Apple will unveil the long-awaited Apple Tablet at an event on January 27 and begin shipping it in March, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal. Could the Journal’s anonymous tipsters be right?
Apple has allegedly been experimenting with different material finishes for the Apple Tablet (sometimes dubbed the iSlate). The Wall Street Journal says its sources did not confirm whether Apple is testing two devices but claims the device will have a 10 to 11in touchscreen.
It was revealed in December that Apple had rented the Yerba Buena Center For The Arts in San Francisco for three days in late January. The venue was last used for Steve Jobs’ return to public appearances at the iPod Nano launch in September.
Many had predicted the Apple Tablet launch would happen on January 26 but it now seems like it will in fact take place a day later.
The Wall Street Journal describes the Apple Tablet as “a multimedia device that will let people watch movies and television shows, play games, surf the internet and read electronic books and newspapers.” That sounds good but we could predict that without any anonymous tipsters to draw on.
Citing people who have been briefed on the Tablet, the Journal claims Apple “believes it could redefine the way consumers interact with…content.”
It predicts that textbooks, newspapers and magazines will be presented in colour with information updated from multiple sources. Again, that sounds familiar after months of speculation about Apple ’s talks with publishers .
While predicting that the Tablet will be shown at the event in January, along with a new developer kit to produce apps for the device, the Journal suggests that it will not reach consumers until March. That delay makes sense as most developers will need time to convert apps or develop new ones for the device.
Though the Wall Street Journal has a good history of predicting Apple’s next move, we’re ultimately still waiting for Apple to show its hand.
The much touted January event is also still unconfirmed though it is clear that Apple has secured the stage and will definitely announce something. Fingers crossed it is the Apple Tablet but could HTC and Google steal the crown with their Chrome OS tablet ?
Apple may even reveal other innovations like iTunes ‘ rumoured move to the cloud or video streaming . Come on Steve, give us a clue.
Due TBA | £TBA | Apple (via Apple Insider)
