the ipod touch/iphone apps it should be a big success. I know I can't wait to get one.

Tom Dunne

Hmmm, any decent links to info on this? (Google returns a gazillion links, predictably)

I am debating jumping ship to the N900 but I would be interested in reading about the tablet before hand.

Owen

Apparently, Jobs has made this tablet his own pet project, and has shelved several prototypes down through the years because they weren't what he was expecting. I would personally cream myself if they called it the newton again, I miss my old newton.

Oafley Jones

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Hmmm, any decent links to info on this? (Google returns a gazillion links, predictably)

I am debating jumping ship to the N900 but I would be interested in reading about the tablet before hand.

Well considering it's rumoured to have a 10.7 inch display it's not exactly going to be in the same market as the n900. Best place for information is on Macrumors. Sources seem to suggest that they're going for the e-zine market and that this runs some form of iPhone OS. If these rumours are true I can't really see the point of it as it's little more than a large ipod touch.

Creamy Goodness

PaintDoctor wrote: »

I miss my old newton.

[simpson_quote]
beat up martin.
eat up martha.
[/simpson_quote]

chrislad

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Well considering it's rumoured to have a 10.7 inch display it's not exactly going to be in the same market as the n900. Best place for information is on Macrumors. Sources seem to suggest that they're going for the e-zine market and that this runs some form of iPhone OS. If these rumours are true I can't really see the point of it as it's little more than a large ipod touch.

Agreed. While I was looking for something like this, I'm looking for something that runs OS X with a decent hard drive (80gigs plus) that I could load with some .cbr files, movies and for proper internet in place of bringing a laptop.

Leprachaun

Anyone know when the apple event is this month by the way. Haven't seen anything about it.

J-blk

Leprachaun wrote: »

Anyone know when the apple event is this month by the way. Haven't seen anything about it.

There hasn't been anything announced. An October event was pure speculation and it's not certain that one will even happen. Some rumors were that Apple would have an event on the 22nd to mess with the Windows 7 launch but I don't see that happening at this stage (and Apple almost never has an event on any other day than a Tuesday).

banquo

One scheduled for Janruary, is there not?

J-blk

Nope. There has always been one in January though, during Macworld. However, this is the first year that Apple will not be at Macworld at all so who knows if that will change? I would expect an event in January regardless, but nothing is actually set up yet.

The various gadget blogs are now reporting that we might get a bunch of Mac-related updates tomorrow even, without a separate "event". Don't expect a tablet though this year and definitely not announced without a dedicated event...

banquo

I'm not expecting anything until 2011.

I never learned why they pulled out of macworld either. Probably wanted more control over their release schedules.

Leprachaun

Aye I know it won't be announced till at least january but isn't there usually an apple event every october? One for the mac computers?

Leprachaun

Looks like the new mac computers were announced today,no tablet.

Leprachaun

Word on the street is it's coming 26th of January 2010.

*readys credit card*

keane2097

Is this gadget a competitor for the eInk ereader type dealies on the market at the moment or is it something different again?

banquo

It's a general device ( as in not dedicated to one task), but other than that we've only conflicting rumours.

Owen

Looks like a jan demo, march availability, and the name iSlate, which apple own the rights to the domain for since 07. By all accounts, it'll have haptic feedback too

CivilServant

An ipad interpretation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHRSDWZC_m4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVzmHsl2FoY

Interface looks pretty slick and probably quite close to what will be released eventually. Legacy Iphone apps will probably run just like widgets and in fullscreen if the app supports it.

Leiva

CivilServant wrote: »

An ipad interpretation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHRSDWZC_m4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVzmHsl2FoY

Interface looks pretty slick and probably quite close to what will be released eventually. Legacy Iphone apps will probably run just like widgets and in fullscreen if the app supports it.

I just wished Santa could have had the iTablet ready for this Christmas ? Only so much socks, boxers & gift vouchers 1 man can take.
**feels embaressment and shame for been so unappreciative**

Elessar

Even though I don't NEED a tablet, and would never have considered one before this, I WANT this if those videos are the real deal.

banquo

How did the guy in those videos do that?!

Leprachaun

banquo wrote: »

How did the guy in those videos do that?!

Do what?

Zascar

the iSlate seems to be getting a huge amount of press, but possibly more hype than anything else. Tablets have never really caught on, even Tech Crunch tried to do the Crunch Pad, a sub $200 touch pc for reading and browsing the web. I think its emevitable that when the right one comes along they will be hugely successful. It will be like an ebook reader but so so much more. I can't wait

ShadowHearth

hmmm i think ill stay with iphone.

all the reason for me to get iphone: have only one device in pocket, which can: make phone calls, play games, use internet, usuafull apps etc.

Some people will really find it usefull, but i am not seeing it to take off as iphone or ipod.

isnt it released on 26 of january? really not much info on it for such release date...

Zascar

I have an iphone too but its just too small - yes its great for when out and about and need some quick info on the go, but imagine something like an iphone but a screen ten times the size, just a few mm thick and optimised for reading books and new apps etc

I just hope its priced well

ShadowHearth

mixednuts wrote: »

I just wished Santa could have had the iTablet ready for this Christmas ? Only so much socks, boxers & gift vouchers 1 man can take.
**feels embaressment and shame for been so unappreciative**

its really huge!!! if you considering to have such size device,you can consider laptop then... looks really cool, but uselles for alot of people...

ShadowHearth

Zascar wrote: »

I have an iphone too but its just too small - yes its great for when out and about and need some quick info on the go, but imagine something like an iphone but a screen ten times the size, just a few mm thick and optimised for reading books and new apps etc

I just hope its priced well

its called laptop )))

just different market i guess, but like i said, if you need something bigger and more power using, you can go for laptop then.

Zascar

Apparently Google and HTC are working on a competitor too
http://mashable.com/2010/01/02/google-tablet/

seamus

ShadowHearth wrote: »

its really huge!!! if you considering to have such size device,you can consider laptop then... looks really cool, but uselles for alot of people...

ShadowHearth wrote: »

its called laptop )))

just different market i guess, but like i said, if you need something bigger and more power using, you can go for laptop then.

One of the big things about the iPhone is that it's an "instant" device. If I'm sitting at home and want to check movie listings, for example, I have two options: Open the laptop or take out my iphone. The iPhone is far more fiddly than a laptop for surfing the web, but I don't have to wait 3 minutes for the thing to boot up and it doesn't weigh 2kg.

If they could exploit the same idea with a tablet, people will use it in that manner. Rather than sit under a table or in a bag, like a laptop would, the tablet can sit on a side table on the top the magazine pile, and be picked up and switched on in a matter of seconds (i.e. as quickly as pushing the unlock button on the iPhone).

It would need a few essentials though, such as a docking station, low-profile with a keyboard and mouse. Something you can easily detach it from and plug into any other docking station anywhere for charging or wired net access or extra storage.

If they simply make an oversized iPhone or a touch-only laptop, it's going to fail.

Zascar

Not sure I agree. If it has those things then it just becomes a laptop - but slightly different. We already have netbooks for that. I think it needs to be like a giant ipod, but with a lot more. It's for reading books & surfing the web. A popup touch screen keyboard should suffice for most things. If you need to type war and peace, you'll use a laptop or desktop. It will have a decent sized solid state drive in it, maybe a usb port for connectivity but its not the type of device you'll want to be putting hundreds of gigs on it.

This is a new type of device. Something to have lying on the couch when you want to check wikipedia, or have in your bag for when you want to read an ebook or surf the web while waiting for a friend in starbucks. If you want a fully functioning computer then just get a Macbook Air!

ShadowHearth

seamus wrote: »

One of the big things about the iPhone is that it's an "instant" device. If I'm sitting at home and want to check movie listings, for example, I have two options: Open the laptop or take out my iphone. The iPhone is far more fiddly than a laptop for surfing the web, but I don't have to wait 3 minutes for the thing to boot up and it doesn't weigh 2kg.

If they could exploit the same idea with a tablet, people will use it in that manner. Rather than sit under a table or in a bag, like a laptop would, the tablet can sit on a side table on the top the magazine pile, and be picked up and switched on in a matter of seconds (i.e. as quickly as pushing the unlock button on the iPhone).

It would need a few essentials though, such as a docking station, low-profile with a keyboard and mouse. Something you can easily detach it from and plug into any other docking station anywhere for charging or wired net access or extra storage.

If they simply make an oversized iPhone or a touch-only laptop, it's going to fail.

well yeah, iphone is instant device, but the only reason you allways allways ALLWAYS have it nearby, becouse its a phone! And you dont need huge screen to check movie hours etc... and if you decided for some urfing time, you will bite the bullet and wait for 3 mins for laptop/desktop to boot.

having a 700eu device in pile of newspaper is something that not alot of people can afford...

like you said: if thats going to be oversized ipod, it will FAIL, and FAIL hard!

seamus

Zascar wrote: »

Not sure I agree. If it has those things then it just becomes a laptop - but slightly different. We already have netbooks for that. I think it needs to be like a giant ipod, but with a lot more. It's for reading books & surfing the web. A popup touch screen keyboard should suffice for most things. If you need to type war and peace, you'll use a laptop or desktop. It will have a decent sized solid state drive in it, maybe a usb port for connectivity but its not the type of device you'll want to be putting hundreds of gigs on it.

This is a new type of device. Something to have lying on the couch when you want to check wikipedia, or have in your bag for when you want to read an ebook or surf the web while waiting for a friend in starbucks. If you want a fully functioning computer then just get a Macbook Air!

Netbooks still though aren't exactly the "ubiquitous computing" crap which has been the holy grail for the last few years.

There is something of a gap in the market which is hard to plug. There are people who need a device which is good for the simple stuff - reading email, reading documents, surfing the web, playing a few games - but which doesn't need the full-on processing power of a desktop or even a laptop. Occassionally these people will need to write a document or three or compose a good long email. However, they're not going to want to buy a separate device and they may not otherwise have access to a machine.

Netbooks are still too clumsy really to be any good at this (IMO), and the iPhone is good for the simple stuff, but obviously no good for writing documents or intricate emails.

This is where a tablet device can plug the gap. Small and light enough that you can use it for the simple stuff without having to get off the couch, but with enough power in it so that when you need to sit and write a document or do your household budget, you can slot it into its dock and away you go. You don't need 2 machines, you don't need any fancy connections or set ups.

Convergence is the way that computing is going. For people who use computers for heavier stuff, such as myself and no doubt yourself, there will still be a market for desktops, laptops and probably netbooks in some form, but for the vast vast majority of people who don't actually *need* a keyboard all that often, a single device that serves as their computing device is what they want.

having a 700eu device in pile of newspaper is something that not alot of people can afford...

It is if they don't need or want anything else. I can have my €400 iPhone + My €800 laptop, or I can have a €200 phone (which is still at the high end for phones!) and a €600 tablet with dock.

Something that's a bit further down the line is convergence between your phone and your computing device. A phone alone cannot be your sole computing device. But if you have a dock for your phone which suddenly gives you access to a full OS, complete with screen, keyboard and mouse, then what else do you need?

Dades

If it's going to bite into the laptop/netbook market it'll have to offer more than a huge iPhone.

People are going to want card readers, USB, as well as more video options and flash. i.e. A touchscreen Macbook.

Don't know if I'd want to read books on one, tbh. Don't most e-readers have a custom type screen that doesn't cause eyestrain?

That said, I WILL want one.

whiterebel

ShadowHearth wrote: »

hmmm i think ill stay with iphone.

all the reason for me to get iphone: have only one device in pocket, which can: make phone calls, play games, use internet, usuafull apps etc.

Some people will really find it usefull, but i am not seeing it to take off as iphone or ipod.

isnt it released on 26 of january? really not much info on it for such release date...

For someone who is giving it such a bashing, you don't know much about it, and that's for a reason - Apple doesn't want anyone to know about it. Its not a release date on 26th January, it looks like a date that Apple are going to make an announcement - big difference.

ShadowHearth

whiterebel wrote: »

For someone who is giving it such a bashing, you don't know much about it, and that's for a reason - Apple doesn't want anyone to know about it. Its not a release date on 26th January, it looks like a date that Apple are going to make an announcement - big difference.

i am not bashing it, i just said its not going to lift off like iphone and ipod.

thats what i read, and sharing mine info. if i am wrong, you are welcome to fix mine mistake.

As on actual device, it looks really good on paper, but i am sceptical of it for practical uses... who knows, maybe this yoke will introduce even more casual people to computer devices and web... Or it will be an expencive toy...

And yes i dont know much about, same as you, as apple keeping it really low on info for public. So all we do is speculating and exprecing opinions .

ShadowHearth

seamus wrote: »

Netbooks still though aren't exactly the "ubiquitous computing" crap which has been the holy grail for the last few years.

There is something of a gap in the market which is hard to plug. There are people who need a device which is good for the simple stuff - reading email, reading documents, surfing the web, playing a few games - but which doesn't need the full-on processing power of a desktop or even a laptop. Occassionally these people will need to write a document or three or compose a good long email. However, they're not going to want to buy a separate device and they may not otherwise have access to a machine.

Netbooks are still too clumsy really to be any good at this (IMO), and the iPhone is good for the simple stuff, but obviously no good for writing documents or intricate emails.

This is where a tablet device can plug the gap. Small and light enough that you can use it for the simple stuff without having to get off the couch, but with enough power in it so that when you need to sit and write a document or do your household budget, you can slot it into its dock and away you go. You don't need 2 machines, you don't need any fancy connections or set ups.

Convergence is the way that computing is going. For people who use computers for heavier stuff, such as myself and no doubt yourself, there will still be a market for desktops, laptops and probably netbooks in some form, but for the vast vast majority of people who don't actually *need* a keyboard all that often, a single device that serves as their computing device is what they want.

It is if they don't need or want anything else. I can have my €400 iPhone + My €800 laptop, or I can have a €200 phone (which is still at the high end for phones!) and a €600 tablet with dock.

Something that's a bit further down the line is convergence between your phone and your computing device. A phone alone cannot be your sole computing device. But if you have a dock for your phone which suddenly gives you access to a full OS, complete with screen, keyboard and mouse, then what else do you need?

800eu laptop will destroy anything that apple will throw... in battery life, video, quality, games...

laptop prices really down, even for 400-500eu you can buy decent game which will do everything...

Now there are few kinds of people:

1. people who have an iphone( or ather high end phone) for simple tasks, emails, finding info on web when needed, playing some games. When they needed some more complicated work, they have high end pcs at home, which can do just everything... ( personaly i choose iphone only becouse i whanted one device in mine pocket, and as being chef, i really cant have laptop or itablet on me all the time...)

2. Who are power ussers, have a normal phone, and have a laptop for every single task,and they got where to put it ( suitcases? cars?).

So i cant see much place for itablet... Maybe only as an expencive toy?

Now there is no info on docking stations ant ather crap, so i am making mine opinion on info i got so far from apple... I personally thing its amazing technical device, but i still cant find practical ( reasanoble) use for it...

/flame shield up
/flame suits up
/apple fanboy repelent applied
/close eyes and play....

banquo

Your fanboy repellent is no match for Banquo.

whiterebel

ShadowHearth wrote: »

800eu laptop will destroy anything that apple will throw... in battery life, video, quality, games...

laptop prices really down, even for 400-500eu you can buy decent game which will do everything...

Now there are few kinds of people:

1. people who have an iphone( or ather high end phone) for simple tasks, emails, finding info on web when needed, playing some games. When they needed some more complicated work, they have high end pcs at home, which can do just everything... ( personaly i choose iphone only becouse i whanted one device in mine pocket, and as being chef, i really cant have laptop or itablet on me all the time...)


2. Who are power ussers, have a normal phone, and have a laptop for every single task,and they got where to put it ( suitcases? cars?).

So i cant see much place for itablet... Maybe only as an expencive toy?

Now there is no info on docking stations ant ather crap, so i am making mine opinion on info i got so far from apple... I personally thing its amazing technical device, but i still cant find practical ( reasanoble) use for it...

/flame shield up
/flame suits up
/apple fanboy repelent applied
/close eyes and play....

So, you don't know what it is, you don't know what it will do, but already you figure its expensive (no price released yet), you think its an "amazing technical device", but already an €800 laptop will destroy it, even though nobody has seen it, confirmed it exists or has seen its technical abilities......

For your information, most people said Apple couldn't do anything different with mobile phones, and look how that turned out.
For someone not bashing it, you're doing a brilliantly uninformed job of bashing it

seamus

ShadowHearth wrote: »

800eu laptop will destroy anything that apple will throw... in battery life, video, quality, games...

laptop prices really down, even for 400-500eu you can buy decent game which will do everything...

You're missing the point here: An €800 laptop or even macbook is still a laptop and comes with all the same flaws as I detail above.

The iPhone retails at roughly €600 on the open market. A €600 laptop will destroy an iPhone - even for making calls. Yet people still want an iPhone, because it's aimed at a different type of market.

1. people who have an iphone( or ather high end phone) for simple tasks, emails, finding info on web when needed, playing some games. When they needed some more complicated work, they have high end pcs at home, which can do just everything... ( personaly i choose iphone only becouse i whanted one device in mine pocket, and as being chef, i really cant have laptop or itablet on me all the time...)

This is really my point. People don't need high-end PCs at home - they don't even need an actual PC! Most people only do those basic things, but any phone isn't something you use *all* the time for those things. It's a mobile device.

2. Who are power ussers, have a normal phone, and have a laptop for every single task,and they got where to put it ( suitcases? cars?).

I'm a power user. I have an iPhone, a laptop and two desktops at home. Yet even I would still find a great use for a tablet, not just as an expensive toy but as a portable and flexible machine. Even simple things: For example, I'm meeting a client at their site to give a presentation. I don't need my laptop, my tablet has everything I need, it weighs about 600g and it will fit in a very small case. When I get back to the office, I dock my tablet in and it works perfectly well as a laptop. In the taxi on the way there, I can read and respond to emails and I still don't have a big hulking laptop (or netbook) annoying me.
That's just one example.

Netbooks aren't as portable as you think. The T91 from Asus is kind of the "missing link" here. It has a good-sized multi-touch touchscreen and a keyboard, but it still comes in at a pretty weighty 900g. 900g isn't much when you're just skipping about, but try carrying it around for two hours.

CivilServant

Something like this I would imagine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAZCr6canvw

Now imagine that with touch interactive feedback keyboard. Now imagine it done by Apple. Human computer interaction is their forte.

Why are all computer devices and gadgets in the CG movies, tablet based? It's future and hello?! It's 2010 people! The time is ripe for a device like this. Print media is slowly dying as it has been for years. With Apple's clever 30/70 profit sharing split, the uptake on the Apple Tablet will be huge and will do for ebooks and print publications what itunes did for music.

Leprachaun

Next week baby! The event has just been confirmed and invites are out!

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=850419