iThink therefore iSlate

David Heath
Thursday, 21 January 2010 10:45

Your IT - Home IT

Rumours continue to fly around the internet as to what Apple's much hyped new device might be.  Let's toss a few new ones into the mix.

My fellow iTWwire-ite Stephen Withers tells us that January 27th is the date, a day later than I predicted.  But in true Apple style, they're still not saying what they're announcing on that date.

Assuming that the central pillar is correct – we really are getting the iPad / iSlate / iTouch (huge-edition), what are we hearing about what it might look like, what it might do?

The first interesting thought to deal with comes from ComputerWorld who are adamant that the first model to be released will only feature a 7" screen, based on projections of power usage and battery designs.  They also discuss the variety of screen technologies that are available to mitigate the problem.

We hear that a country diner at Lake Tahoe was used to film a (secret) commercial - seemingly the first time Apple has worked outside the studio in 20 years.  If it's true of course.

Others speak of secret meetings between Apple and a variety of publishers to bring books, magazines and newspapers to the device.

Most commentators expect the device to run existing iPhone software – there's an App for that!  But having (as rumoured) more processing grunt, the device may also be pitched at the gaming market.

Many (here for instance) raise the fact that Apple bought PA Semi, an expert in complex low-power chip designs, and point to the likelihood of such designs featuring in the tablet.

Finally, there is the "scavenger hunt" saga, to which many point as the greatest evidence thus far of the tablet being released next week.