My Apple Tablet

Ok time for a bit of guesswork on what this new tablet device will look like if, as is predicted, Apple turn up in San Francisco on the 26th January for their first new product announcements of 2010.

I really don't think this device is as difficult to visualise as some are making out. I hear a lot of people saying that if it's a larger iPhone then they'll be disappointed. Well prepare to be disappointed because that's what it will be, only it won't have the phone.

Think about it for a moment. If you own an iPhone or iPod Touch you'll know what a bugger it is to read websites or watch movies on. This will be fixed in the Tablet. Not everybody has a laptop and even if you did you don't want to get it out, boot it up just to watch a movie. Something more portable than a laptop but bigger than an iPhone is what consumers need.

I always remember having an 8-track recorder for writing music on. Simple, small and compact i just used to plug in and play as and when an idea came along. I then upgraded to a full blown 24 track digital studio and hardly wrote a track. The reason is simple, too much hassle to plug it all in and by the time i fiddled with the buttons i lost inspiration. Sometimes smaller is better. It's the same when you want to watch YouTube or watch a movie.

Ok back to tablet predictions.

It'll sport a 10.1 inch glossy multi-touch screen and a resolution of 1024 x 768, so 1080p is out of the window but 720p is in. Don't worry, it won't cannibalise sales of the MacBook because it won't run the same apps. Rather it'll take on a version of OS X as seen on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The apps will come from iTunes and be of a higher resolution, people who play games on the iPod Touch are going to love this.

It'll be as thin as Apple can make it and light enough to hold steady in your lap. Webcams a given at the top of the screen. Built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, support for Apple Stereo Headset with microphone and 30-pin dock connector.

Connectivity will come via Wi-fi with no 3G contracts to worry about as no carrier in their right minds will want a device like this hogging their bandwidth. Standard software will be iTunes, iPod app to play music, watch video, podcasts etc... App store, Safari, Photo, Mail, Calendar and then stocks, Google maps, clock, calculator etc...

No camera, what's the point but we will see a few new apps like iChat to replace messages app. I also think Apple will offer magazines and books through iTunes so we'll see an app for that. There will also be support for iTunes movie extra's and music LP's, something you can't get on an iPhone. The books and magazines will look stunning. If you've never downloaded an LP from iTunes then do so now. You'll then get an idea of how Apple see books and magazines working on this device.

64GB low end up to 128GB SSD high end. Keyboard will be software as per iPhone and Touch and that will pretty much be it. Price??? Apple will gauge reaction at preview when they go in at the high end first as to protect Macbook sales. £599 for 64GB sounds about right up to £799 for top end.

There'll be lots of other little surprises as only Apple can do.

Other announcements will be Music subscription services which will evolve into movies, tv shows etc...They'll also gives us a preview of 4th gen iPhone.

Bring it on.