iTablet? Apple iPad - GPS?

Boyd

... or iSlate or whatever. Tim, what is the buzz from CES about this long rumored Apple product? I know there's nothing official but people must be talking about it. People seem to expect it later this month. It seems to me that this could be a killer GPS platform if the existing iPhone software were just ported to it. The big screen would be a huge improvement over the iPhone, and 3g data from Verizon would certainly whip the Nuvi 1690's EDGE connection.

Price will be an issue of course. But I've read there are a lot of Windows 7 tablets at CES this year also. We already have Garmin MobilePC which would give you sort of a Nuvi on steroids with one of these. Seems that tablet computers will start to threaten the high end dedicated PND's at some point.

Tim

The problem with CES is that everyone wants to talk about their own products, not somebody else's. I had a few conversations with other press/bloggers, but nobody that knows much more than anyone else. So I didn't pickup anything new that hasn't already been said.

offthegrid

Where would that fit? Not on the Dash or on an air vent its too big?

Someone somewhere will come up with the smart idea of a cheap mid that works through bluetooth on a flip phone so I can have a small phone most of the time and a nice mid when I want it connected.

Boyd

Would fit just fine in my VW down by the heater controls, which is where I mount all of my GPS'es, including the Roadmate 1700 (which I only use with Oziexplorer). It has a 7" screen and I would be quite happy with an 8 to 10 inch screen (as various sources have reported for this device). Granted, I'm not your average consumer.

Tim, did you see any interesting Windows tablets with integrated gps?

gatorguy

I don't know what Tim might have seen (at least not all of it. I'm looking forward to some more write-ups), but the one I really want to see is the Lenovo IdeaPad. Not a true slate-type design, like the rumored Apple device or the HP, but dang cool and compact.

Tim

Tim, did you see any interesting Windows tablets with integrated gps?

I didn't have time to stray too far from the traditional GPS and mapping technologies.

gatorguy

From a MobileBeat news-blurb today:

In a faux pas, an executive at telecom firm France Telecom/Orange confirmed that Apple is launching a tablet and the end of January.

The executive, Stephane Richard, is the No. 2 executive at the telecommunications firm. He told French journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabbach that the tablet will include a webcam and that Orange customers would be able to buy it. It’s a little hard to back pedal on this one, since it’s on video (in French).

The confirmation suggests that Apple is lining up a worldwide launch of the tablet, which means that it’s not just an experimental dipping of its toes in the water or something that will launch in the U.S. market only. Apple itself hasn’t commented on the existence of the tablet, which many see as a new generation of computers.

Tim

While I don't doubt that an Apple tablet is very likely, I'd also say that there isn't a "confirmation" in that q&a.

Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: According to weekly Le Point, in a couple of days Apple will be launching its tablet computer …
Stéphane Richard: Yes.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: … equipped with a webcam.
Stéphane Richard: Yes.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: Are Orange customers going to be able to enjoy it?
Stéphane Richard: Of course!

The answers could have been expanded like this and still be accurate.

1) Yes, Le Point did report that.
2) Yes, Le Point suggested that as well.
3) Of course! Anybody can purchase one.

gatorguy

Another couple of items mentioned today by a generally reliable source. The Apple tablet will be using a hi-performance ARM processor and run on an iPhone kernel. He describes it as "an iPhone on steroids". Also writes that the lack of any recent OS updates for the iPhone might be blamed on the upcoming tablet. Apple didn't want to give away some of the functions revealed by the iPhone code. FWIW

Boyd

It's amazing how much press this unannounced product is getting. Interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703405704575015362653644260.html

GPS and mapping isn't the focus of the article, but here's a tidbit that I hadn't seen before.

Apple's divide with Google over how it views media content also drives the wedge deeper between the two companies. Apple's iPhone, for example, currently closely integrates Google's mapping and search technology, but a person familiar with the matter said Apple was in serious discussions with Microsoft Corp. to incorporate its Bing search engine into the iPhone as the default search and map technologies. Microsoft declined to comment.

gatorguy

Would that mean we don't get any more Windows vs Apple commercials? :lol:

That's really too funny. Apple in bed with the devil. Google must really have them spooked.

Boyd

Actually, I'm wondering if it could be the other way around.... Google might be threatening to pull its apps from the iPhone.

gatorguy

Either way, asking Microsoft for an assist is really shocking with all the "we're better/more stable/more creative/more whatever" than they are chatter the past 10 years. But reading several references to negotiations that posted in the past 48 hours, they might be serious.

Tim

It isn't as though they haven't worked together in the past though. Apple has Windows versions of some of their software like iTunes, Safari, and technologies like Bonjour. Microsoft has a business unit dedicated to Mac software like Office, RemoteDesktop, and SliverLight. They compete in the Operating Systems space, but outside of that they have a long history of working somewhat together. I see this as not much changed in the Apple/Microsoft relationship but a larger change in the Apple/Google relationship.

gatorguy

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. . . Got it. :wink:

Boyd

How quickly we forget.... :)

alanb

True, but also hard to believe that was 13 years ago!

Boyd

In a little over two hours will should see exactly what Apple is going to offer. :D

Tim

iPad is out!

Tim

Still using Google Maps.

Boyd

Wow, it's bigger than I expected.


photo from cnet.com

mvl

Supports fullscreen maps street view.

9.7" screen, accelerometer and compass built in....

Tim

Accelerometer (obviously) and compass... but no word of GPS... yet.

Tim

All iphone apps can run on the iPad.

mvl

"can run all iPhone apps unmodified out of the box"

mvl

OK Tim... I'll let you do the play-by-play..... :)

Tim

No, please join in!

Boyd

CPU is Apple custom silicon. Available in 16, 32 and 64 GB models. They are claiming 10 hour battery life. Wifi and Bluetooth. So far no mention of 3g though. 1/2 inch thick with an IPS display (what is that?)

Tim

CPU is Apple custom silicon.

That is perhaps the most interesting thing I've seen so far.

mvl

Apple acquired PA semi a few years back, and it was assumed that this division would pump out the apple tablet chip once it finally was released.

http://deals.venturebeat.com/2009/07/13/look-for-pa-semis-chip-designs-in-upcoming-apple-tablet/

Boyd

It looks very cool, but the size is a bit surprising to me. Looks like something you wouldn't want to take with you unless it could really replace a laptop...

mvl

Or mount on your dashboard.... :)

gatorguy

So far most of the "leaked" info from the past week turned out pretty accurate then. Really much larger than I would consider ideal tho. If I'm carting something around with me as a one size fits all device, then 7-8" screen would seem more appropriate. Doess't look like it should be confused with a work-centric device either. Games, music, etc.

As Boy Genius said a couple weeks back, an iPhone on steroids.

Tim

I haven't seen any indications of cellular connectivity, nor GPS. (Although wifi positioning is certainly likely.)

navxguy

As Boy Genius said a couple weeks back, an iPhone on steroids.

... they're saving that for July! ... ??

mvl

"Last up is mlb.com"...

So seems like no GPS apps on display today...

Tim

okay... when? how much?

mvl

off topic, but...

Typical Steve Jobs retalliation - listing the publishers: Penguin, Harper collins, simonShuster, MacMillan, hachette, "and more...".

I'm sure Steve buried McGrawHill in "more" since McGraw leaked the iPhone OS :)

Boyd

Well everyone expected the focus to be e-books. He is now talking about the iBookstore...

mvl

Doess't look like it should be confused with a work-centric device either.

And now apple demos "iWork".... ;)

mvl

3G data available, depending on model.

Tim

Unlocked GSM and no contract... that's big.

mvl

$499

Boyd

That is the base model. 4 different models, tops out at $799 with 3g

mvl

No wonder AT&T was touting it's "specialty devices" division in a press release yesterday.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/att-supports-more-than-370-wireless-specialty-devices-82702272.html

$14.99/month for 250mb data
$29.99 unlimited

Boyd

Oops, looks like 6 different models with 3g available on each for another $130. Top model is $830, available in two months.

Boyd

Now showing an external keyboard dock. Nice - didn't think they would do that.

Tim

Apple iPad has "Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)"

Boyd

Here's a video of Google maps. Looks really fast (but these demo's always do :))

http://i.gizmodo.com/5458331/google-maps-on-the-ipad-+-video

Boyd

Specs are now up on apple.com: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

So no real GPS chip but it does have a digital compass. Seem kind of odd.

dhn

Not available in Canada for 2 months ............