Don't be sorry, you're entitled to your opinion. As am I. Couch computing will be one of the big uses for it, and will explode in the future. Using this tablet at a table would be nice. You could type, flick and tap the screen, it would be a breeze. You want to be able to carry your device around? The iPhone is for that purpose.
As for the stand, it would sit flush, and would be a strip along the upper rear, it wouldn't add thickness.
If I were still a student, I would use the tablet as a textbook and a laptop for my work (if needed). I can see uses where you would use both on a table at the same time.
I don't know if Apple will add a stand, it doesn't seem Apple like. There will probably be third party cases with them built in though.
I don't know if Apple will add a stand, it doesn't seem Apple like. There will probably be third party cases with them built in though.
A stand is probably the wrong name for what I mean. Let's call it "a rest". It would be a strip along the upper rear, almost at the top - about 1" tall and 3-4mm in thickness. One press would spring it out, and one press would pop it back in. It would be mechanically and visually simple, it would work via a couple of internal springs, something like you find on the shuffle, but more rigid. All the mechanics would be internal, the user would only know: "it works". On the strip would be a concave depression marking where to press - about the size of the iPhone's home button.
I don't just think this would be a good idea, but personally see something like this as a necessity for the existence of the device, period. It's there to make the product usable on any flat surface, without the need for a third party product. It's not merely a cool addition, it's part in the product's identity. It's like earbuds for an iPod.
If done right, like I have an image of right now, it would feel very Apple-like. What's more, in the closed position you'd hardly notice it at all, bar the small circular concave dip and the minimal gap around its seam. You could even call it seamless given its precision CNC construction.
If the keyboard is split (think MS ergonomic keyboard) you could very easily thumb type on it. I've tried this out at home with a hard cover book, which, by the way, did not leap out of my hands.
Yes! Apple could easily have several options for virtual keyboards.
You could have split thumb-keyboards, one-handed chording keyboards, or even a user-customizable keyboard where you change the size and location of the keys.
For those worried about the center of gravity... just move the virtual keyboard to the center of the screen (or wherever makes sense).
Yes! Apple could easily have several options for virtual keyboards.
You could have split thimb-keyboards, one-handed chording keyboards, or even a user-customizable keyboard where you change the size and location of the keys.
For those worried about the center of gravity... just move the virtual keyboard to the center of the screen (or wherever makes sense).
*
A keyboard in the center would be kind of annoying, but I've already conceded that it probably wouldn't be an issue anyway. What do you mean by a one-hand chording keyboard? Is that like that app that allows you to drag your finger over the letters to type?
how many products can come out from these manufacturers illegally to the black market?
I've talken to many turists during my travels who just traveled home from their trip to China, that they bought many unblocked iPhones there in a very cheap price.
That's why, I believe, iPod/iPhone (and in the future: Tablet) users' statistic by Apple can be underestimated.
A keyboard in the center would be kind of annoying, but I've already conceded that it probably wouldn't be an issue anyway. What do you mean by a one-hand chording keyboard? Is that like that app that allows you to drag your finger over the letters to type?
No, chording is different. A chording keyboard was include in "the demo" where Doug Engelbart introduced the GUI and the mouse.
With the 5 fingers of one hand, all the key combinations can be generated by pressing several fingers at one time-- kind of like playing chords on the piano.
Google: Doug Engelbart Demo
He claimed that after several hours of training, experienced typists were more efficient with a chording keyboard.
On a tablet, you could hold the device with one hand and enter chords with the other. On a MultiTouch sensitive screen, you would not even need to display the chord keys-- the surface could detect which fingers were pressed by their relative relationship to other fingers.
I have a strong feeling that e-reading is *not* going to be the main selling point. Is the Kindle that much of a success? Would anyone buy a tablet for that?
I think the inquiries among eReader publishers may be real, but are meant partly as a decoy flare for the rest of the tablet computing industry. Or rather, gaming industry.
Because if you ask me, the tablet will be another sneak attack at the mobile gaming market.
Apple's acceptance of Flash as a stand-alone environment fits in that picture. This way, they may easily have lots and lots of free games for their device right away.
We should remember that the public conception of what the iPhone is, went through 3 stages:
1: Smartphone with iPod (expectation)
2: Surprisingly good internet browser (told by Apple)
3: Applications and gaming platform (surprise)
Just like that, the public conception of an Apple tablet could go through several phases. This is a possibility:
1: 10" iPod Touch, for music, gaming, web browsing and apps (expectation)
2: eReader (told by Apple)
3: Pretty good Mac (surprise)
I doubt that applications would be a major feature on the tablet, as all applications would have to be made specifically for it.
If anyone was going to say this, it wouldn't be able to run App Store applications. No one would want an application that was digitally enlarged three times, and no one would want to wave something with a ten inch screen around if they were an accelerometer-based app. It just wouldn't work out...
True that, but what does a publisher gain from putting on this tablet device that they don't get from simply publishing to the web proper? The article suggests a sub million initial production run. That kind of world wide readership isn't going to set hearts ablaze, particularly when you're talking 'free'.
The smart business model would be to offer close to free but still charge something to make money based on a model built around sheer volume. When the price is low enough, there is a tendency to be less picky, certainly to purchase a lot more often. This is at the heart of the App Store's success. If Apple can convince publishers to offer their products with much lower prices than they are accustomed to, it could bring about a very encouraging rejuvenation of the publishing industry.
Still one has to consider that it may well be untrue that Apple will release a 10" tablet early next year and even if that is true, there is no confirmation that the tablet as e-reader is the direction Apple is going. Tablet rumours have been circulating for pretty much all of 2009. Maybe there's a fire to go with all that smoke but I have to say its an awful lot of smoke. If the first quarter passes without any formal announcement from Apple regarding this 10" tablet, it will cause me to seriously question the validity of all the reports. At that point, I would put it in the same category as all those widespread claims that Apple was about to pull the plug on the Mini. The Mini soldiers on, a shining example of why all the rumours need to be taken with that proverbial grain of salt.
Comments
Don't be sorry, you're entitled to your opinion. As am I. Couch computing will be one of the big uses for it, and will explode in the future. Using this tablet at a table would be nice. You could type, flick and tap the screen, it would be a breeze. You want to be able to carry your device around? The iPhone is for that purpose.
As for the stand, it would sit flush, and would be a strip along the upper rear, it wouldn't add thickness.
If I were still a student, I would use the tablet as a textbook and a laptop for my work (if needed). I can see uses where you would use both on a table at the same time.
I don't know if Apple will add a stand, it doesn't seem Apple like. There will probably be third party cases with them built in though.
I don't know if Apple will add a stand, it doesn't seem Apple like. There will probably be third party cases with them built in though.
A stand is probably the wrong name for what I mean. Let's call it "a rest". It would be a strip along the upper rear, almost at the top - about 1" tall and 3-4mm in thickness. One press would spring it out, and one press would pop it back in. It would be mechanically and visually simple, it would work via a couple of internal springs, something like you find on the shuffle, but more rigid. All the mechanics would be internal, the user would only know: "it works". On the strip would be a concave depression marking where to press - about the size of the iPhone's home button.
I don't just think this would be a good idea, but personally see something like this as a necessity for the existence of the device, period. It's there to make the product usable on any flat surface, without the need for a third party product. It's not merely a cool addition, it's part in the product's identity. It's like earbuds for an iPod.
If done right, like I have an image of right now, it would feel very Apple-like. What's more, in the closed position you'd hardly notice it at all, bar the small circular concave dip and the minimal gap around its seam. You could even call it seamless given its precision CNC construction.
If the keyboard is split (think MS ergonomic keyboard) you could very easily thumb type on it. I've tried this out at home with a hard cover book, which, by the way, did not leap out of my hands.
Yes! Apple could easily have several options for virtual keyboards.
You could have split thumb-keyboards, one-handed chording keyboards, or even a user-customizable keyboard where you change the size and location of the keys.
For those worried about the center of gravity... just move the virtual keyboard to the center of the screen (or wherever makes sense).
*
Yes! Apple could easily have several options for virtual keyboards.
You could have split thimb-keyboards, one-handed chording keyboards, or even a user-customizable keyboard where you change the size and location of the keys.
For those worried about the center of gravity... just move the virtual keyboard to the center of the screen (or wherever makes sense).
*
A keyboard in the center would be kind of annoying, but I've already conceded that it probably wouldn't be an issue anyway. What do you mean by a one-hand chording keyboard? Is that like that app that allows you to drag your finger over the letters to type?
I've talken to many turists during my travels who just traveled home from their trip to China, that they bought many unblocked iPhones there in a very cheap price.
That's why, I believe, iPod/iPhone (and in the future: Tablet) users' statistic by Apple can be underestimated.
...am I wrong?
A keyboard in the center would be kind of annoying, but I've already conceded that it probably wouldn't be an issue anyway. What do you mean by a one-hand chording keyboard? Is that like that app that allows you to drag your finger over the letters to type?
No, chording is different. A chording keyboard was include in "the demo" where Doug Engelbart introduced the GUI and the mouse.
With the 5 fingers of one hand, all the key combinations can be generated by pressing several fingers at one time-- kind of like playing chords on the piano.
Google: Doug Engelbart Demo
He claimed that after several hours of training, experienced typists were more efficient with a chording keyboard.
On a tablet, you could hold the device with one hand and enter chords with the other. On a MultiTouch sensitive screen, you would not even need to display the chord keys-- the surface could detect which fingers were pressed by their relative relationship to other fingers.
*
I have a strong feeling that e-reading is *not* going to be the main selling point. Is the Kindle that much of a success? Would anyone buy a tablet for that?
I think the inquiries among eReader publishers may be real, but are meant partly as a decoy flare for the rest of the tablet computing industry. Or rather, gaming industry.
Because if you ask me, the tablet will be another sneak attack at the mobile gaming market.
Apple's acceptance of Flash as a stand-alone environment fits in that picture. This way, they may easily have lots and lots of free games for their device right away.
We should remember that the public conception of what the iPhone is, went through 3 stages:
1: Smartphone with iPod (expectation)
2: Surprisingly good internet browser (told by Apple)
3: Applications and gaming platform (surprise)
Just like that, the public conception of an Apple tablet could go through several phases. This is a possibility:
1: 10" iPod Touch, for music, gaming, web browsing and apps (expectation)
2: eReader (told by Apple)
3: Pretty good Mac (surprise)
I doubt that applications would be a major feature on the tablet, as all applications would have to be made specifically for it.
If anyone was going to say this, it wouldn't be able to run App Store applications. No one would want an application that was digitally enlarged three times, and no one would want to wave something with a ten inch screen around if they were an accelerometer-based app. It just wouldn't work out...
True that, but what does a publisher gain from putting on this tablet device that they don't get from simply publishing to the web proper? The article suggests a sub million initial production run. That kind of world wide readership isn't going to set hearts ablaze, particularly when you're talking 'free'.
The smart business model would be to offer close to free but still charge something to make money based on a model built around sheer volume. When the price is low enough, there is a tendency to be less picky, certainly to purchase a lot more often. This is at the heart of the App Store's success. If Apple can convince publishers to offer their products with much lower prices than they are accustomed to, it could bring about a very encouraging rejuvenation of the publishing industry.
Still one has to consider that it may well be untrue that Apple will release a 10" tablet early next year and even if that is true, there is no confirmation that the tablet as e-reader is the direction Apple is going. Tablet rumours have been circulating for pretty much all of 2009. Maybe there's a fire to go with all that smoke but I have to say its an awful lot of smoke. If the first quarter passes without any formal announcement from Apple regarding this 10" tablet, it will cause me to seriously question the validity of all the reports. At that point, I would put it in the same category as all those widespread claims that Apple was about to pull the plug on the Mini. The Mini soldiers on, a shining example of why all the rumours need to be taken with that proverbial grain of salt.