Picturing Apple's tablet computer
Steve Jobs, having overseen the development of a 10-inch 3G-enabled wireless multi-touchscreen tablet computer from his home, office and hospital bed, is finally satisfied with the latest incarnation and will be bringing it to market in early 2010.
That's according to a report Friday by AppleInsider's Kasper Jade, who first broke the story that Apple (AAPL) was working on such a device nearly two years ago and has been pursuing it doggedly ever since.
His piece describes a tortured four-year development effort, burdened with the "baggage" that any pet project of Steve Jobs' will carry.
"Under the critical eye of Jobs," Jade writes, "contours must be precise, each pixel of the interface has to match a particular vision, and there can be no fault — no matter how slight — or it's back to the drawing board.
"As such, AppleInsider has observed silently as the project was reset at least a half-dozen times over the past 24 months. Each time, development was frozen and key aspects of the device rethought, retooled and repositioned."
The latest complication, which Jade describes in detail, is a contretemps with Intel (INTC) over whether the device would be powered by Intel's Atom chip or an ARM-based design prepared in-house by P.A. Semi, which Apple bought-out last year for $278 million.
Jade has also taken a second crack at an artist's rendition of the device, having been told that the proportions of AppleInsider's first attempt were off. His new rendition, shown alongside an iPhone to provide scale, is re-posted above with his permission. He cautions everyone not to read too much into it.
"I tried my best, based on the vague descriptions I have," he writes. "However, I have no idea if it will resemble an iPhone as far as using the same casing materials."
The AppleInspider story dovetails with several independent accounts, including reports by Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster telling clients not to expect the long-awaited tablet before 2010.
Illustration by Kasper Jade.
See also:
Here's what Apple's tablet computer could mean. http://bit.ly/AujCa
Yeah, I heard that Archos is a real computer powerhouse company. I'll bet that beast will be running the latest version of Windows 7 or Vista II or whatever it's being called. If they're lucky they'll sell about 1000 of those craplets and never be heard from again. Archos is known for their world (in)famous customer support. Got a problem, too bad. Next caller.
That's right, Apple innovates nothing, but they do seem to improve products so that people actually enjoy using the them.
OK, I'm sure everyone around the world is waiting for Archos to drop their Windows 7 tablet powered by what else, a less than sprightly 1.2 GHz Atom processor. I can hardly wait to see Vista II running on the rumored Archos 9 at a snail's pace. It's a fine concept even to me, but we'll see how it's executed when the time comes.
not news a company called archos already has a 9" tablet pc coming out this fall. again apple innovated nothing here.
Yeah Sacto Joe, try the new Zune that is coming out. This will include an HDMI port that will allow you to plug it into a TV and play movies and games. I would expect the iPod to come out with it soon, but who knows?
While I am bummed that this is (supposedly) a Q1-2010 release versus a Q4-2009 release, this is good news, and as I have stated it's a real complex undertaking, as this is no mere iPod with a bigger screen.
Most fundamentally, it forces the company to define its "matrix" thinking between hardware form factors and software forking decisions (e.g., iPhone OS, Mac OS, hybrid OS, download anything anywhere, exclusively limit to App Store), not to mention the service layer and developer tool interconects between same, a topic that I blogged about in:
Apple, the ‘Boomer’ Tablet and the Matrix
http://bit.ly/DwziS
Check it out, if interested.
Mark
I really wouldn't call the picture an "artist's rendition". It looks like he took a picture of the iPhone and then stretched it. Yeah for you, you can manipulate a picture in Photoshop to make it look like a big iPhone with no home button. Really this is your update on the Apple Tablet? Let us know when you actually have something substantial to report – until then why don't you report on Michael Jackson, we haven't hear anything about him for the past 2 seconds.
BTW, does anyone know if some enterprising programmer has made it possible to play iPhone/Touch games on a TV or computer monitor, and use the iPhone/Touch as the controller? For a while now, I've thought that would be a natural.
I guess the arguement for a 10" tablet might be that one could fit a full-sized virtual keyboard on it. But I'm not sure that that's a good enough reason to go so large. The iPhone's keyboard is only useful for "thumb typing" or single-fingering, but it seems to me that a smaller keyboard would still function decently. I've got big hands, but I think I could work a 7" virtual keyboard, at least with practice.
And a larger screen means increased weight, breakability, cost, and refresh rate, and lower battery life. I'm sure all these things will enter into the equation.
Apple Tablet may be launched this Christmas or possibly as early as September. I hope this will be another great rally for apple earnings. I will buy one of this for sure. The iphone started to be too little to stay all the day looking things. I am a great fan of apple product so started collecting all the information (more than 200 sites) about Apple Tablet(News, Videos, Pics, Pre reviews, Rumors etc.,). If you are interested take a look at the below link
http://markthispage.blogspot.com/2009/07/apple-tablet-large-iphone-or-ipod-touch.html