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[Sir Smoke Alot]

So what rumored names do we have...

iPad
iSlate
iBook
iTablet
Canvas
Palette
Slate
Tablet

I love iBook but I could get used to iPad. And the word "pad" to me really conjures up pen/pencil so maybe the thing would use a stylus. Calling it an "iBook" seems passive, like you're just consuming media from it and not creating something *on* it.

iBook was the name of the consumer laptops before the MacBooks came out. iPad sounds too much like the HP iPaq, and the iPod. iTablet is a mouthful.

It is most likey going to be iSlate. And Slate is already taken by HP's apple tablet competitor lol

It is amusing that all of these PC companies are jumping over each other to create competition for Apple's product which for now is still a rumor. Just shows how powerful Apple has become in the industry.

 

[SuperPac]

iBook was the name of the consumer laptops before the MacBooks came out. iPad sounds too much like the HP iPaq, and the iPod. iTablet is a mouthful.

It is most likey going to be iSlate. And Slate is already taken by HP's apple tablet competitor lol

It is amusing that all of these PC companies are jumping over each other to create competition for Apple's product which for now is still a rumor. Just shows how powerful Apple has become in the industry.

I cannot wait for the "Apple IsLate LOLOLOL amirite?" posts then. It's been very amusing watching companies announce a show devices for which really there is no software or functionality for either. I think iPad is almost as likely as iSlate.

 

[Woodsy]

OS 4.0 in the wild confirmed:

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/12/22/more-evidence-of-iphone-os-4-0-already-in-testing/

Last week we saw the first evidence that iPhone 4.0 was in testing with reports that it was already being spotted in web site logs. We pointed out at the time that while interesting, such user agent logs could easily be faked. This week, we've received slightly more evidence that iPhone OS 4.0 is indeed undergoing testing.

One iPhone developer has since noted a single instance of iPhone OS 4.0 being used in their Pinch Media analytics.

The new operating system first appeared this week in their application's logs. While such data can still be faked, it seems less likely to be. Testing of iPhone OS 4.0 may correspond with reports of new iPhone hardware also being tested. Any new iPhone would require a new version of the iPhone operating system to support the new hardware. Apple is widely expected to release a new iPhone in the summer around WWDC 2010.

 

[Ovid]

Does the letter 'i' have to be included?

 

[Shogmaster]

They don't care how it runs on Windows as long as it does.

Sounds about right. :lol

 

[Sir Smoke Alot]

Does the letter 'i' have to be included?

Well, all of their portable handheld products have an "i" prefix, so for the sake of brand uniformity yes.

I am very very excited for the 27th

 

[Stinkles]

So what rumored names do we have...

iPad
iSlate
iBook
iTablet
Canvas
Palette
Slate
Tablet

I love iBook but I could get used to iPad. And the word "pad" to me really conjures up pen/pencil so maybe the thing would use a stylus. Calling it an "iBook" seems passive, like you're just consuming media from it and not creating something *on* it.

Easel. I think Apple bought this company: http://easel-inc.com/about/

And is keeping the acquisition on the DL until next week.


I think this for no reason at all. Other than "easel" was the first word I thought of when I looked at the invitation graphic.

 

[SuperPac]

Easel. I think Apple bought this company: http://easel-inc.com/about/

And is keeping the acquisition on the DL until next week.

I think this for no reason at all. Other than "easel" was the first word I thought of when I looked at the invitation graphic.

Why do you "think" Apple bought this company? Their website is nothing. It's not like Fingerworks (which had real multitouch products out) or Lala (which also had a real product). Just because the company is called Easel and appears to "do multitouch" doesn't mean anything. And, this website is pretty terrrrrrrible.

 

[DECK'ARD]

Easel. I think Apple bought this company: http://easel-inc.com/about/

And is keeping the acquisition on the DL until next week.


I think this for no reason at all. Other than "easel" was the first word I thought of when I looked at the invitation graphic.

Too narrow a name.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

iBook was the name of the consumer laptops before the MacBooks came out.

That's the point.

 

[White Man]

So what rumored names do we have...

iPad
iSlate
iBook
iTablet
Canvas
Palette
Slate
Tablet

I love iBook but I could get used to iPad. And the word "pad" to me really conjures up pen/pencil so maybe the thing would use a stylus. Calling it an "iBook" seems passive, like you're just consuming media from it and not creating something *on* it.

I wish they'd call it the Newton or iNewton or whatever. I realize there is no way that's going to happen. At least I can name my device that, I suppose.

 

[crisdecuba]

My prediction: it'll be one of the following:

iPal
iTab
iSlate

 

[CrunchinJelly]

iSpy

 

[Zaphod]

iHope they drop the i this time.

 

[Tobor]

My prediction: it'll be one of the following:

iPal
iTab
iSlate

You left out iBook, so you're wrong. Sorry.

 

[Stabby McSter]

iAm

cuz y'know, it is you hurhurhur
i'm sorry

Spoiler

i nicknamed my macbook "MacBook Am". y'know, instead of pro

 

[Kano on the Phone]

I can't wait to spend between $5 and $20 to update my 2G iPod touch to it.

Providing they haven't left 2G owners in the cold. And if the features it adds still work on it that is. Like the rumored multitasking. Can't wait to see how that fares on my battery life.

I don't know why you'd actually go through with upgrading it if you're this upset about it.

 

[Burger]

I was reading these two articles the other day which got me thinking. Who the fuck are these people ? I don't believe that Apple would ever take heed of any of these suggestions, because most of them are completely retarded.

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/10/dear-apple-what-we-want-to-see-for-iphone-4-0-part-1/
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/17/dear-apple-what-we-want-to-see-in-iphone-4-0-part-2/

Almost 80% of us want Flash, even if it's a bad idea.

Uhh yeah I don't remember voting and I own an iPhone. I don't want Flash anywhere near my phone. It runs like shit on my beast of a computer, why would I want it on my phone ?

11. Better Support for Codecs and Add-ons. It's not just Flash, you know. WMV and AVI still rule on lots of sites. Let us see them (60%).

Why add support for Windows codecs ? The open source codecs are fine, and you know, open source.

1. Status indicator light. 90% of us want this. Some of us think a series of green dots (ala the MacBook's battery indicator lights) that flash when we have a new text or voicemail message would be cool, while some of us want a pulsating light like the sleep light on a MacBook. A few of us even think an illuminated Apple logo that pulsates when we've missed a call would be novel. While you may laugh at the last suggestion, it illustrates the fact that we're dying for a status indicator light in some form.

Or you could have a more elegant solution, which is for the phone to vibrate occasionally when you have a message. I don't know why people want their phone to light up like a christmas tree just because they have missed a call, or have a voicemail.

2. A new design casing. 3. Front-facing camera. 5. 5MP+ camera. 6. OLED display. 9. RFID.

No. Why. I have a camera. No. Why.

 

[Sir Smoke Alot]

That's the point.

i dont get it...are you saying that this is going to be the new consumer level mobile computer? Honestly, the only people who will buy this are tech nerds, college kids and students, and businessmen who like to show off.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

i dont get it...are you saying that this is going to be the new consumer level mobile computer? Honestly, the only people who will buy this are tech nerds, college kids and students, and businessmen who like to show off.

It's just a nostalgic name that fits the device with the e-book rumors going on. Don't think too hard about it.

 

[Kano on the Phone]

i dont get it...are you saying that this is going to be the new consumer level mobile computer? Honestly, the only people who will buy this are tech nerds, college kids and students, and businessmen who like to show off.

This is based off of which of the tablet's functions, none of which you know anything about?

 

[Borman]

OS 4.0 in the wild confirmed:

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/12/22/more-evidence-of-iphone-os-4-0-already-in-testing/

Not confirmed. Easily faked. Not saying it is, but you cant confirm anything based on that

 

[Lord Error]

Uhh yeah I don't remember voting and I own an iPhone. I don't want Flash anywhere near my phone. It runs like shit on my beast of a computer, why would I want it on my phone?

I have to wonder what kind of beast computer you have that runs Flash so badly. I have mid range office box here, and I can't think of flash based site that doesn't fly on it. Also, it would be helpful to have it for various flash based video sites that don't have native mobile support. It's better being able to see something and using more battery juice, than not seeing it at all.

Why add support for Windows codecs ? The open source codecs are fine, and you know, open source.

I'm pretty sure sure WMV is free to license nowadays. PS3 and PSP have support for it, and I doubt it would be there if it was a paid license. I agree in the sense that I don't really care for it though, and hardly anyone uses it for anything where it would make sense to watch it using iphone.

Or you could have a more elegant solution, which is for the phone to vibrate occasionally when you have a message. I don't know why people want their phone to light up like a christmas tree just because they have missed a call, or have a voicemail.

A single discrete white light would be fine. Sometimes you'd rather know that someone called you the moment you see the phone than a few minutes later, or hower long it takes for a phone to vibrate (and even then, it's easy to miss if you have headphones and phone is on the desk)

No. Why. I have a camera. No. Why.

Why a front facing camera? For video conferencing, like on every other phone that has it. RFID would presumably be so that you can use phone as an electronic wallet to pay for things like they can in Japan using their phones. That would be an amazing addition to Iphone if Apple could strike some deals with Visa, Mastercard, etc.

 

[Technosteve]

I wish they'd call it the Newton or iNewton or whatever. I realize there is no way that's going to happen. At least I can name my device that, I suppose.

newton 3.0 pro.

 

[Burger]

I have to wonder what kind of beast computer you have that runs Flash so badly. I have mid range office box here, and I can't think of flash based site that doesn't fly on it. Also, it would be helpful to have it for various flash based video sites that don't have native mobile support. It's better being able to see something and using more battery juice, than not seeing it at all.


I'm pretty sure sure WMV is free to license nowadays. PS3 and PSP have support for it, and I doubt it would be there if it was a paid license. I agree in the sense that I don't really care for it though, and hardly anyone uses it for anything where it would make sense to watch it using iphone.


A single discrete light would be fine. Sometimes you'd rather know that someone called you the moment you see the phone than a few minutes later, or hower long it takes for a phone to vibrate (and even then, it's easy to miss if you have headphones and phone is on the desk)


Why a front facing camera? For video conferencing, like on every other phone that has it. RFID would presumably be so that you can use phone as an electronic wallet to pay for things like they can in Japan using their phones. That would be an amazing addition to Iphone if Apple could strike some deals with Visa, Mastercard, etc.

The whole 'design by committee' thing does my head in. Reading that article makes me feel like I'm the only person in the world who is 100% satisfied with my iPhone.

Regarding the Flash thing, the computer I was talking about is my 2.2ghz Dual Core MBP. Keep in mind we are talking OS X here, not Windows.

I'm unconvinced about flash. Do I need to see a video of a skateboarder banging his nuts on my phone ?

Regarding the front facing camera, meh. I don't enjoy using iChat video all that much, and the experience is stilted and far from enjoyable, especially when people are on the other side of the planet. I hate to imagine what it's like on the phone. Why did video phones never take off ? Because people barely want to talk to you, let alone see you.

 

[SuperPac]

I was reading these two articles the other day which got me thinking. Who the fuck are these people ? I don't believe that Apple would ever take heed of any of these suggestions, because most of them are completely retarded.

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/10/dear-apple-what-we-want-to-see-for-iphone-4-0-part-1/
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/17/dear-apple-what-we-want-to-see-in-iphone-4-0-part-2/

Yeah, I agree. I mean maybe the top 1-2 things I can understand or get behind, but as I went down the list I found more often than not I didn't want whatever it was these people said they wanted. Especially Flash. Flash video, I can get behind. But Flash in general....no. The last 75% of the first part there I could do without, and the hardware stuff sometimes I dunno if people don't get what kind of ramifications some of that stuff would have on the cost of the device...

 

[Tobor]

NO FLASH. Ever. I really hope Apple sticks to it's guns on this one. A dedicated Hulu and Netflix app would be 1000x better than Flash support.

 

[SuperPac]

Amazon already running scared?

Amazon today announced a revised royalty program for its e-book Kindle Store, significantly increasing the potential return to authors and publishers in exchange for commitments to meet certain feature requirements. The move, which takes effect on June 30th, essentially bumps the royalty payments to 70% of an e-book's list price, up from the existing 35% rate that will remain in effect for publishers who do not wish to meet the requirements of the new program.

For each Kindle book sold, authors and publishers who choose the new 70 percent royalty option will receive 70 percent of list price, net of delivery costs. This new option will be in addition to and will not replace the existing DTP standard royalty option. This new 70 percent royalty option will become available on June 30, 2010.

Delivery costs will be based on file size and pricing will be $0.15/MB. At today's median DTP file size of 368KB, delivery costs would be less than $0.06 per unit sold. This new program can thus enable authors and publishers to make more money on every sale. For example, on an $8.99 book an author would make $3.15 with the standard option, and $6.25 with the new 70 percent option.

Amazon will require that works offered under the new increased royalty program meet certain standards, including list prices of between $2.99 and $9.99 and at least 20% under physical book prices, as well as support for Kindle features such as text-to-speech.

The announcement comes just one week before Apple's media event where it is expected to introduce its long-awaited tablet device. e-Book functionality is expected to be included on the new device, with Apple reportedly in talks with book publishers to offer their content on the tablet. Apple currently offers developers whose applications appear in the company's App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch 70% of revenues, sparking speculation that Amazon's e-book pricing change is an effort to match what it expects Apple could offer publishers for distribution through the iTunes Store.

 

[Chorazin]

Amazon already running scared?

I don't see why they would be. Amazon will simply release their Kindle app for the tablet, and have the luxury of having a brand new, full color e-reader made for them, with no cost to them, except for the cost of making a new app. That cost will be almost nil if the tablet runs a new version of the iPhone software that doesn't require major changes in app development.

I see this as a major step to get tons of authors to finally embrace e-books, as Bezos has a major hard-on for the Kindle to replace real books as soon as possible.

 

[rezuth]

Amazon already running scared?

Sure looks like it

 

[Kano on the Phone]

Sure looks like it

Do you seriously think Amazon gives a single fuck if they never sell another Kindle as long as they have a 1:1 replacement with an app?

 

[SuperPac]

Do you seriously think Amazon gives a single fuck if they never sell another Kindle as long as they have a 1:1 replacement with an app?

Yes if Apple decided they're going to be selling printed content for the new device via the iTunes Store instead (or publishers making their own apps and selling their content on their own).

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I know this discussion is so ten pages ago, but three days ago, I saw a Kindle's screen for the first time, and there is no way I would buy a normal LCD screened device for an e-reader over an e-ink screen. What they really need to do is create a color screen that has the readability of an e-ink screen. Until then, I would own both an e-reader and an iTablet.

 

[Tobor]

Even if Apple does allow them to release a Kindle app, they could still be in direct competition with publishers who have their own apps, and make the full 70% profit with no restrictions at all.

No matter what happens, Amazon needed to do this.

 

[Manics]

Even if Apple does allow them to release a Kindle app, they could still be in direct competition with publishers who have their own apps, and make the full 70% profit with no restrictions at all.

No matter what happens, Amazon needed to do this.

There's already a Kindle app for the iPhone in the app store, why should the tablet be any different? The app is already there.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

There's already a Kindle app for the iPhone in the app store, why should the tablet be any different? The app is already there.

Yeah, some of you aren't making sense. Amazon isn't going to think "oh well guys, we have a competitor now. Time to pack it up. We had a good run."

Apple is making the hardware and the OS for this thing, but it doesn't immediately rule out every potential competitor. Microsoft Office for Mac still exists and thrives when Apple already has an office suite. Amazon's MP3 downloader application is great and iTunes is still around.

 

[Kano on the Phone]

Yes if Apple decided they're going to be selling printed content for the new device via the iTunes Store instead.

Amazon has a good service that will keep being good even if they have competition, I doubt they're losing any sleep.

 

[rezuth]

Amazon has a good service that will keep being good even if they have competition, I doubt they're losing any sleep.

What we obviously mean is that they are scared of how generous Apple is on the iTunes Store. Developers get 70% and they take 30%. Amazon is trying to match that now in order to not lose anything if Apple does decide to sell books for the new tablet.

Edit: Sneaky, you edited out the cursing and all.

 

[rezuth]

Amazon has a good service that will keep being good even if they have competition, I doubt they're losing any sleep.

What we obviously mean is that they are scared of how generous Apple is on the iTunes Store. Developers get 70% and they take 30%. Amazon is trying to match that now in order to not lose anything if Apple does decide to sell books for the new tablet.

Edit: Sneaky, you edited out the cursing and all.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I don't see why they would be. Amazon will simply release their Kindle app for the tablet, and have the luxury of having a brand new, full color e-reader made for them, with no cost to them, except for the cost of making a new app. That cost will be almost nil if the tablet runs a new version of the iPhone software that doesn't require major changes in app development.

I see this as a major step to get tons of authors to finally embrace e-books, as Bezos has a major hard-on for the Kindle to replace real books as soon as possible.

Considering Apple splits revenues 70/30 on iTunes, this looks like a move to level the playing field with publishers who may have been lured into Apple's ecosphere with the better profit margins. I believe Amazon was 50/50 before this, and I'm in favor of the new pricing scheme too. Perhaps that's what Apple was asking for with publishers too. No books above $9.99.

 

[Tobor]

There's already a Kindle app for the iPhone in the app store, why should the tablet be any different? The app is already there.

If Apple is selling books directly through iTunes then the thinking is that they won't approve third party ereader apps.

Whether they do or not is irrelevant to Amazon needing to cut publishers a better deal, so this news tells us nothing.

 

[LCfiner]

If Apple is selling books directly through iTunes then the thinking is that they won't approve third party ereader apps.

Whether they do or not is irrelevant to Amazon needing to cut publishers a better deal, so this news tells us nothing.

this type of thinking shouldn't be accepted without putting up a fuss.


Hey guys you think this tablet will allow you to download and store MP3s from amazon or emusic?

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

this type of thinking shouldn't be accepted without putting up a fuss.

Hey guys you think this tablet will allow you to download and store MP3s from amazon or emusic?

Not directly, no. But then again, it's not going to be hard to get those files onto the tablet if you want to, and the same rules will likely apply to epub documents as well.

And there has been a fuss made about it, to varying degrees of success.

 

[Tobor]

this type of thinking shouldn't be accepted without putting up a fuss.


Hey guys you think this tablet will allow you to download and store MP3s from amazon or emusic?

I see what you did there.

bravo.

 

[Kano on the Phone]

What we obviously mean is that they are scared of how generous Apple is on the iTunes Store. Developers get 70% and they take 30%. Amazon is trying to match that now in order to not lose anything if Apple does decide to sell books for the new tablet.

Edit: Sneaky, you edited out the cursing and all.

I had almost the exact same post as Liu Kang. I didn't want to start any rumors.

The changing of the royalty structure is absolutely valid and probably correct, but does not equal running scared.

 

[kaching]

I know this discussion is so ten pages ago, but three days ago, I saw a Kindle's screen for the first time, and there is no way I would buy a normal LCD screened device for an e-reader over an e-ink screen. What they really need to do is create a color screen that has the readability of an e-ink screen. Until then, I would own both an e-reader and an iTablet.

I think once (AM)OLED screens start appearing regularly in larger sizes, cheap enough to put in consumer devices, they'll strike a good balance between reduction of eyestrain like eInk and more general purpose use like LCD.

 

[LCfiner]

I see what you did there.

bravo.

I feel dumb because I didn't try to do anything

I know I may be sounding like a broken record, but a lot of my thoughts recently about this device have been trying to reconcile the (hopeful) analysis of this thing as a simplified alternative computer while still being locked down as an iPhone with Apple in full control of app distribution, web plug ins, content delivery, etc.

I suspect that the answer to all my hypothetical questions will be as mundane and predictable as Liu Kang and Kano have mentioned. but I find that a bit disappointing if it were to be true and still find myself thinking that Apple will need to loosen the reigns over the iPhone ecosystem if they want this to take off.

 

[Tobor]

I feel dumb because I didn't try to do anything

I know I may be sounding like a broken record, but a lot of my thoughts recently about this device have been trying to reconcile the (hopeful) analysis of this thing as a simplified alternative computer while still being locked down as an iPhone with Apple in full control of app distribution, web plug ins, content delivery, etc.

I suspect that the answer to all my hypothetical questions will be as mundane and predictable as Liu Kang and Kano have mentioned. but I find that a bit disappointing if it were to be true and still find myself thinking that Apple will need to loosen the reigns over the iPhone ecosystem if they want this to take off.

The second sentence about music was a perfect example of a contradiction to your first. You didn't do that on purpose?

Spoiler

just pretend you did.

 

[LCfiner]

The second sentence about music was a perfect example of a contradiction to your first. You didn't do that on purpose?

Spoiler

just pretend you did.

here's my thought process:

if one is willing to assume that Apple would bar ereader apps from the store because they are selling ebooks from itunes, then that may also lead one to think that Apple COULD bar one from saving mp3 files (or any files, really) from web sites onto the device.

if the file system (and, specifically, the music storage) is locked down like the iPhone, then what could one do with mp3s downloaded from those web sites? Could they be added seamlessly to the media player app? or just stored in a generic data storage spot, separated from the music data storage?

what if amazon were to use a download interface made with Flash?

Would Amazon need to create an app for you to download music and then your amazon music would be locked to your amazon app?

I don't know the answers to these questions and the geek side of my brain keeps thinking about them whenever I think of the tablet (which is whenever I get on the net nowadays)

 

[StrikerObi]

Why do you "think" Apple bought this company? Their website is nothing. It's not like Fingerworks (which had real multitouch products out) or Lala (which also had a real product). Just because the company is called Easel and appears to "do multitouch" doesn't mean anything. And, this website is pretty terrrrrrrible.

Plus if Apple bought this company, they wouldn't be able to "keep quiet" about it. You can't hide SEC filings like that from the public. That's how all of these acquisitions are discovered.