NetbookTech

[Reprinted from Krunker.com]

Ending months of speculation, Apple officially announced the iPad device today at a special press event held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. Let’s quickly go over the facts, features, and specifications about the new iPad. We’ll save our editorial comments for a later post.

We’ll start things off with what the iPad delivers.

The iPad is essentially a slate format computer measuring 9.56 x 7.47 x 0.5 inches and weighing a mere 1.5 pounds (tack on 0.1 pounds for the 3G model).

The device features a bright LED-backlit multi-touch-enabled 9.7 inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768. Unfortunately this is not a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio display.

It has a built-in rechargeable battery with approximately 10 hours of battery life and in typical Apple fashion, it is NOT user-replaceable.

Inside, you’ll find a custom-built Apple processor (System-on-a-chip) clocked at 1GHz.  Storage wise, you’ll be able to choose from 3 options – 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB.

There will be two models consumers can choose from – a Wi-Fi model and a Wi-Fi + 3G model. Each model will have the above three storage options to choose from.

Prices for the Wi-Fi models are:

• 16GB – $499
• 32GB – $599
• 64GB – $699

Prices for the Wi-Fi + 3G models are:

• 16GB – $629
• 32GB – $729
• 64GB – $829

Yes, that means you’ll be paying a $130 dollar premium for the 3G data support (and on top of that you’ll need to purchase Mobile Broadband service too).

The iPad will feature several applications (12 in total) redesigned from the ground up to take advantage of the new device form factor. Some of the more interesting new apps include:

Mail:

Put the iPad in landscape orientation, and your mail will automatically shift to a split-screen view with incoming messages on the left and the current message on the right. Use a virtual soft keyboard to type out messages (the keyboard is nearly the size of a full-sized keyboard). If you want to view a single message by itself, rotate the iPad to portrait mode.

Photos:

Photo Albums are now displayed as stacks of photos. Tap or pinch to open up a stack and then flip through pictures using your fingers. Tap to zoom in or out, or watch a slideshow using the application.

YouTube:

YouTube UI has been redesigned and the iPad supports YouTube HD videos too.

iPod:

Yes, you’ll get the iPod with the iPad including all the features you’ve come to expect from the iPod.

iTunes:

Browse and buy music, TV shows, and podcasts, or buy and rent movies directly from the iPad.

App Store:

The iPad will run nearly all of the 140,000 apps currently found in the App Store. Existing apps can run centered on the display or full-sized taking up the entire display. There will also be apps designed specifically for the iPad’s form factor.

iBooks:

iBooks is a new free app from the App Store which you can use to buy books from the built-in iBookstore. Once you’ve purchase a book, it will be displayed on a virtual bookshelf. Double-tap to read the book.

Other new apps include Maps, Notes, Calendar, and Contacts. There’s also support for Spotlight Search on the iPad.

In addition, Apple announced a new version of iWork designed specifically for the iPad. You’ll be able to purchase Pages, Keynote, and Numbers directly from the App Store for $9.99 each.

Let’s now talk about the technical specifications for the iPad.

Display:

• 9.7 inch LED backlit glossy wide-screen multi-touch display with IPS technology
• 1024 x 768 resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

Storage:

• Choice of 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive

Processor:

• Custom-designed 1GHz Apple A4 processor (system on a chip) – this is a direct result of their PA-Semi acquisition from a few years back

Sensors:

• Accelerometer
• Ambient Light Sensor

Battery:

• Built-in (aka non-user replaceable) 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
• Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
• Charge via power adapter or USB connection to computer

Input/Output:

• Dock connector
• 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speakers
• Microphone
• SIM card tray (on the Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Connectivity:

There will be two iPad models – one with Wi-Fi and one with Wi-Fi + 3G support (to ship 30 days after the Wi-Fi model ships)

• Wi-Fi model comes with 802.11 a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Wi-Fi + 3G model supports:

• UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
• 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Location-Aware Services:

• Wi-Fi
• Digital Compass
• Assisted GPS (on the Wi-Fi + 3G model only)
• Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

Audio playback:

• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz20Hz
• Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
• User-configurable maximum volume limit

Video playback:

• Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Composite A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
• H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

Mail attachment support:

• Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

Accessories for the iPad include:

iPad Keyboard Dock:

The iPad Keyboard Dock combines a full-sized keyboard with an iPad dock connector which means the iPad can also be charged while you’re using the keyboard. The dock has a rear 30 pin connector allowing you to connect the dock to a USB power adapter, a computer, or other accessories.

iPad Case:

iPad Dock:

Lets you dock and charge the iPad as well as connect the iPad to the outlet, a computer, and other accessories.

iPad Camera Connection Kit:

Allows you to import photos and videos either via a USB cable or via an SD card reader.

iPad USB Power Adapter:

Charge the iPad using an electrical outlet.

OK – so what’s not in the iPad:

• 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio display
• No built-in webcam
• HDMI support
• Adobe Flash support
• Multi-tasking

Now as for availability – the iPad is expected to be available in 60 days from today (a.k.a. approximately two months).

There you have it folks – the iPad facts.

Adding more credence to the notion of an Apple “tablet” device, the Wall Street Journal reports that Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, is very much focused on the device ever since returning to work in June. According to the article, “the 54-year-old has been pouring almost all of his attention into a new touch-screen gadget that Apple is developing, said people familiar with the situation.”

Jobs is supposedly overseeing every aspect of the new tablet device – particularly the advertising and marketing strategy. When and if the new tablet will be announced is anyone’s guess. Some have placed the tablet in the latter half of this year while others have argued that the new tablet will be introduced in 2010.

[Check it out via News.com]

My friends, I ask. DO YOU BELIEVE.

That’s right. DO YOU BELIEVE that the above picture is indeed of the supposed upcoming iTab/iPad/Apple Tablet/Netbook-like device? Yeah, it’s only the umpteenth time we’ve seen a leaked shot of the device but this one actually looks believable – but yes, we still have our doubts. The picture comes courtesy of a French blog which Boy Genius Report claims has a “fair track record”. I suppose the screenshot of OS X starting up is supposed to convince us that this is indeed the real thing.

OK.. maybe. I’m still a skeptic. Don’t get me wrong – I’m excited about the notion of a larger device that’s similar to the iPod touch/iPhone. If it runs all those apps and then some.. and IS CHEAP then sure.. I’m game. The question is – when???

[Check it out via BGR]

The rumors of an Apple tablet/netbook-like device (the above rendition courtesy of Gizmodo) have intensified recently thanks to an article over at Barrons. According to a “veteran analyst” who claims to have “seen and touched” the Apple “slate-style” device, the upcoming tablet will be announced in September and delivered in November with a price of around $699 to $799.

The device, which many have dubbed a “jumbo iPod touch” apparently impressed the analyst – “The machine impresses with its display of hi-def video content. It’s better than the average movie experience, when you hold this thing in your hands."

What makes the article particularly interesting is the claim that the PC industry is supposedly waiting with abated breath for this new Apple device – so much so that many PC makers have “paused production” of next generation netbooks until they see what Apple’s up to.

That last note seems somewhat dubious to us simply because of the time of the year. We’re already in the back-to-school season and we’re quickly approaching the holiday season which means many manufacturers should already be pumping out units for current and upcoming sales. If anything, whatever Apple does in September will affect product development for 2010 and beyond. 2009 is pretty much set in stone if you ask us – which also means any next generation netbook about to hit the shelf will more than likely continue to do so.

However, the one great thing about this rumor – if it turns out to be true, the pricing is true, and Apple delivers – this is all great news ultimately for netbook vendors because it gives these vendors a new target/goal to achieve. There’s nothing like a product that you can emulate from.

[Check it out]

The Apple netbook rumor mill just got a bit more interesting this week as two sources supposedly close to the situation have informed the Dow Jones Newswire that Apple is indeed working on a netbook system. The system will reportedly feature a touch-screen display and could come out as early as the second half of this year.

Here’s what’s being reported thus far by the sources (via Dow Jones):

• The Apple netbook will have a display measuring between 9.7 to 10 inches (we’re betting 10.1 inches)
• Wintek Corporation is manufacturing the display while Quanta Computer is assembling the entire product

Of course all of these rumors fly in the face of what Steve Jobs mentioned to analysts last October – “we don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk.” Then again.. maybe they’ve figured out how to make a netbook that’s “not a piece of a junk” eh?

Personally, I’d be thrilled with a device that was functionally similar to the iPhone yet as capable as a fully qualified MacBook device. THAT would be a killer netbook if you ask me.

Soo.. what are you up to Apple?

[Check it out via Boy Genius Report]

Those Apple netbook rumors just won’t die will they?

This time, analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, states that Apple will likely introduce a “scaled-down MacBook Air” in the next two years – possibly as early as 2009. The system would probably come with an 11 inch display and cost between $800 dollars and $1000 dollars – still above what most of us are used to paying for Windows-based netbook systems. (mind you, you can always buy a $400 dollar MSI Wind and run a hacked version of OS X on it).

Now of course, I wouldn’t label such a system a netbook but then again- there’s really no formal definition as to what a netbook is, is there?

[Check it out]

Wall Street analysts at Apple’s quarterly conference call yesterday received a special surprise – Steve Jobs himself was on hand to answer questions about the company’s performance and where it was going. Of course the question of netbooks came up again, and Steve had some interesting things to say.

As most of you already know from last week’s MacBook/MacBook Pro  announcement event, Jobs considers the netbook market a “nascent” category – something they will monitor but not get involved in .. yet. Yet at the very core, it boils down to this. Apple won’t get involved with every single computing market out there (think Tablet PC as an example). The market has to have demand, and it has to generate a good gross profit margin for the company. Remember, Apple has long charged more for their products than comparable PC products simply on the basis that their products were better than PC counterparts. If a Windows based netbook is going for $399 – what would a comparable Apple netbook cost? $499? Surely it can’t be $399 also because then Apple is telling us their product is value wise the same as a Windows based netbook. So.. is $100 dollars the added value of an Apple branded product? Is it $50 dollars? Is it more as is the case for MacBooks and MacBook Pros?

Or of course, you can put it the way Steve puts it – “We don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that.” Translation – we don’t want to enter into that market because it might dilute our brand.

So in the meantime, what is Apple’s response to the netbook? It’s the iPhone of course. In this single device, you can do many of the same things that a netbook can – although a major piece that’s missing is office productivity software. However, the iPhone has a growing application developer audience, it has A LOT of users, and it’s pocketable – something a netbook can’t claim.

Of course, Apple reserves the right to change it’s mind down the road…

[Check it out]

So the Apple notebook event came and went and .. unfortunately there was no announcement of an $899 notebook system as rumored. About the only real price movement was the reduction in price of the current MacBook systems – from $1099 to $999.

In many ways, it makes sense for Apple to maintain a certain price level for their notebook products. Coming out with an $899 or lower model would most certainly dilute sales from higher end Apple notebooks – and thus reduce their overall gross profit margins. These are certainly the same risks that many notebook vendors face today with the onslaught of netbook systems. First time and second time PC buyers are opting for netbook systems over more expensive notebooks – simply because they’re 1) cheaper and 2) more than adequate for their needs.

Of course, it’s still important for Apple to maintain some vigilance on the netbook front – simply because these systems do pose a threat to Apple’s notebook business. Luckily for Apple, a person who wants OS X on a netbook has no choice but to go to an Apple notebook system – unless they venture to install a hacked OS X copy onto a netbook. 

It’s a shame too – it’s weird for me to say this but I’d much prefer to run OS X on a netbook than Windows XP or possibly even Linux. Having tried OS X on the Atom based S10 netbook, I certainly would love to see a low cost netbook from Apple. Unfortunately, it’s very unlikely for Apple to ever take this course unless it really feels it needs to.

The Boy Genius Report has received information from an Apple insider that supposedly confirms the existence of an $899 product price point within the Apple Store inventory. Hmm.. is this possibly the new rumored Apple low end notebook/netbook system? Guess we’ll find out in about 10+ hours but let’s hope Apple indeed comes out with a low end model. The company needs to have a product that can effectively compete against low end Windows notebooks and netbook systems and an $899 model could possibly do that.

[Check it out]