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Topic: Apple

Will we see Apple's Tablet January 27th?

Summary: Apple has officially confirmed its long rumored end-of-January event. The event will be held on January 27th and will take place at 1pm EST time at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Joel Evans

By for The Mobile Gadgeteer |

Apple has officially confirmed its long rumored end-of-January event. The event will be held on January 27th and will take place at 1pm EST time at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. As usual, Apple is giving no hint as to what will specifically be unveiled but is teasing the world with an invite that simply says, "Come see our latest creation." and features an image with different colored paint splotches.

Based on the teaser, it could either be a whole new product--the world is hoping for the rumored tablet--or the next iPhone, or pretty much anything else, given what Apple is capable of. Perhaps we could even see the new AppleTV, given all of the rumors around Apple making deals with content providers?

So, what do we know? So far Apple hasn't confirmed anything (as always) but we've been hearing a 10 or 11-inch Tablet around the internet. We've also now heard that HarperCollins is apparently negotiating with Apple to make electronic books available for Apple's rumored tablet device.

Perhaps we'll see a convergence of two devices? Maybe the rumors around the content deals for AppleTV will actually be content deals for the AppleTV and the tablet, with Apple taking over your living room with a new 10-inch tablet that has a monthly fee that brings ALL of your content needs to your device and then can output HDMI to your living room TV?

I can't wait to see what comes on January 27th. Chances are it's a tablet of some sort, since some iPhone developers have even mentioned that they were asked by Apple to prepare some of their offerings for a higher-resolution screen.

The bigger question is whether or not the world will embrace this new category. Microsoft has been trying to get users to adopt its tablet PC for years, and now has announced a "new" tablet PC-ish device from HP in its slate PC category. Businesses will no doubt grab onto this slate PC, but what about consumers?

We know that touch is in, but will consumers add yet another device into the mix in the form of a tablet? I know that I'm not sold on having another device to carry around. My iPhone and other mobile devices do more than enough for me, so in my case Apple has to not only create a device, but also create a need.

Do you have any interest in either Apple's rumored tablet or one by another company? Share your thoughts below. More Apple Tablet Coverage:

Topics: Apple, Hardware, iPhone, Smartphones, Tablets, PCs

About

With more than 15 years of mobile, Internet and wireless experience, Joel specializes in taking existing brands and technologies into the mobile and wireless space. Joel is currently the VP of Strategy Integration for Mobiquity, an enterprise-class mobile solutions provider.

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36 comments
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  • Will we see Apple's Tablet January 27th?

    It sounds more and more likely, but we'll see. One thing I do know if they do, it won't be OS X slapped on a small form factor like Ballmer touted at CES. I believe it will be with an iPhone like UI with the power similar to a MacBook Air. With the ability to buy songs with iTunes and apps from an app store that are on par with desktop versions, etc...
    Axsimulate
    Reply Vote

  • Are you going to remind me every day

    ...for the nest week?
    Feldwebel Wolfenstool
    Reply Vote

    • Yup...

      ...by the end the fanatics will be counting down the seconds.

      Typical.
      cornpie
      Reply Vote

      • And yet...

        All the Mac haters are here, clicking and posting. Like flies to honey. Posting silly comments and inviting EVEN MORE clicking and posting, like, you know, some of the posts below. Like a drug addict "I know I shouldn't post and reward yet another blog writer of attention, but I cannot resist!"

        And people claim those of us who like Apple have a problem?! LOL.
        oncall
        Reply Vote

        • @oncall

          yeah, kind of like when a new version of Windows is released. All one needs to do is look at the release of Win95 and see who has the biggest pool of fanatics.
          Axsimulate
          Reply Vote

  • RE: Will we see Apple's Tablet January 27th?

    I think it will be more like a clam shell laptop. Something like
    "Macbook Touch." See more details here:
    http://blog.nothinggrinder.com/slate-theory
    nothingGrinder
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Will we see Apple's Tablet January 27th?

    Have to see what it does first, probally wont bother with it since it will be uber expensive and wont fit in my pocket, but if i can get my hands on one for cheap or second had i would most definatley give it a whril if its as useful as the iPhone. I had been waiting for ages for someone to properly combine a phone and music device, then the iPhone came out and it blew anything away. Although the 1st Gen had some idocincries like not having stero bluetooth?? what were they thinking, we'll stick a music device in a phone put a bluetooth device in there for headsets, but no one is going to want wireless bluetooth..
    Cryptic-Kryptos
    Reply Vote

  • WHO CARES?

    Apple has always been dead last in hiring Taiwanese and Chinese companies to make products under its name. (Ironic because Asians and other minorities at Apple in california typically get isolated, have their ideas stolen and then left to rot before they are let go)

    They were last in the laptop business, nearly last in the MP3 business, last in smart phone business, and now last in the tablet business. No one talks about the wonderful Windows tablet/laptop convertibles that HP has been selling for at least 3 years.

    Now lets watch yet another announcement telling all the iTards and MacMorons that there is no anouncment at all...just a new box around an existing value added product from HTC, rebranded as Apple with $10 thousand in development and $10 million in marketing behind it.
    StevesNightmare
    Reply Vote

    • You it would seem....

      As for the no one mentioning others wonderful products.. Perhaps
      because they are not wonderful? Just saying......

      Pagan jim
      James Quinn
      Reply Vote

    • Nightmare must be

      seeing them coming from last to 1st, in laptops'
      comming from last to 1st in the mp3 business;
      seeing them comming from last to 1st in the smart phone business;
      And now... Tablets...
      May I recommend you some Anger Controlling resources? Tip: if you don't care, then act as you don't care...


      TD
      theo_durcan
      Reply Vote

      • What?

        They aren't in the vicinity of first in laptop sales. HP, Dell...heck even Sony outsells them.
        condelirios
        Reply Vote

    • @StevesNightmare

      No! Microsoft would never treat it's employees badly!

      http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/13/business/technology-temp-workers-at-microsoft-win-lawsuit.html?pagewanted=1
      Axsimulate
      Reply Vote

  • What I'd like to see

    A TV equivalent of an iPod. A web-enabled, dual-tuner digital DVR with the featues of a TiVo but doesn't look like a relic from the 70s, that connects to any FireWire or eSata external HDD for extra storage, that works seamlessly with my PC using FrontRow (not iTunes) and that has 100% compatibility with iPhone apps - imagine making a Skype call while checking stocks and contacts while watching a show and recording another, all with minimal configuration (zero?) and without using a PC.

    A genuine digital media device.

    But maybe that's just me.
    Fred Fredrickson
    Reply Vote

  • No...it will be the iPatch!

    We are running this story tomorrow...thought we would give ZDNet readers a FirstLook:
    http://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2010/Home/January/Week3/RDMHomeJan2010.htm#Apple_iPatchFirstLook

    The NEW device is actually called the iPatch...all this tablet talk is just a red herring.

    Sincerely,
    RainyDayInterns
    RainyDayInterns
    Reply Vote

    • or iSaac ....

      in honor of the Newton, the first Apple mobile
      computer.
      shis-ka-bob
      Reply Vote

    • Now THAT is worth "looking into"

      This will turn that iPhone/iPod Touch into a true entertainment and distraction product. I can "see" the streets of Phoenix now - and we thought texters were a problem. Heaven help us all.

      I guess it's time to install a serious FIOS infrastructure for our employees as we'll all be too afraid to drive to the office...
      Timpraetor
      Reply Vote

  • It is already called iAdRevenueGeneratorForBlogsWorldwide

    Apple doesn't even have to release anything to stimulate the economy. :)
    NonZealot
    Reply Vote

    • HA!

      Too true!
      odcchaz
      Reply Vote

    • Now that is funny.

      Best post you have done in years.
      Bruizer
      Reply Vote

    • @NonZealot

      It would be more like iAdGen. Only MS has products whose name are as long as yours.

      i.e.
      Microsoft Advertisement Revenue Generator For Blogs Worldwide For Windows
      Axsimulate
      Reply Vote
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