December 24, 2009 9:22AM  |
Apple, Inc. may be close to launching a touchscreen tablet computer. Speculation exploded after Apple rented the Yerba Beuna Center in San Francisco, the site of previous product launches, for late January. Apple’s “iTablet” could break new ground in displays, but an analyst said most predictions about features are likely to be wrong.
 The most eagerly awaited tablet since Moses delivered the Ten Commandments may be only weeks away from launch. Speculation about Apple’s touchscreen reader and viewer — essentially a big iPod mated with a Kindle — exploded after the computer giant rented the Yerba Beuna Center for the Arts in San Francisco, the site of previous product launches, for a few days in late January.Because new versions of the iPod and iPhone were released in the past year, analysts expect the January event will showcase a brand-new product. “We believe there is a 75 percent likelihood that Apple will have an event in January and a 50 percent chance that it will be held to launch the Apple tablet,” wrote Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster in a widely quoted research note. “If Apple announced the tablet in January, it would likely ship later in the March quarter.” While there are reports that a fourth-generation iPhone is being tested, Apple’s handset launches have typically been slated for June or July, said Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret. Hard To Predict Published reports say an “iTablet” will likely have either a seven-inch or 10-inch display, and the device could break new ground with a color display that rivals the appearance of printed photos, which would require a lot of battery power . But Gartenberg noted that in 2006, rumors about the iPhone were as persistent as the current chatter about the tablet, and most of the details about its features didn’t pan out. “Apple may or may not have a tablet planned, but most predictions will likely be wrong in the ways that matter,” Gartenberg said. But even without any significant details, Gartenberg said the unseen iTablet is a sensation. “Apple, without announcing any feature, service or price, garners more mindshare about a tablet than competitors with shipping and announced product,” he said. “If Apple does indeed get into this game, the competition should be worried at just how much a center of gravity Apple has around this concept.” Gartenberg noted that the iTablet buzz has already overshadowed the annual Consumer Electronics Show to take place Jan. 7-10 in Las Vegas, where multiple new gadgets are introduced. The new iTablet would likely take advantage of an increasing supply of digital content from newspapers and magazines that are trying to adapt to electronic formats with rich photos that increase the appeal of glamor-driven magazines. Apple has reportedly been in discussions with everyone from Disney and CBS to Time Warner, Conde Naste publications, and various book publishers to make deals for content. Apple also wants to launch a TV subscription service through iTunes. Past Failures Apple has dabbled in tablet-style devices before, notably the Newton, which was scrapped by CEO Steve Jobs in 1997. (The New York Times reported in September that Apple rehired developer Michael Tchao, who worked on the Newton, after a 15-year absence.) Issues with software, data input recognition and a fully interactive touchscreen stood in the way of early tablet prototypes by Apple and others. But Apple is believed to have taken the touchscreen to a new level with the iPhone. The New York Times’ Bits tech blog on Wednesday quoted a senior Apple employee as saying, “Steve is extremely happy with the new tablet.” A former employee told the Times that interaction with the new device would be similar to using an iPhone. |
