Posts tagged Apple. Tablet

In the past 6 months there’s been mountains of speculation about the possibility of an Apple tablet, but noone really knows if it is actually coming.  With the success of the iPhone OS platform, as well as explosion in the netbook market, it seems like the perfect place for Apple to go.  I do believe one is coming, and here’s what I think it will be like (keep in mind this is speculation mixed with some hoping)…

Hardware:

Size – The iPod/iPhone form factor is great, but the optimal device needs a little more screen real estate.  However, anything too big takes away from the portability of the device and makes the software, mainly the keyboard aspect, a little more difficult.  There might be a small chance they would come with two different sizes, but generally when Apple releases a new product they make it simple with one option.  The best size is something slightly larger than a DVD case, though I expect it to remarkably thin.

Computing Power – It’s debatable whether they would go with a Core 2 Duo or an Atom processor, but I think Atom wins out due to its better battery life.  Probably something like the 1.6GHz Atom 330 which is a 64-bit processor with either 512 MB or 1 GB of RAM.

Graphics – Apple will work with nVidia to get a strong graphics chip in this thing.  I really expect them to amaze us with what they pack into something really small.

Storage – I’d expect storage of 64 GB, 128 GB or both to be offered on a SSD

Display – big, beautiful, multitouch display (edit: I forgot to mention a built in iSight for video chat)

Connectivity – 802.11n WiFi, and possibly some sort of CDMA or GSM combination with LTE

Ports – headphone jack, USB, maybe Firewire, and iPod/iPhone port.  It would be nice if they could squeeze a DVD drive in it, but it’s just not possible.  If necessary they will use the same remote install technology used for the MacBook Air.

Battery – Sorry, no way this thing is removable.

Software:

Operating System – This is where I go back and forth the most.  Will they just use the iPhone OS?  Will they put Snow Leopard on it? Or will it be something entirely new?  I was in the middle of writing this and had one notion about what I thought it would be, and now I’ve moved onto something completely different.  So since I can’t choose one idea, I will present to you a couple of possible solutions.

• A system that quick boots into what is basically the iPhone OS, but can also boot into a fully functioning version of Snow Leopard (with some small additions, like a software keyboard).  Quick boot operating systems are becoming more and more prevalent and on a machine with this kind of hardware, the iPhone OS will boot pretty quickly.  There might be a few custom features or menu buttons that developers might be able to take advantage of, but more or less the device will run both Snow Leopard and the iPhone OS.  So it will run apps for each, even at the same time possibly.
• The second idea, that I’ve been leaning towards lately, is a more iPhone OS-like interface with Snow Leopard underneath.  It would have a more advanced version of the iPhone OS with more available features for developers.  It would be able to run multiple applications at once and developers would not be required to sell their applications from the App Store (though I think it would be an option, but of course Apple would take their cut).  The tablet would be made so that the porting process from OS X to the device would mostly be about adjusting the user interface.  So for those familiar with MVC, much of the work would be in the view aspect of the app.

The engineering required for both of these ideas, particularly the first, would be extensive, but it can most definitely be done.  Apple would also make some additions to the iTunes store.

iTunes Integration

A strong tablet device at the right size would allow the iTunes store to expand to distributing another kind of media: eBooks.  The iPhone CAN be used for reading, but it really isn’t the optimal size for it.  A larger tablet would be perfect for this and put Apple is the biggest competitor with Amazon in the eBook market.  This would allow Apple to have periodical subscriptions available in just the way that they distribute podcasts.

This device would also allow Apple to pursue the sale of electronic textbooks.  They’ve already become entrenched in schools, as Macbooks have become very popular at universities.  I’d expect to see the iTunes U service they offer to expand.  Apple could position themselves as the electronic textbook distributors for participating schools.

Pricing

Apple will pack this thing with powerful enough hardware to be worth $1000 to the consumer, but I’d look for a price of $500 with a two-year agreement to a data plan (note that I expect them to be dealing with multiple carriers by the time the tablet is announced).  I think they’ll offer it without the commitment, on either no plan or a pay as you go plan, for about $800.

I’m gonna try to do some sketches and mock up what I expect the operating system to look like.  Let me know what you think and if you have any ideas or modifications you want to make.  Also if there are any skilled photoshoppers out there, feel free to mock this up or something else and send it to me.  I’ll be glad to post it.