tablet concept

Apple’s big event starts at 10 am Pacific time on Jan.27, Wednesday morning.  Here are a few ways to stay on top of all the action, even before the event starts.

]]> http://ipodreboot.com/the-big-apple-tablet-count-down/feed/ 12 http://ipodreboot.com/steve-jobs-come-see-our-latest-creation-unveiling-the-tablet/ http://ipodreboot.com/steve-jobs-come-see-our-latest-creation-unveiling-the-tablet/#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:18:27 +0000 Jessica Moreno http://ipodreboot.com/?p=1265 ]]>
Flurry, an analytic firm, claims that they have proof that Apple tablet is in fact ‘in the works’.  Based on web traffic analysis from third-party software developers, Flurry says Apple’s Cupertino campus has been testing hundreds of mobile of apps on 50 prototype Apple tablets.

Reports say testers of the early iterations of Apple’s tablet have downloaded about 200 applications from clients that use Flurry’s traffic analytic software.  By tracking where download are originating from they say it identified dozens of tablet-like devices that did not leave the Apple campus and run a yet to be released operating system (version 3.2).

Apple’s current iPhones and iPod touch devices run on the 3.1.2 OS version, so this might indicate that the Apple tablet will be a giant iPod Touch, rather than running on a different OS.  However, Flurry also says that they noticed the iPhones running 4.0 software in the wild, pointing out the device running on the 3.2 version software is a different one.

The most interesting clue from the Flurry is the OS version the Apple tablet is running (3.2 OS version), which doesn’t particularly match with the recent rumors that the tablet will run on a more powerful OS which would allow the user to multitasking.  As for the iPhone 4.0 software, we might not see it live until this summer, the same time the new iPhone is expected launch.

Meaniwhile Steve Jobs  is expected, and excited to launch the tablet on Lanuarary 27 at an event called “Come see our latest creation”.

This would lead to the conclusion that Apple is unveiling new MacBook Pro with Core i5 processors this month.  If this email/rumor is really unveiling the Apple Tablet at the end of the month, then I would think Apple is unveiling the new MacBook Pro before that.

According to the newspaper, Ballmer will unveil the tablet as an e-reader and an all-round multimedia device. That’s more or less what Apple is likely to announce in a few weeks with it’s “iSlate” tablet.

This won’t be the first time Microsoft has touted the concept of a PC tablet and pushed it with all of its might. It’s been promoting its concept for more than fifteen years, but has so far failed to make little impact on the market with the device.

Apple, as with Google’s Nexus One smart phone, announced yesterday, is likely to shrug its shoulders at attempts by Microsoft to steal its thunder. It’s something of a tradition for Microsoft to announce products at keynote speeches in CES without them necessarily making waves in the future.

Previous reports suggested Apple is planning to announce the touch screen device at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco sometime between Jan. 25 and 27. The tablet, which hasn’t been officially named yet, is likely to measure 10 inches and offer Wi-Fi connectivity. The paper also reported Apple is working on two different finishes, possibly white and black finish like the iPhone, for the tablet.

The price however is still unknown. According to other reports the 7 inch tablet will cost $700 and the 10.1-inch about $1000. Freescale Semiconductor announced earlier this week that it has a $200 tablet coming out later this year.

Freescale, which supplies the semiconductor chips for this new breed of tablets called smartbooks, about one third the size of a typical netbook, is putting its weight behind this category with a concept of what could become everybody’s tablet. 

The Freescale tablet design (pictured above) has hardware close to what we have been hearing about the rumored Apple tablet: a 7-inch touch screen, 3-megapixel camera, various sensors such as a 3-axis accelerometer, and an ambient light sensor.

Freescale’s smartbook tablet features a potentially killer spec. for a $200 price-tag!  Next to an Android or Linux operating system, it also includes WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and options for a 3G modem. 

The smartbook design is built to run everyday-use applications such as a Web browser (with Adobe Flash support), an email client, an RSS reader, social networking tools and an office suite among others.

So far, no one has had a chance to look inside Freescale’s holy grail smartbook, but the chipmaker is planning to show off it’s design at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) later on this week.

According to analysts the deal Apple is offering is especially designed to take Amazon’s Kindle completely out of the tablet business.  They claim publishers are being offered a 30/70 split on ebook profits, with publishers taking the lion’s share; in contrast, Amazon is believed to demand a 50/50 split, only matching the presumed Apple deal if publishers agree to Kindle exclusivity.

Analyst’s reckon the device will launch in late March or April, priced at $1,000 each and with Apple selling as many as 1m tablets per month.

A senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, said to clients on Monday that the tablet’s success will come from confident consumers of Apple’s mobile platform.  It is expected that Apple will use an iPhone operating system on the tablet. This would enabling consumers to utilize most existing apps.

It is now being reported that Apple has been requesting it’s developers to super-size versions of their apps.  Such reports help fuel the speculation that existing apps will work on the tablet.

Analyst’s at Piper Jaffray now say that Apple’s tablet most likely will compete in the netbook category. While the Netbook focuses on its portability, the tablet focusing “more on apps, entertainment content, iTunes Store, and Web surfing.”

This technology would allow you to watch your favorite TV shows wherever you are; on your iPod, iPhone; on your notebook. 

The Apple Tablet is supposed to be a multimedia gadget and is larger than the iPod touch or iPhone, but smaller than a laptop. There is not really anything new in this, but if Apple is able to offer a-la-carte TV service via iTunes, the Apple Tablet would be a very sexy device to show the service off. The majority of users would watch on other devices though, including the good old fashion TV.