Apple is preparing a Mac Tablet and a new iPhone, according to rumors repeated by TheStreet.com’s Gary Krakow and Scott Moritz.
Krakow says that “if anybody could make tablets work, it’s Apple… [Unlike all of the other PC makers], Apple might be able to make it work.”
As for the iPhone, Moritz says that “we’ve reported that [the 3G iPhone] will be out in the first quarter [2008], I think we’ve confirmed that today again, ummm…”
MacDailyNews Note: CNBC’s Jim Goldman, who we consider to be, oh, about 1,000 times more credible than Scott Moritz, today reported that Apple would debut a 3G iPhone in June 2008, not “in the first quarter.”
Krakow explains that 3G “eats batteries” which is why the first iPhone used EDGE, but there is a new “3G phone on a chip” from Broadcom on the horizon that Apple might be very interested.
Krakow thinks Apple made the right decision to wait for 3G technology to catch up, rather than making a thicker, heavier iPhone. Krakow also says that if you want an iPhone now, then buy it now. If you can wait “months and months” then wait, but “always know that whatever you buy, there’ll be a new model three or four months down the line. So, if you want the iPhone or are thinking about giving it as Christmas or holiday gift, do it.”
Watch the full video report here.
Finally, a little sanity regarding the old “buy now or wait” question.
Standing in line right now for it all.
3G is nice but one day I hope Apple provides a service that gives you WiFi everywhere when technology allows it. Like EDGE everywhere WiFi would be really cool.
There already is a “tablet PC” from Apple. It’s called the iPhone (and iPod touch). All that’s needed for it to be considered a “real” tablet PC by the popular media is a slightly larger screen and an upgrade in bundled software. After all, the iPhone’s multi-touch interface is the ideal interface for a tablet computer. Current Windows-based tablet PCs are compromised versions of “desktop” software where a stylus replaces the mouse. That’s why they fail to gain acceptance.
So there will not be a “Mac tablet” at MacWorld in January. It will no doubt be the long-rumored ultra-thin MacBook instead. When Apple does release a computer marketed as a “tablet,” it will not be called a “Mac” and it will use a refined and upgraded version of iPhone’s GUI.
@jubie…
the iPhone already allows wifi everywhere that technology allows it. Doesn’t matter where I go, if there is wifi there, I can access it.
Apple doesn’t need to upgrade the iPhone to allow for unlimited wifi, providers do.
Bingo, ATT needs to offer access to WiFi with your monthy service plan… Just like the European (British?) carriers are doing (since Edge sucks worse there, and is less penetrated from what I know).
Now… what about HSDPA and 4G? And is 3G really that much faster than good WiFi?
Apple thinks they can make a MS-proven dud work?
What next? Rumors of an Apple iSurface?
IMO this is just a case of wishful geek thinking. Ain’t gonnna happen.
I’m not sure, but wifi hotspots only allow you to surf around that particular area, and not hop from one hotspot to another seamlessly, right? Of course, assuming that you’re going from one Starbucks to meet your friends at another starbucks…. your session will be terminated and then reconnected? Just curious as that, to me, would seem to be the only positive thing of having 3G (continuous roaming) over wifi. But as of right now, i only use wifi at home and at the office, so its not a big issue right now.
obviously, there will be a big update to the Macbook pro. How do I know? I just bought one the other day.
“And is 3G really that much faster than good WiFi?”
Absolutely not, nor does anyone claim it is.. WiFi is significantly faster than 3G.
2003 interview:
M [Walt Mossberg]: A lot of people think given the success you’ve had with portable devices, you should be making a tablet or a PDA.
J [Steve Jobs]: There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards. When Apple first started out, “People couldn’t type. We realized: Death would eventually take care of this.” “We look at the tablet and we think it’s going to fail.” Tablets appeal to rich guys with plenty of other PCs and devices already. “And people accuse us of niche markets.” I get a lot of pressure to do a PDA. What people really seem to want to do with these is get the data out . We believe cell phones are going to carry this information. We didn’t think we’d do well in the cell phone business. What we’ve done instead is we’ve written what we think is some of the best software in the world to start syncing information between devices. We believe that mode is what cell phones need to get to. We chose to do the iPod instead of a PDA.
zzzzzzzzzzz………tablet rumour……..again?……zzzzzzzzzzzz
@BiZarRo BaLlmEr —
Very nice reminder. Steve is great at dodging issues and misleading listeners, especially competitors. If there is anything true abut Apple’s approach, it’s that they will target something that likely exists already in some shabby form and retool it to become something beautiful and easy to use.
Tablets as they exist now may not be the form factor that would use, but Steve at one point joked about a 10″ iPod on stage. My guess is that he had been playing around with one in an Apple lair somewhere.
If it kicks ass, it’ll be released. Cool stuff to watch. The next few years are going to be phenomenal.
3G would be nice, but what I really want is more capacity.
Where is the 16GB iPhone?!
“re is the 16GB iPhone?!”
Screw 16GB where’s the 160GB iPhone?
1st quarter, please !!!
It wouldn’t be the first time that an Egyptian came down from the mountain with tablets
Add my vote as one for capacity. That said, I’m waiting to see what happens at Macworld. After Macworld, I’ll be buying a new iPhone, and hopefully by June there will be an updated Mini that I can buy for my son’s birthday (He will be six, and this will be his second Mac).
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Also, at some point in 2008, I’d like to upgrade my Powerbook to a Mac Book Pro, so naturally, I’d like to see a smokin’ hot update there as well.
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Google announced there was no gPhone.
But honestly that is because the gPhone was something Apple had mentioned to Google… just Google let it slip out into the public.
If you put things together, Android and Googles 700 Mhz bandwith, you will see the road being paved to the gPhone.
Add in the recent rumours about the new iPhone update WHICH I am sure will be showcased January 7th at Apple World/Expo along with these new processors from Intel… man if LAST year was good for APPLE… you haven’t seen nothing yet.
So where am I going with this… yup… the new better iPhone will have 3G technology. Drop the 3 and SLIDE over the G… and you got the gPhone.
So – to answer your wish/question Jubei…
“one day I hope Apple provides a service that gives you WiFi everywhere when technology allows it”,
Apple will NOT be providing such a service – but GOOGLE will. The deal is already in motion… and it involves APPLES newest phone — the gPhone.
Guys… I am not making this stuff up.
I hear all of Steve’s thoughts in my mind when I sleep at night.
the whack’d mole
– times a – is a +
whack’d mole, your double negative is wonderful I hope you’re right
“if LAST year was good for APPLE… you haven’t seen nothing yet”
— you haven’t seen anything yet.
Alright, maybe you were adding a vocal style to your story.
Yes, the iPhone is a perfect example of Multi-touch in the hands of the consumers. Apple was first to bring the technology to the masses. it is the basis of what’s to come.
It is quite possible that this DREAM device will not in show by January. Yet it would be wonderful if it did. A super-slim large screen multi-touch device from Apple is what a lot of people are dreaming for. Apple takes these challenges and drives the market by listening… SO I AM not counting it as impossible.
Nevertheless, I must also agree with you that more further development will be required for such a device… however, we do not know how far ahead Apple is in the Multi-Touch environment. They just may blow everyone away if it occurs. You have to realize that much research has been done on Multi-Touch over several years… ONLY wrapping it into a parcel to purchase it under some Brand name and OS hasn’t been done. Let Apple take care of that. Done!
BUT, why oh why do you not think it will be a Mac?
Lets say the “MacSlate” an ultra-portable multi-touch computational data device. Not a computer… just integrated and differential enough to BLEND nicely in between mobil cel / pda and personal computer. Besides, Apple needs to showcase the next things to come… WHY BOTHER show us a ultra-thin laptop booting from internal SSD. Hopefully they will GO BEYOND what other companies are already DOING!!!!
Hopefully.
What exactly do you mean?
THE QUESTION was, “is 3G really that much faster than good WiFi?”
YOU REPLIED, “Absolutely not, nor does anyone claim it is.. WiFi is significantly faster than 3G.”
SOUNDS to me you are CLAIMING WiFi is faster than 3G.
AND MAY I ALSO REMIND YOU — that you are a SOMEONE!
jay – just poking fun – nothing serious
@Ken1w
I think its pretty obvious to everyone here that the Mac tablet will be a bigger version of the iPhone.
No need to state the obvious.
I have to agree with ken1w on this one. The GUI on Windows and Mac OS X are designed around a mouse as an input device. For a tablet to work properly, the interface has to change.
I still don’t think the public in general are ready for a tablet pc in any form. Microsoft were way to early in releasing theirs, saying it would be mainstream in 2 years or whatever they said. You still hardly see them.
When the time is right, Apple will put a tablet out. Then we’ll wonder how we ever got by with just a mouse I reckon.
@ BiZarRo BaLlmEr
Do not take Steve Jobs’s words for Gospel. In the same interview you had quoted, he said further about videos on iPod:
“I’m not convinced people want to watch movies on a tiny little screen…”
Next thing you know, you have video iPod all over the place. Also, Steve didn’t seem interested in cell phones. Well, a couple of years later, Ladies and Gentlemen please say Hello to iPhone.
Conclusion: If Steve once said that “There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards.”, it didn’t mean there would NEVER be such plans. Let’s not count the Mac Tablet off. But let’s be aware that it will take a heck of a lot of innovation to make this conept work. Maybe they have found a way… perhaps by integrating iPhone capabilities and functionalities to that so called ultra-portable laptop. maybe the keyboard will be revolutionary by integrating multi-touch. I don’t know, but if a tablet there is, then it’s probably something that goes beyond what you and I are calling tablet…
Macworld ’08 will tell…