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Upcoming Tablet to Destroy Apple As We Know It

Sumocat — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:06:05 +0000

If half the rumors about the Apple tablet are true (and only half can be true because they contradict the other half), then there can only be one conclusion: the Apple company as we know it will cease to exist.

In an exclusive, AppleInsider lets on that Apple has been working on their mythic tablet for years, resetting and rethinking the project several times, and is on track to have it ready for early next year (negating earlier rumors of a holiday release). That sounds like the Apple company I know. What doesn’t match up is the speculation that’s followed in a ridiculous game of oneupsmanship that throws out theories and speculation built on logic that would make sense if they weren’t so un-Apple-like.

$500 price tag: This one is the most obvious culprit of un-Apple thinking. It’s been floated by a few sources, but the logic from Jeff Bertolucci from Yahoo! Tech sums up the fallacy of this theory: “Some reports say $800 is likely, but that seems high for a consumer electronics device.” Yes, it does seem high. You know what else seems high? ALL of Apple’s prices. Their cheapest computer is $599 and doesn’t come with a monitor or input devices. That’s the same price as an unsubsidized iPhone 3GS (16GB, not the 32GB which is $100 more). So they’re going to sell their mythic tablet for $100 less than that? I don’t think so. Even an $800 price tag sounds highly optimistic.

4G/LTE connectivity: By itself, 4G connectivity is not an outrageous theory, but combined with a 2010 release date, it’s hard to swallow. If 4G makes it to market then, it will only be in “select” markets, seriously reducing the attractiveness of this feature. That won’t fly unless the tablet can fall back to a slower connection, but if they do sign up with Verizon as rumored, then the tablet would need to use CDMA. That’s fine for the States, but it’s not a global system like GSM. So then Apple needs to decide on whether to produce a GSM version for other markets or possibly make it work with both standards. Certainly possible, but it seems out of character for a company that put single-card readers in their notebooks, as opposed to multi-card readers.

Also, Apple is quick to drop technologies it considers no longer useful, but slow to adopt new technologies unless it’s entirely in their control, like multi-touch. They were early with dropping floppy disk support and are dropping Firewire support in most of their offerings, but they only recently added a card reader to Macbooks and still no Blu-Ray or integrated WWAN. If I was looking for someone to embrace 4G as soon as it becomes available in limited areas, I would not bother looking toward Apple.

And how would a 4G deal compete with tethering (i.e., Internet connection sharing) via the iPhone? We here in the U.S. haven’t gotten this feature yet, presumably because AT&T needs to increase their network capacity. But if AT&T intends to charge extra for tethering (and they will), I would guess Apple is negotiating a way to get their piece of that pie, which would best come as a subsidy for a Macbook purchase. It’s a simple idea: sign up for an iPhone tethering plan, get a discount on a Macbook to use that plan. Why would Apple offer a presumed cheaper tablet with 4G data connectivity to compete against that when they could be upselling Macbooks instead?

Usage scenario: One thing that hasn’t gotten much consideration is how Apple envisions their tablet to be used. This is highly important because Apple always has a plan behind every release. Will their tablet be a media consumption device, a video-centric version of the iPod? Will it be a mobile computer, an ultra-mobile Macbook? What market will it serve? My guess would be video-centric iPod.

An ultra-mobile Macbook would be akin to a Tablet PC, which has been primarily a vertical market device while Apple heavily targets the consumer market. Multi-touch screen control is wonderful, but without a keyboard, an Apple tablet will be seen as a toy, not a work machine (note: I disagree with that perception but I know it exists and endures for tablets). Thus, I see an Apple tablet being used primarily as an at-home device for watching video and surfing the web, which means anywhere-connectivity would not be a priority. True, it wouldn’t have the same utility as an iPhone, but again, I think Apple would prefer their customers to buy both an iPhone and a Mac (or iPhone and tablet).

All that said, nothing stops Apple from doing something as un-Apple-like as releasing a $500 Mac tablet equipped to use a newly introduced wireless data system limited to select markets. It just wouldn’t be the strategy I’ve come to expect from Apple. An Apple tablet certainly has revolutionary potential, but I find it hard to believe it would revolutionize Apple itself before it’s even released.

As for my prediction, I’m going to say the tablet will replace the Macbook, which was stripped down to one model, keeping its $1000 price tag, which can be subsidized if you add a tethering plan to your iPhone. Oh, and at least one more round of rumors, which will negate the current rumors (again), before all is revealed.

Upcoming Tablet to Destroy Apple As We Know It

Sumocat — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:06:05 +0000

$500 price tag: This one is the most obvious culprit of un-Apple thinking. It’s been floated by a few sources, but the logic from Jeff Bertolucci from Yahoo! Tech sums up the fallacy of this theory: “Some reports say $800 is likely, but that seems high for a consumer electronics device.” Yes, it does seem high. You know what else seems high? ALL of Apple’s prices. Their cheapest computer is $599 and doesn’t come with a monitor or input devices. That’s the same price as an unsubsidized iPhone 3GS (16GB, not the 32GB which is $100 more). So they’re going to sell their mythic tablet for $100 less than that? I don’t think so. Even an $800 price tag sounds highly optimistic.

4G/LTE connectivity: By itself, 4G connectivity is not an outrageous theory, but combined with a 2010 release date, it’s hard to swallow. If 4G makes it to market then, it will only be in “select” markets, seriously reducing the attractiveness of this feature. That won’t fly unless the tablet can fall back to a slower connection, but if they do sign up with Verizon as rumored, then the tablet would need to use CDMA. That’s fine for the States, but it’s not a global system like GSM. So then Apple needs to decide on whether to produce a GSM version for other markets or possibly make it work with both standards. Certainly possible, but it seems out of character for a company that put single-card readers in their notebooks, as opposed to multi-card readers.

Usage scenario: One thing that hasn’t gotten much consideration is how Apple envisions their tablet to be used. This is highly important because Apple always has a plan behind every release. Will their tablet be a media consumption device, a video-centric version of the iPod? Will it be a mobile computer, an ultra-mobile Macbook? What market will it serve? My guess would be video-centric iPod.

Become a Facebook Fan of GottaBeMobile.com and MIDStories.com

Rob Bushway — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:04:04 +0000

Do you hang out in Facebook land much? If so, then head over and become a Facebook fan of GottaBeMobile.com and MIDStories.com.

You’ll be able to monitor all of GBM news articles from Facebook, as well as comment and post your own Fan links, videos, photos, etc. You’ll also be able to keep up with how our MID families are doing as they continue to put MIDs to the test in the real world. A set of twins just got their hands on a MID and it doesn’t look like they’ll be sharing…

Does Your School, Business, or Grandma Embrace Social Networking?

Matthew Dillon — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:55 +0000

Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter have changed the way people organize and share information, but there is still a lot of resistance from educational institutions, businesses and individuals to accept these forms of communication. Let’s examine these three entities and how online communication is being denied.

The Public School Setting

There is strong resistance to using technology in general throughout classrooms in America. The reasons provided by school leaders for shying away from the use of cell phones, mp3 players, laptops, blogs, wikis, or social networking in the school setting are various. I have found the following as reasons schools lock the door to social networking and technology:

Students uses cell phones and mp3 players to cheat on quizzes and exams.
There is an inability to control or filter student content. Students may seek sexually inappropriate, violent, or offensive content.
The threat of harassment and cyberbullying via social networking sites/instant messages is a growing trend among school aged children.
There is the belief that using social networking sites or private computers will bring computer viruses to the school network.
Teachers and administrators have been urged to avoid these forms of communication as they open doors to false accusations and inappropriate methods of educator-student communication.

Many teachers and administrators agree that social networking has no place in the school setting. The key to this problem should be addressed largely in the university teacher preparation programs. Teachers should be trained not only how to implement the aforementioned technologies into engaging lessons, they should have the knowledge and wisdom to monitor such technologies for appropriate personal and classroom use.

Businesses

My discussions with folks working in larger organizations reveal a fifty-fifty approach; some businesses welcome social networking while others filter as strictly as schools. Despite these two perspectives, most organizations have an overall more relaxed approach towards the Internet and technology than schools. Companies want happy employees, because happy employees are more productive. Many businesses filter the information on their network, but they do allow access to personal email sites such as Yahoo Mail and Hotmail. Here are a few reasons why businesses limit access:

Employees might access inappropriate, vulgar, and offensive content.
Use of technology or social networking might reduce worker productivity.
Bringing in a personal computer/Wi-Fi enabled device or accessing a personal email account might introduce viruses to the internal network.

I have spoken to many business professionals that tell me their company allows them to use social networking sites such as Facebook. Recent news articles tell of progressive companies using Twitter to recruit candidates for open positions. A company’s approach towards social networking may be directly related to its size, focus and understanding of the Internet. Is it possible that smaller companies are unaware of their employees at-work Internet habits?

Individuals

I sat down with my 89 year old grandmother to show her my cousin’s Facebook the other day. Although she understands the basic concepts of social networking and the Internet, she doesn’t see the need to share pictures, stories, or tweets about what she is presently doing. She enjoys when I show her what our family in other states are up to but doesn’t have the desire to own a computer or even cable television. Some folks simply resist online communication because they find it too complicated or they don’t see the need. Whatever the case, the world in which we live continues to demand people of all ages interact with and use various technologies, including social networking sites.

An article by Amanda Lenhart at the Pew Internet and Life Project states, “The share of adult internet users who have a profile on an online social network site has more than quadrupled in the past four years — from 8% in 2005 to 35% now, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project’s December 2008 tracking survey.” The growth of social networking has also been seen as TechCrunch recently reported FaceBook has officially hit the 250 million user mark.

An individual’s chosen career may significantly impact the way they engage online communication. Folks such as teachers have been encouraged not to use social networking, a potential tool to improve student learning. A 2007 statement published by the Ohio Education Association (OEA) states, “[The] OEA advises members not to join [social networking sites], and for existing users to complete the steps involved in removing their profiles,” and, “While this advice might seem extreme, the dangers of participating in these two sites outweigh the benefits.” Eschoolnews.com has a nice article summarizing the OEA memo. Although somewhat dated, the dangers associated with social networking still exist for anyone that works in a public profession.

Many of the arguments for or against online communication boil down to the intended purpose. How are the students, employees and individuals using these technologies? While there is great benefit in social networking, the old adage, “Do not post drunken party pictures or bad things might happen” remains to be true.

What approach does your business or school take towards controlling your use of the Internet and social networking sites? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Not Good: AT&T To Provide Connectivity for Plastic Logic eReader

Warner Crocker — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:22:30 +0000

AT&T’s network can’t handle the traffic it has now and they willfully admit it. They keep promising upgrades to service, but those promises keep getting met with more and more stories of woe about deteriorating network coverage. AT&T celebrates its sales success but out of the other side of its mouth cries that it can’t keep up. I’ve never seen anything like this in business in my life time.

This morning we hear that AT&T is going to be the provider of choice for Plastic Logic’s eReader, hot on the heels that Barnes & Noble is going to be using that device for its eBook platform beginning next year. No word yet if it will operate like Sprint’s Whispernet service or not.

If you ask me someone needs to put the brakes on AT&T until what they promise (and charge for) comes closer to what they actually deliver. No more new devices until you clean up your act, AT&T. I don’t expect perfection, but these guys are starting to sound as shaky as politicians these days with the deception and doublespeak.

FTC and FCC, are you listening?