Jul
29
2009

Apple Tablet? Finally?

An article by Josie S.

Well I was going to post part II of my Google Voice review but the buzz around Apple’s possible new device is too loud to ignore (not that I was trying to). For years now the rumor of Apple creating a tablet has been floating around. Some believed it didn’t nor wouldn’t ever exist, others thought that every time Steve Jobs made an announcement that was going to be “the one”. Well it seems the time has come, according to all of the trusted Apple rumor sites, Steve Jobs has finally put his stamp of approval on a new device – the Apple Tablet (some people are calling it the iTablet but I really hope they come up with a more unique name than that).

I must admit, since I was a late bloomer when it came to buying the iPhone (my first iPhone being the 3G), I was a little late in hopping on the bandwagon of Apple Tablet lookouts. As soon as I had a chance to really see all of the capabilities the iPhone had and as my reliance on the device became greater, I began to fantasize about having all of this functionality in a bit of a larger format using OS X. I (obviously) was not the first person to realize what an awesome idea it would be but I researched and kept an eye out as diligently as someone who had been waiting for years for the device.

Last week rumors started leaking about some overseas companies (that Apple has used in the past to help manufacture iPhones and iPod Touches) receiving large orders for 9.7” touchscreens. The rumormill went into high gear as this information circulated. Since then we have heard “confirmation” that yes Apple will be releasing a new tablet device in the near future. I put confirmation in quotations because the confirmation is coming from anonymous inside sources who have a history of being accurate but Apple staying very tight lipped (as usual) on anything they are working on. Upon this “confirmation” all of the Apple websites are abuzz with polls on what people think will be included in the tablet, what they think will be the best feature and when they think it’s going to be released.

Speaking of release date, we’ve been seeing two release dates circulating, originally the release date was estimated to be early 2010 but as of late the date is looking more like early Fall (September), just in time for the holiday season. My opinion? Apple doesn’t necessarily need to release a product during the holiday season because the product is going to sell no matter when it’s released (case in point the initial release of the iPhone was in June). However, if it’s possible, I think it’s better to release a new product for the holiday season to boost sales. It would make sense for Apple to want to capitalize on the holiday shopping season and release the Tablet this Fall.

With all these rumors and speculation flying around there are bound to be people who think the tablet will be a flop. To those I say, don’t forget, Apple is known for their ingenuity and creativity. They have introduced devices that have become part of our every day life and that have changed the way we view technology. So don’t dismiss them just yet, Apple wouldn’t release something unless they knew it had something special to offer that other devices don’t (another reason why we may have been waiting this long for it’s release, Steve Jobs is notoriously meticulous in developing these devices and nothing will be released without his stamp of approval).

While this is all just rumor at this point, and there is the possibility that the tablet isn’t ready for release or even in existence, I continue to keep my fingers crossed and eyes peeled for the latest new. So with everyone speculating on what the Tablet is going to look like and what kind of functionality it will have, I figured I would put my two cents in on what I would like to see in the new device.

MsJosay’s dream Apple Tablet: