Apple is working on a touch device similar in size to a netbook or tablet. Here is a short guide to its likely components.
Items listed here are subject to change but are likely to be accurate based on available information from non-Apple sources. Please note that this is not official information provided by Apple and is not intended to be definitive or relied upon for any purpose. The image shown above is not an image officially provided by Apple. “iTablet” is not a product name that has been officially provided by Apple.
General
Apple is working on user interface devices inspired by the success of the iPhone and specifically, its lack of a physical keyboard. A virtual keyboard allows Apple to pop-up a variety of keyboard configurations to suit specific tasks. The current MacBook line incorporates multi-finger touch using built-in touchpads. However, the MacBook line does not incorporate a touch screen. Enter Apple’s tablet version of what we shall refer to as an “iTablet”…
Screen
The screen is likely approximately 10″ diagonal which makes it 3.3″ smaller than the current MacBook and MacBook Air. It also makes it approximiately 6.5″ larger than the iPhone screen. The iTablet likely uses a high density display with a very fine dot pitch. Similar to the iPhone display, the iTablet display will likely incorporate a relatively large number of pixels per inch. The entire screen will likely be touch-sensitive using capacitive technology. The screen will likely be scratch resistant, hard coated, and secured to obviate the need for a cover or enclosure.
Keyboard
The iTablet will likely have no physical keyboard, nor will it “open” like a netbook or notebook.
Chassis
The iTablet will likely be built with a solid one-piece rigid aluminum case with the touchscreen covering almost the entire front of the device. It will not likely have many buttons, but the few it will have will likely be on the edges. It will not likely be meant for consumers to open or modify.
SDK
Applications for the iTablet will likely be programmed by developers using a new software development kit which will make use of Cocoa, Objective-C, Cocoa Touch and other current Apple development systems. The SDK will likely include an iTablet simulator for developers to test applications. Current iPhone developers will likely have a much easier learning curve as it will share development paradigms with the iPhone/iTouch.
Battery
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The battery will likely sport a 10+ hour charge, using technology on display in the 17″ MacBook Pro and will likely be sealed and non-user replaceable.
Ports and Connectivity
The iTablet will include WiFi. Many current USB devices will likely be able to operate with it. It will likely connect seamlessly to wireless networks. It may include cellular connectivity at no cost, like Amazon’s Kindle, but that depends on carrier relations.
OS
The iTablet will likely run a fairly standard iPhone-style OS X with a specialized virtual keyboard interface. Unlike the iPhone’s implementation of OS X, the iNetbook may have printing capabilities and some additional capabilities more similar to current Mac computers. Due to the larger screen and faster processor, the user interface will likely include more advanced gestures and interactivity compared to the iPhone.
CPU, RAM, Storage
The iTablet will likely have sealed storage in the range of 32GB and higher using solid state storage technology. The iTablet will likely have 1GB of system RAM within which the OS and applications will run. Tha Intel Atom or ARM mobile platforms will likely form the CPU and chipset due to their low power consumption and relatively good performance. Additional storage via wireless or possible USB (direct or by adapter) will likely be possible.
iTunes and the App Store
Although a lot of Mac OS X software could theoretically be able to run on the iTablet, it will likely be primarily populated with software from a new division of iTunes’ App Store that will carry applications specifically for the iTablet in addition to the current iPhone/iTouch offerings. The iTablet App Store will allow Apple to monitor the quality and safety of software in use on iTablets. The App Store apps will show indications as to which devices they support: iPod Touch, iPhone, and/or iTablet. When connected to an actual device (not on a desktop computer), the App Store app will only show apps that are supported by the device in question.
Purpose
The iTablet will likely take off where the iPhone/iTouch left off in terms of providing a completely touch-based interface, albeit with a much larger display and improved system performance. It would target general purpose computing, web surfing, email, gaming, and business use. It will also create its own category of device that is somewhat different from a conventional netbook or notebook. It will have far greater entertainment properties than the iPhone by offering a more immersive video experience as well as easier reading of books and magazines, some of which may be subscription based and may be sold separately in iTunes.
Pairing
One or more iTablets will likely be able to link together, bluetooth or WiFi, for some specialized applications.
Camera
The iTablet may sport an iCam-style camera (facing the user) for the purposes of video-chatting or Photo Booth style imagery.
Writing/Drawing
The iTablet interface will be primarily controlled by human fingers. However, it will likely also allow a stylus provided by Apple (or provided by third parties that already offer a stylus for the iPhone and iPod Touch) that essentially emits a trace electrical pulse to emulate a finger touch and thereby provide a high resolution pointer. This stylus would allow the iTablet to work with handwriting, including handwriting-identification software. It will also likely allow for artisitc and precision graphics interfaces to operate - similar to a graphics tablet.
Pricing
The iTablet will not likely be in the range of current netbook pricing. It will likely initially be priced in excess of $900.
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March 11th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Good article! Pre-ordering now..! :p
March 11th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I *HOPE* it doesn’t have cellular connectivity.
In a perfect world, something like this would tether thru the iPhone (WiFi FTW! USB would suffice, but would be less desirable) so you’d be encouraged to buy TWO devices.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Interesting!
The film will come ture!
March 12th, 2009 at 10:06 am
This is EXACTLY what I’ve been waiting for my entire life. The view pad that Frank uses from 2001, a Space Odyssey. I would buy one today. It will be perfect for reading the ‘newspaper’ with coffee, eBooks, etc. I would hope a USB keyboard that fits inside a leather binder would be the first add-on, for taking notes.
March 12th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
i bet it will go great with the new mini mac keyboard (wireless or wired) and a mouse if you want a mini workstation to go!!!
March 21st, 2009 at 10:25 am
Make it with the full Mac OS X (not just OS X like the iPhone and iPod touch) and we are sold. NOT TO WORK ON IT. For full blown Apple Keynote and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. About 300 g and 5-inch screen. Pocketable. We need thousands for our University. Like the OQO, but a true Mac OS X tablet.
March 29th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Please, no cellular connectivity! That would entail either being locked into a contract (a no-go for me) or being a US-only device ala Kindle, at least until details can be hammered out with 70+ providers.
I do not see any USB. Maybe a fold out stand so that it could be placed on a table.
I see it using the same SDK as the iPhone/Touch.
I do not see this as having full OS X as that would step on the toes on the Macbook line, which Apple would be crazy to attempt given that so much of their profits depend on it. So, I think we are talking about a beefed up Touch; something that every Mac user with the full compliment of desktop, notebook and iPhone could still run out to buy, even in a recession. All in all, a product closer to what, in my opinion, the netbook-class of device should be.
April 7th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Good review Thanks
April 14th, 2009 at 4:44 am
Put me down for two!
April 20th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Sounds good, but I don’t think it adds up.
One, it’s intended use, is very similar to what the iPhone’s intended use is, “web surfing, email, gaming, and business use”. If that’s the case, why does the screen need to be the size of current netbooks, around 10″? An iPhone does all those things with a 3.5″ screen. It could do all those things with a slightly larger screen. Even 50% larger would be much larger. This 10″ screen you talk about is 9x larger! The multitouch glass screen is one of the most expensive components on the iPhone. One, 9x larger, with the same capability is going to be hugely expensive, probably much more than your $900+ prediction.
Just hold up an iPhone, and using your hands, try to frame a device 9x larger, ie, 3x longer on each side. With a multitouch screen, a 10″ screen at 163ppi, is just TOO LARGE! It’s overkill.
It’s too far a leap. Apple is iterative. It’s not even tick-tock, like Intel. It make a great leap, then it iterates. Anything based upon the iPhone is going to be iterative. Little steps, each year.
Doubling the screen size to 5″ would be a perfect iteration. Two of the current screens, wouldn’t break the bank in mfring costs, and the device could be priced at $500 to $600, a price that would sell, right where the premium of the netbook market is. A doubled screen at 5″ would be 640×480, VGA. This is a perfect size for current media in the iTunes store. No reencoding necessary.
The only other size I could see is something 4x the size of the current iPhone screen. That would make it 7.2″ and 960×640. That would be slightly larger than a Kindle screen, which has almost the same pixel pitch. A multitouch tablet has no need to be any larger, for the purposes intended. While I like this size, I just don’t think we can jump to this size, without first going thru the 5″ size.
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
awesome and I can’t wait!
@KenC - uh, did you read this article? despite the legal disclaimer sounds like this is what they ARE making, so not sure how your comments fit in, guess you know whats best for Apple? I would never buy a 5″ computer. Yeah, the iPhone is a good size but making it twice as big would not be much of an improvement. Anyways…
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Would have loved to have finished reading but you said likely so many times it got annoying.
August 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
This guy is a moron, and knows absolutely nothing about this “iNetbook” thats coming out. Everybody knows that Apple keeps shit hush hush, so why even write an article like you actually know something. Plus if any of this had any truth to it, Apple would make you take it down. Plus iNetbook sounds stupid, they would never call it that.
August 4th, 2009 at 1:38 am
100% speculation 0% data
August 4th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Jesse: This was a post from last March and seems to be in line with most of the rumors we now hear in August. He obviously has an inside tip. In any event- his use of iNetbook is just to refer to the mythical product easily. He is not claiming that is what it will be named dumb-ass!
Overall- seems like a well thought out report on what Apple may announce in the coming weeks- this author must know an insider-2 coincidental!
Give us more info Derek- don’t hold back!
August 4th, 2009 at 9:28 am
@ jesse
awesome comment dude! thanks for stating the obvious moron or should we call you “imoron”?
@ Eats Wombats
comment with 0% usefulness, inspired by jesse the moron?
@ orange7
whatever dude but I sort of agree, are you a softdrink or something? like 7 times better than orange soda?
August 5th, 2009 at 12:46 am
This is the article with the highest “likely” to text ratio I’ve seen
February 5th, 2010 at 5:41 am
I bookmarked the article months ago, and you get five stars for coming so close to what Apple actually came out with!