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Fresh rumors of the newest addition to the Apple family are again active. With the latest information comes new information on the release time for the new device as well as whispers of new content coming alongside.
When Steve Jobs first mentioned the device, speculation went gangbusters. It is now general knowledge that Apple is going to release a new device—maybe like a tablet, maybe like an iPod Touch, and maybe like a MacBook, and maybe like none of the above. What’s more, is nobody knows when it will be released.
Now, it is believed that the device will be available sometime before the Christmas shopping season, though some place the date in early 2010. Some actually think that we could see it on the shelves by September. At the least, we know of several manufacturing firms who have been contracted to produce components of the new device. Wintek Corp. will be providing the display portion, a flat panel touchscreen, most likely. The battery will be built by Dynapack International Technology Corp. It is still unclear, however, whether these manufacturing firm’s orders are for the next generation of iPod Touch (which will most likely be available pre-Christmas) or the new unnamed device.
How big will it be? That question has been answered—for the most part. We know at least that the screen will have a diagonal measurement of 10 inches, obviously a size much bigger than your average iPod Touch, but then again, significantly smaller than the littlest MacBook.
Thus, the jury is still out on whether it will be more MacBookesque or iPod Touchesque. What it will have is connectivity. 3G data service is a nonnegotiable.
Along with the new device comes the possibility of boosting content sales. Already there is talk of Apple enhancing album sales from major music distributors. As an additional way to increase content sales, Apple may also begin to offer online book sales. Talks have reportedly begun with major publishing houses. In an obvious move to garner Amazon Kindle customers, the new reader-plus would thus have a virtual library to capitalize upon.
Tablets haven’t caught on like some thought they would. However, much of the frustration with tablets has been the finicky touchscreen interface. Apple has pioneered new touch screen technology, however, that trumps any past efforts. The question is can they bring that technology to bear on a tablet device?
The Financial Times touts the new innovation as an entertainment piece. While a ten-inch screen might be great for watching movies, however, it’s not as portable as an iPod might be for listening to music. Thus, it may enhance portable video watching like the iPod enhanced portable music listening.
