According John Paczkowski over at
All Things D, Apple is planning a "
major product announcement" for Wednesday, January 27th -- not the 26th as
we've heard in previous reports. Additionally, the French site
Mac4Ever says developers have been given a beta of the iPhone OS 4 SDK which includes a "simulator" for reformatting / scaling applications to a new, tablet-sized screens. Here at Engadget, we can confirm that sources
very familiar with the situation over in Cupertino have been given info about a tablet heading for launch at the end of January, which will -- in fact -- require reformatting and resizing for (we assume)... yep, its
new screen size and resolution. As far as details, they're pretty scarce right now, but you can probably begin preliminary salivating and / or player hatin' as it relates to new Apple hardware. We'll have more info as it becomes available, but for now, stay tuned.
Update: The
Wall Street Journal just added its support for the rumor by saying that Apple will unveil its "new multimedia tablet device later this month" with a "10- to 11-inch touch screen" with plans to ship it in March. The WSJ's sources claim that Apple believes it can "redefine the way consumers interact with a variety of content" as we've been hearing all along. [Thanks, David]
posted January 4th 2010 4:45PM
So after a full year of ridiculous overhyping in both blogs and mainstream media, it's just a super-sized iPhone?
Fail.
@cherryboom - well, smartypants, tell me who one can follow tech news and avoid being bombarded by stupid iTardlet news left, right and center on a daily basis?
@NewL
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/04/islate-specs-revealed-we-also-have-a-bridge-to-sell-you/
@NewL
Awesome! Now you can play fart apps on a 10 inch screen!
@NewL Is it possible that Apple could have a completely new OS(4.0) that will be new to the iPhone 4G AND the iTablet? That would be a pretty huge announcement in my book. Could have completely updated visuals, resolution compatibility, feature set etc. Apple is gonna have to do this at some point and why not do it now when WebOS and Android are starting to look better.
*YAWN*, Wake me up when an actually device magically materializes from all these rumor vapors.
@NewL This is hardly conformation that the device is a 'super-sized iPhone'.
Who's to say that iPhone OS 4 isn't a touch friendly version of Snow Leopard? Or that The Tablet hardware will even resemble that of an iPhone? The bottom line is it's still very unclear what The Tablet / iPhone OS 4 are and what there place in the market will be.
I wouldn't be so quick to write the device off as oversized PMP.
@NewL Ahahahahahaha!!! I knew this all along. iTablet = FAIL. oversized iphone for $1000? keep it... their major aim for their iphones and ipods now are gaming, and the fact that Apple refuses to deal with hardware keyboards, ever think they will make that gaming experience easier with attachable joysticks?! NO!
PSPs and DS's will still rule til then.... and I still hate the iphone's OS. webOS FTW > CES THURS! BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!
@Mack Stone Jesus Christ. You're too emotionally involved in these arguments...
@NewL
It makes total sense that it would have cellular technology. So to call it an oversized iPhone is really fair. The design philosophy will most likely lean towards iPhone.
My biggest concern is pricing. Pricing on such a product is do or die. If this isn't priced properly, it could die an early death. A device like this should be priced like a netbook. Material wise (battery, screen, wireless) if Asus can sell at a netbook just short of $300. Apple should be able to drop something at $400 and still make a considerable profit margin.
If this this is more than $400, it's going to be a real tough sale for me. And if it requires an AT&T or Verizon cell contract, forget it.
@Mack Stone I like you. You are smart.
@nohumanape
I think this is *exactly* what I think will happen also. Apple probably doesn't want to diverge the two product lines too far apart. They have way too much momentum with the iPhone/Touch these days among developers and users. And from a practical standpoint the iPhone/Touch UI will scale nicely from a 3.5" -> 10" screen in my opinion.
I would bet iPhone OS 4 is going to include:
-Multi-tasking UI via the Dock, Expose.
-Widgets (on a 10" display you're going to want something more interesting than just lots of application icons and a black background)
-File management -- user home directory to share data between apps. Most likely to be tied into MobileMe for cloud storage
-E-Reader application for both the iPhone and tablet -- content is synced & shared between devices.
@Mack Stone
Haha. Yes.
@Mack Stone
And the Apple shareholders know once again, that marketing is key to any successful technology product launch and ensures solid branding of their product. Wash, rinse, dry, repeat.
@Mack Stone
That was honestly the best thing EVER.
Copy and paste.. Showing everyone at school tomorrow.
PS: Almost got into a fight today because some kid told me his jailbroken iPod touch was the best MP3 player ever, and that it was 10 times better than my Zune HD, and even the cowon S9..
lol worst. but Mack Stone.. Highest rank
@Mack Stone
You forgot to mention some things: where people rabidly defend the product prior to its' launch, during the launch and after the launch despite the fact that there are some very vaild complaints. They will dismiss those who don't like it as geeks and...oh well, I guess you really already are enacting my prediction.
The iPhone did a lot to change consumer phones out there, but there were (and still are) some things about it that are not as good as other phones. It's not about geek vs. non-geek- it's about things that should matter.
I'm not saying anything bad about Apple, but your post is apologizing for some features that the iPhone lacked and dismissing any criticism of the device- which is just as bad as people disliking it for no reason.
The iPhone lacked some very basic phone functions until earlier this year, like SMS. That's not a "geek thing", that's a simple function that lots of people used prior to the iPhone that they couldn't do. It still can't do proper multitasking, which IS somewhat geeky, but will become more and more important as other devices continue to mature.
The iPhone is great. Let me say that now. But to claim that only geeks found fault with it is assinine. The iTablet will likely have the same issues. Some people will love it despite its' flaws, others will hate it despite its' great aspects. But you're no better than the people who hate the iPhone if you can't even begin to engage in an intelligent conversation with the other side. Dismissing their legitimate complaints only makes you look like a fanboy.
I think the iTablet will be simple, sexy and will have lots of applications. I also think it will be overpriced, be a part of a closed ecosystem, and apps will have to conform to Apples' standards. What is more important to consumers? That remains to be seen. Me, I'm a Ubunu user who owns stock in Microsoft and Apple, so while I have little use for Apple products (lordy how I hate closed ecosystems), I'm kinda hoping it's going to sell well.
What is the big deal here? It's just a giant sized iPhone and everyone is going crazy.
@OG Phenix : Currently there are NO valid complaints, because there are no verified facts to complain about.
@OG Phenix correction, the iPhone HAD SMS, it just couldn't do MMS.
@Mack Stone
So true........
i wish number 7 would be true, but i think its way to late for apple to enter console gaming, even though the console would be amazing
@DRoizman As the new decade is starting to unfold, and having its CEO being the decade of the year nominee with its 2 of the products (iPod and iPhone) hailed as one of the best gadgets of the decade, their Tablet having a warm buzz is well predicted.
Following the glorious path, hopefully their new tablet a.k.a iSlate will perform its goal on 2010 ,'a yet another phenomenal gadget for the decade' Details: http://bit.ly/new-apple-tablet-best-or-worst .
@OG Phenix Despite being one of many who criticised the phone for not having MMS, and then AT&T for taking forever to launch it when even the tiniest carriers in the world did so when iPhone OS 3.0 came out, I think I have sent maybe two MMS messages so far.
It doesn't help that AT&T are dumber than a sack of rocks and don't recognise incoming MMS messages as such, sending me to email anyway.
@Mack Stone Touché. Get's a plus from me!
@Rooboy Really? You almost got into a fight over a stupid ass MP3 player? I fear humanity, really do.
@OG Phenix
OMG, I think you're proving Mack Stone's point there.
I would like to throw in my two cents. I'm a Linux guy too, so I hate Apple products on general principle, but for the first two years that the iPhone was out I noticed that almost all of my non-tech friends, regular people, non-geeks, whatever you want to call them, bought iPhones in droves, even when I complained about the deficiencies to every one of them.
They didn't care.
Since that time I broke down and bought a iPod Touch because I was tired of waiting for Android to get some decent media management. The stock Android music app sucks and TuneWiki is close to being decent, but honestly it's not there yet. I have a big problem with that, since I'm part-time musician.
So how do I feel about the iPod Touch OS after using it a few months?
It's good. And my biggest criticisms with it have almost nothing to do with multi-tasking or most of the other complaints you constantly hear about the iPhone and exclusively from geeks. I've honestly only wanted multi-tasking one freaking time while using my Touch and that's for Skype. And even though Apple has now put copy-and-paste on the iPhone/iPod Touch, I can honestly say that I haven't had a reason to use it one time. I thought it would be more important to me, but honestly I've just never required it.
My general feeling is that Apple got all the important stuff right, which is why it's been so popular. People are a lot more critical of a product that doesn't have a good stock music player than if they don't have something silly like MMS (You said SMS, but I think MMS is what you meant). I think Apple understands stuff like that.
Your comment to me describes to a good extent the phenomenon we see where geeks are shocked when Apple products become successful despite their complaining. The honest truth is that the only way their product won't sell is if the regular people don't like it and regular people don't find geeks favorite features vital to their user experience.
@Mack Stone
LOL awesome!
Hmm... I'm not sure a keyboardless netbook/mediabook is going to be worth $1000.
If it had great battery life and a keyboard, I might consider it.
@Mack Stone
8) Rainbow sn0w comes out for the iTablet.
9) Microsoft Table crys a little inside.
@NewL
I wonder how this will go down to people used to 199$ subsidiced iphone prices.
That is really going to shoot apple in the foot when releasing this with 1000$ price.
I know that the iphones real price is about 1000$ but apple has muddied the water so much with their subsidiced prices that most people in US will see only enlarged iphone with 5 times the price.
@sweet greggo Yes one of the 600 or so fart apps available in the app store.
'There's plenty of apps for that"
@xCrunk I'm guessing it will be at least $600. This is Apple after all.
@Mack Stone Comment of the day.
Regards,
Angry Geek
@Mack Stone You forgot about these steps:
Step "4.5": Users find a major bug in the Apple tablet that screws up users data/apps/music/pictures/whatever. Angry geeks rejoice, until Apple fixes it two weeks later.
Step "5.5": AT&T's network continues to suck, making an otherwise awesome device a pain in the ass to use when you're not near a WiFi hotspot.
Step "8": Apple releases a new tablet that is twice as fast, and costs half the price. Apple fanboys rant and complain about how they got ripped off... while waiting in line outside the Apple Store for the new version.
@Mack Stone
You can't imagine how badly loyal Windows users want the Apple tablet to fail. Beating Steve Ballmer and crew after earlier Windows tablets failed to interest the masses. They'll claim Apple didn't do anything better, they just got lucky. Even I have to give props to the Kindle for being reasonably successful to get people to start moving to digital books. So many claimed that the Kindle would be an outright failure. When techies start talking about some device being a failure because they don't like it, you know something is in the wind. Techies always assume that non-tech users will feel the same hatred or love about a product as they do. The average consumer can pick up something he's never seen before and if it works, it's like magic to him. There are people I'm talking to and they still haven't heard of a tablet or even knew devices like that existed.
Well, the pundits and analysts will have their say but it's up to the low-tech consumer to decide the fate of Apple's tablet. I figure if they can buy Kindles, then they can easily buy Apple's tablet. Yeah, I know, why buy a Kindle or Apple tablet when you can use a netbook instead which will do a LOT more. I wonder how many people wanted TV to fail because they already had radios.
@NewL
translation, after years of Apple not saying a single word about their upcoming device, its going to be shown in 3 weeks. Any emotions about unicorns or other mythical creatures you may be feeling right now are not Apple's fault.
@Mack Stone
Engadget Post of the decade.
@Itchy Britches Oh no, I know why Apple product are successful. Most of them are pretty darned good. I don't dislike Apple or anything. My point is that despite being good, they have flaws for a lot of people. Me? I use MMS (sorry regarding the typo earlier) frequently to send pictures of error codes and display errors on military equipment to our contractors. It works wonders to help troubleshoot a problem when your contractor not out in the field with you. So the iPhone lacked something I needed when it launched.
Apple makes great products. The iPhone is responsible for the single largest shift in phone technology since they first started doing email. Every phone manufacturer had to step up big to match Apple, and EVERYBODY who owns a smartphone can thank Apple for the advancements Apple started.
That being said- I still have criticisms for it. I still cannot stand the Apple store and the reliance upon iTunes to get content to the phone. The iPhone should not be like a game console where somebody has to approve the game. If I want productivity software, I should be able to get it without having to install iTunes (which on any OS other than OSX is a trainwreck). I don't like not being able to stream music while I do other tasks.
The iPhone isn't perfect. That is my only point. The iTablet will not be perfect. That's not saying they have to be. Many people don't need the things I do out of their hardware. More power to them. But to say that the only people who have issues with switching are geeks is foolhearty and reeks of some sence of superiorty. It's a good phone. But there are still things their competition does better.
Outright dismissal of any complaints doesn't help. Apple added MMS for a reason, after all. People were complaining. Being objective about the hardware/software you use helps the industry grow better. Blindly loving or hating a product both are counterproductive. So I say love the Apple products all you want- most are absolutely great devices- but be realistic about the fact that it can, does, and will continue to have problems.
@OG Phenix
From reading some of the follow-up comments, I don't believe anybody is even understanding what you are trying to say. I hate going into a forum and seeing all these fanboy comments. I love Apple Products, but when I see comments like from Mack Stone I can't help but cringe. Yes, I understand there will be those "geeks" out there, but you are just as bad as they are (if not worst) for defending a product that does not even exist yet!
I definitely believe the iPhone is the best phone out there in the market, but people just have to understand it is not the phone that does EVERYTHING better (or some things at all). I owned a number of smartphones including the original iphone, but had to ditch it to move to Verizon due to bad coverage from Att :-( So I have a pretty good experience with what I like with the new phones I've gotten and the stuff on the iPhone that makes me miss it. I would def welcome a Apple phone to Verizon that's for sure, but would not automatically discount other phones on the market.
I am a Tech savy guy, so I hope there is an exciting product on the horizon, and not because it is from Apple, but because hopefully it is something innovating. It just stinks we have these fanboys that seems to ruin it (I am not just talking about only Apple Fanboys either).
@nohumanape They wouldn't do that.... each other's announcement would overshadow one another.
And I don't know how the average Joe who got an iPhone for it's simplicity would react to being completely uprooted and handed a new OS. Each iteration of the OS has been the same in concept. I hope that concept does not travel down to the tablet as well.
@Mack Stone
Just in case if anyone wanted a count...
Mack Stone used the word "geeks" 10 times in his post...
@OG Phenix I just wanted you to know that your post gave me a serious abdomen work out! Funniest comment I've ever read on this site!
@Mack Stone
#7, Remember the Pippin?
@awgeerowz Exactly. Unlike a lot of people, I would like this device to be running a touch version full on snow leopard.
@Mack Stone
Or -
1 : Toolbags like yourself will call people who don't like overpriced garbage "geeks" , and defend Apple to infinite and beyond, in an egotistical and condescending way,
@xCrunk why so cruel?
@sweet greggo OR people with more actual work to do could use one of the other umpteen apps to make the daily work easier. If fart-apps is your thing, well go ahead.
I much prefer Mac4Ever's website over Mac2Ever's ... it's at least twice as good.
@Helvetica Damn you Josh. You corrected the error before I could finish the comment!
I for one DO NOT want just an over sized iPhone. I need something moar!!!!
So this is going to be a larger iPod touch or what? I hope it isnt the iPhone OS on it, would be a waste of hardware IMO.
In before Apple Hater, i own a 3g tyvm.