Looks like the mythical Apple Tablet (or “Tapplet”) has been handled in prototype form. I can believe that this guy is telling the truth because he’s an old-school journalist, working for Barron’s. Not that Barron’s is some infallible and extra-dignified news source, but it’s an establishment and they have to be extremely careful about respecting confidentiality. And since this article is so incredibly vague, I can only assume that Apple did actually show the guy something, but also told him exactly what he could and could not write.
Kind of sounds to me like one part journalism and two parts PR, but what do I know? I’m just a blogger. It could also be that he visited a less-scrupulous partner of Apple’s and got a prototype demo without many final features. That could also explain the lack of detail.
Anyway, I don’t mean to impugn the author’s reporting, it’s just funny that we get a “first hands on” that says exactly zero about the device. Basically, he just keeps saying it’s great without giving any specifics as to dimensions, specs, ports, or really anything. He does say that it will be announced in September and released in November. That’d be nice for holiday sales, but we’ve heard that it’ll actually be a Q1 2010 device.
Of course, we may as well be arguing about what kind of conditioner Bigfoot uses.
[via 9to5mac, where they have quotes if you can't read the Barron's article]
[also, it's caturday]
Needs less covercat.
Clearly, it’s Caturday!
Does anyone want to buy one of these? At any price? It just doesn’t seem like the world has been asking for it. Maybe certain people in the tech world have been saying it’s the way of the future (Bill Gates), But I don’t think the world really cares for it. If you do please comment as to why.
I think a tablet will be a household item, but I don’t think the Apple will be the best or only device. I know we’re biased, but I think the CrunchPad is a much more marketable item, considering prices.
What was up with the article about the crunchpad on Engadget? They said the newest estimated price was now at $400!
so? you would buy a netbook too at that price wouldn’t you? i’d spend up to $600 on that or Apple , but that’s it.
You’re joking right?
Only bloggers know what a frickin’ “Crunchpad” is. Seriously, only bloggers know what Techcrunch is. You think the Crunchpad is more marketable than what Apple is making? You’ve lost ALL credibility, bro.
You’re a joke.
I said it was a more marketable item. You put both in a Wal-Mart next to each other and see what the sales look like. I have no illusions as to the reach of TechCrunch, but Apple’s market is nearly non-overlapping with the theoretical tablet market. Though like I said, it’s cryptogadgetology at best.
I want a small, easy to manipulate tablet to replace my notepad or my LiveScribe (needs special paper) and not have to upload my sketches to the computer. For brainstorming alone or through the network collaboratively, and if well designed, it would be an exceptional productivity tool worth a lot of money (at least in my case). I would want all engineers to have one. Any current solution is not good enough.
I don’t want one.
I want two.
Sorry for being a grammar nazi, but I believe you meant “he’s old-school journalist”, not “journalism”.
he’s AN old-school journalist??
No… He’s an old school journalist (no dash, as opposed to old-fashioned).
“…telling the truth because he’s an old-school journalist, working for…”
I think that’s correct. Old-school has a hyphen if you ask me, Jean-Michel, but it’s probably arguable.
yea i was wondering, what are you guys gonna do? you’re so biased yet your putting out a device to go head to head with your beloved apple! can’t wait to see the comparisons.
The Apple Tablet; or, here’s the new MacBook (featuring a previously UNKNOWN KILLER FEATURE!!!!). Oh yeah, and new Mac Pros, too.
Even if you aren’t a rabid Apple fanboy like me, it’s been hard to ignore recent media attention swirling around the rumored Apple tablet. Described as essentially a large (10-inch diagonal screen) iPod Touch, with a launch date ranging from September to early 2010, this device is either going to be a total flop or bigger than the iPhone, the Beatles, and Jesus combined (depending on which so-called journalist you listen to).
It’s known that Apple has been exploring this form factor. A proposed device running a mobile version of Safari, internally referred to as “Safari Pad”, was judged, several years ago, to be not-ready-for-prime-time, but served as Steve Jobs’ inspiration, in shrunken form, for the iPhone. And let’s not forget, the Apple Newton of the 1990s essentially created the tablet form factor.
But therein lies the problem. The Newton, a technical marvel with devoted followers, was nonetheless a financial flop. Too costly, and with an undefined target market, it came to represent an Apple that had lost focus and discipline.
Others had similar lack of success with the tablet form factor. The nascent hand-held computing market of the ’90s seemed to split into two directions – PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) such as the Palm Pilot, and larger tablet computers, which were laptops without the keyboard, using a stylus for input. Palm, a dotcom darling, is now on life support, as the humble cellphone morphed into the smartphone and made the term “PDA” an anachronism. And tablets have been nothing but a black hole for computer makers to throw money into. It turns out a resource-hungry operating system designed for keyboard input (Windows) provides a less than satisfactory experience in tablet form.
But more important, there has simply been no compelling reason to use a tablet. Need to surf or type? Get a laptop. Need to check email or text? Get a smartphone. Need to crunch numbers or design? Go back to the office. Want to listen to music? Pull out your iPod.
But it turns out the tablet computing market was stealthily redefined with its first smash hit product a couple years ago, and nobody realized it. The first wildly successful tablet computer, with a powerful, robust operating system designed specifically for tablet computing and touch input, was the iPhone, of course. And it was followed closely by the iPod Touch.
Since the introduction of the iPhone, Palm, Nokia, Samsung, RIM, HTC and others have had multiple failures in their attempts to create a touch-based smartphone to even compete with the iPhone. Apple, meanwhile, is about to supersede themselves again with the introduction of their tablet.
Let’s take a moment to discuss where this tablet fits in Apple’s product lineup. Recently Apple has populated its MacBook Pro lineup with a 13″ inch model and lower prices, leaving the old, now cannabalized, plastic MacBook to languish in neglect. Clearly, the moniker “MacBook” is about to be up for grabs, and the new tablet will indeed be called the MacBook, and the plastic laptop laid to rest.
The price point for the new MacBook is a matter of much speculation. $399 or below seems very unlikely as it competes too closely with the iPod Touch, but some pundits feel it’s necessary to compete with the netbook market, which they argue the new MacBook was designed to faceoff against. A MacBook with 3G, and a subsidized price achieved by a two-year carrier contract, brings this into the realm of possibility. But I judge this scenario unlikely. There is a significant audience interested in a tablet MacBook without 3G, and Apple has probably judged, rightly so, that people will simply pay more for a tablet MacBook.
So, let’s speculate on a $499 – $699 price range. This still leaves a hole in Apple’s lineup between the $699 MacBook and $1199 MacBook Pro. This gap is soon to be filled be a refreshed and repositioned MacBook Air.
When the MacBook Air debuted in January, 2008, the netbook market and terminology itself was brand new, having emerged in fall 2007 with the tiny Asustek Eee PC, priced starting at $199. Clearly, when the MacBook Air was being developed, the fruition of the netbook market was not accurately foreseen, and paying a premium for a lightweight, thin, ultra-portable laptop still seemed reasonable. And to a degree, it was – the MacBook Air sold well and received positive reviews. Unlike a typical netbook, there were little or no performance or usability compromises – it had adequate horsepower, a fantastic keyboard, bright, crisp display, incredible design, and was of sturdy manufacture. But its sales have slacked as Apple has failed to refresh it, and despite price drops, it remains, for now, a bench-warmer.
Let us imagine a new MacBook Air. Flash drive only, as the component cost of SSDs has dropped precipitously. With an 11″ or 12″ screen and even thinner enclosure it will be even lighter and more portable, and sufficiently differentiated from the 13″ MacBook Pro. Technical specs will otherwise be low-end, enabling a $799 – $999 price point.
Still not a competitor with a $299 netbook, you say? Listen, Apple is not interested in competing in the $299 netbook market. Those products are of poor quality and performance with razor-thin profit margins, and appeal to consumers who target price only. This is not where Apple competes. There is not only no advantage for Apple to enter the $299 netbook market; there is no demand.
So we return to the new, tablet MacBook. Rather than launch a tablet as simply a hardware product and hope it succeeds, Apple has certainly developed a new, “killer” feature for this tablet. Perhaps more than one. I shall elaborate.
Industry insiders have revealed that Apple and the music labels have been in discussions to develop a new, digital album format for iTunes only. When you purchase the whole album, it includes an interactive, multimedia “booklet” with lyrics, artist interviews, music videos, GarageBand tracks, and more. This addresses the labels’ and artists’ complaints that iTunes has killed the album format. Never mind that the music industry devolved to a “singles” format long ago, and an entire album of worthwhile songs is difficult to find.
Movies, also, will now come with extras, bonus features, commentary, and more.
The perfect medium for digesting all this new media? The MacBook, of course.
The new MacBook is NOT going to be launched as a specific e-book reader. Such apps for the iPhone already exist, and no doubt will for the new MacBook. But this is not a “killer feature”. As Steve Jobs noted some time ago, “people don’t read anymore”.
At least, not books. I am now going to share a previously unknown “killer feature” of the new MacBook.
Magazines. Digital magazines. Subscribe or buy single issues through iTunes. Much more than just HTML or PDFs, these will also use the “interactive digital booklet” format Apple has invented. This format supports excellent design and graphic features, hyperlinks, animation and video, live updates and much more.
This will revolutionize the publication industry. The cost of printing and distribution will disappear. An entirely new revenue stream for advertising will be invented. The iTunes Store will offer increased visibility and a great marketing opportunity. Content-rich publications will be available as you sit in the doctor’s office or on the beach.
Similar to the manner in which the combination of podcasts and iTunes allowed anyone to broadcast to an audience of millions for what could be no cost at all, the periodical publishing world will now be open to all comers. If you have the chutzpah and the chops, you, too, can soon be a magazine publisher.
You heard it from me first.
Oh Yeah. And New Mac Pros, Too.
SIX YEARS!!!!! SIX LONG, GRIEVOUS, WAITING YEARS!!!
That’s how long its been since Apple’s tower enclosure has been redesigned. To put that in perspective, that’s when iMacs came with a 15″ screen on an aluminum arm attached to a semi-spherical base. And iPods, available in white only, maxed out at 30GB and did not yet have color screens or the clickwheel. The iBook still featured a G3 processor, and the Mac Mini and Apple TV were not yet even sparkles in Steve Jobs’ eyes.
In technology terms, 6 years is an Ice Age ago. But the Mac Pro is scarcely talked about. It is a beast of a machine with a dedicated following and strong sales in the graphics market. Apple has regularly updated its specs, which are impressive. It has a premium price and a premium profit. The enclosure, I suppose, still looks great. It’s unique and formidable. And large. Very large.
Apple is about to address all of that, with a new enclosure for the Mac Pro. It’s going to be smaller in every dimension. Optical drives, whose width had limited how narrow the Mac Pro could be, have been turned to a vertical orientation, so even with two SuperDrives it is substantially narrower across the front. They are slot-loading, like MacBook Pros. The beveled theme of the MacBook Pros has been incorporated, along with the black-accents-on-silver theme. In fact, an all-black, aluminum enclosure is being considered. Compared to current dimensions of 20″ high x 8″ wide x 19″ deep, look for something less then 5″ wide and a height and depth of apprx. 16″.
It’s possible some of this reduction comes at the expense of full-length PCI slots and drive bays, and that this new enclosure represents something the pundits have been clamoring for for years – an affordable, mid-level tower. For someone not interested in a portable, but who needs more than an iMac without dropping $2500 at minimum on a tower, this would be the Holy Grail.
Starting at perhaps $1799 it may increase sales of desktops without eating into sales of iMacs. The likely target of this model/price point, however, is the graphic professional – big design studios that buy dozens of these at a time, but have been hit hard by the recession and have put new technology purchases on hold, long-term. Their spending habits and technology budgets have changed, for the long haul, and spending $3,000-$4,000 per new workstation is not feasible anymore. Apple needs to get these customers spending again and investing in new Apple technology. They believe a new Mac Pro with lower entry level is the way to do it.
If the size reduction was, in fact, achieved by a purging of slots and bays, then the Mac Pro is almost certain to be split into TWO form factors: the new, smaller enclosure, and an enclosure of similar size to today’s, with all the slots and bays, but cosmetically redesigned as well.
Holy fucking wall of text batman!
tl;dr
maybe its time for crunchgear to implement word limits or spam filters?
that, or create a isolated page where users can post whatever they likes and however long they wants… Oh wait, that’s /b/
look up rules of the Internet…
damn, that was very informative
“the MacBook Air sold well and received positive reviews. Unlike a typical netbook, there were little or no performance or usability compromises – it had adequate horsepower, a fantastic keyboard, bright, crisp display, incredible design, and was of sturdy manufacture.”
HA HA HA HA HA HA! Good one!
Too much time in your hands….
Dear Mr. Dough Best:
If I had a wife for every word you wrote, I would be a happy man.
Sincerely Yours,
Prince Momar
Doug: STFU.
Doug et al,
From my perspective in the industry, a group that has been waiting a long time for this device is part of Apple’s core: visual arts professionals.
Take a look at the Wacom Tablet/Touch Screen Monitor. While clunky and lacking in some of the finer nuances of UI, this is the kind of thing photographers and illustrator, photor-retouchers and layout designers (web & print) love to dream about.
Instead of a mediated interface like the mouse, direct multi-touch manipulation of imagery and design.
There are definitely a lot of people in my sector that are going to give this a shot. If the implementation is good it will find a strong niche anyway.
I imagine that mobile industries like UPS etc could find this a compelling solution as well…
The apple tablet is not going to have a pressure-sensitive screen; it’s not going to replace the Wacom. It may change the layout of the market, but no artist is going to be doing their brush work on an Tapplet.
I think that the new Apple tablet will be popular just because of the amount of hype that is cause around all of the rumors circling around. Right now that is Apple’s biggest ad and it is a brilliant way to build hype around it.
A “tablet” is the next logical step for Apple. The tablet will offer Wifi AND 3G. I believe activation of 3G will be optional. There are many reasons Apple will release a tablet.
1. The App store is hugely successful! Imagine GAMES, spreadsheet Apps, PDF/document viewing, etc. on a large screen! Also compare the low cost of an App on iTunes vs. the cost for software for a Mac or PC. The quality of existing Apps will continue to improve and take advantage of a larger “tablet” screen.
2. Single song purchases are affecting album sales. Interactive content, lyrics, photos, music videos will be added to album purchases. All this content will all benefit from a larger color screen.
3. Books, magazines, newspapers, etc. Why wouldn’t Apple go up against Amazon? Especially when considering that Kindle books can already be read on an iPhone/Touch. Also COLOR on Apple “tablet” vs. B/W with Kindle!
4. Movies. The small screen of an iphone/Touch is just too small. The “tablet” will opens up opportunities to watch HD content on a portable device especially with a new HD Zune being released in the fall.
5. Hardware options. Apple with offer a portable Bluetooth wireless keyboard for those who want prefer to type.
but would you want just a “larger” ipod touch? or a tablet form factor running Snow Leopard?
and i just realized something…
if the retail price of an iPhone is like $599-$699(without subsidies or contracts), why would Apple make a bigger form factor for that same price?
Here’s what we need:
- Wireless charging dock that allows the tablet to be positioned in either portrait or landscape orientation and used when on the desk. (Similar to but more rigid than Palms TouchStone so the screen can be operated in dock without the device slipping or moving.)
- Daylight readable hybrid eInk / video speed capable display for ease of reading text based content, such as eBooks and eMagazines when out and about or in bed. (Over 15 mins reading a book with an iPod Touch/iPhone makes eyes sore, not matter how amazing the devices are.)
- Optional compact Bluetooth wireless keyboard. (Already available from Apple since last year – which leads one to believe they may have initially planned to launch the tablet earlier but held back.)
- Tough plastic or stainless steel case for those allergic to aluminum.
- 7 hour battery for that long flight, 2 movies, a bit of gaming + that vital work deadline! ;)
- On that subject, twin mechanical joypads either side of the screen for true gaming because touch screen orientation sensor gaming is innovative but pukeincuding, a la iPod Touch/iPhone experience when you’re forced to lean forward to see the screen.
- Etch-s-Sketch emulator to go with aforementioned joypads. And why not? Retro is back, right?
- 16:9 wide screen so it closely resembles a book when in portrait orientation and is movie friendly too.
- Twin headphone sockets for sharing (like the first Walkmans!)
- Various case color options.
- Macro capable auto focus 5MP camera on the reverse for using it as a portable scanner. Front facing camera for teleconferencing etc.
- LTE wireless. 3G? Oh please! This is Apple people, they always apply bleeding edge technology to their new product categories. Remember the first PowerBooks with WiFi? – way ahead of other laptop vendors.
- Flip out stand for watching movies or using it as a photo frame when away from the dock. (I believe it is the dock that Apple will be most innovative – else the device may be a pain to manage when traveling.)
- Something else Apple sexy innovative that no one has thought of or implemented yet. How about solar panels on the rear for top up charging?
Updating my own comment, I omitted a very VERY important requirement that will bring back the naturally intuitive creative abilities of the Newton, early color Palm OS devices, Sony Ericsson P9xx series smartphones and Wacom LCD tablets. Namely, a resistive screen (with capacitive feel) and built in stylus holder, so creatives can kick back on the sofa and sketch in an intuitive manner – not to mention, use Apple’s already developed hand writing recognition to pen text single handed – because when it comes to being creative, one hand is better than two. It’s the way we’re wired…
I hope Jobs sees this list!
Homer ?
http://randombuzz.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/homersimpsoncar.gif
lol nice one…
Now that Apple is being evil with their anti-competitive practices regarding apps in the iPhone App Store, every story I hear about new features or new products from Apple just makes me hope that Apple fails miserably.
I hope the Crunchpad completely owns Apple’s locked down POS.
At the risk of being flamed by individuals with no imagination and even less brains, I have to say that Doug’s epistle, although clearly written from an Apple Fanboy’s perspective, is the most logical assessment of the upcoming Apple Tablet rumours that I have read.
Whether you are an Apple fan or not (I own an iPod Touch, but carry a BB Bold for my daily use and all my desktops and laptops are running Win7), the fact that the iPhone was a game changer is undeniable. HTC, RIM, Samsung, etc. have all tried and failed to imitate the iPhone’s interface. WinMo is in dire need of a face-lift and from what I have seen thus far…..6.5 is NOT going to be that big a deal. S60 is really starting to show it’s age and RIM’s UI……well, let’s not even go there. I love my Bold and would not trade it for the World, but the UI could really use a face-lift.
Meanwhile, the iPhone and iPod Touch UI was built form the ground up to be finger-friendly. Who better to build a slick, user-friendly Tablet than Apple? Even If it comes in at the $699 – $799 price point, you better believe it will sell. I for one will be very interested in such a device. There is NOTHING on the current market right now that would get me to buy a Tablet. The Crunchpad is shaping up to be a very interesting device, and when it is released I will give it a close look. Always Innovating’s Touchbook should also be a contender, but i am not sure it will have the horsepower I would want.
However, if Apple releases a 10 – 12″ device, running Safari at a decent resolution (1366 x 768 would be lovely) with the kick-ass UI that Apple is known for, 3G as a built-in option and MicroSD expandable memory AND bring it to market at between $699 – $799…..sign me up boys!! The thought of my beloved iPod Touch with a 10 -12″ screen just makes me grin with anticipation.
Bring it Apple.
We’ll see how soon the FCC lets this little booger come out…
Interestingly enough, Bart Decrem of Tapulous owns the .com for tapplet.com (since early 2008).
apple would go like:
apple.com/tapplet
/ipad
/ipodtouchpro
or what ever name they come up with…
i’ve actually seen bigfoot (no joke, so please don’t tool on me) and while working with him in the gov labs, we used a prell combination shampoo and conditioner because of the tangling, but his hair was in fact very fine (which most people don’t know from the photographs)
there was, needless to say, tremendous debate within government circles regarding what kind of hair product to use on bigfoot, but thanks to a few research grant allocations, we were able to canvas major CPG manufacturers, access their scientists (for formulation) and produced a fine product using a base “prell” shampoo – though slightly modified with assorted calcium additives
at this point, and all of these years later, most people don’t even recognize bigfoot because he simply lives among us all, but for those “in the know” it is in fact michael arrington – after nearly 30 thousand dollars in electrolosis…
if you do bump into arrington, please don’t call him “hill boy” or “hairman” – and definitely do NOT stare him in the eyes or flash your teeth because that will only provoke him…
Cool
Worst fake tablet ever.
Who wuld type a document with two toolbars and a huge virtual keyboard in landscape mode ?
Plus, the keys are big and fully opaque : how could Apple do such a big mistake ?
It’s different not the iPhone, there will be more space between the virtual keys and look at what OS X’s Terminal looks like : it’s transparent but very easy to read.
original
A tablet is an idea that has been around for a long time. I dont understand why no other manufacturers have ever tried to make one and why they always leave it to Apple to be the first.
crunchpad = half the cost. SWEET!
crunchpad = no storage. HOLY @#%^!
sooo…..so much for a crunchpad….
I want this device (if indeed it exists). And I would pay up to $700 for one.
After using nearly every PDA platform there is since 1998, my current take-with-me device is the iPod Touch. With OS 3.0 (thanks, Apple!) and its copy/paste function, the Touch has become a full-fledged PDA. I realize that the PDA is supposed to be dead, but the sales of the Touch say otherwise.
Dead perhaps in a traditional WinMo or Palm style, yes. But a PDA, as in personal-digital-assistant is very much alive and well with the Touch. The Touch only needed copy and paste to be truly useful as a business tool.
I was hoping for a 7-8″ device, but 10″ will do nicely. I love my Touch, but more real estate would be useful for many things, not just entertainment. Especially as one ages, a larger screen can have it’s advantages. This could be my main mobile device, relegating the Touch to music only.
A friend of mine has a new Kindle and is gushing over how nice it is. I’ve been reading ebooks on PDA’s since my Palm Personal. Going to a Kindle would be like going back to my HandEra 330. THAT ground-breaking device didn’t last very long… (480×320 monochrome screen.) There’s so much more that can be done in a form-factor of that size and the Kindle is too limited. The only thing the Kindle has going for it, connected ordering and downloading of material, the iPhone and Touch already have in spades via the App Store, which is light-years ahead of Amazon and Microsoft.
Apple can offer a lower price unit by leaving Mac OS X out of it. the iPhone/Touch OS and UI scaled for a larger screen is fine. The sheer volume of apps currently available for the iPhone/Touch would make this device hugely appealing.
I’m not an Apple Fanboy. The only Apple product I own is a Touch (well, that and the Nano that runs our office “muzak” system). Everything else is Windows. But I’ve been eyeing a netbook as a way to serve my computing needs with something smaller than the 17″ HP notebook I currently tote around. I’ve been eyeing tablet PC’s for years, but their prices have always been out of reach. Acer has a convertible tablet netbook out now, but it’s only a $200 less (perhaps on par?) with the rumored price of the Apple tablet. All things being equal, I’d rather have the design and UI excellence of an Apple tablet over a hamstrung Windows convertible.
Can’t wait 10 – 12 inches is a dream notebook a la iPhone please!
-1
Buy some advertising next time.
deleted the bogus comment you commented on. thanks for the support. Seriously, it’s not that expensive!