The Government has offered Australia's three mobile operators, and vividwireless, renewal of their existing spectrum allocated on 15 year licences in the late 90s and early 2000s at set prices, while the Government expects to rake in $3 billion.
The ongoing saga of the mythical Apple tablet doesn't seem to be getting any closer to reaching reality. The latest rumours suggest we won't see the device until the second half of 2010.
Whether it's wishful thinking or based on information (supposedly?) leaked from component suppliers, a lot of people are convinced Apple is going to launch a tablet computer.
Most of the speculation involves a device with a screen size around 10in. Some predict an oversize version of the iPod touch (ie, the tablet will run iPhone OS), while others are hoping for a full Mac OS X implementation.
The latest set of rumours were apparently sparked by a report in DigiTimes suggesting that the launch of the Apple table has been delayed form March 2010 to the second half of the year.
Furthermore, DigiTimes reckons there will be two models: one with a 10.6in LCD panel (priced at $US1000 or less), the other with a 9.7in OLED panel from LG. The OLED model would retail for around $US2200 but the price might be subsidised by 3G mobile internet providers.
Among the advantages of OLED panels are that they are thinner, lighter, brighter and use less power than LCDs (all important for mobile devices). Downsides are that they are more expensive - though prices are tipped to fall in the next year or so (which could explain the 'delay' in Apple's supposed plans) - and they are more prone to water damage.
Suggestions that Apple may use an OLED panel in its tablet surfaced earlier this year, but at that stage a launch in time for the Christmas 2009 shopping season was tipped.
The DigiTimes report also suggest manufacturing will be split between Foxconn, Quanta and Pegatron.
David Bass
| ComOps, a leading Australian provider of business software products and services, has won a competitive tender to deploy its Salvus safety, r…
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