Analyst claims first hand knowledge of Apple gaming, home media center tablet
Barron's is reporting that an un-named analyst has seen Apple's forthcoming tablet and expects it to be announced in September with a ship date around November. They mention that Apple is such a bellwether for the industry that all other manufacturing in this area has stopped until Apple releases this product. They expect the product to retail for $700-$800 and fulfill a variety of multimedia functions including AppleTV and Gaming.
One veteran analyst who has seen first-hand a prototype slate-style computer from Apple says the device could be announced in September for release in November.
Whatever the exact dates, the computer industry is so anxious to see what Apple introduces that it has held off on competing designs until Apple CEO Steve Jobs gives the device his final blessing. "It's close enough now to a final design that in Asia, there's no other product in the waiting room or in the bullpen," said the analyst. "There are dozens of ODMs [original device makers] making products for Lenovo and other PC makers that are all waiting to see what the Apple product is."
The new device, which may retail for $699 to $799, could fulfill a variety of multimedia functions currently taken up by a gaggle of individual consumer electronics devices. It could be a home media center, somewhat like the current Apple TV, and it could be a gaming machine, opines Jon Peddie, head of Jon Peddie Research in Tiburon, Calif. "Gaming will be a big part of what this is about," he adds.
The machine impresses with its display of hi-def video content, says the veteran analyst, who asked not to be identified. "It's better than the average movie experience, when you hold this thing in your hands."
...
A second source confirmed to me that news of the new device "is all over the supply chain in Asia." The biggest question at this point, and the least understood by anyone outside Apple, is whether the company's App Store will be the exclusive distribution point for software for this device.
As Steve Jobs says, it's the software that defines these things.
Is anyone excited about this thing yet?
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Comments (52)
$700-800 doesnt seem like apple's orthodox pricings
My guess would be more expensive than the most expensive iPod ($399) and cheaper than the cheapest Macbook ($999.00).
So... $650 to $700 sounds right.
Ive been excited for 3 years...
You should see a doctor about that.
I think you're supposed to see a doctor if it lasts more than four hours!
P is for Priapism!
Go and use a Vista install on a netbook. The performance will leave you feeling limp in no time.
Ah September, where ARE you.. !
i'll beliefe it when apple officially announces it.....
This sounds very media oriented. I hope it is also a powerful notebook computer with an iPhone interface. Replace Apple TV? I don't understand, exactly. I "don't get" Apple TV, as opposed to buying media that can be watched on any machine. If this allows you to drag movies around with you, and also stream wirelessly as you purchase, it should be a hit. Streaming video over 3G sounds unlikely without an expensive wireless plan. Don't all major U.S. providers charge $60 per month for notebook/netbook access and limit data to something like 6GB per month?
I've found the iPhone interface to be completely addictive. I frequently try to "touch" my MacBook and my wife's Blackberry. I truly believe this will be standard in the future.
"There are dozens of ODMs [original device makers] making products for Lenovo and other PC makers that are all waiting to see what the Apple product is."
If all of this ends up being true, that's really quite a statement on how shallow the pool of innovation is out there. "Copiers on standby!" "Aye, cap'n!"
And somebody already has one of the prototype 4th gen iPhones, by the sound of it :-\
The pool of innovation stand sturdy by reverse engineering a lot of the dvices you see out there already. It's the basis why competitors await until you release a product. This way, they can make a similar yet much more enticing design. And it was the originator who did all the leg work....
Here you go (first picture):
Next Apple moves will be Books and Games…
http://spidouz.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/next-apple-moves-will-be-books-a...
And:
iNetbook rerendered
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoboer/3226244527
AMAZING!!!
Here's my bet. It will be added to the iPod line as the iPod Touch with a letter after it, like the iPhone 3GS. iPod Touch (HD) for example.
Jobs will say "the iPod touch has an industry leading screen in terms of pixels per inch - in fact we literally can't fit any more pixels into a screen this size. So when we decided to make a full HD iPod there was only one choice, make a bigger screen".
This is either geeky fan fiction, clairvoyance or both.
I'm of course well aware that the current iPod touch screen is way above the ppi of HD but still...
Here's my bet. It will be added to the iPod line as the iPod Touch with a letter after it, like the iPhone 3GS. iPod Touch (HD) for example.
Jobs will say "the iPod touch has an industry leading screen in terms of pixels per inch - in fact we literally can't fit any more pixels into a screen this size. So when we decided to make a full HD iPod there was only one choice, make a bigger screen".
This is either geeky fan fiction, clairvoyance or both.
I'm of course well aware that the current iPod touch screen is way above the ppi of HD but still...
That would be such an awesome device. It would sell like hotcakes.
I think apple will just call it the "new" macbook, because since the launch of the 13" macbook pro to me just makes sense...MacBook, that sounds like a simple apple move idk just me thinking different ;)
Maybe the Apple Tablet (iTouch?) will stream HD TV to your TV via Wi-Fi to a new model of airport express device that can output HD video signal and surround audio to your TV. So this way the Tablet would act like a wireless Apple TV.
It would be cool!
they can't call it an iTouch! That name's already been taken by a competitor(read: ripoff artist) (hence why SO many people get pissy when people call the iPod Touch the "iTouch", because iTouch is a completely different product!)
Case in point: http://en.pasen.it/product_detail.php?id=23
they can't call it an iTouch! That name's already been taken by a competitor(read: ripoff artist) (hence why SO many people get pissy when people call the iPod Touch the "iTouch", because iTouch is a completely different product!)
Case in point: http://en.pasen.it/product_detail.php?id=23
they can't call it an iTouch! That name's already been taken by a competitor(read: ripoff artist) (hence why SO many people get pissy when people call the iPod Touch the "iTouch", because iTouch is a completely different product!)
Case in point: http://en.pasen.it/product_detail.php?id=23
The name iPhone was taken too - that didn't stop them, did it?
Someone planted some info to get a rally in apple stock. watch it come crashing down in September.
This sounds really strange. Why would apple show any future products to analyst? It doesn't seem to pass the common sense test.
If Jobs hasn't "given his seal of approval to it" yet as the article states, then it sure ain't coming out in September a month from now. This analyst has seen a prototype of *something* maybe, but he/she obviously doesn't know squat really.
Well, it might duplicate Apple TV's functionality, but it won't exactly replace it; The Apple TV is right there with the TV whenever someone in your household decides to use it, whereas this tablet is probably going to be doing some traveling. They serve different needs!
I still need to see a few product enhancements before I bite on Apple TV, but I think it has a lot of potential. Maybe if I could plug in an external hard drive or slide in a DVD.
Looks to me like an iPad!
I like the idea of this! But when the analyst says he's "seen" the device, that's what makes this a bit unbelievable to me.
Why would Apple show off an unannounced product to an analyst?
agreed. this is a company that is so secret supposedly their own retail staff has no clue until the public announcement. i can't see them showing some random media person anything. plus the fact that it was an unnamed somebody. I mean if they did show a limited number of people and it wasn't supposed to get out, they know who they showed so telling the name makes little difference to the 'but i'm not supposed to tell so I won't give my name' protection game
Whenever Apple decides to release something like this, I want one. Period.
It really looks like the time is right for Apple to send this out.
The App Store in place.
The Music Store in place.
The Movie Store in place.
The Game Store...?
Multi-touch input.
If it can be deployed as a wireless liason between devices in the home...
It is the Digital Hub Steve has been touting.