Once again, I’d like to play the predictions game regarding the impending Apple’s tablet to be announced tomorrow. The following are based on what I have heard and see on the Internet over the past few weeks, so don’t expect anything too edgy, it’s just re-heated silly ideas!
- I think it’s going to be either iPad or iBook. Personally I think that iBook makes a lot of sense considering it’s rumored to be (among other things) a book/newspaper reader …
- It’s going to look just like an big iPod touch. Nothing fancy (nor crazy).
- It will runs a variant of iPhone OS (if not the same one: 4.0)
- It will runs iPhone OS apps in a Dashboard’s Widgets fashion
- Any iPhone app will be allowed to run full screen if it support it (via Info.plist tweak). Meaning it will be the same SDK.
- It will support multi-tasking and background processing (for select apps only, e.g some Web Radio apps) and so will the iPhone (but only the 3GS)
- It won’t support pen input (nor external keyboard), *boo hoo* to both :(
- It won’t have any fancy shmancy (crazy) finger gestures
- It won’t have a camera (no video conferences)
- It will come in two model: WiFi only, 3G+WiFi
- It will have a built-in SD card slot (yep that’s right!)
- Using Bluetooth, it will support tethering with an iPhone for Internet access on the go.
- It will have some amazing battery life (same design as MacBook)
- It will sport some new on-screen keyboard, probably something split over the two lower corners of the screen so that one one can type with both thumbs
It sounds like a solid list, though there are a few points I’d like to comment on.
First, the name. I think the name iBook, though very nice, would pigeon-hole the device too much in the minds of The Great Unwashed Masses as yet another e-book reader. iPad is just too close to iPod. I actually hope they drop the ‘i’ all-together, as it is becoming old and stale. I’ve heard “Canvas” out on the Great Intertubes, and I really, really like that name.
I think it will have a forward facing camera. Rumors thus far have been evenly divided on this, but I really feel the overall value of the device would be greatly enhanced with such a thing.
A tethered connection to an iPhone doesn’t make much sense if there is a 3G version, though on the other hand the last thing most people need is yet another monthly bill.
Personally, I’m really hoping that there are some aspects of the device revealed that were completely missed by the rumor mill, and subsequently blow us all away by their awesomeness.
