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January 27, 2010: Apple announces the iPad
iPad is three. It was January 27, 2010, when CEO Steve Jobs took the stage to show the world what the company had been cooking up in the lab. Our staff roundup and anniversary post from last year include many of the highlights, but in the past 12 months Apple's tablet has continued to set records and transform the consumer electronics and PC markets. Since last January 27, the iPad has flown off the shelves -- about 66 million units sold in 2012, with the 100 millionth unit since April 2010 sold in October of last year. October also saw the introduction of a fourth-generation iPad with Retina display, taking some owners of the third-gen model (only seven months in the market at that point) by unpleasant surprise. A more pleasant surprise was the iPad's little brother, the iPad mini, proving popular with all kinds of customers. iPad was a long, long time coming. Vigorously anticipated as the "Apple Tablet" for years before it was realized, and the subject of countless rumors and predictions, Apple's iPad introduction finally brought coherence to the mess of will-they-won't-they speculation. (One TUAW contributor took a brave position on the device's naming: "Let me say this clearly: Apple would never name the tablet the 'iPad'. It's too similar to 'iPod'. So, everyone, please stop calling it the iPad.") Even thought many fans bemoaned the fact that the new tablet would not run the desktop version of OS X, it's hard to argue with the success of the iOS approach. (To be determined: whether Windows 8's "no compromises" unification of PC and tablet OS catches on with buyers.) Happy birthday, iPad, and here's to a wonderful 2013.
TUAW predicts tomorrow's event
As we count down the final tablet-free hours, we've gathered our writers together to predict what we think will be announced tomorrow at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Feel free to add your own predictions in the comments below. Sang Tang 9.6 inch LED-backlit display Wireless HDMI support (to output to TV) Front facing camera Erica Sadun Tomorrow, we expect to see Apple finally launch the long awaited tablet. It will likely feature a 10.5-inch diagonal capacitive touch display and look and function much like a large iPod touch. Running iPhone OS, it may feature an enhanced vocabulary of user-interaction gestures, suitable for the larger screen size. The new tablet should offer a variety of augmented reality applications, allowing users to interact with and annotate many kinds of media including TV and movies, maps, newspapers, and more. Although I'd like to see a front-facing camera on the unit, I can easily see why Apple might omit one, so I'll take a pass on voting for or against. Looking towards the netbook market for competition, the tablet may provide optional nationwide wireless for a monthly fee. I'm keeping my prediction on the conservative side -- so I'm guessing no mind blowing new tech on-board, at least at the start with product launch. A larger iPod with good connectivity options and excellent media provider deals is enough to get the tablet going without any special OMG One More Thing items needed. It will help if the new tablet better integrate with Apple's emerging cloud services, namely Mobile Me and iWork.com. The rainbowunicornpuppies will be an optional extra for a small fee, and Uncle Steve will be giving candy to all the good little children.
Boy Genius: Multitasking, new interface in iPhone 4.0
The folks at Boy Genius Report (BGR) have been speaking with a little birdie from Cupertino again, and this time it's allegedly spilled details on iPhone 4.0. If the source is to be believed, this update will bring multitasking and a new interface. First, there will be "A few new ways" to run applications in the background, which means multitasking -- something developers and users have wanted for a long time. Also, multi-touch gestures "...will be OS-wide," which makes sense if we're to believe that the tablet OS is preventing the iPhone OS release. Other rumor nuggets include improved navigation (which was on our list of requests) and improved syncing for contacts and calendar apps. Finally, the update will be limited to the iPhone 3G and 3GS (we assume this also includes the iPod touch), and will "...make them more like full-fledged computers." Now, we know that a single iPhone OS release may offer platform-specific features. For example, VoiceOver and Accessibility, as well as hardware features like Magnetometers, are not available on iPhones earlier than the 3GS. For that reason, we're unconvinced that the anticipated "Multitouch Revolution" expected for the tablet device will extend in all of its glory to the iPhone. In other words ... Is it the 27th yet? [Via MacRumors]
Report: Harper Collins, Apple negotiating tablet deal
The Wall Street Journal is reporting this morning that Apple is in talks with Harper Collins regarding ebooks for the new tablet. They suggest that the publisher will set the prices of the books with Apple taking a cut, in similar fashion to the 30/70 split currently in place for the App Store (but percentages not determined). The most interesting line notes that the ebooks "...will have added features." Back in December, HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray noted that "...e-books enhanced with video, author interviews and social-networking applications" were a possibility. Just watch this demo from Sports Illustrated to get an idea of the potential. While consumers love the über-cheap prices being offered on the Kindle and the Nook, publishers would undoubtedly like to bump them up a little. These additional features will serve both the consumer and the publisher: Shoppers get a more interesting ebook experience, wrapped in Apple style, while publishers receive a bigger payday. The Wall Street Journal notes that other publishers have been talking with Apple without offering any additional details. Now that we have a firm date for the tablet's introduction (probably, maybe) the rumors are going to swirl ever faster. Hold on to your seats. [Via Engadget]
