Orange exec confirms existence of Apple Tablet?
By Tim Stevens 
posted January 11th 2010 8:41AM
posted January 11th 2010 8:41AM
Update: We now have the video below courtesy of SlashGear, who aren't quite so convinced that he's referring to the tablet itself, possibly just confirming that others are reporting the tablet will be released next week. Any native speakers care to help us wade through the intricacies of this, the language of love?
Update 2: We've got a full translation after the break of the entire relevant bits, courtesy of bilingual reader Sean Mangar.
Update fin: Orange has issued a statement predictably saying these comments are being taken out of context, that Richard was "merely confirming that he is aware of the speculation surrounding a launch." So, the fun is over folks -- or is it?
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Journalist: Selon l'hebdomadaire Le Point, votre partenaire apple va lancer une tablette. (According to the weekly Le point, your partner apple will launch a tablet.)
Exec: Oui. (Yes.)
Journalist: Doté d'une webcam... (Equipped with a webcam...)
Exec: Oui. (Yes)
Journalist: Est-ce-que les usagers d'Orange en bénéficieront aussi? (Will the subscribers of Orange benefit from it too?)
Exec: Bien sur. Ils en bénéficieront, d'autant plus facilement qu'avec la webcam, on pourra se transmettre de l'image en temps réel. On va moderniser en quelque sorte ce visiophone qu'on a connu y a quelques années, et là aussi, la taille du réseau que nous avons mis en place au service des français permettre ces nouveuax usages de se déveloper partout. (Of course. They will benefit, even more easily because with the webcam, we will be able to transmit video in real time. We will modernize in some way this videophone that we have known for some years, and also, the scale of the network that we have put in place in service of the French will allow these new uses to develop everywhere.)
Sean believes he's largely speaking of hypotheticals, but his description of video calling can't easily be attributed to any current mobile Apple device (camera is on the wrong side on the iPhone), and that he's discussing his company's network being able to handle such a device seems to imply, to us, that they're expecting something.
Sean believes he's largely speaking of hypotheticals, but his description of video calling can't easily be attributed to any current mobile Apple device (camera is on the wrong side on the iPhone), and that he's discussing his company's network being able to handle such a device seems to imply, to us, that they're expecting something.
@John Doe don't be so bitter, you know you'll want it. Eventually find yourself in line to get one too. Cheers!
Orange exec only confirms that Apple table should be available for Orange customer (We can guess, firstly in France....).
There is no further confirmation...
ITS NOT APPLE making up rumors.
you are.
Engadget is back, Baby!
Less of that boring CES fuckery. I prefer Tablet rumors to crappy electronics on the show floor, to be honest.
@(Unverified) right on !! so let's speculate on this tablet/pad/whatever and guess what the fruit is going to charge teenagers for a device with which they'll use anyway just to tweet "just hangin out..." :)
@phearme
Buddy. Time to unplug. Teenagers don't use Twitter. Leo Laporte uses Twitter.
Teenagers use Facebook. And to update your 'status' on FB requires either a BB or an iPhone. Which teens already have.
Relax.
*sigh*
Another AppleTablet rumor. I'm already sick of that thing and it hasn't even been released yet (or properly announced).
IF that thing gets released, I would be prepared for a massive backlash. Sure, every Apple fanboi is going to jizz his pants on release but I believe that this is going to be a turning point for Apple.
Engadget is going to love it, of course - even if you have to use your ass, penis or pinky as a pointing device.
ok so how many of you guys are gonna sleep in front of shop doors the evening before they release it ? don't forget to put your chewbaka outfit.
Apple, Star Wars, same thing :-p
@phearme
You know, it's just sad that you don't know how to spell Chewbacca.
@phearme
Actually they're not. Apple is for people. Star Wars is for... subhumans. Capice?
Apple rumors keep me coming back. I'm excited for this device.
The necessary level of hype to laminate all its shortfalls has not yet been reached! Expect more in the days ahead.
@Bahumbug what shortfalls? you mean you've already seen Apple's tablet? tell us more.
anyone thinking the itablet (or islate, or whatever it will be called) isn't going to happen is a fool... the guy inadvertently spilled the beans, but was it so inadvertent? all a plan i say... generates buzz... especially with all the "other" tablets shown at CES... apple knows exactly what it's doing...
In the unlikely event that Orange had been told about the mythical iTablet you can be certain they wouldn't admit to its existence.
Apple should call it the iPractical
@IBneel
ba.....
dooom......
Ch....?
@IBneel iMnot.
Hi,
I'm french, and I can tell you, that, in my opinion and according to his way of speaking, it's certainly one of Apple's controlled leak. Indeed, when they speak of the webcam, it sounds like planned before the interview.
@gaetan24 wow !! do you mean it's going to have a ... webcam ? what an inovative leap in the future.
With all this hype in the general media (traditional Apple territory), this thing better have a flexible OLED at minimum.
@recharged95 OLED in its current form is not feasible for portable products.
@recharged95 Yes, get rid of the fragile glass already.
The power of the marketing and hype machine that is Apple.
Bose and Monster Cables aint got nuffin on Steve Jobs. xD
@Ducman69 marketing and hype? care to give proof on either one?
Apple wins and succeeds on merit because they know how to build quality products that consumers want.
@Ducman69
Show me one piece of marketing or any hype at all that's coming from Apple about a tablet. Just do it, don't make excuses.
Or be a giant douche and don't. That's ok too.
that is a terrible title. wtf
Now what happens if a tablet (or hell, an event) isn't out on the 27th?
Stock drops?
@Kirtay rumors continue till the next Apple event
http://www.gearlog.com/2010/01/report_orange_denies_that_exec.php
Orange Denies That Exec 'Confirmed' Tablet Rumors
The way he's saying it is like you answer someone calling your name by saying "Yes?" with a question mark, but not "Yes!". He's not confirming the rumor! You don't need to be Balzac to be able to tell the difference!
orange said something about apple? what could he say, you look greenish...
Although the rumors and hyperbole is entertaining I can't very excited over something that is either; An oversize iPod touch running the iPhone OS or some close derivative. A fancy OSX netbook minus the keyboard. If it is going to be used to read E-books and compete with dedicated readers it had better have some sort of dual mode display and a low power ARM based processor or else the battery life's going to be a deal breaker.
@neil cm2009
Yeah, and a lot of people couldn't get excited that Apple was making a phone either. Why? Because other people had already made phones, so nobody could possibly envision anything that Apple could do to improve it.
Have you learned nothing from the iPhone and iPod? Apple isn't some Dell or some Gateway doing something because everybody else is doing it and looking to make a quick buck. The only way Apple would release a tablet is if they were able to make one that actually makes tablets USEFUL.
Why don't you wait until it's out before passing judgement?
That "Breaking News" Engadget adds into some of their entires are a bit misleading now...
Apple is the company of the DECADE! You can't deny it.
"A thousand songs in your pocket" (c) Steve Jobs - turned into a thousand millions in the bank so I welcome any rumors about an Apple product... oh and if it looks like those things in Avatar I AM SLEEPING OUTSIDE THE STORE :) jk jk
"Yes, we hate to start off a fresh week with more talk of the Apple tablet, but this isn't just another rumor."
Then why do you do it engadget?... This is just ridiculous. Apple must really be over enjoyed with all the free publicity they are getting through this...
Saweet!
The iTablet / iSlate / MacBook / MacSlate / MacBook Touch / MacBook Nano...gasp...or whatever it'll be called, is real, it's gonna happen. Quite simply, if Apple doesn't announce it this month, their shares go 'pooof'. Apple's stock price depends on them releasing regular generous helpings of 'the coolest thing we've ever made'. Apple loves the speculation. Tell you what, I bet Apple have a guy they actually employ to leak info on these things to the right people.
Don't upset The Steve, Stéphane. You're gonna make him angry, and you wouldn't like him when he's angry... ;-)