thomas fitzgerald.net

I had wanted to wait a little while since the iPad was launched to let the implications sink in a bit before trying to write about it. I have had so many thoughts flying around my head about Apple’s new device over the last week that I haven’t really known where to start. The more I read about it the more enthusiastic I get about the iPad. I also get equally annoyed about some of the stupid things that are being written. One thought keeps resonating with me though: the iPad isn’t really a computer. At least not in the traditional sense. (I know that technically it is a computer) Instead you should think of it more as a device that happens to do computing tasks. Let me explain.

The much rumoured January 27th Apple media event has been confirmed by Apple. The company sent out official invites which showed an Apple logo with a splash of colours and the tag line “Come See our Latest Creation”. Note it says “Creation” singular. Anyway, it will in all likelihood be the unveiling of the over-rumoured tablet. Soon, the suspense will all be over and the complaining about what it doesn’t have can start !

Once again, the extreme stupidity of certain tech blogs on the internet raises its ugly head. Following up from yesterday’s post about the insane “bounty” that Vallywag offered for anyone willing to reveal information about the Apple Tablet, Apple has unsurprisingly responded with its Lawyers.

“While Apple values and appreciates vibrant public commentary about its products, we believe you and your company have crossed the line by offering a bounty for the theft of Apple’s trade secrets. Such an offer is illegal and Apple insists that you immediately discontinue the Scavenger Hunt.”

Before Apple wowed everyone with the iPhone when it was first unveiled the usually active rumor mill went into overdrive. That, however paled into insignificance compared to the way the online technology community has lost their fricken’ minds over the upcoming tablet. For every rumor and idea that gets floated another one comes along to shoot it down. I think we’ve had every possible combination of feature and service that this thing is going to offer, along with another bunch of rumors claiming the first bunch of rumors is bogus. On top of that we’ve had people complain about the non existent device, argue how apple’s non existing policies regarding a non existent NDA for developers on a non existent product is going to stifle the development community.

I’ve been doing my best to avoid the whole tablet rumour scene, because for the most part the predictions are too vague and random for any of them to really hold weight, with the possible exception of the WSJ’s recent assertion of a media event on January 27th. I couldn’t help myself though when I came across this gem from Cult of Mac this evening:

According to reader Tom: “I just heard [to] be ready for a steep learning curve regarding the “new” Apple product about to be released [and its] interface. This person is an employee of Apple and had just had a meeting regarding some of the new things coming. He/She would not go into details, but did say that he/she hoped we liked learning.”

I had some thoughts regarding the recent rumours surrounding Apple’s trademark of “iGuide”. Some have suggested that it could be a replacement for iTunes, which I guess sort of makes sense. But I was thinking, what if it’s even more than that. What if it’s the name of the Tablet’s OS. Ok, before you tell me I’m mad, let me explain my train of thought. From what we suspect (as we know very little – and by little I mean nothing) the tablet will more than likely be heavily focus on media, be it movies, music, books, magazines etc.

With all the talk lately about the upcoming Apple Tablet there’s been a lot of speculation about what it might feature, and what it might mean for the rest of the computing world. Here are 10 things that you can be certain about once the mythical tablet launches:

1. No matter what price it is released at it will be claimed that it is “too expensive” and that it will be “a miserable failure.”

2. Someone will compare it to the Cube warning of an imminent repeat of history.