Gizmodo honcho Brian Lam claims to have received a cryptic call with nebulous details on the much-rumored Apple iTablet, shedding light and casting in shadow at the same time. Highlights:
- Lam believes the source is in a position to know about the iTablet
- The source implies he or she has sat in meetings about the device
- 10 inch screen
- Looks just like a big iPhone (though that may change)
- 2 versions: with webcam and without (for education?)
- $700 - $900 price tag
- May function as secondary touchpad/screen for Macs
- OS is still big question mark
- Super-secret Lam-Googled product code name that "made sense"
So, do we know more now... or less?
Reader comments
Gizmodo: More (and Less) on the Apple iTablet
Still might be too early to tell. So far I've been playing switzerland on this topic, because I'm not too too sure about how the data connections would work and if people would actually buy this over the iPhone or even iPod touch. I'm neutral on the topic so i'll just sit back and watch the rumor gates flood open.
Why is there a 'call' icon?
Ok. Imagine holding the big screen.
Calling people.
Say. Hello.
Also, why is there an SMS and Phone icon on the "Dock" of this little itablet? Would it really be able to send SMS (dare I say, MMS!) over the carrier network? So basicly if you can get confirmation on mms, that would automaticly rule out AT&T! Lol again it's too early to tell for me.
It's one thing to have a phone with app's that have to be approved by apple because I will get confused or they duplicate functionality. Good luck with them pulling that off an another device. I'm sure apple would love to be able to make money off every application people use on their overpriced computers.
Gizmodo is a joke, and Brian Lam is a overbearing ham-handed tech blogger. Any criticism and he bans those who dare to criticize him from commenting. It's a website worth avoiding for its thin-skinned approach to "social" news.
I don't think this device will be carrier dependent. The fact that tethering has now been enabled on iPhone's, suggests that in order to have an active mobile internet connection, you would need an iPhone. I can't imagine walking into an AT&T or Rogers store and buying an iTablet as a standalone smartphone.
I like engadget better
remember this pic is a render not a actual pic. i think it will be mac os x not a iphone wanna be. def a reskin but will be able to install mac os apps from our comps. i for one will get one if they can sync with my iphone. i love ultralights but the macbook air is still a little to big and expensive and my netbook sucks even if i hack it it is just to slow. i need a personal comp to sync with my iphone and can use my current laptop as a server / workhorse which never leaves (which has already happened)
I don't rate this iTablet - I just don't see why you'd want/use it?
I hope the OS would be Snow Leopard (os 10.6) and I like the price tag and size of 10in. I hope it comes out.
What will it do that is better than any current device?
Making calls? No
Typing? No
Watching movies on the throne? No
Music? No
I don't get it
Is it going to have flash or do what a regular computer does
Tablets will be portrait format color magazine newsreaders. Nothing like that exists today. What will you do with a device like this? On your iPhone go to sites like www.iFastNews.com and browse around and shortly you'll become a beleiver. Why are no current netbooks made in the portrait formfactor? Soon all the other vendors will be kicking themselves
@ Mark just rotate graphics 180 degrees... or scroll down which you'll be doing anyway.
@Truth:
I predict you WILL get it.
I predict that within 6-8 months you and the rest of us will GET it by the millions.
This is the first major redesign of the personal computer since the laptop, and if the fanboys are to be believed, the only people on planet earth who can pull that off all work for Apple.
I'm betting its a Computer, a book reader, a web browser, a video player, an artists easel, a gaming device, an always-connected-better-than-Skype Video Phone, and more.
A Macbook Air without the bottom portion, your storage is on Mobile Me, your keyboard is on the screen.
Sure you can do some of these things in a half-assed way on that itty-bitty iPhone screen. But its painful and slow.
(I further suspect Apple talked a Wireless carrier into being a dumb pipe, and allowing every protocol on their network.)
.
.
Don't be so negative. That's my job ;-) - And I'm fairly pumped about the potential.
@icebike
I can tell your right now I am not buying that POS. You go ahead and act like its a great idea but I think this is going to flop. I am pretty much done with Apple and their products. I really like what Microsoft is doing with the Zune division and soon I will be selling my Iphone 3g for a Pre (new revision with the better build quality).
How can it be the first major redesign of the PC when all it is a big ass iphone that probably runs multiple apps. I still can't type effectively on the device so it fails.
The next major redesign is when someone comes up with an input that balances the feedback of a tactile keyboard with the appeal of a touchscreen. So far no one has nailed it.
@Truth:
No, it's just time to let go of the training wheels and the pacifier.
Obviously, as said, this IS a rendered design. I do know that. What i was trying to get out was that, if the designer were going to make a legitimate mockup, would be to remove the "Cellphone/iPhone" qualities or features. ...Just saying....
Take a look at that picture and think about this... the new iPhone! It really does look like it could be a next generation iPhone with an updated OS.
I learned long ago that an easy way to be wrong about something is to predict a major new Apple product will be a flop. The last time I did that was with the iPod mini (remember it?). It was something like $50 less than a regular iPod with something like a quarter of the space. I couldn't imagine anyone would want to buy it. It was an instant hit. Since then I've read people on various blogs and forums predict deathly sales numbers for everything from the Mac mini to the iPhone. Clearly, Apple has a good idea what people want and what they're willing to pay for it.
The description of the rumored tablet in this post is the first prediction I've heard that makes any sense to me. Imagine a Cintiq-like touch pad that can also be detached from the computer to which it's connected and become a small computer on its own. Also, those orders Apple placed for all those touch screens were for OLED screens, weren't they? OLED screens require no backlight and a device based on an OLED screen can be millimeters thin and possibly flexible (though the technology might not be quite at flexible yet).
So imagine a paper-thin (not literally) Cintiq-like touch pad that is also a paper-thin full color Kindle. I'm not saying that's exactly what Apple is developing, but doesn't that sound a little more enticing than some kind of netbook/iPod touch hybrid?
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