I'm surprised there isn't a thread on this already. Tomorrow Apple will unveil its much-rumored tablet device. I'll definitely be clicking "refresh" a lot on several tech blogs. The expectations are extremely high--it seems impossible that Apple could fulfill them. Would I get one? That depends. Here's what would convince me to shell out for it: -Internet connection through 3G or 4G network with no monthly cost, or at least a monthly cost that is more in the $20/month range. I've already got a big phone bill, I can't see adding another hefty monthly charge. -Ability to play all existing iPhone games, but on a larger screen. Access to much of the iPhone app library. Promise of more tablet-specific apps and games on the way. -Ability to play audio and video content with iTunes. -Access to the largest e-book library of any similar device out there--both for pay, and for free (access to google books' library for example). -Agreements in place with several print media distributors such as NYT, WaPo, SI, etc. etc. All the major magazines, basically, for a fee of 0 for their regular on-line content and a small fee for their print-only content. -$800 or less. My expectations are probably far too high; and even if fulfilled, I don't exactly have the cash for one right now. I'm a grad student, so I don't have a lot of time to do a lot of reading besides things for school (and the books I need to read for my dissertation are certainly not e-books, most of them anyway). Anyone else have any hopes/expectations for this device?
I've found that with new device launches from Apple, the hook is almost always something we never expected, so I'm not going to bother making predictions. But Daring Fireball has had good coverage on the device (btw, "Canvas" is my favorite possible name that's floating around): http://daringfireball.net/ And there's a prediction scorecard, if you're scoring at home or a seedy motel: http://unweary.com/2010/01/prediction-score-card.html
Rumored name for the new device: iDontGiveACrap Apple really plays with a double edged sword with their marketing strategies. The allow leaks about the next product announcement, just enough to get tech blogs, apple fanbois, and media all speculating and salivating over Steve-O's next cool device. This effectively gets everyone in a frenzy prior to the scheduled announcement. But then, Apple better f&%$ing deliver with the product. It better be super cool, super slick, with amazing features. Otherwise, it'll be a big let down. But then again, folks will be in such a frenzy that they'll have blinders on, seduced by the glitz, and go "OOOooooooooooo" no matter how ordinary the product might be. Apple - they make pretty good products. But what they're really good at, actually complete masters at, is marketing and media manipulation.
You make some good points. Honestly, I think Apple has mastered a balance of hype and quality. For example, before the iPod, there were several (dozens?) of different MP3 players on the market. Diamond Rio and products like that. You saw them here and there, and didn't really find it worth switching from a portable CD player. But then Apple's iPod came along, and EVERYONE started getting iPods. To the point that now, I would bet that 90% of people immediately picture an iPod when someone says "Mp3 player". So, yes, Apple's marketing and hype were brilliant, but I think the product was good enough to live up to it, too. Most of Apple's products have lived up to their hype, or close enough that nobody noticed in the end. It could be that this new device does for e-book readers what the iPod did for music players.
I'm looking for exactly that. I am in the market for an ebook reader, and a netbook - so this could be my dream solution. My main concern is that this needs to be more iPhone than iMac. I despise macs, and osx, but I love my iPhone. Super size the screen, beef up the specs so we can get more sophisticated apps, and I'm sold - as long as availability at launch is somewhat decent. If we would have to subscribe to standard data packages from cell providers, I would like to see mobile TV capability as well so it becomes a truly all in one portable convergence device.
The market for Apple's assumed "Tablet" device is wide and the rumors are widespread on what Apple's device will offer... Apple's dedicated fans have been demanding a tablet-sized device from Apple since the Newton days. Apple does a great job controlling its new products so nothing official on the tablet will likely be released in advance of Apple's January 27th Media Event, so there is quite a lot of speculation without merit on what the Tablet device may offer. Steve Jobs is on record in reference to Apple's Tablet: "This will be the most important thing I've ever done." Like the iPod whatever Apple offers will cater to the Apple devotees and will likely be the state of the art in the computer world. What is absolutely amazing to me is how irrelevant Microsoft has become in the IT world compared to Apple... Apple is setting the standard here and Apple has become the computer (Macbook) and music (iPod) center of the universe, regardless of how many unfortunates are still using PCs and listening to Zunes!
PCs outclass Macs in just about every way, and Apple's market share in the computer market is largely unchanged. Their mobile devices on the other hand are generally well designed (form wise) and the iTunes/app store is unbeatable.
Remove PCs installed in workplaces from those numbers, and the market share, though still majority PC, is a lot more equal. But anyway, let's not let this thread become a PC vs Mac war...lest I find myself in middle school again
Saw this Prickly City comic today and it sums up the excitement! Apple's not about market share Rewinder but state of the art...
I can't wait!!!!! The iSlate, iReader, iFrisbee, iBarfed, iPeedMyPants .... whatever the hell they're calling it, and whatever the hell it is ... I'm camping out at Best Buy to get one!!! Actually, in all honesty, Apple has, for the most part, delivered with cool, functional, slick, easy to use products that helped define and refine product markets. iPod is a perfect example (I own one). I don't like their walled garden in some cases, but they do make a slick product. And they are marketing experts.
Another bit of narrative here is that this could be the last major product announcement with Steve Jobs. There have been quite a few rumors that he'll oversee this new tablet device and then step down. It's no secret that his health hasn't been great, and although he seems to have dodged a bullet with his pancreatic cancer, word is he wants to be able to pass the torch. Personally, I hope Jonny Ive takes over, or at least maintains a lot of influence. His designs are perhaps what Apple is best known for.
Other DF readers saw this linked this morning, but a nice piece on why people are really excited about the potential, and how it could break down the bridge between old tree media and online content, and make it possible to make money off the web: http://powazek.com/posts/2234 I don't think it's necessarily wrong to say "Apple does good marketing and slick products", but I think it misses a very crucial part of the story. Their success of the past decade comes from thinking through the whole experience, and not just the device, whereas most manufacturers just release a product based on an existing platform. When they came out with the iPod, an mp3 player wasn't that revolutionary, but they'd spent a couple of years developing iTunes into a visually intuitive way to manage music libraries, and iPhone would have been just another pretty touchscreen phone if the app store and development infrastructure weren't there. And as I mentioned elsewhere, Apple could have released the tablet years ago if it was just a matter of putting out a tablet computer (and by most accounts, iPhone was created set the groundwork for the tablet). For better or worse, Apple, uh, thinks different from other companies, and that's why media and fans get excited (and why they have fans in the first place). It's not all slick presentation and media manipulation (though those *are* huge reasons).
Agreed. Apple does look at the overall ecosystem, and overall market, and looks at how to combine things in new ways that change how people do stuff. That, I think, is where their real innovation is. Like you say, they don't just put out another device. They package that device with a vision, an ecosystem, a new way of doing things. And that is, in essence, what gets folks so excited.
Less than 20 minutes to go . . . Curious to see it's functionality, design, what kind of upgrades this will provide over the iPhone and will it run a full OSX or iPhone/iPod Touch operating system? We'll all find out soon . . . iTablet, iTV, iKofieMaker.
Looks like it runs iPod Touch/iPhone OS. Even has the same start button as those devices. I was hoping to see a full OSX system, it's a really large iPhone.
In some small way I wouldn't mind seeing a higher introduction price to lower demand so I can get one closer to the launch date.
After the first gen iPhone debacle I hope Apple prices this product more reasonably. I know I'm not getting one . . . I just picked up my first Apple product for myself this Christmas, a MacBookPro.
Tech specs look good - but I have no clue about the processor. My nearest Apple store is the flagship 5th ave store that will probably have people camping outside as soon as this presentation is done. I'm going to have quite a task getting one of these within 2 months of the release.