It's sort of funny that this is the hardest evidence we have of an
Apple tablet, but here we go: mobile app analytics company
Flurry is saying that it's detected around 50 devices on Apple's Cupertino campus that have the "characteristics" of a tablet, running a new version of the iPhone OS numbered 3.2. How? Around 200 different apps with Flurry's tracking code were downloaded and used on these mystery devices -- mostly games, followed by entertainment and media apps -- and Flurry first noticed this new device in October, with numbers picking up in January. Unfortunately, Flurry hasn't said what these mysterious tablet characteristics
are, so we don't have much to go on -- and without specifics like a bigger screen size or a faster processor we're skeptical. For all we know, this is just a new iPhone running a slightly tweaked build of OS 3.0 that supports a higher-resolution screen or something -- especially looking at that 3.2 version number, when everything else we've heard suggests the tablet will jump to 4.0.
What's more, 200 apps in the grand scheme of things really isn't that many -- Flurry only tracks small percentage of the 100,000 apps in the App Store. We're not exactly willing to accept any detailed analysis based on a dataset that narrow, so let's just say that it's very likely that Apple's testing new devices running a new version of the iPhone OS and leave it at that
until Wednesday, shall we?
posted January 24th 2010 11:43PM
Can we please stop talking about this until it is or isn't actually released?
@nickyboy
In 3 days? Yeah, tbh, I dont know why this is news. Yes. It exits. No one knows anything. It's going to be revolutionary. But it will lack something basic.... like multitasking.
@nickyboy
THANK YOU! I thought it was just me. Is anyone else getting a little tired of all the talk about this device or is it just me and Nickyboy here? I mean, I really like Engadget (keep up the great work guys), but you guys pulled up a "potential" tablet design this morning... from 1983!
Maybe we can get a poll of readers going Mr. Patel. One that would see if your readers are just iTablet'ed out already? Or maybe it's just me?
@nickyboy
Let's see, with the tablet being introduced, the App Store will immediately jump to around 200,000 apps in a few months. Downloads will increase another order of magnitude. By the end of the year it will be 5 billion downloads. Damn, Apple is kicking some serious mobile ass and won't be challenged any time soon. If Apple can manage to siphon off ad revenue from all that, investors will be rolling in dough.
@nickyboy
If you don't want people to talk about it, don't talk about it. You're the reason that I and the rest of these people commented. If you want to get Engadget to stop something, stop giving them a reason to keep doing it.
@nickyboy
I understand that there has been a lot of news about the Apple Tablet recently, and it may get a bit annoying, but some people are enjoying the hype.
It may not be news to you, but you could always just scroll past it.
@nickyboy
Hell yes, keep it coming.
@bondsbw word LOL
@Special Agent Steve
Or copy and paste!
@nickyboy Next up they will report on http://prmac.com/release-id-7574.htm
Yah it was from sept 18th but who gives a crap. IT HAS APPLE IN IT! So they need to "report".....or as I call it spooge it on their blog. Engadget ain't a news service. They are a fanboi site run by iTards. Its really that simple.
@grumpyOldMan This isn't the first time this has happened. I don't get it. We hear rumors about so much technology but if it's an apple product it's like people wet themselves dreaming about it. It's a piece of electronics equipment. It's a device which does stuff other devices do that you already own. It's like girls fawning over the Beatles. It's just sad. Can't we talk about real news and not piddle over rumors for months?
It's a computer with a touch screen. Get over it. PCs have had them for years and no one cared. Windows 7 tried to push it but no one cared. Apple just barely thinks about it and people cream their pants. I honestly don't get it. You already have a computer, why do you care about one with a touch screen? What are you even going to DO with the touchscreen? It's not practical.
Not that I mind, but at this point the hype is *so* over-the-top that Mr. Steve Jobs could walk on stage and announce a device that:
- plays every game on every console since forever,
- runs every application for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, etc.,
- cures all illnesses,
- ends world hunger,
- prevents human-rights abuses,
- saves puppies and kittens,
- etc, etc...
and someone would still complain that it didn't feature some absolutely *necessary* function.
Apple hype is some of the best entertainment around. :-D
@gesinger It isn't news. If you read the articles, everything written about the tablet is based on rumor or conjecture and not fact. Apple seems to be the only company that this blog is willing to shill for while citing another blog post by an 8 year old as the "source".
@Special Agent Steve
Why does everyone keep saying that the iPhone can't multitask? I hear it can make a call and crash at the same time just fine.
Rolling in dough? From what? Apple is still dicking investors over by not paying dividends.
@OverZealous
The only device I can think of that ends world hunger is a nuclear bomb...
@John Doe A tablet hasn't been used or we (as the users) haven't yet been familiar with. Unlike the iPhone and iPod, it became a big BOOM! because we are already honed by it. Let's just see how this one plays out.
Anyway on wednesday, its game-on! Along with some beta testing iPhone OS 4.0 SDK goodies. iSLate Details: http://bit.ly/apple-tablet-details-compiled
Of course Apple is always testing new devices. But, the thing is, I doubt Apple would release the tablet running a version of iPhone OS 3. Unless 3.2 supports multitasking, I doubt this would happen. However, it seems that with the iPhone OS releases, the X.x releases are mainly bug fixes and a few subtle features here and there. If Apple was to include multiasking, I think that would denote OS 4 rather than an incremental update.
@brian515 and lets hope that OS4 drops with some new function candy for all of the said (touches, phones and soon to be tablets).... :) Word to the Wednesday News !~
Wait did that say os 3.2? So much for the 4.0 rummor. Any way I hope this thing is released this time, sick of the rumors and the waiting!!
I bet the Apple Tablet will have apps
@yulebellow
Yes, but, I bet those apps will also do stuff.
@yulebellow maybe some of them will cost money, and some will be free. and there could even be a central "location" from where to aquire these apps!
@jonaseriksson
... you ruined it :(
Oh Sh** this tablet thing my be true..
the Apple tablet will have an app store, iPhone's claim to fame? NO WAY-WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT?!?
I can't be the only one that is sick of Tablet rumors...
@Addyct
Apple is like the hot chick in a John Hugh's high school... sure she's hot, but is she really worth all that effort? Is it Anthony Michael Hall? Is it??
P.S. Anthony Michael Hall also played Bill Gates in "Pirates of Silicon Valley"
I wonder what would happen if there was no iTablet unveiled on the 27th. All these tablet-y posts would not look good.
@TheGM
Everyone in the sane world would say in unison "I told you so."
@TheGM
I would laugh hard if there was no tablet, but also be disappointed.
@chiefy
In other words, in a world without Apple, we'd all be slaves to MS + HP luddite technology.
Hell, if it weren't for Apple, we'd all be using... gulp... Winmo...!
*terror
@Wesscoast
No we'd all be using Symbian/Android.
No-one in their right mind buys HP anymore.
@Wesscoast
Yes, idiots like you would be in fact be in terror. Windows Mobile is rough UI wise but it's more powerful when it comes to productivity.
A world without Apple is a world without Microsoft as we know it and vice versa.
@Wesscoast or blackberry OS, Symbian OS and well we wouldn't have seen a new standard for quality so we wouldn't care. I guess android and webOS would not exist since they spawned from the need to compete and innovate.
@TheGM
well i believe that there will be no tablet. The Apple tablet so far every year benefits them in stock value and in free marketing/hype. If they make it what 'exciting' they'll have to create all the buzz again? But it will be real funny to see the reaction of the media if nothing isn't announced.
Looks like everyone's got it all wrong! Apple's is not gonna release some ebook reader on Wednesday but rather a brand new games console!
@Middleman
I was just thinking something similar yesterday. And I thought it would be interesting if you could use an iPhone as a controller. You'd download the game on the tablet and then the controller on the iPhone. Of course lacking the physical buttons of an actual controller would suck. But hey, they could find a way to make it interesting.
@sammymoho
Don't be premature.
27th you meant.
HD iPhone!!! that would be awesome to see them come out with a game console. The bad thing would be that all the games would just not be a console type game. but i still think theres gonna be a HD iPhone
Will this be my first Apple device? We'll see. So far, I haven't jumped on board.
@aubreyq
Wow. I'm loving my iPod Touch Gen1. It's amazing how a thriving App Store just keeps extending the life of this, now nearly 2 year old device. :P
@sammymoho
damn the 27th? really? now i have to wait 3 days to masturbate.
Engadget is going to keep posting Apple Tablet rumors. There are many people who are interested in them.
If you are not, just ignore them completely. Simple as that.
People would buy this Tablet even if they have zero idea what it does as long as it has an Apple logo on it.
@Steve Jobs Clone;;; probably because it will do everything that everything else it's class does with more style, sophistication, and the obvious utility of having access to the most expansive app database in the world~ ding ding ding ..... do you think tens of millions of people dropped $3 hundy plus on the Touch and Iphone because they suck?
Sounds like we have a win mobil developer posting on here.....
@Steve Jobs Clone .. over 220 MILLION iPods and 21 MILLION iPhones have been sold. I am sorry but they aren't all stupid people who have been "tricked" by Steve Jobs. 99% of them probably don't even know who he is.
@taligent
What? Steve Jobs is Apple. I can't think of a single iPhone user who doesn't know who he is.
To pretend that most iPhone and iPod users carefully selected the best product for their dollars is just laughable. Many are just sheeple who couldn't wait to get the next piece of technology with fruit on it.
I just got back from hunting and I spotted Big Foot. When I approached him, he grabbed his Apple tablet and took off running. That son of a bitch wouldn't let me see it to get a leaked photo.