Microsoft has tried a couple of times to get people to pick up its Tablet PC offering, but so far the public reaction has been more meh than wow. If the rumour mill is to be believed Apple could be about to take on the challenge, so how can it succeed where Microsoft has so far failed?
Multi-touch
There were touch sensitive mobiles before the iPhone, but Apple brought a whole new meaning to touchy feely with its prodable phone. It turned something that was previously clunky into something elegant and made touch properly useable rather than just a flashy toy. If Apple can bring this experiene to a tablet then it’s on to a winner.
Better battery
Apple has been working hard on its battery technology and its latest MacBook Pro models offer much improved plug-free time. If Apple can squeeze a full day of juice out of the battery, then it won’t matter if it’s non-replaceable – you’ll be too busy tapping away to notice.
OLED up front
OLED prices are dropping, making the cost of a full slab necessary for a tablet less daunting. OLED would not only help out on the power side of things, allowing it to run for longer on less juice, but would also make the screen more readable in different lighting conditions, which is essential for a take anywhere device.
Cocktail to go
Apple’s rumoured Cocktail file format might not just be a handy iTunes album wrapper. If Apple’s aiming the tablet at consumers, then this could be part of a push that wraps up entertainment and plonks it neatly in your hands.
Apple OS inside
Whether the tablet will run OS X proper or something more similar to the iPhone, one thing’s clear: the two will be made to go together. The success of the iPhone is down to the perfect combination of hardware and software working in unison. An Apple made tablet will be no different.
