“Apple researchers have built a full working prototype of a Mac tablet PC and three Companies in Taiwan are now costing a product for a potential launch in mid 2007,” David Richards reports for Smarthouse.
“Sources in Taiwan have said that the focus has been more on the home and the education environment than the enterprise marketplace. Several months ago I was told that Apple was exploring a neat new device that is basically a touch screen that links to various source devices including a brand new media centre that Apple is planning to launch next year,” Richards reports.
“The Mac tablet has been designed to handle third party applications such as home automation software that will allow users to control lighting, audio, entertainment devices and security feeds. It also acts as a full blown PC has wireless linking for a new generation of Wireless Hi Fi speakers that are currently being tested by Apple,” Richards reports.
Richards reports, “The new MAC [sic] tablet has Intel processors as well as a docking station that allows the device to link to screens with HDMI input. The docking station also has additional memo0ry capability so that users can stream content to either the tablet PC or the docking station or directly to a media centre if one is being used.”
Full article here.
Related articles:
New Apple patent apps filed, including major touchscreen patent for MacBook, Tablet Mac, iPod – November 16, 2006
Disney patent application shows ESPN video content coming to wireless iPod – November 09, 2006
New Apple patent application for ‘Actuating User Interface for Media Player’ published – November 09, 2006
Three new Apple patent applications relating to ‘digital media assets’ published – November 02, 2006
Apple files major chameleonic iPod touch display patent – October 26, 2006
Apple patent hints at new type of Mac laptop – October 24, 2006
Apple patent application suggests iPod satellite radio support – October 19, 2006
Apple’s new iTV universal remote control patent application published – October 12, 2006
Apple granted six new patents – September 12, 2006
Apple files US patent application for ‘Multi-functional hand-held device’ – September 07, 2006
Apple patent applications show display actuators for electronic devices – August 16, 2006
More info surfaces regarding Apple’s latest iPod touch-screen patent filing – July 21, 2006
Patent application shows iPod capable of live wireless video conferencing – June 13, 2006
Apple files applications for multipoint touch screen, media file patents – May 11, 2006
For more related articles, scroll to the bottom of any page and search MacDailyNews for “patent” and “tablet.”
OK….they got me. I’ll buy one. But then I will buy almost anything Apple makes…
except for a few notable items that I really don’t need.
Well, MemoOry (hearkening back to Claris the dogcow) is our secret weapon and you have let the cat out of the bag. Now I’m gonna have to sue…
Alrighty then…..a remote control for the house.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/detailsharmony/US/EN,CRID=2084,CONTENTID=10930&ad=hpb_harmony890
Maybe this is Apple’s magical touch screen device and not the much ballyhooed iPod.
Not happening. At least not for many years. Think of a product for a non-existent market. Origami anyone?
This sounds so sweet! Awesome even.
If you ask me, Apple should put more R&D behind this than the iTV. The iTV seems a little ‘moot’ to me, whereas this will be a stunning marvel of an experience.
MikeR:
This != Origami
Nuff said.
Tablets have been around for years, and no one wants them. Apple knows this. So I don’t believe these stories.
Yawn. Apple got the idea from Microsoft. Again. Has anyone had a chance to see the Zune? It’s clear Microsoft has a plan.
Your potential. Our passion.
Sure, Tablets have been around for years, but so far no one has gotten it right.
If anyone can do it right it will be Apple.
Micro$oft = No potential; no passion, no commitment to excellence!
Mmmmm – Photoshop retouchinging with a touch sensitive pen right on the image. Sketchpad. Brainstorming notetaker. I want it
People, this is an obvious hoax.
Something with so many typos dents its credibility; even the troll kiddies here do better. And his docking station with “additional memo0ry capability” is a roller. Why does the dock need memory? Why can’t the tablet stream content without a dock?
Nevermind that the concept of a tablet as a home remote control is something worthy of Microsoft. Apple is much more resourceful than that.
It’s clear Microsoft has a plan.
MS certainly does. Milk Office, then die.
Come on, look around. MS is completely inept at anything besides maintaining their enterprise legacy. And the cracks are even showing there. If MS really has a plan, why is Zune so bad? Why didn’t MS take a shot at outdoing iPod, instead of just making a lousy me-too?
Companies that want to be part of the future need to effectively design for and invest in it. Microsoft of late has not been effective.
Microsoft: People Ready Software
So you know how to swear a blue streak when (not if) it malfunctions.
Whilst I’m not saying there is a market for tablets, just because they haven’t been a success up until now doesn’t mean apple (or anyone else) can’t make them so. You just have to look at the iPod, digital music players of this kind were in no way a mainstream thing, Apple kickstarted the whole market by doing it right.
Mmm, perhaps this is the equivalent of your paperback book, that happens to do a few dozen other things..
Someone has to make the BookReader computer right, sure has hell has been done wrong by Sony and everyone else who has tried.
After all, we all feel it in our bones that Apple has ‘one more thing’ due next year, right?
Oh, and Origami? A repackaged Windows pc in a nasty little box? That wasn’t a product, it was a death wish.
It’s clear Microsoft has a plan.
If it’s so obvious, Tang, spell it out. If you know what the plan is give us the details. Don’t be shy. Or are you sworn to secrecy or just a blithering idiot?
Sounds like a home automation front end. Corporate customers and wealthy individuals pay a fortune for this type of thing. Simplicity and a slick GUI is what they want and what Apple specialises in. Do a Google Crestron, AMX, Cue etc. This has the ability to be huge and will strengthen Apple’s living room domination.
Cheers,
Tim.
SmartHouse Magazine is an Aussie rag that has no credibility whatsoever. The guy is making this up. He’s just figured that after blasting Apple and Mac for the last few years, he’ll try to get hits by using sugar, not vinegar.
This dude has been in MDN before, and it was all negative about Apple. Nothing to see here.
COME ON MACWORLD! ive been waiting for a tablet FOREVER. i actually would be ok with apple buying OQO (i have a friend who works there….their CEO just died…and one of the people on apples board is standing in) for the most part, the last couple of keynotes have been snoozers, a tablet and an iphone would be FUCKING PERFECT! come on steve. lets blow everything else out of the water.