Neil HughesWithout naming a source, the Financial Times said that Apple's touchscreen device is "expected to launch imminently." The publication also reiterated much of what was said by The Wall Street Journal Monday: Apple has had discussions with Walt Disney Co. and CBS Corp. about offering subscriptions for TV shows through iTunes.
"Apple is preparing an announcement next month that many anticipate will be the official unveiling of its tablet, but the company has so far declined to confirm the existence of the device," the Financial Times reported. "Wall Street analysts expect mass production of an Apple tablet to begin as early as February."
It noted that magazine publishers Time Inc. and Condé Nast have created prototypes of digital editions of their magazines. The concepts shown were device-neutral and publishers intend to offer them on a variety of tablet devices expected to arrive in 2010.
A consortium of publishers have also agreed to open standards for a new digital storefront that will offer users media content on portable devices. The publishers intend to create a reading application that can render the "distinct look and feel" of specific publications. It would allow for devices to be viewed on a variety of hardware, including Apple's potential tablet.
In July, AppleInsider reported that Apple's rumored tablet device would arrive in early 2010. The 10-inch, 3G-enabled touchscreen device is said to have been crafted under the watchful eye of co-founder Steve Jobs.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
46 Comments
It it doesn't have a screen that also servers as a camera, I'm not interested! http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...tos_video.html
Why, Apple, why're you so hard to me??
I'm not at all interested in TV and can't make me watch it more than for one evening a year. I'm not at all an artist myself and can't make simplest sketch out of what my eyes see around...
So, this shiny amazing product is useless for me.
BTW, isn't that letting go 3GS here and there making room for Leonardo?
If I have to run to a communications for connectivity, I don't think I'll have much interest in it.
Here's my current guess on what the device will be like:
1) 10" LED-backlit LCD panel with touchscreen features.
2) ARM11 CPU with PA Semi technology to keep power consumption down.
3) Unknown GPU technology to allow smooth 720p HDTV playback.
4) 2 GB of system RAM.
5) 240 to 320 GB 1.8" dual-platter hard drive for local storage. (Don't laugh. Given Apple's success with the iPod classic running for long periods of time with a single-platter 1.8" hard drive, not to mention a lot more space for a much bigger batter pack on the tablet, such a method for local storage actually makes sense, especially given the current steep prices for SSD storage).
6) 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity.
7) Maybe Bluetooth connectivity for external keyboard/mouse pointing device.
8) Possible 3G GSM HSDPA/HSUPA cellphone network connectivity.
8) iPod dock connector and Mini DisplayPort connector, with optional adapter for Mini DisplayPort to HDMI 1.3 connections.
never