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iSlate has a friend -- meet the mysterious Magic Slate

by Michael Grothaus Dec 27th 2009 at 1:00PM

The slates just keep coming. Now MacRumors is reporting that Apple has filed a trademark for a device called "Magic Slate."
The term was categorized broadly to cover computers, computer peripherals, computer hardware and much more. "Magic Slate" adopts a similar naming convention to the recently released multi-touch Magic Mouse from Apple. It's not hard to imagine that a "Magic Slate" would be a multi-touch peripheral for computers, much like the multi-touch iGesture Pad released by Fingerworks before their acquisition by Apple.
Back in October a multi-touch trackpad was rumored to be making an appearance but it never materialized. If Apple does still plan on releasing the device, it would fit in nicely with the "Magic"-peripheral theme. Now, where's that trademark for "Magic Keyboard"?

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The slates just keep coming. Now MacRumors is reporting that Apple has filed a trademark for a device called "Magic Slate." The term was...
 

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macosxnews

This three pictures were posted yesterday in a Twitter-group (#islate and #tablet i thought):

http://i47.tinypic.com/35damn7.png
http://i48.tinypic.com/fvhctd.png
http://i48.tinypic.com/etfa05.jpg

Looks great if this is gonna be the tablet but i think it is fake.
The picture-style and text seem very on those of Apple...

December 27 2009 at 5:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to macosxnews's comment
Hugues

So fake IMO. The second picture says it all: look at the hands on the side of the screen, how could you have a landscape keyboard? It would require giant thumbs to be practical. Apple has praised the Macbook Air for not featuring a tiny 10" screen, i don't see them going the opposite direction now.
Also, i don't think this device is meant to run a fully featured OS X. I think Apple will want to tie it down to the App Store and won't allow free development as it is in the Mac environment. Also, it would require computing capacities that Apple is, i think, not willing to put in this device.

That being said. I would like this device, whatever it is, to be able to run apps like VLC in order to read virtually any video format unlike the iPhone/iPod touch. But i'm afraid that's not gonna happen...

December 27 2009 at 9:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mark

So its more likely to be a drawing pad rather than a comptuter, if it is a peripheral and not a system of its own.

December 27 2009 at 5:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Martin

I can't wait for it to be announced so all this useless speculation can stop.

December 27 2009 at 4:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Martin's comment
Jonatj

The "magic slate" IS the new tablet. It will be an accessory to the iPhone / iPod Touch family. A dock that the iPhone will slide into which will add the larger screen and battery. They add more digital document features to go along with the better visibility of the screen. This is released as iPhone OS 3.2. Support for XL enabled apps will start coming into the App Store as Apple requested prior to the Jan. 26 announcement.

No new hybrid OS, no new CPU platform no $1500 price tag. Just a more useable reading accessory to compete with Kindle, Nook etc. Plus Apple gets to offer new digital print subscription services for newspapers, magazines and comics.

December 27 2009 at 5:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mike

yeah, I'm sure MacRumors is gonna pull the plug after the Slate comes out.

Get real, these guys are going to be speculating on the iPod nostril in 2015.

if you're not into the circle jerk thing, just don't log in.

December 28 2009 at 3:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BJ Nemeth

It's amazing how quickly we adapt to names that sound weird to us at first.

There was a lot of backlash against the name of the iPod Nano, and also against the MacBook. Both sounded odd and weird at the time, but now we accept them without a thought.

Here's another example -- remember how stupid everyone thought Nintendo was for naming their game system "Wii"?

No matter what the name is, if the product is loved, people will grow to love the name -- or at least tolerate it without a thought.

December 27 2009 at 3:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MacTipper

If it's a multi-touch trackpad, I *so* want it! The magic mouse is killing my hand!

December 27 2009 at 3:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
XPav

It's a new version of the Apple II educational word processing program of the same name.

December 27 2009 at 2:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ulfoaf

Sounds like a Disney toy-doesn't appeal!
iPad, iSlate, Magic Slate ... none appeal to me. Well, no one liked MobileMe, either. But heck, it's just a name! Just make an original, enjoyable product & call it whatever they like.

December 27 2009 at 2:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ulfoaf's comment
oliver hart

See, now I like the term MobileMe. I think it's catchy. Different strokes I guess, but I will agree with you about all of the other names. They sound just terrible. Hopefully they're dummy names and Apple has something snappy up their sleeves.

December 27 2009 at 2:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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