Apple iSlate Chatter Obscures Device Significance
Apple’s expected release of a humongous-screened iPod will legitimize the platform for business users. It could, in turn, revive Windows-based tablets and make Webpads the big alt.platform story of 2010.
The Apple tablet is almost here. We hear. Actually, we’re hearing a whole lot lately. With this exhaustive guide to every tablet rumor, we’ve got the clearest picture of the Apple tablet yet.
Uh, What’s It Called?
The iPhone was called the iPhone years before Steve Jobs ever took the stage to announce it. We don’t have the luxury of such clarity here. I would think the name has no more than two syllables, personally.
Is this it?
All the rumor mongering surround Apple’s expected upcoming release of a humongous-screened iPod misses the point. A search of the USPTO database reveals that Apple isn’t even the leader in Webpad patents. Hey, doesn’t anyone remember the Windows-based Tablet frenzy, circa 2002? So the big deal this time is that Apple will legitimize the platform, particularly for business users. Indeed, I believe mobile Webpads could edge out netbooks–and even debuzz smartphones somewhat–and become the big alt.platform story of 2010.
Would definitely agree that Apple is more refiner than inventor. Ironically Apple’s entry into the Tablet PC market will probably help some of the traditional PC makers (Toshiba, Acer, HP, etc..) refine and focus on their products.
Those traditional PC makers never really expanded into the business tablet market properly, and the consumer version i.e. Netbooks were made tentatively as well–perhaps b/c they were afraid of cannibalizing their PC business?
The tablet is basically going to be an iPod Touch with a large HyperDisplay screen: Three 5-megapixel cameras along one of the long edges of the display are going to enable it to track the user’s head position as well as construct an enveloping view (to a degree) of whatever is in front of the slate.
This will enable a totally new kind of “pseudo-3D” experience for games as well as video chats where the head of the person you’re talking to (also on a Magic Slate) will seem to pop out of the display as you move your head or shift your slate. Apps will be able to take advantage of this as well, lending a new and cool kind of experience to all kinds of applications.
It’s going to be introduced as the “Magic Slate” for about $900 on Jan. 29th, for sale starting around April. There will be two versions: One with a 7″ display and UMTS air interface, and one with a 10″ display and WLAN only. This second one will go on sale a bit later. A new distribution and payment model for partially self-renewing content (think mash-up of newspaper/ magazine/sales catalog) for off-line reading will also feature prominently.
I have no private knowledge of any of this, but I think this little theory of mine is consistent with all known facts, rumors, insider quotes and clandestine prototype videos turned up thus far.
lets not forget the form factor for the original “slate”
in this context, if you blur your eyes those could sure look like something else…
Ooooo the plot thickens..
