Apple Tablet Could Redefine Books, Newspapers (RENDERINGS)

See artists' renderings of the rumored tablet below

Apple is rumored to launch its highly-anticipated touchscreen Tablet by early 2010 and new information suggests the gadget could revolutionize print publishing by bringing book, newspaper, and magazine content onto the high-tech reader.

If Apple succeeds, the Tablet could essentially function as an iPod for text: a "print player" that displays textbooks, magazines, newspapers, and more (and which would pose a significant competitive threat to Amazon).

Apple has been negotiating with major print media companies to acquire content for the new device, Gizmodo reports, including the New York Times, McGraw Hill, and Oberlin Press. In addition, Apple seems to be working to beef up print content on its iTunes store.

Gizmodo says:

Two people related to the NYTimes have separately told me that in June, paper was approached by Apple to talk about putting the paper on a "new device." The R&D labs have long worked on versions of the paper meant to be navigated without a keyboard or mouse, showing up on Windows tablets and on multiple formats using Adobe Air.
A person close to a VP in textbook publishing mentioned to me in July that McGraw Hill and Oberlin Press are working with Apple to move textbooks to iTunes.

The Tablet, which has been Steve Jobs' pet project at Apple, should be announced around January 2010, according to iLounge. iLounge also notes that the Tablet is likely to have a 10.7 inch screen (measured diagonally), run the iPhone OS, and look like an iPhone 3G.

See pictures of the tablet:

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Comments

[consultant55]

As long as Apple makes it so you can upload all kinds of documents, share documents with other devices, and, in a lifeline to print media, make those sources available at new (reduced) price points, I'm on board.

Go Apple!!!!!!!

Make sure you allow music and video on the thing.

[rancone]

Think cloud computing, web access (very heavy graphics), virtual network connection (to a home/base/server), Requires very fast high (and configurable) resolution. And of course 3/4 G connectivity everywhere. This is to be a portable access port.
All this I hope for in a very much under 3 pound and somewhat rugged form factor. Long battery life - from get up to got to bed and use all day on the go.
Hope Apple gets there.

[LightShadow62]

WooHoo! It's a big screen Ipod.

Yawn.

[lilpeg]

Can't read that in the bath tub or under the covers with a flashlight.

[peaceonearth]

You wouldn't need the flashlight, it is backlit. And you don't take a real book into the bathtub either, assuming you care about it. I use my ipod touch as an ebook reader and love it.

[JulieDole]

Eets so beeeg!

[CaptD]

I hope by then there are other providers besides ATT...

[JulieDole]

I have the best & cheapest phone service ever - just a simple cell phone that I got on ATT, before it went to Cingular, and then back to ATT. I don't even text except via computer - ATT wants me to upgrade so bad! Nothing doing!

But I will get an iPod Touch. That way I can do all the web stuff via free wifi - and with no crazy ATT bill (my friends w/ iPhones have had such nightmares...)

[CaptD]

Apple is using this "hint" as a perfect way to increase BUZZ on it's next iPhone or should we now say, "iTablet"?

If I'm correct (I have a high % of being that way), then Steve Jobs should be ready to "make the call" that will be joyously received "round the World" except by other phone & tablet (kindle) manufacturers...

Game On



[kid5rivers2]

Apple Inc. announced today that it has developed a breast implant that can store and play music.

The i-Tit will cost from $499 to $699, depending on cup and speaker size.

This is considered a major social breakthrough, because women are always complaining about men staring at their breasts and not listening to them.

lol

[CaptD]

+ This would add a whole new dimension to the iTouch...

[joelaf]

will they be pasive or resistive touch? will they support 2 finger jestures and have an accelerometer?

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

Stereo!

[Entitlement]

Wow! Finally. An iPhone for me that I will be able to read without my reading glasses. This device can't come soon enough. I'll be able to actually read my Huggington Post App! I just like pushing the button now. I can still make out the color differences.

[Christina Lane]

Why do I suspect this is going to go the route of the LeapFrog?

[MrVee]

Not another clone of the Iphone! Can Apple do nothing else but repeat the same thing year after year? I sat thought this years conference, waiting for some new wiz bang device and all we got was applications and game they have amassed in their app store and Jobs saying the iTouch is now a gaming device. Oh and that Itunes 9 is available for download.
I like what the Iphone PDA but that ship has sailed. Summer of 07, through summer of 07, through summer of 09 into 2010, the same speech. I'm bored.

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

You dismiss an OS upgrade that is 8gbs smaller than its predecessor, the iPhone 3Gs which was introduced in June. The tablet is no iPhone clone, and since January of 1984, Apple has used January to introduce new products. Quit hatin'!

[crayola 08b]

u tell 'em. git 'em!

[MrVee]

@Paul. I didn't miss it. I didn't speak to it. They also added an anti-malware component but that is just a smart thing to do. But on this service pack was a bummer to those of us still using the PowerPC chipset. It might be an upgrade to you but it's a dead end for us. Leopard is as far as we could go since Apple in it's wisdom decided to no longer support the one who brought them to the dance.
If we can't afford to plunk down a budget busting $2000.00 bucks in this republican engineered recession for an Intel Mac, and I cannot, Leopard is our death panel.
And on the tablet, all anyone has seen are mock ups because like the itouch with camera and microphone most waited for in this years convention, doesn't exist. Those mock ups are over sized iphones. You know I'm not hatin', I'm not on the kool aide today. Beer would be a more MANLY choice. I'm clownin' Paul. Don't beat me up. lol

[hypnotoad72]

RIGHT ON!! :)

[edcom]

Most books are trash.

[CorkiDeCat]

Super :D

[BlackLight]

Can it play Call of Duty 6? If not, fuggit.

[soundping]

E-Paper is not that far away.