Rumor: Apple tablet delayed
Steve Jobs' next big thing is being retooled, Asian supply-chain sources report
Artist's rendition. Image: Silicon Alley Insider.
Live by the rumor, die by the rumor. Or at least go on life support.
The Apple (AAPL) tablet computer that all Silicon Valley has taken as a given — but no one outside of Cupertino seems to have seen — won't be arriving early next year, as widely rumored, and may not appear until the second half of 2010.
This according to a report Thursday in DigiTimes, a Taipei-based daily newspaper that covers — with uneven results — every hiccup in the Taiwanese and greater Chinese electronics industry. At one point, MacRumors, which trades in Apple gossip itself, stopped citing the paper without heavy disclaimers about its track record (see here.)
Still, the report includes pricing and component details that, if true, could cause Apple's competitors to rethink their own product plans. Among other things, DigiTimes reports that Apple is gearing up to make two models, one with a 10.6 inch LCD screen, another with a far more expensive 9.7-inch organic LED (OLED) panel.
Based on the cost of components, an OLED tablet might sell for as much as $1,200-1,500, according to DigiTimes, although the price point could be reduced if subsidized by, say, AT&T (T) or Verizon (VZ). DigiTimes' sources expect the 10.6-inch model to priced in the $800-1,000 range.
You can read the full report here. Take it all with a grain of salt.
UPDATE: Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, one of several analysts who had predicted an early 2010 launch, issued his take on the DigiTimes report in a quick note to clients Thursday morning:
"Bottom line. At this point we cannot confirm or deny the validity
of this report, but believe the exact timing is irrelevant given
Street models do not currently reflect the tablet, expectations
for actual units in 2010 are low, and investors focus is more on
whether the tablet is real and less on timing."For purposes of sensitivity, assuming the tablet comes out on
September 1, we believe Apple would sell around 650,000 units at a
$600 ASP in CY10 and would equate to an increase of about 1% to
revenue."
Apple shares closed at $200.51, down 5.45 points (2.65%) for the day.
[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]
http://keetaro.blogspot.com/2009/11/apple-next-500-pounds-gorilla.html
Next 500 Pound Gorrila
Riiiiight, geniuses. The only difference between the iPod and iPhone or the Mac Book Pro and the MacBook are the screen…
Yeah, Apple NEVER markets similar products, at different price points, to different sectors like the MacBook and MacBook Pro…
Yeah, iPhone and iPod Touch are not similar at all. What goofy person made the comment that apple never puts out similar products.
I am very much looking forward to this product. The apple tablet will be the ultimate game changer. This product will change everyones lives.
There is no way this rumor is true, because Apple would never have two products that are so similar. Instead, what would happen is they would release the non OLED screen model first, and just when those sales are tapering off, only THEN would the OLED model come out. And it would come out for very nearly the SAME price as the old model. When does it NOT go this way?
This is how the game is played in technology (even in the wintel world up until about 8-109 years ago when they just completely gave up). The longer you wait, the more you get for your money.
Apple is GREAT at this, and these upgrades drive their business. They are planning about 12 quarters ahead of everyone else (but the rest of the market isn't even planing, they are, Microsoft style, waiting to see what sticks to the fridge.)
http://keetaro.blogspot.com/2009/11/apples-black-friday-deals-leaked.html
Apple’s Black Friday deals leaked?
I echo the comments on the board. Apple is a great, innovative company and when it is ready to launch its tablet line, it will likely prosper.
Has anyone on this board checked out http://www.laptopsanytime.com? I have a library colleague who is planning on placing stations for people who need a laptop on-the-go.
Wow, one week before black Friday there is a rumor that the hottest anticipated new product will NOT be out right after Christmas? Could this maybe have been leaked to encourage people to make a buy decision instead of wait?
Are you thinking about buying an Apple Tablet?
http://www.polladium.com/poll.php?poll_id=395&location_id=1
Take a couple seconds and vote anonymously. Curious to see the results.
Tony
This is all speculation, so every comment/theory is equally valid/invalid. Still I have to laugh at those who say with certainty that "if it costs more than $600 it will flop." Right up there with the brainiacs that said "no one will buy a $599 cell phone." I think one of these einsteins runs Microsoft…
PED according to your own comments below
"ex ped: Henry Blodget was charged with fraud. According to Wikipedia, he settled without admitting or denying the allegations and was subsequently barred from the securities industry for life. He was not — repeat not — as you assert, convicted of theft."
Why do you not include this info in the actual commentary so as to give the readers unaware of this bloggers past history a chance to make an informed decision? I appreciate the fact that you want to report this as it is newsworthy however to do so without pointing out the authors past possible criminal wrongdoings is disturbing. PLease put these stories into the context that they are brought up. He was barred from the securities industry for life for a very good reason! That alone should be a reason to be wary of what comes out of this persons mouth.
ex ped: I didn't include it in the original post because DigiTimes, not Blodget, was the source of this particular rumor.
Worthy of an article as we approach the season of giving thanks. Technology assisting those in need.
http://www.dynamiccontrols.com/index.cfm/1,151,html/iPhone-iPod
I used to abhor short sellers who panicked the hooples into selling. Now I just see it as an opportunity to add to my long position.
But it's not like the old days, eh, short sellers? Dropping the stock a few percent makes for a pretty thin profit, especially when time after time this year you've been caught off guard and had to rush to cover your exposed hind ends.
Well yeah after many watched that Six Sense is coming out Open Source people Apple probably decided hm…maybe iTablet will not be a good idea after all?
Read it yesterday on mwd
http://bit.ly/4Blbqf
Wow, what a pile of Apple fanboy crap. Speculating on the speculation of a vaporware product! Where's the real news!!!
If this doesn't launch in the $500-600 range it will be the biggest Apple flop since Newton.
There is already little to no interest in a tablet which has limited functionality. Combined with those rumored prices – ouch.
A rumor of a rumor makes a fact in a blog post. Why in the world would Apple make a product with the same use case one has a OLED and the other LCD with double the price. Has anyone looked at the panel capacity of LG for OLED screens. If you look at OLED and LG, the capacity for a 10" screen is non-existant for a mass market product. LG is bringing a new 3.5g (730mm x 460mm) factory on line which will be capable of 8,000 fabs per month or about 100K displays per month by the end of 2010. They have a current total capacity of maybe 2.4M panels which are primarily going into smart phones. Smoke and Mirrors.
Seriously, the Apple Tablet is becoming more and more of a holy grail.
Give it a year or two, I'm sure there will be fan fictions and documentaries or even video games about the ever so mystery unicorn tear washed gadget.
Somehow I find it inconceivable that Apple would launch two tablets with nearly the same size screen.
Where's the "reality distortion field" when you're reporting hearsay from an unreliable source about a product that itself is just speculation? How do you defend MAKING STUFF UP just to fill a hole?
I'm not sure which is worse: this or the "Twilight fans tweet about the Eggo shortage" story on CNN.com/Money.
ex ped: Suggest you watch what kind of traction this story gets today, R Carr. You might start with Techmeme here.
This could be a planted story by a short-seller of Apple, trying to manipulate the stock.
Or it could be a planted leak by Apple, trying to lull their competitors into thinking they have more time to react to the as-yet unannounced product.
Or not.
you are just a tool of the option writers who have a concerted effort to spread negative news today and tomorrow to keep apple from crossing 210.
henry blodgett is a thief, convicted – that yahoo employs him as the face of yahoo is meaningful – that he post rediculous innuendo as news is nothing new – especially when it is blatantly designed to bring apple into strike price for options expirations ….thanks yo SEC
ex ped: Henry Blodget was charged with fraud. According to Wikipedia, he settled without admitting or denying the allegations and was subsequently barred from the securities industry for life. He was not — repeat not — as you assert, convicted of theft.
Why bother writing this story if the source is so unreliable? I suppose you just needed a catchy headline for the day.
ex ped: 1) It could be true. 2) It's getting widely reported as news. 3) I thought my readers should be warned to consider the source.
Of course that dough wad Henry Blodget is presenting this without the disclaimers. Interesting that this would come out on a day that futures are heavily in the red.
The rumors are building. All over the internet is talk about the Apple tablet. http://www.islate.org