Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Apple, iPod nano, iPod touch
Rumor: Apple event September 9th, tablet not included
The rumor mill is churning yet again -- the latest Apple rumor is that an event is coming on September 9th. Multiple sources are saying that they've heard Apple will host an event in San Francisco to talk about music, including upgrades for the iPod and iTunes. This is hardly a surprise -- Apple usually holds an event this time of year to pump up back-to-school sales of expected iPod refreshes. So while of course it's a rumor until we hear it from Cupertino, it's pretty believable that sometime around September we'll be hearing about new iPods of some kind.It's also pretty believable that this event won't be about the rumored iTablet. While mockups, leaks, and fake shots (oh my) seem to be appearing more and more often lately, the same folks that are saying September 9th are also saying that Apple isn't planning to tell us anything about a tablet quite yet. That doesn't mean that it's not coming, of course (eventually -- keep hope alive!), but definitely don't hold your breath for a September announcement or a holiday release. Looks like we'll find out whether those iPod camera rumors are true soon, but we'll probably have to keep waiting for the tablet.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PsycoMonkey said 12:19AM on 8-18-2009
Hmmm 9. 09. 09.... You think Apple will also announce that The Beatles are finaly on iTunes?
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Nate said 1:14AM on 8-18-2009
That would be a safe guess, I am pretty sure The Beatles Rockband comes out that same date.
dontsendmejunk said 2:33AM on 8-18-2009
The Beatles are re-releasing all music re-mastered on 09.09.09, as well. Why not make a nice announcement about patching things up with Apple Corps and introducing the new liner format to enhance the releases at iTunes.
MSM said 12:43AM on 8-18-2009
9/9/09... I think maybe time for iTunes 9!
bluray anyone?
Plus, who cares about the tablet thing... You have to be a real apple lover to be excited for something that hasn't been announced, I mean until we know what it is and what it does, then I don't really care
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Larry said 1:18AM on 8-18-2009
Even if I knew what the Mac iPad was I don't think I could must up the strength to care. Outside of a few specific applications and industries, the whole idea of tablet computing was a stillborn concept to begin with.
I don't see how iTablet changes that and I really don't understand what Apple sees in the concept, if they are working on it.
Few predictions for this shindig: Snow Leopard is available Mid September, iTunes 9, we say goodbye to the iPod Classic, and refreshes on the Nano and the iTouch.
Gilbert Palau said 12:16AM on 8-19-2009
We had lunch today (08/18/09) with a group of Verizon High Ups, and one of them pulled out a device that is around 10" and looks like a 10" iPhone. He explained that he had it on Loan from Apple.
I tried to snap a picture but I was unable... I am wondering though what does a high up from Verizon doing with one?? Do you guys think apple is working something out with verizon to offer on these tablets, just like amazon did with sprint?
I did manage to see the device was running a gui similar to the one found on the iphone.
I think there might be a posibility for apple to show the product but release it in January. That is pretty much what they did when the iPhone was presented to the world the 1st time.
jollyllama said 1:13AM on 8-18-2009
So far, I've seen a lot of the kind of people who are usually wrong (financial analysts, tech blogs with "insider" connections, etc) saying that an iTablet is coming, while the folks that are usually worth listening to (Gruber, etc) are saying no. I give this one a less than 1% chance. Remember, there's a lot of people out there that make (at least part of) their money from generating hype about Apple.
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VJay said 8:49AM on 9-20-2009
I agree with MSM.
What's so exciting about the tablet? If it's just going to be an oversized ipod touch, why bother?
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Kevin said 3:15AM on 8-18-2009
I can think of a lot of reasons to get excited.
How about a TV/DVR remote that displayed a grid of programming choices (less clunky, and quicker to navigate than the onscreen one)?
A color e-book reader. Especially good for textbooks with illustrations. Books made for the device, or similar devices, could include multimedia and interactive content.
A much more comfortable (but still personal) size for watching video.
Google Maps with detail and context.
View web pages without having to zoom in.
A digital picture frame.
Many existing iPhone/Touch apps would be even more useful with a larger display.
Many things you might do with a small notebook or netbook could benefit from instant-on, a streamlined interface, and multi-touch interaction.
Frank said 9:18AM on 8-18-2009
i am VERY excited about a tablet, for all the reasons kevin listed, and probably a few more. the time is now. apple can do it right.
Janichsan said 9:32AM on 8-18-2009
Reality check:
>A color e-book reader. Especially good for textbooks with illustrations. Books made for the device, or similar devices, could include multimedia and interactive content.
If the reports are to be believed, Apple bought 10" LCDs. LC displays are rather useless for e-book readers: the contrast is to bad to make reading enjoyable and they drain too much power compared to e-ink like in the Kindle.
>Google Maps with detail and context.
What would something like this useful for? Mainly for trying to find you way around in some other city. Unfortunately, 10" is somewhat too big to be lugged around comfortably.
>A digital picture frame.
A $800 digital picture frame? Sounds desireable.
>Many existing iPhone/Touch apps would be even more useful with a larger display.
Actually, most existing iPhone/iTouch apps would not even be able to use the larger display. Almost everything in iPhone OS is adapted to a fixed 480x320 pixel resolution. So the apps either would have to run in a 480x320 pixel window (as shown in some of the fake videos) or would have to be completely rewritten.
Kevin said 10:38PM on 8-18-2009
Reality check:
>If the reports are to be believed, Apple bought 10" LCDs. LC displays are rather useless for e-book readers: the contrast is to bad to make reading enjoyable and they drain too much power compared to e-ink like in the Kindle.
There are aspects of the Kindle that make it completely unsuitable to reading textbooks. No color. No way to simultaneously display two parts of the same book. No way to simultaneously display two different books. Simultaneous display could be added to the Kindle, but the slow response inherent in e-ink displays would make the functionality excruciating to use.
Interactive and multimedia functions can be a part of e-books, but not on the Kindle for obvious reasons.
Battery life is an issue, just like it's an issue with my iPhone, but I plug it in when I'm in my car, and when I get home.
Battery life on the Kindle is also a problem for me. I have to keep the wireless function off, because I don't have a signal where I live, and it drains the battery in a few hours, searching in vain for one. My phone does the same.
The Kindle is great for reading novels, I know (I have one), but I wouldn't say it's good for textbooks.
>>Google Maps with detail and context.
>What would something like this useful for? Mainly for trying to find you way around in some other city. Unfortunately, 10" is somewhat too big to be lugged around comfortably.
As someone who lugs around a 15" laptop, I think you're wrong about that.
>A digital picture frame.
A $800 digital picture frame? Sounds desireable.
I paid $27,000 for an aluminum can crusher, so I won't have a problem with an $800 digital picture frame. Especially since the can crusher is also the best automobile I've ever owned, and the picture frame also does all the other things I've described, plus much more.
>Actually, most existing iPhone/iTouch apps would not even be able to use the larger display. Almost everything in iPhone OS is adapted to a fixed 480x320 pixel resolution. So the apps either would have to run in a 480x320 pixel window (as shown in some of the fake videos) or would have to be completely rewritten.
As a programmer, I know that many apps would not have to be COMPLETELY rewritten, just adapted to use larger displays when available. Since many apps already adapt to landscape versus portrait, the effort would be trivial. Those that are not flexible (yet) would run in the small window.
If you build it, the apps will come.
Gilbert Palau said 12:18AM on 8-19-2009
It doesnt look like an oversized iPod Touch. I think until they show us what we can do with it everything is pure speculation. When the iPhone first launched, no one really figured that it could do all the things that we are doing now.
d3bruts1d said 5:28AM on 8-18-2009
I'm hoping that this even cover's iTunes 9 with the included [rumored] Blu-ray Support. And if they are going to add Blu-ray to iTunes, maybe there is hope for an Apple TV rev 3 and 1080p downloads from iTunes Store.
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TIm Meyer said 8:09AM on 8-18-2009
The rumor of an event of a rumored product. This is not a blog, it is a feeding frenzy.
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d3bruts1d said 8:43AM on 8-18-2009
The feeding frenzy is also just a rumor.
Bernard Ramsey said 9:22AM on 8-18-2009
You said, "...the same folks that are saying September 9th are also saying that Apple isn't planning to tell us anything about a tablet quite yet. That doesn't mean that it's not coming, of course (eventually -- keep hope alive!)," to which I say, "Those same folks will be spreading the same rumor for the next few years. It's not going to happen this Fall, just buy an Axiotron Modbook and pretend it did."
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mikehild said 9:29AM on 8-18-2009
In hoping for something Apple TV related. I want to buy one and convinced myself to wait a few weeks just in case Apple DOES do something with ATV this fall. Even if it's just a price drop or bumped storage capacity I'll be happy.
I highly doubt they'd do anything beyond that though, as the only reason they'd change anything else in the hardware would be if they were to make significant changes to it's capabilities, such as 1080p downloads. I honestly can't see that happening though.
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mshannoncarver said 9:30PM on 8-18-2009
BORING!!!
The only thing music related that could get me excited would be a subscription service.
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