If you've heard the rumours of Apple's much anticipated next big thing, the Tablet, skip ahead for some thoughts on what features it is likely to contain and how this consumer device may change our lives. If you are new to the rumours, read the next paragraph or two.
When it comes to sexy gadgets and consumer electronic devices, few companies have got it right, let alone pretty much spot on. Apple has had enormous success in this space - everything from the materials used in the design of their devices, to the consumer experience has always been near perfect. They changed the game with their Mac computers and laptops, and literally turned the mp3 market on its head with their iPod devices. They played a major role in changing the way music is purchased with the introduction of the iTunes store, and then decided to take on the mobile handset players. As at end of 2009, the iPhone is the most popular handset in the US market today - dominating Nokia, Samsung and Motorola devices that were so popular as recently as 2 years ago.
So when the rumours about a tablet device start to abound, people start getting very interested. Let's be clear, the tablet device is still very much a rumour - there is no news site or blog that can confirm 100% that it exists. Nothing has been announced by Apple to date and traditional suppliers of hardware for such devices are tight lipped. Let's take a look at some of the meat behind the speculation though:
As far back as May 2005, Apple patented the "Tablet Mac" under US Design Patent No. D504,899. They have been pretty tight lipped on the project ever since.
It was reported on Crunchgear that Apple re-hired the Newton designer, Michael Tchao, in September 2009 - presumably to help with the marketing of the rumoured Apple Tablet. For those not familiar with the Newton, it was one of the very first PDA's, or Personal Digital Assistants - developed by Apple 15 years ago.
In a blog post by Engadget in November 2007, it was reported that a source at Asus had confirmed, over a dinner one evening, that they were working with Apple on building a Tablet device. Unfortunately no date was provided.
The anticipation continued throughout 2009, and eventually, during December 2009, Fox News reported that Apple had confirmed a "big" event for the 26th January 2010 at the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts in San Francisco. This is also traditionally the site of the company's annual iPod centric music events.
Towards the end of Dec 2009, Engadget reported via DigiTimes that the tablet will begin mass shipments (presumably to consumers) in March or April 2010, based on its analysis of shipping schedules from Apple's upstream component suppliers.
There has also been much speculation about a name - everything from iTablet, to iGuide and iSlate.
So, even though nothing has been officially announced yet, everyone from the technology early adopters to the big media producers (along with Apple fan boys the world over) eagerly anticipate the announcement of a device that is set to change the way we consume and interact with media. There have been a number of predictions and guesses as to what this device is capable of - analyst Gene Munster puts forward a couple of guesses as to what we are in store for (via Crunchgear):
- Similar to an iPod Touch, only larger. Estimates put the size at around 10-inches.
- Capable of running most of the 100,000 apps in the iPhone App store, plus a range of new apps designed for a bigger screen. (Adding fuel to the rumour fire is the report that a number of iPhone app developers have been asked to ready a version of their application for a big screen format).
- Will be used primarily for web surfing, email and digital media.
- Will probably be priced somewhere between an iPhone and a Macbook - in the $500 (R4000) to $700 (R5600) range.
- Is likely to include a 3G cellular modem along with wifi capability.
- Will sell better than the Apple TV did.
- May sell up to 2 million units in the 2010 financial year.
I can't argue with any of these predictions, except for the price. I reckon that a realistic Rand-based price is probably in the region of between R9000 and R11000. The rest of the predictions make sense.
Given the predictions, once can just imagine the possibilities that such a device offers. Make no mistake, there are some pretty cool consumer devices that have hit the shelves this past year - one only has to look at the success that Amazon has found with the Kindle to see that these types of handheld devices are finding a place in the home of consumers. Barnes and Noble announced the launch of the Nook, a Kindle competitor, during the second half of 2009 and it has been reported that Dell is now making its own foray into the handheld/tablet space with a 5-inch device said to be running Android. There's also the JooJoo and the Mag+ (albeit a concept device at this stage) - all potential competitor devices to an Apple Tablet.
Given the number of competitive devices already in the market, why should we be getting so excited about another tablet device? The reason is because we've all seen this picture before. Remember the countless MP3 players 8 years ago? Part of the reason I'm so excited about the Apple Tablet is that Apple has a fantastic reputation of launching consumer devices, and changing the landscape whilst they are at it. We're not only talking about a new way of viewing the web on your couch, or watching YouTube videos (on a screen bigger than your iPhone) whilst driving down to the coast. We're talking about getting your books delivered to your tablet - taking the screen that you watch your favourite TV show on, to bed with you, and then reading a book on it. We're talking about waking up the next morning and having your favourite daily newspaper delivered to your "Tablet" for you to catch up on over breakfast, and then reading all your early morning e-mail, and possibly making a Skype call to your family in Perth. We're talking about you taking this device into meetings with you, and taking notes on it, running your spreadsheet applications on it, and organising your photos. That's the potential of a Tablet device.
Ben Kunz reporting via BusinessWeek predicts that the launch of the Apple Tablet could be the turning point for print media, potentially allowing magazines and newspapers to bounce back to profitability as consumers discover digital subscriptions. Publishers have a narrow window of opportunity to grab paid subscribers with visually appealing digital magazine and newspaper articles complete with video inserts and social commentary overlays.
It doesn't stop at print media. Already there have been rumours of Apple talking to studios such as Disney and CBS to licence content for the iTunes store. Its a move that we have seen before - Apple moving in on the territory that used to belong to record stores and changing the game forever. This is why the "launch" of the Apple Tablet is big news. This is why it could change the way we interact with media, forever. The global economy is said to be turning back into positive territory and the timing seems right. In my opinion, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Let's wait and see.
It seems that this is definitely the year of the Tablet, with Microsoft and HP set to announce their competitor device, the Microsoft Courier, at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Courier is said to be a "tablet like notebook" with two screen setup and stylus that will allow the user to surf the web, read e-books and share content and clippings (via Mashable).
Gadgets, 
graemecumming