I’ve stated before that I don’t love rumors nor do I really want to know what’s going to be announced before it comes out of Apple’s mouth. With that said, if there is a Tablet this is what I want to see.
Hardware: 10″ screen and it is as thin as the MacBook Air. SSD- 64GB’s would be swell. Wifi, built in 3G which activation is an option and not a mandatory contract with purchase. A decent processor. Microphone, Bluetooth and speakers- not sure if I need a webcam or not..
Software: Either full blown Snow Leopard or something a little more full featured than the iPhone OS. Being able to run apps from the app store would be a must. Maybe at first it is able to emulate them so they don’t look too horrible at the larger resolution. I really want my apps on the tablet, did I mention that? I also want real applications or maybe an option for more full featured apps- developer friends, how much would you love that?
How it would fit into my life: When at home I would be able to use it as a fuller featured remote for my Apple TV. Bigger gestures with momentum to browse quickly through everything. Maybe I just heard a song on a movie and I “Shazam” it and instantly purchase it in my REAL iTunes, none of this wanky three apps to do one thing that I have on my iPhone. I can use home sharing to have access to all the media in my house. I can set up crazy genius playlists and push it out to play off of all my designated speakers. Instead of having my computer and iPhone in arms reach I only need the tablet. As someone with clients that rely on me to be reachable I want my tablet to have VPN with Apple’s Remote Desktop app- maybe even just a dumbed down version of it. I want to be able to help my clients when I’m playing hooky on a Friday and taking my kid to Disneyland.
Are you ready for this last request? It’s a big one…
I want it in my car. Yep, I want it to replace my hands free navigation. I own a new car with a decent hands free system, it sucks compared to things my iPhone can do though. I would throw a suction cup mount on my nav screen so fast if I had the Maps app, I don’t even know if I need turn by turn. The fact that I can look up a place, see options on a map with links to addresses, websites and phone numbers in seconds is crazy. My Nav does it quick but it just gives me a list of names with how many miles they are away from me. What if I want a Target store on my way home from work? That list on my car nav doesn’t tell me much. It tells me that I have Targets 1.3, 2.7 and 5 miles away from me- which one is on my way home? I want to hold down a button for a few moments and give it a command to call my husband like I do with my iPhone. In my car I have to click and do no less than 4 commands to get it to dial a number. How’s that not distracting? I already play my music and podcasts off my iPhone in my car, why not off my tablet which is also my Nav and hands free? It’s an Apple and will sync with everything in my life- am I that far fetched? I really don’t think I am. If this Tablet can’t do all of that then I think Apple needs me to be doing more for them than just hawking their wares. I’m just sayin’.
Marilyn
I think the tablet will be a ‘media’ device rather than a replacement for a MacBook. This will be the game changer from apple; revolutionise the way we consume media, yes it will have apps but no external keyboard or mouse option. Seems to me most people with note book pc’s us them mainly for email, web, social media and watching films. All this coul be dine in a lovely apple tablet.
I agree, this wouldn’t be a replacement for my computer. I wouldn’t try and do any Photoshop, Illustrator or edit full blown movies on it. I see it more as a go between that does functions that my MBP can’t. The perfect merger of my laptop and my iPhone. The car navigation possibility would be huge. I’ve had a Garmin, I now have built in but neither of them do as good of finding places quickly as my iPhone. The iPhone really has most of what I need it’s just too small to be a good hands free nav replacement. I’m thinking big
I would have to say you are definitely onto something and made some valid points. I’ll be posting a vid or blog entry on this but Apple needs to make the experience completely different from other tablets. These ideas definitely appeal to the consumers. Lets hope your wishes are granted!
I am thinking there will be a huge number of accessories coming out. Mounting brackets. Everywhere. In front of my treadmill, on the wall in front of my home office desk, on my car dashboard, on my fridge. The list goes on.