Apple Tablet rumor roundup: NYT speaks of 'impending Apple slate,' new SIM tray leaks (video)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted October 26th 2009 5:14AM
posted October 26th 2009 5:14AM
There's also a pretty big fuss being made this morning over remarks made by Bill Keller, executive editor at the New York Times responsible for the NYT's web presence. Speaking at an all-hands meeting with the Times' digital staff, the supposedly off-the-record speech somehow made its way to Vimeo. Here's the quote that has Apple fanatics and old-media revivalists in a tizzy:
"I'm hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that."Now, it's hard to tell if Keller is speaking from insider information or if he's just another member of the media convinced that Apple's tablet will be launched in the New Year. Then again, as Keller himself points out, Apple has always had a special relationship with his paper as routinely demonstrated in Apple's ads that use the New York Times landing page as proof of the "real internet" browsing capabilities of the iPod touch and iPhone. And with Apple supposedly in content delivery talks with the nation's newspaper of record, well, the remarks that begin at about 8:15 are certainly suspicious. Listen for yourself after the break.
[Via Gawker, thanks Robert S.]
Read -- SIM Tray
Read -- NYT 'impending Apple slate'
i lolled
I play with mine every day.
as in I play with my widget every day.
You know what I mean...
I’m not sure what he meant when he suggested their relationship with Apple is a mixed blessing? I tried my best to stay focused but his dry monotone delivery had me day dreaming. I did manage to perk up a bit when he mentioned the Apple slate and beyond, but other than that I remained under-whelmed. From other readings, it's clear to me that Apple will focus on media and reading content with an all-wheel drive communicator. So, I guess we’ll see the ambiguous iSlate in a few months time.
Regards,
Dan
This Tablet Thing thing reeks of Newton all over again.
No because Steve would sooner cut off his lucky charms then release a superior device like a newton. You can be assured that this will be nothing more then an oversized iPod Touch. Something like a Newton 2.0 with a refined interface would require actual innovation and that costs money.
PS- I still take notes on my Messagepad 2100. The community hasn't died. The UI of the Messagepad still kicks add and takes names compared to the junk that is on the iPod Touch. When I beat the crap out of Apple THIS is why. The 2100 may have not sold well, but it was simply a device that was released too early and wasn't sufficiently advanced enough due to the tech available at the time. the Messagepad was true innovation and makes me mourn for the Apple of old that actually would take risks with something really new vs. the play it safe Apple who's iSlate will no doubt be nothing more then a Touch, but bigger.
*yawns* Another week, another iSlate rumor. Meanwhile the rest of the Windows world is working on perfectly capable hardware in its what? Its 8th generation or something and a continuously evolving OS that at this point with Windows 7 rocks. Well I guess it will be nice for Apple users to get this device. Then they can bitch about how MS's implementation sucks. Oh wait, they don't need hardware to do that. In fact its easier to bash it with nonexistent hardware because you don't need to worry about those typical Apple 1.0 bugs and flaws. Never mind, carry on.
OMG the rumors for the iSIM were are true!!
In other news: *Confirmation Apple IS Working on Next iPhone!* ZOMG!
Really, like we couldn't figure that out.
You know, I was really excited about the Apple tablet-- until I saw the video of the Courier.
Do not believe any of this!!!
This is the same store that sold what they called iPhone 3GS spare parts before it even came out.
I do not know if anyone remembers it but they were selling a black bezel that included a higher earpiece.
The 3GS turned out to look just like the 3G so obviously they were selling fake parts.
Read the story here: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/05/chinese-supplier-already-selling-third-gen-iphone-bezel/
I must be the only one excited about Apple's Tablet rumors. I am looking for a small, netbook-ish device for web-surfing around the house, especially in the living room while the family watches TV.
Right now my family uses my iPhone but I'd like a larger screen. Our Netbook sits unused because of the long boot times, awkward interface and less convenient form-factor.
Archos' A5A is a contender and I am interested in Dells upcoming Tablet but I wish Apple would confirm this tablet rumor before I make a decision.
There are probably close to 10 such tablets out there (though most of them are from brands most Americans wouldn't recognize). If Apple had been the first to release a tablet such as this, they would have been seen as innovative groundbreakers. Instead, they're coming late to the game and will not have the success they did with the iPod
Quixotic - You realize Apple was "late to the game" with the iPod too, right? It's not like the iPod was the first PMP. Nor was the iPhone the first smartphone. Being first is completely irrelevant.
@Pingles: You are the only one excited because everyone else has been hearing the same sorts of rumors for going on two years now. People who might possibly know something making vague references to it, dodgy far-east "news" sources claiming Apple were ordering large volumes of 10" screens or such-and-such a part. It's all so very tiresome.
This is so lame... a sim card tray seriously.I wanna know bout the apple tablet as well but WTF?
A new iPhone this summer and possibly a Apple Tablet as well?!!!???!!! I will have a VERY happy new year!
Even if there turns out to be a tablet from Apple, these guys are still wrong because THEY HAVE NO FACTS.
I just love it, another top of the line Chinese product
I'm Amazed! However, thanks for sharing...
Dean
http://www.themasterseo.com
After watching the whole video and observing his body language, its clear that after announcing the "Apple slate" he was expecting some kind of reaction. The grabbing of his chin is a nervous reaction and something inconsistent with his body language throughout the rest of the video. It shows he is anxious at the announcement, excited perhaps at being one of the first to drop a "smack in the face" hint.
However, it could have also been a rouse - to spark excitement in his speech. This apple tablet rumour is circulating at great speeds and with much hype around the internet. It makes business sense to prepare for a next gen method of reaching audiences. The e-book market is taking of at an alarming rate and the islate could see the start of the mass consumption of digital print media, if a form of appstore for newspapers/magazines became available. After seeing the iphones extraordinary success at revolutionizing how the mass market (compared to blackberry's target market for example) consume the media and manage their social profiles, the idea of the islate being capable of the aforementioned change in print media consumption is overwhelmingly plausible. This could be nothing or it could be something - it depends on which way you view it.
At least you can have a midboard to go with your SIM tray http://www.chinaontrade.com/iphone-4gen-spare-parts-c-74.html
The evidence of the Apple tablet is mounting.
i think this apple slate he talked about briefly could be a ebook reader