There's a flurry of rumors this morning that
Apple is planning an event as soon as this January, though exactly what they'll be showing us is still in question. Most of the buzz (along with our buddy Gene Munster) says
we will finally see the long-awaited tablet, and that after a January showing, it might actually be released as soon as March. Which means, of course, that by August, it'll completely revolutionize whatever industry it happens to fall into. That's usually how these things work.
While a tablet is still only being bounced around, it's possible that a bigger screen is involved in some way, whether that be in a netbook style computer or something else. A few developers have
reportedly been asked to ready their apps for a
"full screen" resolution, which would seem to suggest that even if the new device is larger than an iPhone, it'll still run apps off the App Store.
And we've even got a size for the screen: 7" has been the rumor, but now you can add three more inches to the diagonal, as a few sources are saying
10" will be the standard. Of course, all of this is hearsay and speculation so far, including the fact that we'll have an event at all. But 2010 has long been expected to finally be the year of the tablet, so why wait? We're looking forward to it.
(Picture by Adam Benton for MacFormat magazine) 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
David Paskin said 2:20PM on 12-23-2009
I love that picture. Where is that from?
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evan said 2:35PM on 12-23-2009
What's up with the keyboard in that mockup?
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Wonderboy said 3:52PM on 12-23-2009
I believe the space on the right is intended to be a multi-touch trackpad. I for one would love to have a trackpad instead of a typical mouse... especially a wireless one.
mike said 7:35PM on 12-28-2009
slightly redundant when you're staring a big ass iPhone.
Dhave said 2:41PM on 12-23-2009
Introducing the iPhone 3G S.ex?
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iGlad said 2:42PM on 12-23-2009
I am keeping my fingers crossed that it does gives us what we all hope as I don't want to buy a Kindle however the Nook looks nice but will never make its way into europe as no B&N stores here.
The tablet needs to have everything that the kindle and Nook are not! I am not interested in the games as the iPhone does it well and cheaply. Internet, ebook and magazine reader, don't need office as I can use Google for that. Roll on January
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trayser said 3:00PM on 12-23-2009
I wish apple proves everybody wrong by having not 1 but 2 10" touch screens.
I wish it is a clamshell model with 2 touch screens when you open it. (like opening a notebook). One of the screens can be used as full virtual keyboard.
But wait, if its not too much to ask, I would also like an E-Ink screen on the front, so that I can read long documents without wasting too much battery.
So finally, it should be the size of a traditional (paper) notebook with the front being an E-Ink screen for reading books and documents. When you open it, it would have 2 touch screens. And of-course the hinge will be a complete 360deg hinge, so that you can fold it all the way to have the touch-screen on the front.
And last but not the least, it should have the camera on the hinge, so that it can be rotated in any direction.
Well, it is just my wish..
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Facundo said 7:43PM on 12-23-2009
I agree on your wish, I wish the same.
Maxintech said 3:04PM on 12-23-2009
Most of the apps from AppStore are designed for iphone/ipodTouch screen: 320x480.
A large number of applications would see distorted or ridiculous in another resolution or screen size.
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MikeWard1701 said 9:08PM on 12-23-2009
Couldn't the UI elements simply be rescaled on the fly? Meaning the only thing developers have to do is use higher resolution images and textures?
FeedMeAStrayCat said 3:12PM on 12-23-2009
A "netbook" or tablet that runs only app store apps is a naahh. Cool. But naaahh. I want to be able to patch my software when they fail and have security holes a bit faster then the 1-3 months. Sure webb apps might be the future. But. Hm. Naahhh. I dont know. I want it to run OSX. I want it to be a "computer".
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Maxintech said 3:29PM on 12-23-2009
I agree. A full OS X with multitouch interface.
TheJae said 3:44PM on 12-23-2009
My guess is it's probably going to be running Snow Leopard and also the first apple device capable of running apps from iTunes Appstore since it has all the fancy sensors and accelerometer.
This will be apple's way of reinventing the netbook industry.
Reggie said 8:06PM on 12-23-2009
I agree. If it's running iPhone/iPod OS, then I wouldn't buy it. I have no need for a larger format iPhone-type device. Now, on the other hand, if it's running iTablet OS, which is a full snow-leopard OSX with the ability to run both normal Mac and App-store Apps, then I'm all for it.
MikeWard1701 said 9:11PM on 12-23-2009
It could possibly be dual OS. iPhone OS for instant on quick tasks, and able to reboot into full OS X for more demanding tasks?
Also allowing you to run your iPhone OS Apps in OS X akin to widgets.
Dan Woods said 11:34PM on 12-23-2009
I reckon they'll have a 7" Tablet running iPhoneOS on Dual-ARM with PXA320 and a 10" Tablet Pro running Snow Leopard on an underclocked Core2 Duo with 9400M.
Introduce an iPhoneOS version of iWork when iWork '10 is announced to ensure Tablet users aren't that far behind Tablet Pro users.
I don't know about the 360º Clamshell, it seams a bit fragile for such a small device. An Apple Pro product would probably be of better design and construction than the typical Clamshell Netbook, but after the iBook G3 and 17" Powerbook issues with chassis rigidity I doubt Apple would attempt something like that.
MC SE7EN said 4:01PM on 12-23-2009
Someone please explain to me (and any other potential customers) why I should buy a 10-inch iPhone OS device that doesn't fit in my pocket when I could buy a 3.5-inch iPod touch that does all the same things (because it's running iPhone OS).
Now, explain to me why I SHOULDN'T buy a 10-inch OS X device. It's more portable than a 13-inch MacBook and it's got a touchscreen. You'd have to be crazy not to want one.
Apple isn't stupid. No one's going to buy a giant iPhone. They know that. You want an iPhone, buy an iPhone. However, people WILL buy a small, portable, OS X-running tablet device. And that's what they're going to give us.
Provided, of course, that all these rumors are actually on to something.
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mike said 7:35PM on 12-28-2009
because the App Store has about 150,000 apps with unstoppable momentum, and Mac OS X has, at best, about a 10% marketshare in the US.
MC SE7EN said 7:39PM on 12-28-2009
Exactly. The App Store doesn't need any kind of boost. iPhones and iPod touches are carrying it to unimaginable heights. Now Apple needs something to get OS X past a 10% market share, and that something is a revolutionary new tablet running OS X can do.
Abisola said 5:26PM on 12-23-2009
I work for a (very) large media organisation in the UK and we've been developing some 'widgets' for this new tablet for a while. It's all hush hush but it is happening.
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