Apple iTablet: The Speculation & The Basics

For many years it was unclear if this product was even in development, let alone ready for market. Apple has now started making some serious noises about a 10-inch all singing all dancing, book reading, and movie playing iPod touch. Sounds good? Absolutely.

However, whilst we hang on in anticipation for the first batch of the Apple iTablet (also referred to by some as the iSlate) to hit stores across Scotland and the UK, there is surely no cast iron guarantee that the product will be a success. We can’t deny the obvious success of the MacBook, iPod and iPhone, but this device may hover awkwardly somewhere between an iTouch and a fully-fledged MacBook. This potentially uncomfortable positioning of the product makes it an intriguing proposition for consumers and developers alike. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons:

Pros

The Financial Times provide the most thorough breakdown of what we are likely to see when the iSlate finally touches down in Apple outlets. The specification boasts Internet connectivity, a 10-inch backlit LED, book reading features and the ability to run iPhone applications and games. The potential scope for developing applications on a 10-inch iTablet device is plentiful. As an iPhone developer, suddenly we can’t wait for the arrival of the iTablet in Scotland! Lets be clear, we can hardly say much about it at this stage and speculation surrounding the Apple iTablet creates more questions than it helps to answer. What we can predict is the arrival of a touch screen device clearly capable of giving popular notebooks such as the N-Series Samsung a serious run for their money.

The market for notebook style devices is growing and these are undeniably useful and purposeful pieces of equipment. What we could have in the iTablet is a touch screen notebook capable of vastly superior performance in terms of speed and power, when compared to its likely peers.

Cons

One foreseeable drawback is the movie watching. As the tablet sits on a flat surface, do you have to watch each movie from directly above? Without the use of a stand or something to provide an elevated perspective, this could be annoying. In addition, a 10-inch screen with a touch-based keyboard somehow seems wrong. One of the unique elements that make the Samsung N-Series so cute is the fact that the keyboard sits so neatly within a petite 10-inch frame. In terms of stamina, the iPhone itself has occasionally attracted criticism for its poor battery life. Unless Apple has something cunning up their sleeve prior to its release, you can only imagine the potential battery related constraints that may present given a significantly larger screen size.

The Verdict

All of this is pure speculation. We cant see with any degree of certainty when this product will be released, what it will look like or even if it actually exists at all. For all we know, this could be some twisted Apple publicity stunt waiting to blow up. One thing we do know is that Apple does their research in a big way when it comes to iterative testing, usage and design fundamentals. Whilst some of the potential pitfalls we have outlined are plausible, it seems unbelievable that Apple would not somehow consider the perils of playing movies on a flat surface. Similarly, it would be unfathomable for them to release a device the size of an iTablet without a heavily modified and enhanced iPhone operating system. Once Waracle have road tested one of these products we can provide a definitive review. It just seems inconceivable to expect a weak product.

Will you buy an Apple iTablet? Or do you believe its destined for failure? Let us know!

Do you have an idea for an application or game that would be perfectly suited to the iTablet? If so, please contact Waracle directly on (01382) 529528

Will you buy an Apple iTablet? Or do you believe its destined for failure? Let us know!

Do you have an idea for an application or game that would be perfectly suited to the iTablet?

If so, please contact Waracle directly on (01382) 529528