There have been rumours about Apple launching a tablet device for the last few years but in recent months the rumour mill has been working overtime and now the Financial Times has run a piece predicting that Apple will release a tablet device, code-named “Cocktail”, before Christmas.
The FT is anticipating a September launch, which is also the traditional time of year for new iPod launches, and they expect the device to be 10 inches across the diagonal with a heavy focus on media and will use the Apple App Store.
Such a device would be like a giant iPod Touch rather than an Apple Mac with a touch screen. This is a crucial piece of information. Until now tablet computing hasn’t really taken off. Microsoft has had a tablet version of XP since 2002 but there never was really any success. Sony has recently said they will launch a touch screen netbook in the Vaio range to coincide with the launch of Windows 7, but the true success for touchscreen devices is with Apple. Using your finger rather than a stylus revolutionized the mobile phone market and the MP3 player market.
If the rumoured Apple device is a full blown Apple Mac with touch screen than that means that Apple will need to make some major changes to OS X to accommodate the touch screen. This isn’t impossible as they already support various mouse gestures on the MacBook so it would be a natural evolution. Also Snow Leopard is coming out in September which could contain touch screen enchainments which have yet to be revealed. Such a device would be able to install and run all OS X applications just like a MacBook or desktop Mac.
However it is more likely that Apple will build on their success of the iPhone and iPod Touch and use the same Apple iPhone OS but make the screen bigger and better for films and Internet browsing.
According to the FT Apple is working with the four largest record labels to stimulate digital sales of albums by bundling a new interactive booklet, sleeve notes and other interactive features with music downloads. This is intended to stimulate the sales of CD-length music which have higher margins than individual tracks.
2 thoughts on “Apple Tablet Due This Year? Giant Sized iPod Touch?”
man and vanHowever it is more likely that Apple will build on their success of the iPhone and iPod Touch and use the same Apple iPhone OS but make the screen bigger and better for films and Internet browsing.