Daring Fireball Weighs in on Apple Tablet
Daring Fireball's John Gruber often "guesses" what Apple will be releasing, and those guesses are sometimes dead-on-accurate, but when it comes to the iTablet/iSlate, Gruber says Apple's invoked a full on pre-January 2007-like "cone-of-silence". Still he's written up an interesting estimate of what, in his opinion, and iTablet just might be:
I say they’re swinging big — redefining the experience of personal computing.
It will not be pitched as such by Apple. It will be defined by three or four of its built-in primary apps. But long-term, big-picture? It will be to the MacBook what the Macintosh was to the Apple II.
I am not predicting that Apple is phasing out the Mac. (On the contrary, I’ve heard that Mac OS X 10.7 is on pace for a developer release at WWDC in June.) Like all Apple products, The Tablet will do less than we expect but the things it does do, it will do insanely well. It will offer a fraction of the functionality of a MacBook — but that fraction will be way more fun. The same Asperger-y critics who dismissed the iPhone will focus on all that The Tablet doesn’t do and declare that this time, Apple really has ****** up but good. The rest of us will get in line to buy one.
Gruber makes the kind of sense that does here. Apple will produce a large-sized, mainstream-targeted device that excels at handling the media iTunes excels at delivering, combined with the same type of (though not the same UI for) the ease of use the iPhone's multitouch technology and user experience wowed us with in 2007.
If they're making one. Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge.
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Article leaves out the piezo-electric morphing keyboard....
Apple phasing out the Mac. Lol.
Might as well say APPLE phasing out computer manufacturing. Lol.
@Gmachine Apple phased out their mid range tower a while back. I've always loved how the keyboard and mouse came to be the "standard" because in early computing there were very different ways of interacting with machines. Keyboards and mice are are not the most efficient way interact with data, only to interact with data in the way that operating systems have been developed. I'm glad that mobile phones and the iphone specifically have changed the way non-geeks interact with machines.
I am a user experience developer for the web and 10 years ago we couldn't expect a user to know that an icon of a house meant they needed to click on it to go to the home page... its a crude example.
If the tablet is indeed a more streamlined tool for interfacing with data, then application developers will port their products to the new platform. Economics 101 in full effect here.
I've seen laptops change shape and size dramatically over the past few years. Apple's enhancements to the mouse pad to enable multi touch gestures and swipes is one of those world changing ideas that opens all sorts of doors. you no longer need a mouse wheel, or a mouse at all for that matter just touch the screen where you want to move your mouse. And I'm sure they'll have a kick ass dock for it and you can use your wireless keyboard
I'm excited for the other tablets too for the same reasons.
sorry for typos and misspellings.
I’m mixed on the need for a tablet. I think i’m covered between my macbook and my iphone. the iTablet just doesn’t really seem to fit for me….maybe they will convince me otherwise when/if it comes out.
Depending on what Apple's doing here with this rumored tablet, it could be HUGE. I think the data center in NC will support OTA delivery of content, be it movies, music, TV shows, etc., along with housing the PIM data begun with MobileMe. I think 2010 will be VERY exciting. Can't wait.
I'm thinking it will run iphone OS 4.0 (maybe a variant). No way Apple doesn't take advantage of its app store.
Just think supersized ipod touch with some itablet unique features. With kindle and nook apps, its already an e-reader.
The fun is thinking what else apple could shove on there once you think big ipod touch. Definitely a front camera for video chat.
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Don't put black coroled device on a black table Please! And, Black Device next to black device (iphone 4) on black table? Anyone else see a problem?
I just don't see this thing being that big.
With all te speculation, I really hope apple intros this on January 26th at their scheduled event. I think we'll see an intro to iPhone os 4 And an update to the MacBook pro line and the MacBook air. This should make 2010 very interesting.
The itablet will be huge. It's very true... A mouse and keyboard are not the most efficient nore enjoyable ways to interact with data. The iPhone has pushed the envelope of what a touch interface can be, and brought it to the mainstream. The itablet will bring it to the masses in a versatile platform and allow for the development of much more complex gestures. It's a very exciting time. The next few years I think will see the evolution of how we interact with devices. The traditional keyboard and mouse will not vanish but they will start to be marginalized as people discover new ways to interact with their systems. I have been working on designing a brochure, instead of sitting at a desk tweaking the design with a keyboard and mouse I would love to stand and interact through gestures to move elements, add, rearange etc.
The itablet will allow for a new versitile input device. Bring it on Mr. Jobs!!
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I think that people who say that they don't see the "need" for an Apple tablet device are kind of missing the point. Since when do you buy an Apple product because you "need" it? Generally, I think consumers buy Apple stuff because it is cool and allows you to interact with information and media in fun and satisfying ways. I think the same will be true of an Apple tablet device (if one ever materializes out of the ether). Will it be fun and satisfying to interact with media on an Apple tablet? Heck yes! Will lots of people buy it because of this? Heck yes! I mean, my first and only real Apple experience has been with the iPhone, and I'm seriously thinking about buying a Nano just because it looks so darn fun. Do I need a Nano? Nope. Got an iPhone. Might I buy one anyway? Yup.
Ok. here it is. Everybody needs to think outside of the box. Have you guys thought about a slimmer and smaller 10 inch Macbook Air that you could flip the screen or have double screen and there you have it an iTablet. Maybe it's gonna have no traditional keyboard just a screen keyboard (like that of the iphone) on the lower part of the Tablet Macbook. And have space to cradle your iPhone. Wait thats too much but it'll be nice.
Cost will prevent this from becoming a mainstream device, as it has with the majority of Apple products.
informative post
Excellent post.
What do you think of the Apple Tablet?
I tell ya, I was disappointed this thing could have been insane instead Jobs settled for a cheap device.
Apple iPad Tablet
Good blog.
What do you think of the iPad Touch?
I couldn't believe my lack of excitement this thing should have been insane instead Apple settled for a cheap device.
Apple iPad Tablet
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it may be a bieggr ipod touch, BUT,A bieggr, better screenbetter for watching movieshd games10 HOURS OF BATTERRY LIFE!So is a bieggr ipod touch with those things realy a bad thing?
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