Lots and lots of rumors are flying around regarding a potential release of a tablet computer by Apple, maybe with an announcement coming as early as September as part of the annual iPod announcements. So I thought it’s time for a quick reality check. Here are the three most pressing questions:
1. Where are the apps?
Everyone expects the “iPad” to be based on the iPhone/iPod Touch version of OSX and not on (Snow) Leopard. To me that makes utter sense. But: Assuming this is right, where are the apps optimized for the new iPad? Developers have not heard a beep from Apple about the iPad, yet they will have to re-write their apps to utilize the higher screen resolution as well as the fact that the standard modus operandi of the iPad will be in landscape mode vs. portrait mode for the iPhone. It will take developers time to rewrite their apps; thus, I’d not be surprised if we heard about the iPad as early as September, but with an estimated shipment date of early 2010 (which is in line with rumors that Apple is racing towards an early 2010 release and Verizon accelerating their 4G deployment to early 2010).
2. Connectivity and thus subsidized pricing
The iPad will come with Wi-Fi for sure. The rumor mill also calls for a 3G enabled iPad. Thus, the big question is: Can you optionally sign up for a separate data plan and get the iPad at a subsidized price? Or do you have to mandatorily sign up with Verizon to get the iPad? That would be a huge mistake. I would not want to have two separate contracts, one for the iPad and the other one for my iPhone. That would be a non-starter for me, not just for economic reasons, but many people simply cannot justify 2 different data plans for their Apple devices.
With only an optional data plan, I would get the iPad without the plan and then tether it to my iPhone, if need be (assuming AT&T will offer it at the time of the release). Or, I would ditch the iPhone, sign up for a Verizon MiFi and connect both the 3rd gen iPod Touch and the iPad to the Net through my MiFi.
3. Video
Frankly, this will be the litmus test for the iPad. What video resolution will it support (assuming it has a camera). I don’t think we would be happy with less than 720p, although I would assume Apple wants to play this safe and provide the same video capture resolution as they do on the iPhone. The reason: 720p gets you into potential video experience issues. Just imagine you shooting a 5 minute 720p video and then having to render it. I’m not sure what video rendering would be like for a 5 or 10 minute 720p clip. Or does Apple think we would want to watch high-res video on the iPad, but only want to capture and edit low-res video?
To me there is no question that we will see the iPad. The speculation and excitement is thus more about what features it will have. Unless Apple mandates a 3G contract for their tablet computer, I will get one for sure, no matter what will be inside of it.
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I agree – I definately will get an iPad. Fortunately, we have T-Mobile, so we do not have the issues we hear about AT&T
I envy you – it’s pretty clear to me that AT&T has problems keeping up with Apple’s pace in the U.S.
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