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RUMOR: Next-gen Apple iPhone imminent; new Multi-Touch ‘iTablet’ due in June

Monday, May 12, 2008 · 2:32 pm · 71 Comments

“In April, SwitchToaMac.com published a rumor that Apple would be launching the 3G iPhone earlier than expected… in May. At the time, we dismissed it, as the rumor didn’t seem to correspond with the circulating expectations that the new iPhone would be launched in June at WWDC. Apple’s dwindling stock of iPhones in both the U.S. and U.K. however, has made us look at this rumor once again,” Arnold Kim reports for MacRumors.

“As mentioned, SwitchToaMac’s source claimed that the 3G-capable iPhone would be announced in May, with the belief that it would be available for purchase the day after the announcement,” Kim reports.

“The reason for a pre-WWDC announcement? Reportedly, Apple would instead announce a brand new portable device at WWDC,” Kim reports. “No other details of what this device might be, but there have been rumors that Apple was developing a mini-tablet multitouch device for launch in 2008.”

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71 Comments

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mark

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 3:57 pm · Reply

One reason there could be an early May 20 release of the 3G iPhone is to let developers use it in preparing/updating/testing their iPhone apps for release at WWDC. The 3G iPhone would have the latest OS software but would have the App Store turned off until that time.
KenC

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 3:58 pm · Reply

Apple would need to send out an invitation to journalists for a special meeting in Cupertino. We’d all hear about that, and it would be at least a couple weeks out. Until that happens, this is just more grist for the rumor mill.
SirROM

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 4:06 pm · Reply

Okay, here is my take:

Apple will not want to take attention away from the next ten iPhone with a new device. They can get the press (and us) to milk this until WWDC and then fan the flames with the release of 2.0 and the app store until at least mid to late July. Then thus can have another special presentation to introduce any such new device in time for the school season along with update MacBooks. If they introduce a new device during WWDC, either it or the iPhone will have its message diluted and Steve would not likely do that. Just my $ .02 worth.
Mac+

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 4:10 pm · Reply

Yawn writes “Without business a tablet = failure”

Not so sure… it’s all about the size of that thing. Also, to work this tablet concept needs to be rethought. It shouldn’t be a mutli-touch laptop. Don’t make the mistake of Microsoft who applied the PC concept to the tablet. Do it differently or Think different one would say:

Clearly it’ll have to be somekind of media device (an extended iPod Touch like). The media will make it higly usable to watch video, movies and consult documents/presentations (in the future animated). Not to mention handwritting and ebook. when you watch it that way, then you tend to think that thing can fly.
just the usual rumors

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 4:23 pm · Reply

Apple will announce a tablet at the same keynote as Mac OS licensing, a game console, and a merger with Disney.

IOW, it ain’t gonna happen.
jeffsu

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 4:27 pm · Reply

Lets think about this guys… the most valid comment made here was this one:

“And why is the iPhone out of stock so early? To avoid disgruntled customers who buy the first iPhone a few days or weeks before the new one comes out. It’s called doing the right thing, even if it will impact the sales numbers for the current quarter…”

While we all wouldn’t want to think so — Apple does. Remember the PR nightmare that was the pricecut? Everyone who just bought one complained like a maniac — and Jobs had to write his little apology and offer $100 credit. To avoid that panic and upsetting its customer-base, its not letting people make that mistake for up to 30 days before the release date. No returns to give it back and get v2!

People are especially apt to buy now with economic stimulus checks, etc.
7over

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 4:27 pm · Reply

@Yawn
“…and you always lose the stylist.”

Just keep the conversation simple and the stylist can usually follow along just fine.
yebot

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 4:42 pm · Reply

PowerBook G5 Next Tuesday (tomorrow)
hands off

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 5:45 pm · Reply

people have grimmy fingers

That didn’t stop Apple’s white keyboards and scroll-pellet mouse.
Ferf Muckmeyer

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 5:48 pm · Reply

There is no fscking “iMac Touch” or whatever they want you to believe.

But like I predicted last week – the new iPhone WILL arrive sooner than later. Would Apple take a chance and not have stock of ANY iPhones for a month? C’mon!
LinuxGuyAndMacProdigalSon

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 5:54 pm · Reply

Apple lost control of their iPhone inventory, because the sales of jail broken units has been staggering. Teams of overseas buyers cleaned out the U.S. supply of old units and Apple had already stopped production. You just can’t turn production back on.

This is not really such a bad thing. Apple is good at adjusting to market realities and succeeds by not acting like fools and fighting what they can’t control. So now Apple is stage managing their response the best they can.
Dolita

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 6:10 pm · Reply

Isn’t it Macbook Air?
Nathan

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 6:50 pm · Reply

Here’s my idea, which I don’t think is too terribly unlikely:
I’d like to see the Mac Touch-
iPods and Macs will all be running OSX and those two monikers will no longer delineate seperate functions, but only two things: size of device and whether it runs full or stripped OSX. So there’s a “Touch” in the iPod line of small stripped-down… and there will be a “Touch” in the Mac line of full-blown computers. What I really want to see is the implementation of a patent they registered a while ago, where a portable screen device docks with a computer. The following would not be very different than that patent: Imagine your iMac Aluminum. Now imagine that the “chin” and thick back are just a cradle that receives a tablet as it’s screen. The cradle portion that stays at home would have a full size keyboard, mouse, speakers, ports, shiny disc drives and some added RAM- maybe even an added video card. When you wanted to go, you’d just pull out the screen, now fully charged and synced and take it with you. That’s got the processor, graphics card, RAM, a flash drive, and Airport card.

If they have something that cool to announce, they might want to get iPhone 2 out of the way on the 15th. Crazy.
Register or Login

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 6:51 pm · Reply

Another Apple event so of course it’s time for another tablet multitouch device rumour.

Can anyone think different?
logical

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 7:08 pm · Reply

The primary reason why Apple can’t have the iPhone “unavailable” or out of stock for longer than a few days is: analyst concerns with earnings.

It’s not like the inventory went to zero overnight. Come on.
dogfriend

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 7:20 pm · Reply

Kimble Killer?
Chuck

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 9:16 pm · Reply

The largest Apple store in Boston opens this Thursday, maybe they launch it then?
marcos

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 9:49 pm · Reply

iPoop–just rumors. who needs a touch pad?
ポール

Monday, May 12, 2008 - 11:41 pm · Reply

OMG… If only I could get $ 0.01 when I hear the rumor of an iTablet, I would be living on a Private Mega Yacht designed by some crazy inventor from Finland, man…
mike

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 12:11 am · Reply

why the hell do you think they dropped coverflow into the Finder?