I doubt Apple is coming out with a tablet for one reason: Apple not only creates products, but experiences. They consider both the style and function of a product, along with the way the user interacts with it. The iPhone can be gripped with one hand, and navigated with the other, and when entering text, the user can grip it with two while still comfortably typing with his/her thumbs. With a tablet, I see no comfortable way a user can interact with the device, let alone hold it comfortably for viewing. Tablets are too big for thumb typing, and seeing as how Apple usually stays away from moving pieces ruling out any swing out arm, typing with two hands will be a pain as the tablet itself will most likely be flat.<p>I don't see where the tablet fits in between my laptop and my iPhone - two products that have been developed pretty well to accommodate the way we interact with them. If Apple has indeed decided to release a tablet, I'd be very very interested to see how they dealt with all the ergonomic and inputting issues that come with a tablet - issues they always seem to take into consideration quite heavily.
I don't really know what to think anymore about that kind of rumors because, on one hand, I feel like they don't really know what they're talking about and are mostly writing what people want to read; on the other, some persistent rumors ended up being real (or at least not far off) in recent years: iPhone, Google's own browser, Google's own OS, the "Google phone" to cite a few.<p>So, I'm tired of reading the "Apple Tablet" rumors but I can't help but thinking that it might just be coming.
To the people saying they don't see the value or market in an Apple tablet, Apple may simply be hoping for a greater acceptance rate among Windows users.<p>The iPhone has been a great product for breaking down barriers between Windows users and Apple hardware. If the tablet can integrate both OSX and iPhone UI aspects then this will hopefully break down most usability and interface barriers, meaning people are less reluctant to buy a Mac.<p>It's just one theory...
Financial Times have confirmed what, exactly?<p>Much as I think an Apple Tablet would be cool, I'm struggling to think of many uses cases for it, beyond it 'being cool' (and I mean cool in the tech sense of the word, not in the slave to fashion sense)
I'm not sure that amazon has much to worry about from this. I don't think a tablet will end up competing directly with other ereaders.<p>I'm thinking about getting an some kind of ereader this summer. While color might be nice, and I'm sure a touch screen would be nice, I don't think I would get one to use as an ereader. I'm sure it is going to be a lot more expensive than popular ereaders. I don't think I would pay 600 for a device to read books, and I don't really want a tablet pc. I have concerns about battery life. E-ink does not require a charge when the screen is not changing, and so I've heard the battery life on e-ink devices is amazing. I do not think the battery life on this would be very good.
Wondering what Techcrunch will do now if that confirmation is true. Do you think there will still be a market if the early adopters might buy an Apple tablet?
I don't see the market for this but more power to them if they release one and it's a success. I don't underestimate Apple's ability to "create a need".
If Apple were ever to release a tablet they would probably do so when it makes strategic sense. The iPhone is still a work in progress. Copy and paste was just added and the app store is still being refined.<p>When iPhone sales start to curb like iPod sales did after 5/6 years then you will see a new "pardigm shifting" gadget. The iPhone has been out for what, 2 years now?
Apple engineer: Gee, boss, what are we going to do with all of these "air" parts we spent so much time developing?<p>Boss (Scanning macrumors to issue the days takedown notices): Well, I guess we'll just have to.... waa-hay-hayta minute! I've got a brilliant idea!