In the movie Contact, when revealing to main character Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) that there is actually a second space travel machine that was being built at the same time as the first one, but in secret, S.R. Hadden (John Hurt) says, “why build one when you can have two at twice the price?” Apple, it seems, may have the same line of thinking.
By now, we’ve all seen the iPad and know just about everything about it that we possibly can. But did you know that the secretive company may actually be hard at work on a second device already? Now, before I say anything else, take this information with a grain of salt. While it originated from a good source, it was a second-hand source. Meanwhile, I’ve corroborated some the main details with another source, but not some of the smaller ones. That said, from what I’m hearing, Apple is pretty far along on work on second tablet device. A bigger one. And this one may be much more like a Mac than an iPhone.
Before the iPad was revealed last week, rumors circulated for a long time that Apple might be working on two different sizes for the screen of the device. Some had the device as small as 7″, others were saying it would go up to 10.6″. (The actual size of the iPad is 9.7″.) But the information we’re hearing is that Apple is thinking much larger for another version of the product, maybe all the way up to the 15.4″ size that it currently uses for one version of the MacBook Pro. If you think that would be way too big for an iPad, we’re also hearing that this other tablet would be quite a bit different from the one revealed last week. Namely, it could run a version of OS X much closer to the traditional version that runs on Macs.
If there is any truth to that, we could learn something as soon as Apple’s WWDC event this year, which will likely take place in June (just as it does every year). Apple typically uses the event to show off its new iPhone hardware, but it is first and foremost an event for Mac platform developers, and the past two years have seen OS X as a major component. This included two years ago when Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) made a surprise appearance and developers got a very early peek. There is already talk that WWDC 2010 could bring a similar peek at OS X 10.7. If there are some significant multi-touch components to OS X 10.7, you can expect the rumors to start flying about this new device that I’m talking about (or possibly touchscreen iMacs).
As usual, you should also note that Apple likely has a ton of projects in various stages that never see the light of day. It seems certain that at points they were playing with different sized screens for what became the iPad. But one of our sources here puts this new tablet as being released within the next year.
While everyone is still debating the uses of the iPad, a larger tablet would probably have a completely different set of uses. For example, it would likely be meant to be more of a straightforward laptop (or desktop) replacement. As such, it would almost undoubtedly come with some sort of external keyboard/stand just as the iPad offers as an accessory, but it would probably be a more integral part of using the device. When undocked, maybe you could use the thing just as you would an iPad (which is to say, holding it or placing it in your lap and using your fingers to manipulate its screen). And maybe while docked, you would even use a bluetooth mouse or touchpad device attached to the keyboard to interact with it.
Based on various patent filing and the general trend of multi-touch enabled devices (Magic Mouse, MacBook trackpads, etc) that Apple has been releasing, it seems that Apple is definitely trending in the direction of touch computing as the future of computing. A larger tablet device could serve as a nice transition device between the traditional laptop and this new type of computing. And just as the iPhone has prepared many of us to naturally use the iPad, the iPad may do the same for this new tablet.
And while a larger screen tablet would undoubtedly cost more than the iPad, Apple would have a lot of room to price it if it really was meant to be a laptop-replacement. If that’s the case, anything north of $1,000 wouldn’t seem unreasonable, unlike it would have for the iPad.
That said, for that type of price, people are going to expect a machine that is as powerful as a laptop. We’re also hearing that Apple would likely use an Intel chip (just as it uses in traditional Macs) in such a device rather than its new custom-made A4 chip. The problem with that would be power consumption. A larger screen plus a power-hungry chip would likely lead to a battery life well below the stated 10-hour limit for the iPad. Still, if they could bring something like that in with around around 5+ hours of battery, plenty of people would be happy. And Apple has made a lot of advancements in the past couple of years with getting battery life on its laptops well above industry averages.
In terms of weight, the iPad is 1.5 pounds, while the MacBook Air is 3 pounds (with a 13.3″ screen). If Apple could remove all the unnecessary parts of the MacBook Air (like the keyboard and trackpad), it could probably keep a device pretty close to the 2-3 pound weight even with a larger screen. But given such a large screen, it would almost undoubtedly have to come with some kind of case to put it in so as not to damage the screen when in transit.
In terms of what OS X applications could or would support multi-touch integration, that’s hard to say. Safari is an easy and obvious one, but others would have to be completely reworked for this. But as we saw during the iPad keynote, Apple didn’t need too long to do that with its iWork suite of apps. Third-party developers would likely get a good set of tools from Apple to update their apps as well. Again, take this all with a grain of sale, but look for clues in OS X 10.7.
[image: Steve Burg]
On your mark! Get set! Complain!
Instead of complaining, this staunch PC guy is going to compliment MG for making a stellar ‘Contact’ reference. I didn’t even read the whole post, but now have that sound in my head.
Remember the sound they heard when they made Contact? I can’t even mimick it in words – that’s how chawesome it is….
BMHmmwhh – like that but not really.
I get chills just lissnin to the sound
Thanks for the youtube link. Great pic. Foster rocks. Forgot about the two guys scrambling in the office.
Re Tablet II, wouldn’t this leak kill current ipad sales as folks wait to see if something better is in the pipeline?
Another Rumor…. Glad it is being published.
Hope the iPad Fails and new iMacTablet succeeds.
Well come people to Apple’s version of Microsoft Surface. A device that will talk only with Apple Devices. Have an iPod? Just place it near the screen and all your music will be transfered. Have an iPhone? Place over and you can now set a multi-user web video conference. Have a Mac? Well, throw it away and buy this new one.
Nope, not for me. An iPad is perfect for media consumption around the house and on car trips for the kids.
As for an actual Mac Tablet, well, our personal Macs have all been updated in the last year or so but in 2-3 more years, we’ll probably be in the market for one. I’ve had the chance to play around with a Wacom Cintiq touch screen at work and they are sweet! Can’t wait to see what Apple can do in that direction.
Contact is an amazing movie. The intro alone is jaw-dropping as you pull back from Earth to the edge of the known universe.
And one of the lines after the intro to the prototype 2nd station from Contact:
“Wanna go for a ride?”
Too much of a good thing ain’t good. A 15″ or larger touch screen is impracticable. It would be burdensome to move your entire arm from one end of the screen to the other, a move that could have been down with a simple twitch of a mouse. It seems that the ideal size for a touch screen is somewhere between an iPhone and the current iPad.
Wacom is selling 21 inch tablet screens, so 15″ isn’t really all that big.
yeah, but the wacom screen is not meant to be moved
I agree, plus it won’t make french toast…. WTF?
Because the internet can’t handle not having Apple tablet rumors moving around. They govern the internet tech blog page hit economy.
I agree. This is complete BS.
Here! Here! Elvis is dead – accept it.
It’s “hear, hear.” English is dead – I refuse to accept it though.
Hasn’t @Jason already confirmed its existence? After all, he is testing v2 of the ipad.
A tablet hasn’t been used or we (as the users) haven’t yet been familiar with. Unlike the iPhone and iPod, it became a big BOOM! because we are already honed by it. Its starting to became clear, that it is on these rumors Apple makes their product unveiling more exciting (They use anticipation to build a tremendous longing for their products) And guess what? Another rumor-mills again? What’s this iJoy?
Examining the iPad: http://bit.ly/ipad-details-under-examination
Where do Cats fit in with all of this?
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8VTeDHjcM&feature=player_embedded)
You make a good point.
On the other hand, why wouldn’t Apple be developing more tablets. Release date of “next year” sounds reasonable. Better have prototypes running by now.
I think they’ll make a standalone touch based computer. It’s pretty much a given – why wouldn’t they? They have the hardware, they have the software, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Mac OS X or iPhone OS X. I think iPhone OS X is more likely since apps are already made for touch – there would be no point in Mac apps, they would just work badly.
Dare i say… iSlate!
That is what I was thinking. I believe they have reserved that name for a reason. Maybe they are doing an imac type machine in a 15″ size that undocks from the base and you can use it as a touchscreen when undocked and have full os x functionality when docked to the keyboard with all the ports, etc.
Personally, I am not sure what the point of a touchscreen imac is if it cannot be undocked and used as a tablet. I have seen the HP desktop that has this feature and I do not see a point for it. I have no desire to reach out and touch my computer monitor. That is why the idea that some sort of tablet with a docking station like the setup for the ipad makes more sense.
No silly… iPad Pro.
it’s MaxiPad dummy
You know when a joke that was a little funny to begin with get’s so overused as a viable talking point that the shit just becomes stupid? Like the Wasssaaaaaaap Bud ads that made you want to vomit all over your 19″ TV? Yeah, you’re there.
hahah people still saya wassup and now they’ve changed that into yo. it’s all crap but we use all the euphamisms/ebonics/whatever it’s called. i also call the ipad and isLate, or itapplet (itablet), maxipad, and itampon. i think of all the suggestions people had the ibook was the lamest name for the platform but apple is appropriately using it for the bookstore…itunes is still a better service name. imagine, itunes could have been isongs, and that would have been the base of the basest capability of creative thinking/naming a product/service. the ipad is a bad name.
MaxiPad. love it.
Whatever it becomes, let’s hope it has USB 3.0
you would probably need an adaptor for that.
AdAPPter?
No a chance. Apple and Intel are coming out with LightPeak. An inexpensive fiber optic port that will replace all ports. Fiber optics has the bandwidth and flexibility to support anything and more than one device on the same connection.
Makes a lot of sense. Then you don’t need USB, HMDI, Ethernet, VGA, Firewire, E-SATA, etc,. Fiber optics can outstrip the bandwidth and performance of all of these. Sure adapters will be available but device developers with love only needing one kind of port.
Apple intends to kill USB just like Flash.
Light Peak Technology
http://techresearch.intel.com/articles/None/1813.htm
I fail to see how fiber optic is going to supply energy to the devices. I doubt that everyone wants to have power cords hanging off of their mice, nor do many people that have extended computing sessions want to constantly redock their devices to charge their batteries.
well, how about fiber optic + dedicated wire for power?
@roz
You’re making an assumption that the Light Peak cable will be limited to fiber optic only. That’s apparently not the case. The cable will contain both fiber optic and electric components.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-10370349-264.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0
Here we go again……………..
Wanna take a ride?
That is ridiculous.
ModBook Pro. Wish I had both $7K and it were shipping.
Some people need stuff like this! Kiosk mode por favor.
“iPad Pro” that runs all the iPad and iPhone apps as well as regular OS X apps, anyone? :-) Seems like a reasonable progression if the iPad takes off since it’ll give an even easier upgrade path for iPad users who aren’t yet fully in the Mac fold.
Once SSDs are cheap/small enough, an “iPad Pro” could replace most of the MacBook line if it had some sort of docking station for lap use.
It’d be great for Ruby developers ;)
Their goal isn’t to move from the iPad to the Mac, but the other way around :). It’s the beginning of the end. Matt Drance, a former Apple employee made an interesting comment: “It’ll likely take less time to add the best of Mac to iPhone, than to fix the worst of Mac. I’d (sadly) call that an epitaph.”
It’s not going to happen now; it might take 5 years or more, but this is the direction Apple is moving. There’s no room for revolution with the Mac OS — iPhone OS is it. Just as it was unthinkable to use a laptop for “serious” work way back when (video editing, 3d animation), eventually these will make their way to iPhone OS.
Even multitasking. They just want to add it in a way that doesn’t negate the current stability advantages.
Good god…No way they can have this out by June. I don’t get the point of this tablet, in the sense that Apple would have 4 laptop products that directly compete with each other.
It could become a niche product like the Air. Maybe it will be the second version of the Macbook Air? It’s not doing that well anyway, right?
Honestly, the only thing I care about is the price, and if it will come with a stylus for artists.
And if that stylus enabled tablet can then be used like a Cintiq.
You can already buy a stylus for the Touch.
Give me a freaking break!
The iPad isn’t even out yet! Please can you guys provide an RSS feed filter that doesn’t show posts with “rumor” in the post?
Gizmodo has this and I started using it when tablet rumors heated up.
sorry, I love you MG but I just can’t handle the rumor mill anymore.
What people who complain on posts like these don’t seem to realize, is that these editors aren’t idiots. The mere mention of Apple drives traffic which drives revenue. When you visit the post to complain, you add traffic… if that traffic dropped dramatically, I’m sure writers wouldn’t spend as much time chasing unicorns to appease their bosses. But it does. That’s just the reality of operating a successful business. Supply your demand, and right now readers (like myself) demand more information on Apple. Stats don’t lie. So the most effective way to voice your complaint would be to simply not click on the big green headline that contains something you don’t like. You honestly think MG is gonna print out your rant to show to Arrington and say “We gotta stop this, because people are complaining.” Nope. They got families to feed. And when placed in that context, traffic is a lot louder than you.
Short term gain vs long term strategy. Sure, this post might get traffic, but if they continue to post enough stuff like this and people get sick of it (as many appear to be), then the traffic to such posts ultimately goes down,a long with the credibility of the site and the blogger/reporter. You’ve seen Engadget recently offering an Apple-free RSS stream, right? That’s called ‘Listening to your audience…’. This is the last Apple-related post I’m going to read anywhere for a while.
Actually, everybody seems to love to comment on it. Emotions drive reactions.
Everyone has an opinion and they’re all wrong.
So, in that case, hollywood gossip equals readership so should WSJ, NewsWeek and Popular Mechanics start reporting daily on Brangelina rumors?
No because that’s not their goal. TechCrunch has clearly shifted and “chased the money” here when long term readers demand more intelligent posts.
You get immediate money now and increased readership but, long term, you’re looking at a different audience and TechCrunch as a silicon valley influencer will slowly fade away. I want smart articles on TC, not rumor BS.
MG’s commentary is starting to seem like Jason Calacanis on the iPad, i.e. a fabrication of having insight thanks to an alleged source.
I’d say there’s a possibility of a Jayson Blair outcome, but TechCrunch is no New York Times, so who really cares if MG pulls stories out of his Seventh Planet ring.
Really MG? I’m still retching from last Wednesday and all the self-congratulatory ‘magical, evolutionary, amazing’ BS. Not sure I can handle any more hype so soon.
Bullshit. Not doing this again.
If true, it would be Jobs acknowledging the iPad was a bad move. Never would happen.
oh man, I am getting tired of this apple-centered conversation all over the place – I really cannot put up with more articles all the way to June… anyways, if the rumor materializes, we are looking at pure cannibalization of apple laptops but i am not sure I understand the reasoning. U can’ t leave the screen unprotected and u will eventually need a keyboard so what is the “gap” they will try to fill? sell us a macbook in two pieces? :) if i were Apple, i would take a couple of more years to develop a real breakthrough, maybe something around flexible materials (like a laptop you can actually fold) instead of launching incremental improvements…
After this, they could come out with a tablet with a physical keyboard connected, with a clam-shell setup….oh wait… ;)
Hey men! Don’t you want to recognize the fact that, ParisLemoon, MikeArry and all others who own this apple-obsessed blog are pure maggoted-apple-zombie fans! All they try to reckon is that Apple has 80% electronics share in the world and the rest including Microsoft have a mere 5% and the rest is in Africa with not even electricity! (Oh! These Maggoted-Apple-Zombies are taking over the earth!)
Yup, and I will eat your brain first, since it seems to be out of use.
So you admit being a maggot-zombie for APPL?
For the love of god, not this again. This rumour does not even make sense. I’m tired of this ride, when can we get off?
Great, then people are just going to complain that it’s too “OS X-like” …
… and that it doesn’t make coffeeeeeeeeeeee.
or french toast.
Where’s my French Toast port?
hopefully they don’t name it the ipad.
haha and don’t market it to mom’s or mum’s.
and don’t forget to put in a camera.
and allow it to multitask, etc…
Here’s an innovative idea… instead of putting a larger screen on an iPod Touch… why don’t they put a SMALLER screen on a MacBook?
Apple would greatly benefit from stopping these kind of rumors.
The main reason for the big disappointment with the iPad is the high hopes set on it (fueled by Apples silence.)
It is not in Apple’s best interest to let public expectations get out of hand once more.
well sadly, we’re not in the business of benefiting apple.
Right, that’s just a hobby.
+1
CULS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i don’t want to admmit it but i laughed.
+2
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah …. ahahahahahahahahahahahaahah
You’re in the business of spreading nonsense rumors, for sure.
I still remember when TC was a fun to read source of tech news. What a joke it is now. Do yourself a favor and check your traffic. You can make the decline steeper by more post like this one.
Yet you’re still here. :o)
but you still tryin!
Correct. You seem to be in the business of fanboi-ing Google for some reason. Most likely not profit, rather that pathetic urge to side with The Winner.
I was greatly disappointed by the iPad until I saw the “Hilter responds to the iPad” video and it made the internets and my life all better again. The disappointment was worthwhile.
+1
even I saw that video .. that was nice .. when Hitler says .. I ll order it online … Well .. even Hitler didnt liked it .. Common Apple relaunch your Product with features … you have really disappointed us .. with ipad .. I mean .. its a kind of product on which the employees of apple wont like to work on …
Regards,
Daina
Wow, I hope you don’t procreate.
@Sean wow I hope YOU don’t procreate…. and in case you have…. my condolences to your offspring.
Actually, I wouldn’t mind procreating with Daina !! She’s a real hottie.
Another tablet ? Ask them to create something new..
I already have an iPad Nano :)
I like how you’re clever and ironic but not really.
Dreamsquasher!
you are perfect.
Seriously this is ridiculous. We just got finished with a crazy bunch of apple rumors. At least give us a chance to catch up with other tech news before you guys start this circus again.
Wow the first Afro American guy on techcrunch. Hay Arrington you need to start an affirmative action program for commentators to recruit more of Mr. Walround.
Well, we used to have Oo the Nigerian but he long gone.
Apropos to nothing, that “second time travel machine being built in secret” was one of the worst twists in the history of movies. Lazy writing that doesn’t even pass the smell test.
This stems from the rumors about the 9.7″ screen, which were correct by the way. But, that rumor also has a touch 22″ iMac according to Engadget…
People, we are designers and buy things like Cintiq tablets! A tablet that connected to a monitor and functioned as something like the Wacom product is really valuable to us. Thanks for listening.
“Apple didn’t need too long to do that with its iWork suite of apps.”
If I remember right, Jobs stated that a he gave the iWork team the job of developing these ‘a year ago’. That’s quite a while if you ask me.
Really? The iPad didn’t live up to all the hype, so now rather than just admit that rumors were wrong, and expectations were too high, you just pick right up where you left off and say that the ‘real’ Apple tablet has yet to be unveiled?
I agree. It looks like vaporware to me. The fanboys are wishing and hoping for a device that does not appear to be in the pipeline.
See, that is exactly what I was hoping to hear. Hopefully this becomes true, because that would be one sweet device (if USB and SD slot were added).
MacTouch
IBigPad
unbelievable possibilities
isn’t it amazing?
It makes sense if you think of it like this (which I do) Apple seems convinced that the future of consumer computing involves all things touch related vs keyboard/mouse etc. So they’re taking this incredibly strategically important investment and rolling it out through their product lines. Maybe it’s not either/or – it’s kinda like we build desktops and laptops. Now they’ll have a range of touch screen devices just like they have a range of traditional keyboard devices at different price points and with different functionality.
yep. exactly.
I wouldn’t jump so quickly. Secretaries are not going to be typing 90+ wpm on a touch screen hours on end. Software Engineers won’t be doing it either. For the keyboard to completely disappear, the touch screen technology needs to address extended use. With no give, I suspect such typing would lead to long term health consequences.
Look at their mice and miniature keyboards. Do you think they really care about long term health problems?
That’s why God invented Bluetooth keyboards.
@Sean you just like to see your name in digital print don’t you? Did you read the argument before hitting the Reply button? Are all Apple Fanboys like you? No wonder they call you “boys”. Grow up.
Obviously then they’re forgetting a big part of the computing market, that being gamers. I will never buy a computer that doesn’t have a keyboard and mouse, simply because it would be useless for most games, barring perhaps RTSs.
Hence…. Wii, PS3, XBOX 360. Welcome to the new world.
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not more Apple tablet rumours, please!!!!
Dear God, not again.
yea. i love that mg posted it so soon instead of allowing for a break. i mean it’s kinda apt for tc anyways. this way when the ipad with the osx comes out they can link to this article and say we said it first, here’s where we said it, etc…and also we need something to specualte on for the new year, so i’m game. we can go through this whole thing all over again. i can’t wait till he posts the name of product article which will probably get 100+ comments like the ipad names post had. god bless tc….and i’m not being sarcastic.
Hey MG your the man! I seen that Contact 2nd pod and already knew the entire scope of the article.
iPad is the dummy project, clear out the suckers and then the mother of all pads will be the OS X “Steve Jobs Is God” version.
your=you are
btw:
“iPad is the dummy project” was not said in an insulting way but meaning it’s the first in a line of bigger products to clear competiton.
you’re
okay. after months of reading momar shackleford’s comments i have to once again say that he must be a regular tc commenter, and i just realized that he probably post on tc with another alt or real name. huh. that didn’t take any brain effort at all.
i wonder who the blind lee guy is though. the one posting the pad thai moo gai comments. huh.
Why you thing I post with different name what you are a detective?
yeah i might be the po-po and might need to hand you your ass…lol no (me=failure!).
So Mr. Yeah, interesting observation. I tend to agree. What is your impression of momar shackleford? What kind of guy is he? Alternatively, what is your impression of his creator if he is fake.
That’s a lot of salt to be taking with this article.
It does make a lot of logical sense though – so here’s hoping we get a touch screen Mac in the next year or so.
Screen protection is a big problem though – so it may end up with a swivel lid.