This guest post is by Jeff Scott, founder and publisher of 148Apps, a blog providing fanatical coverage of everything iPhone and hopefully soon, the Apple tablet.
While we still don’t know the name of the new tablet device; could be iPad, iTablet, iSlate, iCanvas, or an extension of the MacBook name. But what we do know, due to many recent leaks on the announcement coming from Apple next week, the tablet is being targeted as a gaming device.
Connections with the device and gaming started when the Wall Street Journal reveled that Apple had been working with Electronic Arts purportedly to have games available to demo for the device reveal on January 27th. What games EA will be presenting, we don’t know. This follows earlier reports that Apple had been in contact with “select developers” to create apps to showcase on the device. At that time we were unable to find anyone to admit to working with Apple for the Tablet launch.
Then in the last couple days came indications from many gaming related publications small and large that they had been invited to the special Apple event on 1/27. This shows a clear push by Apple to have the device covered in the games press, pointing to gaming as a major target for the device.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Apple tablet as a gaming device.
Hardware
The tablet device is expected to have a stronger processor than the iPhone 3GS which will make it well suited for games. But it’s also expected to have a screen resolution of at least 640×800 since it will also have a larger screen. This means that the device will have to work harder to put graphics on the screen with 4 times or more the resolution of the iPhone. An upgraded graphics co-processor will help with that to some extent — as will extra RAM. I think we can expect all of those.
Form Factor
The tablet is expected to be rather large compared to the iPhone. Rumors range from a 7″ to 11″ screen. My bet is on 2 models — one at the low end and one at the high end. The smaller one targeted at gaming and the larger for more general use.
Imagine if your iPhone had an 11″ screen — roughly 9 times the size of your current iPhone. Picking up that device and moving and tilting it to control an accelerometer based game. Similar in size to lifting and tilting your laptop to control a game. It would get tiring, quickly. Especially for us lazy Americans.
Moving an 11″ device around quickly to play a twitch game makes little sense, really. Not to mention the potential for damage to the device and it’s surroundings. Think of all of the stories and pictures we saw of the Wii controller being thrown into TVs, windows, and faces. It will be that same story all over again. But this time you are throwing around a potentially $1,000 device not a $45 controller.
On the other hand, a 7″ device, roughly 4x the size of the iPhone wouldn’t be nearly as bad. Still rather large for a portable gaming device, but much more workable.
Operating System
All indicators are pointing to the tablet running an expanded version of the iPhone OS 4. We can assume the major new features of that OS will be resolution independence and support of more hardware varieties. Much as OS X has been created to work on different platforms, processors, devices.
The expanded iPhone OS will likely include an update to the way you view the installed apps on the device. Having a 4×5 grid on an 11″ screen wouldn’t be too appealing.
I expect we’ll see iPhone OS 4 beta released to developers quickly. It’s expected to be a fairly big change to allow it to support the tablet. It’s early release to developers will give them extra time to update their apps before the general release.
Data Connection
I think we can say that Wifi connectivity is a given. The question is will there be some form of cellular data connectivity with AT&T or Verizon? I think it’s likely — but I really hope it will be optional and not required to purchase the device. I really don’t relish the idea of paying AT&T (or Verizon) an extra $60-$100 a month to use another device.
Another option, while a long shot, is be that it will tether to the iPhone in your pocket utilizing it’s data network. That is once AT&T finally support tethering that is. I find this much more appealing and hope it will be an option.
Expect connectivity and cloud services to be a major push for the tablet. Mobile Me has been moving further that way with each revision. Apple also recently bought LaLa, a cloud music service. Many see iTunes going toward the cloud and the tablet would be a great device to take advantage of that.
We might even see an officially supported social gaming network from Apple like XBox Live from Microsoft. And I don’t think it’s out of the question to think Apple might jump-start this by buying out one of the networks already created, it’s not very likely.
Interface / Game Controls
We can assume that there will be no joysticks or control pads on the device. That would be very non-Apple. Apple has committed heavily to multi-touch control and we expect to see more of that for the tablet. And for games, that’s pretty good news.
While many prefer hardware controls, developers of iPhone games have made great use of multi-touch as controls for games. Here’s an example of TouchGrind — one of the games with the most interesting and unique interfaces on the iPhone — running on a Mac and utilizing the multi-touch trackpad on that laptop.
The advantage of a large multi-touch screen becomes instantly clear after seeing that video. While the iPhone is limited by hardware to 5 simultaneous touches on the screen, realistically it’s more like 2-3 to provide good control without obscuring the whole screen. With a larger screen, you are presented with more options for multi-touch.
Unfortunately, this also exposes the main issue with multi-touch, obscuring the screen. This is multiplied when you have a larger screen. Notice in the above video that the game uses the trackpad as the multi-touch device not the screen. When you touch the screen, you obscure parts of the display. With an iPhone, it’s just your fingers in blocking parts of the screen. With a larger device, your whole hand gets in the way obscuring even larger parts of the screen.
There have been some rumors floating around about the potential for a touch sensitive back on future iPhone devices – similar to the top of the Magic Mouse. And there have been insiders quoted stating that we will be shocked at how we interact with the tablet. Putting two and two together, it’s not out of this world to think that the tablet might be the first device with a multi-touch sensitive back. Another possibility, as seen in the Palm Pre and other mobile devices, an area on the front, apart from the screen, that can be used as a touchpad.
While I’m sure the accelerometer will be included in the device — as it will be required to be compatible with some iPhone apps and games. It doesn’t make as great of a method to control games in a large device. As mentioned earlier, the thought of quickly moving around a large, expensive device like this, is rather scary. Not to mention that the games on the iPhone that use the accelerometers are tuned for the movement of a small device — moving a larger device will make all of these games seem a little off until they are tuned.
iPhone Apps on a Tablet
It is pretty certain at this point that the tablet will run iPhone apps and games, hopefully unmodified. It’s possible that they will need to be certified to work on the device though — much the same process we had with OS 3 and apps being certified to work with that new version of the iPhone OS. Compatibility with the tablet will likely be the biggest factor of the iPhone OS 4 certification.
The Games
Using games designed for a 320×240 screen on and increased screen size brings up issues. One of them being that if the game display is just scaled up to fit the screen, the graphics will look rather chunky. Most games use sprites sized specifically for the screen size of the iPhone. Up to this point that has always been 320×480. The tablet will have a larger screen resolution and require new graphics to take full advantage of that for full screen apps without scaling. This isn’t something that’s easy or quick to change. It could take a lot of work depending on how many different raster graphics there are in the games.
3D games are less effected as they can scale. But they will still take some work and updated graphics to be properly tuned to the larger screen size. Some of the textures used for the 3D objects may need to be upgraded for instance. And performance will most certainly need to be tuned for the larger screen size.
Multiplayer Games
While there have been a few instances of simultaneous multiplayer games on the iPhone, the small screen makes it difficult. A device with a larger screen will make that experience much more compelling. Both traditional games, like board games, and arcade games could take advantage of the larger screen and increased multi-touch capabilities to support multiplayer games.
Imagine a high resolution Scrabble, Chess, Checkers, etc. game on the tablet device where you can play either simultaneous multiplayer on a single device or across multiple devices.
Beyond traditional games, a first person shooter could use the device split screen and allow multiple players to compete in the same game.
Tablet Games Demoed
With all of the games press invited Wednesday we know that we will see some games demoed on the new device. For early demos Apple generally sticks with large developers — ones they can trust with keeping secrets — when choosing who to demo a new device. We heard previously from a developer who had 3 days, sequestered at the Apple campus, to develop a demo of in-app purchasing before the press event for iPhone OS 3.0. They will also occasionally throw in a small developer if the risk is worth it for a really good demo.
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Apple has been working with EA to create a games demo for the tablet. We can say pretty certainly that EA will show one or more of their games at the event. First guess is that it will be something we haven’t seen from them yet, not just one of their games updated for the new device. Apple likes to make a big splash with the demos at press events.
Another possibility is that we will see Mirror’s Edge. When Mirror’s Edge was first shown late last year, it looked fantastic and was one of the first games EA had really developed specifically for the iPhone. We heard recently from EA that Mirror’s Edge had been delayed at the last minute. That along with the story of EA working with Apple to demo the tablet raises a red flag and makes it a candidate to be shown Wednesday. Apple is known for asking developers to delay apps to be shown at large press events like this. Perhaps EA delayed the game to tune it properly for the tablet.
Another possibility is World of Goo. After contacting 2D Boy over a year ago looking for info on World of Goo for the iPhone we’ve been in contact occasionally. They announced a running prototype in October for World of Goo for the iPhone. At that time they said I should contact them in a month for more details as the game needed to be tuned. Since then they have been silent and haven’t responded requests for info. Another red flag raised — perhaps Apple contacted them and asked them to work on a tablet version and required them to be quiet on the whole thing. World of Goo could make a really good multi-touch game.
I’m have sent 2D Boy this theory and await their response. Even a ‘no comment’ would be good news for this theory.
Apple and ngmoco:) have had a pretty close relationship with ngmoco:) demoing at multiple different Apple press events. That and ngmoco:) also been rather quiet lately. That might indicate they are working with Apple and we may see something from them on Wednesday.
iTunes Account Sharing
Currently, you can authorize up to five desktop machines under a single iTunes account. This means that those five machine are authorized to play any protected content that account purchases. And, those five machines can sync to as many iPhone OS devices as you wish. So you can have an iTunes Account and all apps purchased on that account, shared amongst every member of your family – no matter how large that family is.
But, will that licensing model extend to the tablet? It makes sense for Apple to extend the license to the tablet as it will help them for sales of the new device. If you can have the same apps on your iPhone as your tablet without paying extra, that will make people happy. I don’t relish the thought of having to purchase apps for the iPhone and re-purchasing for the tablet to use them there.
But it can also be said that the tablet is more of a computer than the iPhone. And most software for desktop computers is licensed per machine. There could be some push back from developers on this. But initially I think we’ll see that it will be able to work with all of the iPhone apps you have already purchased.
Game Prices
As we all know, the prices for games on the iPhone are unbelievably low. Low even compared to other mobile platforms and especially so compared to the other mobile gaming devices.
Will Apple find a way to drive prices higher for apps on the tablet? While we expect the tablet will be seen from an App Store perspective as just another iPhone OS device — like the iPod Touch — it’s possible that Apple will segment certain tablet apps. Perhaps we’ll see multiple versions of the same games — some for the iPhone that work on the tablet — and extended versions just for the tablet.
Another possibility is that the rumored premium app store will actually be for expanded tablet apps. We may see expanded apps — apps to take advantage of specific tablet hardware like the increased screen size — segmented and at higher price points on a premium app store.
There are a lot of possibilities on what the tablet could be. But no matter how it comes out, we know Apple is going to push it, much like it has the iPod Touch, as a gaming device. How successful it will be is up to the app developers.
All of our questions will be answered soon. I for one am very excited for the announcements on Wednesday. While I don’t consider myself a hard-core Apple fan boy, I am very excited to see this new Apple creation and what it will mean for mobile gaming.
The killer thesis on Apple’s Tablet by CrunchGear: Bullshit.
The Tablet isn’t a gaming device. It has casual games for added value, that’s all.
I love how all the hardcore gamers are dismissing this because their FPS of choice would suck on a tablet.
Guess what, not everyone cares about the latest greatest graphics, as evidenced by the popularity of games on the iPhone.
The iPhone is a popular games device because it’s portable.
And if you’re a gamer you care about graphics although not as much as you care about usable controls.
Well everything is finished now..
OMG for the games. Although I keep hopes that its cool to play a game on a tablet, I think a lot of Gamers would still disagree that this will be ‘in someway’ at par with the consoles that we are enjoying right now. Even those handheld gaming consoles are still leagues better than what the tablet is proposing. (Anyway, I’m just talking about the games)
A few months earlier, when the rumors were flying around about an Apple tablet; I could care less. But now, I absolutely can’t wait. Was it the build up of hype? Or maybe the prominent features it has to offer are really wowing me, even though they are only rumors. Could it just be Apple itself that has this effect? The Jan. 27 statement of Apple will surely be amazing. Compiled details: http://bit.ly/iphone-4g-apple-tablet-details
Exactly. The iPhone is great as a five minute time killer, not a gaming platform. It’s its pocketability that makes it a winner not the catalogue.
Why the hell would I want to carry an 11″ slate when I can equally carry an 11″ CULV laptop with better games?
Thanks but no thanks.
Apparently, you haven’t played Need for Speed: Shift or Grand Theft Auto on the iPhone/iPod Touch. You’d change your “5 minute time killer” argument, I’d wager.
I doubt it. I’ve got a Nintendo DS and it has as good or better games. It’s good for the commute when I’m not driving. That’s it.
Wow, I guess everyone’s eager to grab this tablet as it is quite handy when gaming. I just hope it won’t cost me an arm and a leg purchasing this cool gadget.
No – just your legs. You’ll need your arms to use the tablet.
No, I’ll be using my nose.
That’s really the issue, and why this isn’t “just” an ebook reader, i’m guessing. Buy a Kindle or nook for $260 if that’s all you need it for. I cannot see buying a thousand dollar device (or near that price) for color e-reading, even though I’m a huge comics fan. Add gaming to the mix at closer to console resolutions, and it starts to make more sense. Add computing and 3g access, and it’s even more compelling.
Now add magazines, newspapers, internet, iWork, iLife, iTunes, TV, music, video, 130,000 Apps, GPS, dictation, hundreds of peripherals, and you start to get the idea.
By the way, the latest rumor is the price will be much less than $1000.
I’m sorry, I just don’t buy it. People don’t like gaming on a touchscreen device. I’m sure it will be a much hyped feature of the tablet, but “Killer App”? no way.
” People don’t like gaming on a touchscreen device” – are you serious? Have you ever used an ipod touch/iphone or seen someone with one?
What planet are you from?
iPhones are fine for playing bejeweled or something, but actually “gaming” like this article is talking about? no, not gonna happen. if it requires more than a two points of input, people don’t like using a touchscreen.
Tho only other type of gaming people do on iPhones involves using the accelerometer, and no one is going to do that with a 10″ device.
Ever hear of the most popular handheld device to date, the Nintendo DS? Very heavy use of a touch screen, I’d say.
the DS also had physical buttons for games other than Brain age or Nintendogs…
ok, let me revise my statement.
People don’t like using ONLY a touchscreen for gaming more complicated than Solitaire.
Appstore sales say you´re dead WRONG
Appstore sales compared to… Xbox game sales? Wii game sales? Steam game sales? Nintendo DS?
If you’re going to pull the “numbers don’t lie” card, please, have some relevant numbers.
Comapred to what?
Modern Warfare 2 sold 4.7 million copies in the first 24 hours. $310 million in sales.
Have all iPhone games total revenue reached MW2′s first 24 hour revenue numbers?
@ Hakkon : Yes. Apple has over a billion downloads. And most analysts say that’s about 60% games. So, 600,000,000 games have been downloaded for that platform. Last I checked, 600 million is way the fuck more than 4.7 million.
Granted, most of those aren’t Gears of War quality games, but most people don’t play a game that is as immersive as that. I know I don’t.
I’m a busy person. I like games I can play in a few minutes, leave for a week, then come back to. I don’t like first-person-shooter type games where I have to learn maps and weapons and shortcuts. My brain is full of useful information, not gamer cheat codes.
Give me a trivia game, word game, or silly racing game any day.
You morons. DOWNLOADS and SALES are totally different. Show me 1 iPhone game that has made over a million in SALES.
You need to visit the App Store.
Cue GTA:CW sales…
It’s more complicated than Solitare.
It’s one of the best game for PSP and NDS, and now for the iPhone/iPod Touch.
It tops the Appstore TOP GROSSING list in merely TWO days.
It’s on the TOP 5 most downloaded list, swarmed by whole lots of $0.99 apps despite is comparably more hefty price tag.
People would definitely PREFER tactile feedbacks for games, but that doesn’t mean they DON’T LIKE using ONLY a touchscreen for gaming.
hey guy, you have to think in terms of apple people. the people you talk about are not apple people, they are gamers and rational thinkers (lol the irony) and also blarone caronne mentions that the maxipad is not a gaming device but a casual gaming device is right. you know apple is going to appeal to the base of people and market to those who don’t like to think. i think it’s a win win for all, and as health talk and you mentions above, it is going to encourage people to not be active. this is just another keep fat people fat technology. they should adopt some motion sensor capabilities like the wii.
You’re full of crap. Apple users are more educated and have higher incomes than people who use PCs.
And that’s kind of a no-duh fact, since they cost so much more they’re bound to appeal to professionals and people who make more than average income. So it’s an artifact of price, not intelligence.
And yet, creatives prefer Macs. Photography, Video, Movies, Advertising, Marketing, Publishing. People who think.
Your other point is valid, but you’re dismissive people being rational or not, and people who care to think is so patently false, I have to assume you’re projecting your own inadequacies.
Eric, you really aren’t doing yourself any favours here by being an elitist dickhead.
Plus, of course, everyone knows that the people with brains use Apple hardware – Macs – but run Windows 7 on them.
I know I do.
@Mark A
I seriously hope you´re trying to be funny here.
Just in case you are serious:
You absolutely haven´t understood what Apple is all about.
Thats all I´m gonna say.
Actually Bastian, what I’m saying is that I’m smart enough to make a choice based on what suits my needs and am wealthy enough to carry that choice out which kind of slam dunks Eric’s statement.
Apple hardware is better than the other OEMs. Windows 7 is better than Snow Leopard or Ubuntu. Simples.
But go on, give me a laugh and tell me what Apple ‘is all about’ and how that ties up with my intelligence and financial wealth.
“Actually Bastian, what I’m saying is that I’m smart enough to make a choice based on what suits my needs and am wealthy enough to carry that choice out which kind of slam dunks Eric’s statement.”
Actually Mark, as a self proclaimed “smart person” I am sure you are aware of the fact that a single example doesn´t disprove a statistical finding. Let me give you an example you might be able to grasp:
Statistic says “John” is the most common first name in the US. Now if anybody pipes up and calls BS because his name is “Scuzzlebutt”, well, that doesn´t prove or disprove anything. You might wanna read up on the subject.
“Apple hardware is better than the other OEMs”
Not true:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/laptop-reliability-survey-asus-and-toshiba-win-hp-fails
“Windows 7 is better than Snow Leopard or Ubuntu. Simples.”
Again, as an intelligent person I trust you are capable of thinking in a bit more complex terms then black and white. Actually there are a lot of use-cases and personal preferences to be found out there and simple statements like “This is unconditonally better then that” just don´t befit your above average intelligence.
“But go on, give me a laugh and tell me what Apple ‘is all about’ and how that ties up with my intelligence and financial wealth.”
How this ties up with your intelligence and financial wealth? The answer to that is astoninglishy simply. It does not tie up at all.
If you read my comment carefully you will notice I have not made any statements or even implications about your wealth or intelligence.
As for the part what Apple is all about. I´d really love to explain this to you. I have tried to explain this often in the past to a lot of different people but failed miserably every time, which led me to believe that either:
1) The concept cannot be explained (think Matrix and the blue pill. Or was it the red one?
2) I suck really, really bad at explaining this.
3) There is nothing to be explained but all Mac fanbois suffer from some form of mass delusion.
Pick your favorite.
Tsk. Tsk.
Eric’s assertion was “Apple users are more educated and have higher incomes than people who use PCs.”
See, since one of my degrees is in Maths I can point out the errors here:
Firstly, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and presume he meant Apple computer users, not iPod or iPhone users.
In this case he’s partially right – if you take the populations you’ll find that when you compare them as a whole Apple users are generally better off and better educated. Of course, the massive flaw in the logic is that the populations are not directly comparable because the PC using population includes a substatntial subset who are excluded from owning Apple computers because of cost barriers – a better comparison would be to compare, say, the top 20% of earners/educated people and actually see what they’re using.
That’s actually a pretty basic statistical principle, Bastian. Surprised you didn’t know it.
“Apple hardware is better than the other OEMs”
Not true:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/laptop-reliability-survey-asus-and-toshiba-win-hp-fails”
And if releiability was my sole concern and not, say, a combination of usability reliability, cost and durability that might sway me. Perhaps we could use some other reference point which takes into account such a spectrum of criteria such as… oh I don’t know… customer satisfaction?
How do Apple do there, Bastian?
“Again, as an intelligent person I trust you are capable of thinking in a bit more complex terms then black and white.”
Well yes, I can. However since the broad consensus – certainly in the mainstream technical review sites such as CNET, ZDNet, Trusted Reviews and other -is that Windows 7 is, in fact, a better OS than Snow Leopard for most people I’m prepared to go with their judgment especially as it’s confirmed by my own personal experience?
That would be sensible would it not?
“How this ties up with your intelligence and financial wealth? The answer to that is astoninglishy simply. It does not tie up at all.”
I know. Which is why your reference to me not getting what Apple is all about is somewhat curious since it has no relevance to my post.
Finally, there’s no need for you to state what Apple is all about as that should be pretty transparent to everyone: they’re about making as much money as possible for their stockholders. Pretty much the same as avery other profit making company.
and, before the Wii, who thought people would jump around their living room to play a 480p game? No one. And it’s sold more units than anyone else.
Just sayin.
Is there any way to preorder this? I don’t need to know anything about it, It’s from apple and that’s all I need to know.
That could very well be. We all see how many games are in the App Store and so it would be no surprise to bring gaming to this device as “one” of the killer apps.
don’t see myself playing call of duty on tablet.
I think games like RTS’s would be cool, EA = C&C so maybe.
also diablo like games would work pretty well.
we are not going to get fps’s unless there is a decent control system but I think that games could be huge on it.
Yep, my thought exactly.
You have to distinguish between the genres.
Yes, action games and FPS won´t lend themselves easily to a touch based input scheme.
But RPGs and RTS could do very, very well. I can completely imagine myself playing WoW or something like that with a touchscreen based input not to mention C&C and the like.
On the other hand: there is no technical reason why you shouldnt be able to hook up a controller to the tablet, so even FPS aren´t completely unimaginable.
Apple can easily keep a tight lid on any peripherals they have planned for this device. Imagine a portable device you can dock onto a pivoting arm at home that is connected to a keyboard and mouse and still retain its touch screen controls. Then you could play more kinds of games. Or they can release the monitor with the pocket in the back that can dock an iPad just like the patent they had for one a few years back. They want to control the peripherals market just as much as the phone and app market. Just don’t hold your breath on getting any of those peripherals until at least christmas.
isnt a tablet too big for multi touch games? to have control, wouldnt you pretty much have to cover the entire screen with your hands?
even on that skateboarding game, you would have to cover up half the screen with your hand just to control it. imagine how much more difficult it would be on a football game or a grand theft auto type game?
Real-life tiny skateboard toys cost about $11 at Amazon and if they fall, they won’t break.
My livelihood depends on the use of computers but people should really see other options.
Hmm … when $45 Wii controller meets $2K TV, it costs much more than the $1K iFrizbee to replace.
This can be solved by not throwing shit at your TV.
The fascinating possibility is a whole new way to interact between eyes, screen and touch. The iPhone was a breakthrough. The tablet could be another — whether it really advances gaming or not.
Actually i think the presence of gaming press is more related with new OS 4.0 features, also to be available on the iphone and ipod touch. Example: a unified xbox live type service, instead of the several clones we have now
There’s little question that the Apple Tablet will make an outstanding game device. Strategy, puzzle, educational, simulation, casual touch/tilt titles, and board games are a given. Just picture a 3D chess board with a video of your opponent in the corner.
At the same time, there are genres that just don’t make much sense here: sports, platformers, shooters, and action titles. Without proper controls a tablet can’t offer the breadth of a dedicated gaming device. Also running ~5x the price of a Nintendo or Sony handheld and lacking first and second-party publishing muscle, I can’t see Apple making much of a dent in the market for young gamers.
Among adults, this might be a worthy new platform for the casual gaming market.
“Among adults”: RIP Neo Geo….
Yeap, the first game will be “Screen cleaner”.
Seriously, a gaming device? If so we are lucky, there will be no stupid *Flash* games… ;)
I better see a device to read my RSS feeds in my bed instead of a laptop (too big) or an iphone (too small).
Nobody is suggesting that gaming will be the sole function. Communication, entertainment, productivity, and connectivity are what the device is supposed to be all about. What’s clear though and not often discussed is that beyond browsing the web and watching movies, this will be the perfect device for filling in crosswords, playing 3D chess (with video chat), and a whole lot more in the gaming arena.
Totally agree- gaming will be key on the tablet along with all of the other millions of things it will do. I’d expect it to be at least as capable as the iPhone- which has been surprising as developers master the hardware if not leaps and bounds above.
Perfect for board games like Risk, Scrabble, Monopoly… etc. I am excited
“Imagine if your iPhone had an 11″ screen — roughly 9 times the size of your current iPhone”…
This would make my iPhone’s screen 1.2″. How exactly was this calculated?
Screen sizes are measured diagonally — 11″ screen is about the same as a 3×3 grid of iPhones.
Geometry was not your strong suit was it.
1×1=1
2×2=4
4×4=16
I’m pretty sure they compared the area of the screen. So inches squared, not just inches.
I have a theory that similar to the Kindle, the tablet will enable the downloading of apps without a data plan. And, perhaps a limited set of low-intensity data-required capabilities will be subsidized into the device without a monthly cost in order to allow access to the iTunes/App Store platform. This would keep network strain to a minimum but still leverage Apple’s platform. If this was the case, I’d also expect there to be a monthly data plan option that allows full data capabilities which would be more intensive (i.e. streaming, +10MB d/ls, etc.).
We’ll see!
whispernet for the iPhone and iPad? That would be awesome.
But really it just seems like they’ve been gearing up for the iPad all along…
look at the the Magic Mouse, Macbook Air, iPhone, and ever diminishing keyboard size on iMacs.
Cram this tech all together and what do you get?
A touch everywhere, keyboardless, thin, but large screen on a mobile device. Sounds like something people would want and surely buy.
Agreed.
Apple clearly posesses all the skills and tech that is needed to build a device like that (and then some ;))
You are not a gamer. The only reason the iphone games are good at all is because they are all made for a tiny screen.
Any attempt to a larger form factor has to include HD graphics otherwise you instantly loose any ‘real’ gamer.
The tablet could support USB or bluetooth controller but, without the graphics what is the point.
You are 100% wrong. Without a top video card and strong enough processor you are just playing baby games.
The killer app for this platform will be medical/clerical related, NOT GAMING.
Wasn’t there rumour of a high end app store – might alleviate the problem talked about at the latter end of the article.
And another point, the only reason iPhone App sales (in games) is high is simply because everyone is trying to justify the high cost of the phone.
They are desperate to find something good to do with it. Frankly how many apps (or games) do we really even use that we download??
I love my iPHone but we all know 99% of all “APPS” we download are cute for a few mins and useless waste of time and $$ after.
Even the best lookign games on the phone I have I can’t play longer then the line I am waiting on. Otherwise it is XBOX and my surround sound on HD screen without a doubt.
There are are ALOT of games that are actually really good. I say that has an Wii and x360 owner, and ex DS an PSP owner (had 2 of each).
You are only showing ignorance about the subject.
Ignorance?
Consider form factor, screen resolution and actual limit of controls. These do not scream gaming platform. Again, you have many many iphone users who download tiny apps for under $10.
If all games on the iPhone were as much as other platforms I do not think they would have the same sales records.
Also there is a big diff between buying and USING what you purchase. Most games/apps are used a few times and forgotten.
A money making machine YES!
Real gaming potential as a serious machine sans HD and real controls? NO!
Ignorant? From this same site:
Pinch Media Data Shows The Average Shelf Life Of An iPhone App Is Less Than 30 Days
by Erick Schonfeld on February 19, 2009
One of the most telling slides in a recent presentation he gave shows the drop-off rate in iPhone app usage (see above; entire slide presentation embedded below). For free applications, only about 20 percent of users return to use the app the first day after they download it, and then it quickly drops off from there. By 30 days out, less than 5 percent are using the app. The chart for paid apps shows a slightly steeper fall-off rate. So there is a very brief window of time to capture people’s attention and potential revenues.
No sir you are ignorant. The tablet is going to be aimed at a wider adoption of iphone apps into the Medical and Office space.
Games/entertainment I believe will be second.
They are trying to take the form factor and app delivery of iphone to a size big enough for business to get serious about it.
SUCK IT!
I TOLD YOU SO!!!
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/the_healthcare_system_an_apple_tablets_biggest_opp.php
THE killer app for the tablet will rather be the killer paradigm of…
sharing screen media and social media interaction.
The large screen size, light weight, and viewability angle of a tablet will make it the most social media device on the market.
Yes we can already share media between devices wirelessly, but this will be the first real shareable device – one that can not only be passed between people but also used by multiple people at the same time.
This is where Apple’s multitouch innovation will shine.
It’s very likely that Apple’s tablet will be designed to allow at least 2 people to use it simultaneously, by that I mean recognise hand movements from different users – even if this is calibrated by the application being used. And/or it could allow more than 10 fingers to be used simultaneously.
Which brings me to the topic at hand – gaming on the tablet.
I’m looking forward to playing multiplayer mulittouch games on its screen.
2 player air hockey would be very cool!!!
It doesn’t take much imagination to see the media sharing and social gaming potential for a tablet.
As for standard PC/console games like Mirror’s Edge and World of Goo… it’s likely they will be ported to the tablet at some point to stand with the rest of single player or multiplayer turn-based games, but they don’t point to the game development innovation we are likely to see emerge for the tablet.
If you want to understand tablets and their potential markets – think shareable media and multiplayer multitouch gaming.
A friend of mine actually developed and recently launched ice hockey game for iPad. Downloads are accumulating like crazy… even at $0.99/download it looks promising.
Creating a killer app is about market instinct and process. A few notes on the process side of it: http://www.bianor.com/blog/20-easy-tips-to-help-you-create-a-killer-mobile-app/
There’s a dimension to input that you’re ignoring — the third. Maybe the tablet has built-in hand tracking when you’re waving over the tablet. Microsoft has something similar in the labs for Xbox. Maybe it has a specialized co-processor for gestures.
Suddenly — boom — a whole new market for wholly new games. Apple does it again?
First off, I own no apple products because I can’t afford them, and I won’t be buying this tablet.
That said, the people who expect developers to port their fps to this thing are idiots. Plain and simple. Those aren’t the types of games for the demo that will be buying this tablet. Do you really expect apple to put a top of the line gpu in this thing to satify the fps crowd? Its just not realistic for a dozens different reasons, topped by cost, battery drain and heat.
My guess is that this device could open up a whole new gaming platform like the wii did. I also expect this thing to sync when it hits a wifi hotspot, making 3G not necessary. 3G will surely be in it, but use will be optional.
I think there’s a whole new genre of games that could open up with this thing.
One final thought, apple makes a killing on the app store. My guess is that’s the underlying purpose of this tablet: to open up a whole new platform dependent on the app store. Making bucks off the work of developers you don’t have to pay. For apple, the app store is the most brilliant part of the iphone. Cash cow. Sell the tablet at a loss. Make a bundle on the apps for years to come.
Build something better then you miserable troll. Apple will change the world once again. You play on your 386DX.
Umm… If you didn’t understand my comments, my point was that this device WILL change things dramatically. I’m a PC, you’re the troll. Please re-read my post.
I need this tablet to accommodate my Sims from Sims3. They are getting out of hand. I can’t have them on my regular desktop.
There’s stores around Union Square saying they will sell the Apple “Tablet” when it comes, it’s just being called that.
Since the beginning, Apple projected iPod touch as the gaming device. I think, it would be tricky to project the forthcoming tablet as gaming device without cannibalizing iPod touch.
My take is that the tablet will be projected more of a reader (for books, magazines, newspaper) than a gaming device.
So, I know many people think that ……oh….. you can’t control a game just touch, or buttons are better.
First, I do not think it would be too difficult for them to program and digital “controller” display on the touch screen. It could be not much different from the normal AWSD keyboard, or something more like an Xbox controller.
The BIG picture here is as some have stated before. That Apple has even considered making a strong move (assuming it is true) into the gaming industry will change the future of games, gaming, and platforms. GAMERS! Stop complaining and REJOICE in the plausibilities that may come of this! Even if the device sucks……the next one……might not. Always remember that.
We over at Flurry have a lot of respect for Jeff Scott, and believe he knows his stuff. We just released a report, also covered here on Mobile Crunch, that adds an additional data point in support of the Apple tablet as a media and gaming device.
You can read it here: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/01/24/breaking-flurry-notices-cupertino-based-users-testing-apps-on-apple-tablet/
Thanks,
Peter Farago
VP Marketing
Flurry, Inc.
No, it will *all* of the above. If you load a game it will be a gaming device. If you load a book it will be a book reader. If you load a website it will be a surfing device. And so on. Just like the iphone. But a bigger screen, more cpu and more memory allows you to do more specialized things … if you load Spice it will be a device for designing and testing electronic circuits … an open-ended design like the iphone can be anything you want. For musicians a bigger screen and multitouch allows it to be various instruments – the software is already there for the iphone but suffers from the small screensize.
Maybe a big surprise in store? Amazon recently bought Reflexive and is selling their download and play casual games on Amazon….. Will we see them transition these games to a later version of Kindle? Would Apple buy a studio/distributor like Amazon did to stay ahead of Amazon?
Maybe this is unrelated but Bigfish has asked all of their affiliates to request payments before the 28th of this month. Normally payments are requested prior to the 15th and that has already occurred this month? Why the special payout? Bigfish also inked a deal with Playfirst for exclusive rights to new releases earlier this month…..
Casual Games like those produced by Bigfish/Playfirst are perfect for a tablet. Will Bigfish be powering itunes download and play games??? It’s a longshot but who knows????
I want a RTS game on this device!!!
Think Warcraft 3, with multi-touch controls… that would be AWESOME :D
Seriously, Apple just keeps on getting better and better every day.
RT
http://www.online-privacy.int.tc
Please add to the list of killer apps for Apple Tablet our pinball games Wild West Pinball, The Deep Pinball and Jungle Style Pinball.
“damage to the device and it’s surroundings” should be:
“damage to the device and its surroundings”.
“utilizing it’s data network” should be:
“utilizing its data network”.
“a large, expensive device like this, is rather scary” should be:
“a large, expensive device like this is rather scary”.
now that was a very helpfull contribution to the discussion, thank you!
One of the reasons I dislike Apple products is the attitude. The ‘I own an Apple so I’m better than you’ mentality that most (not all) Apple fanboys seem to have. Not all Apple owners make more money than PC owners. There is a proliferation of PCs in the workplace, and the majority of the business software out there won’t run on a Mac.
I will give credit where credit is due…Mac computers have long been known for their creativity and multimedia capabilities. My second computer was a Mac back in 1992. It had video and sound capabilities that shamed the competition. Was it worth the three grand I spent on it? No. It was a toy, no more. A well designed and aesthetically pleasing toy that did what it was designed to do…but no more. Upgrades were proprietary and expensive. A PC can do anything and everything a Mac can do. Plus play games. At a decent resolution. Smoothly. Every computer I’ve owned since have been PCs. I won’t go back.
I understand we’re not talking about computers, really. This article was about a possible tablet. Will it play games? Maybe. Maybe not. I really don’t care, as I spend most of my free time with my family. But when I play a game, it is on my PC, an affordable beast that I have lovingly assembled myself. Try that with a Mac.
As for the app store subject…I admit the only way to get a foothold in today’s marketplace for portable software is to make your programming language available to everyone. This is a shortcoming with Microsoft. I have a ZuneHD, which I absolutely love. The oled is better, response is faster, and the Marketplace is superior. But MS refuses to let anyone code for the apps. If they change this, iPod will have serious competition.
I believe the new device shall be named ‘iEgotrip’
Or if it fails to impress…the ‘iSegway’
BTW…I use a PC…and I’m a Mechanical Engineer (take THAT, Eric)
+1 rep
I don’t believe it’ll become a gaming device like a pc or console. Touchscreen might look neat but it has limits. I tried playing this fps on an iphone, it’s no good. I’ve also noticed that games on a mac seem to lag more. They don’t run as well. Apple has no big experience with games so I doubt it’ll be that important in this sector. The tablet seems more like an e-reader with nifty gadgets, like the iphone is just a phone with some extra features.
I don’t think you’ve thought this through very well.
FIrst of all, according to numbers that I’ve seen, any tablet that Apple produces will cost anywhere between $800-$1000 US. Even if you throw in a mobile subsidy from Verizon or AT&T of $200, you’re still looking at a gaming device that costs between $600 and $800?!? For a gaming device, e-reader, and media player?!? Are you kidding me? The things that made the Nintendo DS the most popular gaming platform were price, portability, and lots of games. I don’t think that Apple would have any problem attracting developers to the tablet; however, given the price, it’s a non-starter, a niche-device.
Second, the form factor is essentially the same as a laptop. Let’s not pretend that it’s a small mobile device. Anything with an 11″ screen is not going to be carried around in your pocket. You’re going to put it in a laptop bag, a backpack, or a messenger bag of some kind. How is that much better than an existing laptop? Answer: It isn’t. I don’t want to carry a tablet or a laptop around with me constantly. But I don’t mind having a phone in my pocket.
Third, you don’t have a keyboard, so you can forget about using it to do real work. You’re mostly going to browse the Web, do social networking, read articles, play videos, and possibly play games. But you’re not going to be using it for real work. Which makes it a very expensive toy.
Fourth, what makes publishers think that people are suddenly going to want to start paying for content, simply because they have a tablet? This is pure fantasyland. Amazon is touting numbers for Kindle saying that they “sold” more electronic books than real books; however, that’s really a lie, or at best a gross exaggeration. Most of the Kindle books aren’t “sold”. They’re given away for free. Nobody seriously considers this tablet a “game machine”. It’s not. It’s designed (if you can believe the specs) for casual gaming. Coffee table gaming. Simple crap. Which means that you’re not going to pay $50 or $60 for a game; if you do, you’re insane.
The more that I examine this device, the more it strikes me as similar to “Apple TV”. It will certainly ride a wave of hype until it’s released later this year, but ultimately it’s nothing more than an overpriced, underpowered, poorly factored laptop.
You Apple people are totally out of touch with reality. No serious gamer would be caught dead playing any of the terrible iPhone or Apple tablet games. 45 year old housewives and 16 year old disabled children are probably sweating in anticipation though.
i guess no one told apple that tablets are on the way out. its a dead technology, why would you want a device which cannot fit in your pocket, when you can get a device that will fit in your pocket (smartphone) that does almost all of the same stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA
An interesting range of opinions about the gaming capabilities of an Apple tablet.
@Sarah with an S – your logic, if applied to other consumer devices like laptops and the humble tv, falls down.
It’s very likely that Apple is positioning a tablet as a shareable device, one that doesn’t need to fit in your pocket, but can be carried underarm without cover or in something similar to a laptop bag, although the obvious target market will be to have the tablet find its home in living rooms, boardrooms, design studios, etc – anywhere where people meet and would like to share viewing media without squinting at a screen the size of a smartphone or having to find a good spot/lighting/etc to view a projector/tv.
It’s likely Apple’s tablet will, beyond its core functionality, surf and sync wirelessly via AppleTv, and even drive AppleTv to be rebranded as a wider media station hub.
For gaming, it will be able to run any games the iPod and iPhone can, and possibly visually higher end games.
An initial version won’t have to play games as fps rich as a PC or console can deliver. This capability will evolve over time.
As I wrote earlier, the scale of an Apple tablet would allow 2+ player games via an enhanced multitouch capability.
But the key benefit of a tablet over a laptop or phone will be its portability, application versatility, and shareability – when needed being able to hang on a wall in the kitchen showing a video of cooking instructions, or pinched by one of the family’s kids to play a game while the rest of the family watches the tv, latter allow Mum to view new photos in an online family photo album while sitting in bed waiting for her husband to get off his PC, and watch a vid with him when he finally gets into bed.
And it’s likely someone, if not Apple, will make a wireless/bluetooth keyboard for the tablet, allowing it to be used like a desktop when the need arises. I can imagine a company making a very lightweight plastic L-shaped dock to hold the tablet vertically like a laptop screen with room on the lap part for a keyboard, making it as easy to type on as a laptop while sitting in bed or at a desk.
Again, an Apple tablet will fill a very strong need in our lives, by better bridging the real/analogue and digital ‘components’ of our lifestyles – better than any device so far by being almost as portable as a laptop, as versatile in its functionality as a laptop, but by design easier to pass around and share viewing/interaction with media with other people in our lives.
And although some users will take it with them everywhere, just as some business users prefer using their iPhone instead of lugging a heavy laptop, others like families and design studios will mix using a tablet in-house and taking it ‘outside’ to share and present media.
This is an ‘end-game’ device as it ties all of Apple’s other products together – giving them a social media device to sync and share their content with.
For this reason it won’t initially be as big a seller as, for example the iPhone, but within 3 years it will have worked its magic by justifying other parts of the Apple consumer device ecosystem by pulling them all together and giving them a more social face than any other Apple product.
The future will be here! I’m very excited!
obviously there will be a lot of iPhone ports and touch games. but what if you add bluetooth controllers and emulators to the mix?
wtf is wrong with these people (those in the comments)