There are so many rumors out there right now about an Apple tablet that you can easily get confused. As a self-proclaimed techoholic I will give you my summary of the most credible rumors combined with my own assumptions.
Apple will announce the iSlate tablet January 27. It will ship in March. This will fit well with Apple’s non-computing release cycles: Spring (iSlate), summer (iPhone), fall (iPod).
- Name: iSlate
- Form factor: slate (aka a portable touchscreen with a computer hidden inside)
- Most probable hardware:
- 7-11″ multitouch screen
- Possibly e-ink and oled/lcd hybrid
- Arm processor
- Likely multicore (2 or 4 cores)
- Probably designed or influenced by PA-semi (bought by Apple)
- 1Ghz or faster
- Powerful graphics
- Tegra 2, iPhone 3GS-like or PA-semi designed
- Capable of OpenGL or OpenGL ES2
- Operating system and software
- Based on OS X, somewhere between Snow Leopard and iPhone OS 3.0 (or 4.0)
- Can run iPhone software, either as windowed applications or as widgets
- Multitasking. Will run several iPhone apps at once.
- Comes with much more powerful software than the iPhone
- Some kind of e-reader software
- App Store
- Great battery – 8 hours or more.
- Great standby time
- Battery-saving reading mode. Possibly e-ink hybrid
- Design and hardware
- Extremely thin
- Lightweight
- Thin bezel around the screen
- Not too far from the iPhone design
- A couple of needed buttons (power, volume, possibly home button)
- Camera, possibly in front for video chat
- Wifi and bluetooth
- Possibly 3G, or a version with 3G
- No stylus
- Price
- Unexpected (low)
- My guess: $499-$699
- Bundled with 3G plan: $299-$499
- 7-11″ multitouch screen
Unlikely specs I want:
- First device with Light Peak
- USB 3.0 host (can use external drives++)
- HDMI or mini displayport connector
- Extreme battery (24 hours of use)
- Can run software not purchased in App Store
