Author Topic: Apple Tablet Announcement TODAY (Read 34886 times)

leaf · « **on:** January 27, 2010, 05:56 »

So is anyone else following this?

The announcement is coming later today so all the rumors will be put to rest. I saw a pictures this morning which claims to be the real thing (attached). It was a bit dark so I took it into curves in Photoshop. It looks like it has some sort of hard plastic casing around it, perhaps so people can't see the true shape, or to protect one of the few prototypes.

Kngkyle · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2010, 05:59 »

They will probably sell a ton of them, but for me personally, I'd take a laptop with a keyboard any day over a tablet.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2010, 06:20 »

My wife wants a backlit book reader bigger than her phone, so maybe this is it.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2010, 06:27 »

I'll be following this as I work today... probably not being very productive in the process. Everyone should watch Leo LaPorte at http://live.twit.tv/... He said he'll be covering it live for about 5 hours straight. Of course, this is only if you're an Apple freak, which I'm guessing many in this forum are.

Myself, I'm excited but also a bit skeptical. If the device is what everyone is speculating, I imagine it will make us Apple fans line up and sales will be great for the first few weeks, but it ultimately won't necessarily change the world, which for Apple would make it a flop. But the Steve has created magic before, and he very well may do it again!

leaf · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2010, 06:35 »

yeah, i saw that site this morning. Are they going to have live coverage or just doing an audio commentary on what is happening?

I plan to follow it on Gizmodo, unless twit.tv has live video coverage

PowerDroid · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2010, 06:41 »

You should follow Gizmodo AND watch Leo. Leo and crew will undoubtedly be reading Gizmodo and other sites right along with you, and they'll be commenting on each new tidbit as the sites post them. I watched the last few Apple announcements this way, and it feels like you're experiencing the whole thing with a group of friends reacting around you rather than reading it alone in a vacuum.

cthoman · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:05 »

It should be interesting. I'm hoping it is some sort of iTunes for print (books, magazines, etc.). I think that would open up a lot of creative jobs if successful.

sharpshot · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2010, 10:11 »

I like the prototype I saw of a laptop that uses its screen as a detachable tablet. Hopefully that will be produced.

leaf · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2010, 11:13 »

Quote from: cthoman on January 27, 2010, 10:05

It should be interesting. I'm hoping it is some sort of iTunes for print (books, magazines, etc.). I think that would open up a lot of creative jobs if successful.

Yeah, i really think it could.

'indie' comic illustrators could really have a market for their content. I guess people can read underground comics on the net too but having a device like the ipod is for music, specifically for print media would make a significant difference. The iPhone has really opened up a huge market for individual programmers - something that I think is very cool. Any old joe can create software and make it available to the world. If it catches on, the programmer can earn very well from it.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2010, 14:23 »

HOLY CRAP!

Pretty amazing device, starting at just $499 with a dirt-cheap data plan?

Forget what I said about this being a potential flop. This is a game-changer.

gostwyck · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2010, 14:29 »

From the BBC news;

"Apple revealed that more than 3bn apps have been downloaded from its App store."

Three BILLION! Makes microstock sales volume seem pretty insignificant.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2010, 14:40 »

Quote from: gostwyck on January 27, 2010, 14:29

From the BBC news;

"Apple revealed that more than 3bn apps have been downloaded from its App store."

Three BILLION! Makes microstock sales volume seem pretty insignificant.

I actually looked into what it would take to build an iPhone app, and quickly realized I wouldn't have the stomach for it.

An app developer has no way of knowing until the app is submitted to Apple to review whether it will be approved and allowed into the store.

Think of it in terms of microstock... you spend an entire year perfecting an image you feel is a masterpiece... you submit it to the microstock agency (assume there's only one), and it is rejected with little or no explanation. I don't think I could deal with that kind of uncertainty. I give big kudos to developers who can work under terms like that and be a success at it. The successful ones deserve every dollar they make. (And don't forget there are many more who aren't successful... like microstock, the App Store has quickly become flooded and unless your app is best in class, it may never get noticed and bought.)

gostwyck · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2010, 14:47 »

I'm no expert but a radio report I was half-listening to yesterday reckoned that there are thousands of developers in places like China and India that are churning app's out at the rate of several a day. They talked about them knocking up simple app's in their lunch hour.

Tim Markley · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2010, 15:08 »

Looks great, $499 is a great price for intro level machine. Should make all these ereader companies nervous.

Kngkyle · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2010, 15:11 »

Looks nice. Price isn't as extreme as I expected. But I still don't see how it can beat a regular laptop. Not having an actual keyboard is a deal killer for me. I'm sure they will sell tons though.

Also 'iPad' is kind of a silly name and can be thought of in a not so elegant way.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2010, 15:20 »

I'll be ordering one for my wife... the low end one, wireless with no data plan. Our old iBook laptop is just about dead, so $500 to replace it, since it's perfect for light browsing and email which is all she does... that's a no-brainer. I've entered my email to be notified when Apple is ready to take pre-orders. If you're even thinking about getting one, I think you'll want to put a pre-order in as soon as you can.

madelaide · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2010, 16:05 »

And guess how Steve Jobs was dressed.

Snufkin · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2010, 16:22 »

Have you seen the Simpsons episode mocking Apple?

[youtube]DUpOFFBCm7k[/youtube]

Hilarious

epantha · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2010, 17:13 »

@Kngkyle and Tom you know you want one.

Watching the the video on the Apple website brought tears to my eyes!
I'll probably buy one. Been thinking about an ereader for awhile and this will be perfect.

An LED monitor came with my new Mac Pro. Absolutely STUNNING quality. Made my LCD HD Cinema Display look like crap.

stockastic · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2010, 17:20 »

Um, PowerDroid - why would you say this is "perfect for email"? Am I the only one who noticed that it doesn't have a keyboard? Sure you can peck out email with one finger - but is that what we now call "perfect"?

epantha · « **Reply #20 on:** January 27, 2010, 17:25 »

There is a touch keyboard. Almost the same size as a laptop.

stockastic · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2010, 17:29 »

Quote from: epantha on January 27, 2010, 17:25

There is a touch keyboard. Almost the same size as a laptop.

Ok I see now it's big, but it's just a virtual keyboard that overlays whatever you're looking at on the display, right? I don't think I'd like typing on a sheet of glass. Just me I guess.

stockastic · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2010, 17:31 »

Quote from: PowerDroid on January 27, 2010, 14:40

I actually looked into what it would take to build an iPhone app, and quickly realized I wouldn't have the stomach for it.

An app developer has no way of knowing until the app is submitted to Apple to review whether it will be approved and allowed into the store.

I'm a developer too and I think a lot of guys must be losing their @sses on this deal. They'll spend a huge amount of time that will never pay off in sales at $5, even worse if Apple decides they don't like it. Microstock is bad enough, but you'd spend weeks on an iPhone app that had even a chance of success.

sharpshot · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2010, 17:50 »

I might get one, when they are $50

Never understood the need to buy the latest toy, cameras are about the only things I buy new.

stockastic · « **Reply #24 on:** January 27, 2010, 17:53 »

And the browser won't run Flash? Gotta be kidding.

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