Apple evaluated 4- to 12-inch tablet screens - report

[AppleInsider]

Apple has reportedly purchased a number of screens -- ranging from 4 inches to 12 inches in size -- over the last few years, as it explores its possible entry into the tablet and sub-notebook market, according to a financial analyst.

In a research note issued Tuesday, Kaufman Bros. revealed that Apple has bought screen sizes of 4, 7, 9, 10 and 12 inches over the last two years. Some of the purchases were allegedly of such a large amount that the firm suspects they were for more than a simple sample, but a more significant small production run.

Based on that information, the analysis predicts that Apple will launch at least one -- but possibly multiple -- new devices in the near future.

"We are under the impression that these screens could be used in new form factors including a sub-notebook and/or tablet, and would more likely launch in 2010 as opposed to 2009," the note reads. "As usual, exact timing is always tough to pinpoint as Apple works on its own schedule."

Analyst Shaw Wu expects the new form factor adopted by Apple to help carry the company's stock higher. Kaufman Bros. has set a price target of $184 for AAPL stock and recommends that investors buy.

The firm's prediction jibes with AppleInsider's sources, who believe Apple's expected new tablet device, with a 10" display and integrated 3G service, will arrive no sooner than early 2010. Akin to a jumbo iPod touch, the device is said to be the latest brainchild of chief executive Steve Jobs, and a modern day reincarnation of the company's defunct Newton MessagePad.

Kaufman Bros. also believes that Apple, as is expected, will use China Unicom as its wireless carrier in the nation of over 1 billion. It is expected that an agreement will be made official before Februrary 2010. The firm notes that a Chinese-model iPhone is currently in "beta testing."

Last week it was unveiled that a new iPhone model has been granted regulatory approval in China. The new iPhone is reportedly a GSM/WCDMA model that operates on the 900MHz, 1700MHz and 1900MHz bands. It also includes Bluetooth, but no Wi-Fi. It was approved on May 7, according to a China's State Radio Regulatory Commission filing, and can be used in China for the next five years.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[zindako]

First.

[Gustav]

I think this shows that there aren't tablet devices in the near future. It appears to me that Apple is experimenting with several form factors - meaning a retail product is a long way off.

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by zindako

First.

Twit!

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by Gustav

I think this shows that there aren't tablet devices in the near future. It appears to me that Apple is experimenting with several form factors - meaning a retail product is a long way off.

And neither iPhone OS X nor Mac OS X will work, so there would have to be a new OS X class made, which would take time. Not to mention the current lack of a killer app that would make those of use with notebooks for real work and iPhones for portable "interneting" want to also buy this device that seems to offer the worst of both worlds without anything compelling outside of the short-sided desires of those who want it for the sake of wanting it.

[cmf2]

Originally Posted by Gustav

I think this shows that there aren't tablet devices in the near future. It appears to me that Apple is experimenting with several form factors - meaning a retail product is a long way off.

The article doesn't mention when the displays were allegedly purchased, so all we can infer is that they were testing various sizes. That stage of testing could be long since over by now.

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

And neither iPhone OS X nor Mac OS X will work, so there would have to be a new OS X class made, which would take time. Not to mention the current lack of a killer app that would make those of use with notebooks for real work and iPhones for portable "interneting" want to also buy this device that seems to offer the worst of both worlds without anything compelling outside of the short-sided desires of those who want it for the sake of wanting it.

According to Appleinsider, a tablet of some form has been in the works for quite some time. So there has already been plenty of time that could have been spent developing an OS (maybe a hybrid OS?). The killer app argument doesn't hold any water at all, Apple won't introduce a tablet because I can't think of a good use for one... Maybe Apple has one in mind that you haven't thought of? It wouldn't be the first time.

[satchmo]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

In a research note issued Tuesday, Kaufman Bros. revealed that Apple has bought screen sizes of 4, 7, 9, 10 and 12 inches over the last two years. Some of the purchases were allegedly of such a large amount that the firm suspects they were for more than a simple sample, but a more significant small production run.

Based on that information, the analysis predicts that Apple will launch at least one -- but possibly multiple -- new devices in the near future.

Sheesh with that many guesses, you might as well add 5, 6, 8, and 11 inches to cover all the bases.

[ksec]

I want something with between 4 to 5 inch screen, and as thin as the current iPod Touch,

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by cmf2

According to Appleinsider, a tablet of some form has been in the works for quite some time. So there has already been plenty of time that could have been spent developing an OS (maybe a hybrid OS?).

I’ve read them, and after porting Mac OS X to iPhone OS X making a new OS that somewhere in between would be child’s play for Apple, but I still haven’t read about an app or any advantage that a tablet would offer to make it a viable business move. Remember, AppleInsider has also been saying that the Mac Mini is going to be canceled for a couple years now. Rumors are still just rumours.

[walshbj]

This is starting to feel mighty real.

[Olternaut]

Originally Posted by walshbj

This is starting to feel mighty real.

Ya think??

Anyways, I think Appleinsider is wrong. The product (or family of products?) will debut in September with product in stores by November.
Unless they go fancy and wait for flexible displays for the product then they have no reason to wait till 2010.

[zunx]

It would be great to have the full Mac OS X inside a 300 to 400 g device that is pocketable. Much as the OQO model 2+
http://www.oqo.com

Or with a tablet form-factor. The key is weight and size. As light and small as possible. Great for Keynote and PowerPoint presentations (video-out is a must).

[ArticulatedArm]

Originally Posted by Gustav

I think this shows that there aren't tablet devices in the near future. It appears to me that Apple is experimenting with several form factors - meaning a retail product is a long way off.

Keep in mind though.. there is a lot of industrial espionage always going on. If Apple gets wind of someone else possibly beating them to the punch with a killer tablet, or many killer tablets.. then Apple might fast track this thing into production.

Maybe that's why we are getting some reports it might come before Christmas. Those Christmas reports may be the more accurate/recent reports.


Also, I wouldn't be surprised if they were releasing one of these touch pads in EVERY dimension. I think you would have to be crazy to think all that R&D into touch technology for the iPhone was JUST for the iPhone and another tablet.

Apple may pretend there is just ONE other tablet coming but I suspect they will end up making these things in every flavor under the sun, just like they did with MP3 players.

And then when they have sold every tablet configuration imaginable they will THEN put touch screens on every one of their laptops and iMacs.

Then after that they will put touch on every display they sell ta boot. Then they will dump the whole touch display idea and go to wearable monitors. lol

[wizard69]

I fully expect Apple to buy such materials and likely from more than one vendor. R&D require prototyping and you can't do that without hardware. Speaking of which the displays could be used for a number of things outside of tablet computers so this means nothing really. Also if Apple is serious about handheld gaming they would need a slightly larger iPod Touch type device, this might not have any relationship with the supposed tablet. Instead it is a pocketable Touch device / gaming machine.

Dave

[walshbj]

Originally Posted by Olternaut

Ya think??

Anyways, I think Appleinsider is wrong. The product (or family of products?) will debut in September with product in stores by November.
Unless they go fancy and wait for flexible displays for the product then they have no reason to wait till 2010.

Actually I think there is plenty of reason to wait. They could steal the show from everyone at CES and ignite the post-holiday quarter. The lineup they have now plus Fall updates is enough for a solid holiday quarter.

Sept intro and Nov release makes sense when you consider developer lead time though.

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by zunx

It would be great to have the full Mac OS X inside a 300 to 400 g device that is pocketable. Much as the OQO model 2+
http://www.oqo.com

Or with a tablet form-factor. The key is weight and size. As light and small as possible. Great for Keynote and PowerPoint presentations (video-out is a must).

Too "clunky" for an Apple product...but I take your point!

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by wizard69

I fully expect Apple to buy such materials and likely from more than one vendor. R&D require prototyping and you can't do that without hardware. Speaking of which the displays could be used for a number of things outside of tablet computers so this means nothing really. Also if Apple is serious about handheld gaming they would need a slightly larger iPod Touch type device, this might not have any relationship with the supposed tablet. Instead it is a pocketable Touch device / gaming machine.

Dave

Indeed. Once people get focused on the product they want to see, regardless of usefulness, they will force any news into that mold. personally, I’d rather see Apple make there way into touchscreen car systems. I’ve had trouble with the iPhone connecting via BT and it would be nice to get internet-based data in my car via my phone’s internet connection. Like traffic updates in the GPS in real time or stocks being spoke to me while driving, etc. While this would be a much more useful touchscreen to me than a standalone device, there are too many issues to deal with to make this something Apple would pursue.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

I’ve read them, and after porting Mac OS X to iPhone OS X making a new OS that somewhere in between would be child’s play for Apple, but I still haven’t read about an app or any advantage that a tablet would offer to make it a viable business move. Remember, AppleInsider has also been saying that the Mac Mini is going to be canceled for a couple years now. Rumors are still just rumours.

I don't know if it will ever happen, but the obvious move for a tablet is to add a new device to the emerging iPhone/iPod "platform" that can easily handle and edit documents. The iPhone is currently positioned as a document *reader* but to actually create and edit documents you still really need a laptop or even a desktop computer.

If it's true that desktops and laptops are on the way out and a new mobile platform is coming, then something that takes the place of the laptop, but uses the virtual keyboard, multi-touch etc. and can edit documents of all kinds is what is really missing from said platform. This is the space that the so-called netbooks inhabit right now.

Done right, an apple tablet is not (like all previous tablet computers), " a solution in search of a problem," it's (ultimately) the replacement for the laptop which is/was the replacement for the desktop.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by zunx

It would be great to have the full Mac OS X inside a 300 to 400 g device that is pocketable. Much as the OQO model 2+
http://www.oqo.com. ...

I'm sure if they do it at all it will have much better than "Atom performance." ARM handily beats Atom at the same chip frequencies.

That doesn't mean it will have full OS-X though or that having it would be a good idea. Most folks still have a computer at home (and maybe one at work also). They generally don't want a second or third one, they want a mobile device that syncs to their main computer at home.

Just on a logical level, I don't see why Apple would spend all this time developing the new GUI for iPhone and iPod, and then come out with a device that looks and works the same, but runs the "old" desktop version of the OS. Seems crazy to me.

[probably]

Everyone up on AAPL tickers knew Jan 2007 was the real deal for a phone announcement. But there wasn't a single person outside of the executive VPs and the board of directors who had even laid eyes on it in final form. No one predicted a damned thing about how-it-would-actually-work.

Knowing that this has a 10" screen tells us nothing but general size. No one even has a solid notion of how it will be held in the hand. These are the types of releases I relish - where the keynote lays out legitimate, ingenious solutions to conceptual problems.

[11thIndian]

Something that's been brewing in my mind over the weekend. I know there's been a lot of talk regarding alternate versions of the iphone, most specifically the nano. Now, I've never been a proponent of these alternate form factors, as any smaller and the screen becomes very difficult to use and read, and much larger and it's cumbersome to hold and use as a phone.

Now, I don't think I've read anywhere that people are imagining that this iTablet device would be a phone, cause who could imagine holding a 10" screen to the side of your head. BUT! What if an integral part of the iTablet is that it IS a phone, or at least has all the components of a phone, except that the "phone" functionality is accessed through a bluetooth headset. With some enhanced functionality, you'd exclusively use voice commands via the headset to make and receive calls, and if you need to access your contacts you can still look at the tablet, but there's no need for you to raise it to your ear! And as a phone [in function if not in form] it could be sold subsidized just like the iphone is, making it more affordable to more people. And because it IS a phone, more people might trade up to the iTablet, rather than looking at it as a device that falls into a grey area that they don't necessarily need- between their iPhone and Laptop.

[cmf2]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

I’ve read them, and after porting Mac OS X to iPhone OS X making a new OS that somewhere in between would be child’s play for Apple, but I still haven’t read about an app or any advantage that a tablet would offer to make it a viable business move. Remember, AppleInsider has also been saying that the Mac Mini is going to be canceled for a couple years now. Rumors are still just rumours.

Prior to the iPhones release, all people could think of was a phone with a clickwheel. They couldn't think outside the box, they couldn't think beyond a phone and an iPod. Now most people can't think beyond an iPhone and a conventional tablet.

My point is that us not being able to visualize what this tablet will do is not an effective argument against its existence.

To be fair, Apple probably was considering retiring the mini as they didn't update the thing for two years but you are right. Rumors are just rumors. However, the quantity of rumors can't be ignored either.

[cmf2]

Originally Posted by 11thIndian

Something that's been brewing in my mind over the weekend. I know there's been a lot of talk regarding alternate versions of the iphone, most specifically the nano. Now, I've never been a proponent of these alternate form factors, as any smaller and the screen becomes very difficult to use and read, and much larger and it's cumbersome to hold and use as a phone.

Now, I don't think I've read anywhere that people are imagining that this iTablet device would be a phone, cause who could imagine holding a 10" screen to the side of your head. BUT! What if an integral part of the iTablet is that it IS a phone, or at least has all the components of a phone, except that the "phone" functionality is accessed through a bluetooth headset. With some enhanced functionality, you'd exclusively use voice commands via the headset to make and receive calls, and if you need to access your contacts you can still look at the tablet, but there's no need for you to raise it to your ear! And as a phone [in function if not in form] it could be sold subsidized just like the iphone is, making it more affordable to more people. And because it IS a phone, more people might trade up to the iTablet, rather than looking at it as a device that falls into a grey area that they don't necessarily need- between their iPhone and Laptop.

It doesn't have to be a phone to be subsidized. All it needs is a 3G/4G chip for wireless internet. Then it could be subsidized with a data plan. I highly doubt it will be a phone in any sense. People wouldn't want to carry something that big all the time, so you would need another phone anyway (who wants two phones?), and they would want to differentiate this from an iPhone so they don't directly compete against each other. The closest you will come to a phone in such a tablet will be 3G and skype.

[FuturePastNow]

I'm sure Apple's design department tests multiple potential configurations for all new products. And for products that never see the light of day.

[Roos24]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

.... "As usual, exact timing is always tough to pinpoint as Apple works on its own schedule."...

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

Ha, I love this line. I just imagine all other manufacturers nervously waiting what Apple will come up with, so that they immediately can start following the leader...

[BoiseMacDan]

Originally Posted by 11thIndian

Something that's been brewing in my mind over the weekend. I know there's been a lot of talk regarding alternate versions of the iphone, most specifically the nano. Now, I've never been a proponent of these alternate form factors, as any smaller and the screen becomes very difficult to use and read, and much larger and it's cumbersome to hold and use as a phone.

Now, I don't think I've read anywhere that people are imagining that this iTablet device would be a phone, cause who could imagine holding a 10" screen to the side of your head. BUT! What if an integral part of the iTablet is that it IS a phone, or at least has all the components of a phone, except that the "phone" functionality is accessed through a bluetooth headset. With some enhanced functionality, you'd exclusively use voice commands via the headset to make and receive calls, and if you need to access your contacts you can still look at the tablet, but there's no need for you to raise it to your ear! And as a phone [in function if not in form] it could be sold subsidized just like the iphone is, making it more affordable to more people. And because it IS a phone, more people might trade up to the iTablet, rather than looking at it as a device that falls into a grey area that they don't necessarily need- between their iPhone and Laptop.

Bingo

[gabberattack]

Originally Posted by zunx

It would be great to have the full Mac OS X inside a 300 to 400 g device that is pocketable. Much as the OQO model 2+
http://www.oqo.com

Or with a tablet form-factor. The key is weight and size. As light and small as possible. Great for Keynote and PowerPoint presentations (video-out is a must).

Overview of OQO product:
"
The OQO model 2+ is designed to deliver the total computing performance necessary to achieve personal and professional productivity, anytime and anywhere.

With Intel® Atom™ processing power, the compatibility and security of a full Microsoft® Windows® operating system, and unparalleled connectivity options, the OQO model 2+ is everything you need to meet your total productivity requirements.
"

That is not going to work well. Plenty of room for Apple. :-)

[surferfromuk]

7 inch widescreen touchscreen - 1cm thick - running a special and third iteration of OSX - a hybrid OSX/iPhone OS - I'll lay money on it...

This baby will dock directly into the side of a forthcoming imac and act as a video mac touchpad...

[801]

What if the phone like function was Ichat. Wasn't there a rumor about a forward facing camera? Since we are mindlessly speculating, a large ipod touch with Ichat, too large to really walk around with in front of your face, just large enough to hold and surf with in you lap or while standing still, but small enough to prop on the desk, with a wireless service plan available. Call over and back to the itunes. Bluetooth keyboard use optional. A sort of Kindle with real power.

Just Think'in

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by cmf2

Prior to the iPhones release, all people could think of was a phone with a clickwheel. They couldn't think outside the box, they couldn't think beyond a phone and an iPod. Now most people can't think beyond an iPhone and a conventional tablet.

My point is that us not being able to visualize what this tablet will do is not an effective argument against its existence.

To be fair, Apple probably was considering retiring the mini as they didn't update the thing for two years but you are right. Rumors are just rumors. However, the quantity of rumors can't be ignored either.

I agree that the number of rumors being presented do lead to a likelihood of a new device with a ~10” display. The rumors of the iPhone were rampant for months prior to its release and even though there was no absolution before the reveal it was a good bet that it was going to come.

The difference I see here is that the iPhone did have a plethora of mockups before its release, many of which were completely touch-based in design. My problem is still that it solves no problem. I can’t use a 10” touchscreen effectively with most Mac apps, and the ones I can are too simple to even be considered game changers for this device. I also would have to use half the display for the keyboard and insofar have no feedback as to what button I’m pressing, which makes it worse off than even those crappy netbooks.

Surely if this was to be viable for the consumer market there would be some ingenious ideas thrown out by the public at large by now and made into a mockup, yet all I’ve seen is the same crappy tablet that is a a little thinner and sleeker with a Mac OS X thrown on top instead of Windows. That isn’t even a game player, much less a game changer.

As cool as such devices are, they just aren’t practical for consumers in the way they have been presented. It seems obvious that this would be a different OS X branch and that would require a different SDK. Apple has experience with both so announcing the new product for release in a few months with new SDK ready now for developers shouldn’t be a problem for Apple. They have wrapped up there other OS builds pretty well which would give them the time to focus on it, but it still needs something that would make me want to not use my 13” MBP, not use my IPhone, or use it in conjunction with both of those devices.

It’s not so much about vision as it about logistics. We all knew that a phone from Apple would be pretty cool. We had used their iPods and knew it would cannibalize them to a degree.

[cmf2]

Originally Posted by 801

What if the phone like function was Ichat. Wasn't there a rumor about a forward facing camera? Since we are mindlessly speculating, a large ipod touch with Ichat, too large to really walk around with in front of your face, just large enough to hold and surf with in you lap or while standing still, but small enough to prop on the desk, with a wireless service plan available. Call over and back to the itunes. Bluetooth keyboard use optional. A sort of Kindle with real power.

Just Think'in

A front facing camera is quite likely imo. I believe the iphone and ipod touch will eventually get a front facing camera, so it seems likely that the device bridging the gap between macbooks and iphones would as well.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

And neither iPhone OS X nor Mac OS X will work, so there would have to be a new OS X class made,

i don't know about a new class. but perhaps a half way between the phone and desktop. i highly doubt that any netbook/tablet is going to be meant, at least at first, to be a full scale computer. an overgrown ipod touch with some basic 'computer' tasks (word processing and the like) sure. but I highly doubt anyone at Apple would think to create a computer for full on tasks like running pro apps etc. eventually perhaps, but not at the moment.

and using a flavor of the phone os might open up this device to the various games and such that are all the rage on the iphone/ipod. i imagine resizing wouldn't be too hard for many of the apps.

the only thing I see as a must for this and really all laptops is a built in cell data antenna not tied to any one service (in addition to the wifi). let folks pick what they want. although the current contract with ATT might not allow this so any such devices might not be released until that contract is over (and ATT can't say anything).

[thompr]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

Rumors are still just rumours.

Indeed, rumors are only rumors. They provide no good argument for or against. But neither does your "no killer app argument". Your logic has holes all over the place.

[cmf2]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

I agree that the number of rumors being presented do lead to a likelihood of a new device with a ~10” display. The rumors of the iPhone were rampant for months prior to its release and even though there was no absolution before the reveal it was a good bet that it was going to come.

The difference I see here is that the iPhone did have a plethora of mockups before its release, many of which were completely touch-based in design. My problem is still that it solves no problem. I can’t use a 10” touchscreen effectively with most Mac apps, and the ones I can are too simple to even be considered game changers for this device. I also would have to use half the display for the keyboard and insofar have no feedback as to what button I’m pressing, which makes it worse off than even those crappy netbooks.

Surely if this was to be viable for the consumer market there would be some ingenious ideas thrown out by the public at large by now and made into a mockup, yet all I’ve seen is the same crappy tablet that is a a little thinner and sleeker with a Mac OS X thrown on top instead of Windows. That isn’t even a game player, much less a game changer.

As cool as such devices are, they just aren’t practical for consumers in the way they have been presented. It seems obvious that this would be a different OS X branch and that would require a different SDK. Apple has experience with both so announcing the new product for release in a few months with new SDK ready now for developers shouldn’t be a problem for Apple. They have wrapped up there other OS builds pretty well which would give them the time to focus on it, but it still needs something that would make me want to not use my 13” MBP, not use my IPhone, or use it in conjunction with both of those devices.

It’s not so much about vision as it about logistics. We all knew that a phone from Apple would be pretty cool. We had used their iPods and knew it would cannibalize them to a degree.

Maybe we will see better rumors as we approach the annoucement date (if that actually exists). Rumors suggest the earliest the anouncement would be is September, that is still a month away. The juicy rumors often don't come until right before the announcement.

I'll try to post some ideas that I have for what I think the tablet should be a little later when I have the time. I do see some unserved markets that could be exploited by a tablet.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by surferfromuk

7 inch widescreen touchscreen - 1cm thick - running a special and third iteration of OSX - a hybrid OSX/iPhone OS - I'll lay money on it...

This baby will dock directly into the side of a forthcoming imac and act as a video mac touchpad...

docking for charging and data transfer, perhaps.

as for the 'killer' aspects. solid state memory at a decent price and capacity and a screen that can handle real HD would be gone. better touch screen gestures including perhaps also 'ink' (you could have a small stylus in a slot in one side) wouldn't hurt. forward facing camera and as I said, both wifi and cell connection capabilities. all this together might be enough to push someone to such a device. particularly if they don't have a current laptop and are in the market.

[Logisticaldron]

Originally Posted by charlituna

i don't know about a new class. but perhaps a half way between the phone and desktop.

That would be a new class. More rich frameworks and extenstions like inMac OS X, but with a UI and apps that are fully functional using your fingers, like in iPhone OS X. Putting iPhone OS X on a 10” display would like horrible and trying to use Mac OS X on a 10” device with your fingers would be frustrating.

Originally Posted by thompr

Indeed, rumors are only rumors. They provide no good argument for or against. But neither does your "no killer app argument". Your logic has holes all over the place.

It’s not illogical to conceive of a business model for a product, just not the geeky desires of Star Trek generation. Without a viable business model that makes people need the device, or at least want the device because it will make their life easier, then the market is nothing more than a flash in the pan niche, of which there are plenty of cool but useless products we can use as examples.

Our inability to conceive of the “killer app” doesn’t mean there isn’t one and it certainly doesn’t mean there doesn’t have to be one because you can’t think of it.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by cmf2

Prior to the iPhones release, all people could think of was a phone with a clickwheel. They couldn't think outside the box, they couldn't think beyond a phone and an iPod. Now most people can't think beyond an iPhone and a conventional tablet.

My point is that us not being able to visualize what this tablet will do is not an effective argument against its existence.

Superb point there. In a lot of the judgments we are forming about this product, we seem to be limited to what we have seen and experienced already.

[AdamIIGS]

Originally Posted by satchmo

Sheesh with that many guesses, you might as well add 5, 6, 8, and 11 inches to cover all the bases.

That's what she said.


But seriously anyone who doesn't think this has been in the works for a long long time is probably out of touch with reality, apple would not buy large quantities of screens if they didn't already have something in mind and a form factor in place to fit said screen. "Oh let's buy 100,000 10" screens for the fun of it!"

I'm sure they bought 10 or 12 and worked out a form factor before deciding on which to place actual production orders for, even if the production is in the future, they must have plans for them already. Also the fact, if true, that they have bought enough of anything for a production runs means the form factor is set and it's software / bug issue at this phase.

But then what do I know since I'm not a 16yr fanboy and have had some real world exp in these things

[MeniThings]

[JupiterOne]

Originally Posted by Logisticaldron

And neither iPhone OS X nor Mac OS X will work, so there would have to be a new OS X class made, which would take time.

Maybe Snow Leopard with a touch based UI just for this?