Our Final Tablet Predictions

The hour is near, when we can put all the speculation behind us, and finally find out just what Apple has in store for their slate/tablet/thingamabob.

But, since it's not quite here yet, Ryan Ritchey and Jamie DeGrazio from TDL Live offer their last minute predictions on the key features of the device. And for the record, Jamie's track record has been better in previous predictions.

Screen size:

Jamie: Ten inches seems to be the sweet spot, So I"ll go with that. Don't think there will be multiple sizes, like the iPhone one size fits all.

Ryan: Agreed. One screen to rule them all. Ten inches.

Screen type:

Jamie: Not OLED! Still too pricey at that size. Whatever the iPhone is, but at a higher resolution.

Ryan: I'll say OLED. I think Apple alone can get the price down to a reasonable level.

Functions:

Jamie: Music, video, web, photos (front facing camera). Games! Games! Games! Plus all the stories about books, newspapers and magazines are true. Expect a very slick interface for handling that content.

Ryan: This device is all about media, but as I mentioned earlier today, I think the twist wil be using it as a portable Apple TV of sorts, sending content to the TV wirelessly when you're in the living room, and have all your media with you the rest of the time. 

Name:

Jamie: iPad...yea it's awful, but we'll get use to it.

Ryan: I'm sticking with Canvas. It differentiates it from all of the existing/soon to be existing tablets and slates. iPad? Not sure I can get used to that. Then again, I was in the camp that thought iPod was a terrible name too.

Price:

Jamie: One model $799
Ryan: Two models: $599, wifi only, $799 with 3g connectivity.

Carrier subsidized?

Jamie: Yes. $599 with At&t. Not an exclusive however. Other carriers coming this year.

Ryan: I'd like to think that like the Kindle, this will have an included 3g connection. It's a stretch, but I'm holding out hope.

Data plan required?

Jamie: Nope. Wifi included.

Ryan: The only way a data plan would work is if there's a provision for those of us already shelling out $100/month for the iPhone.

Ship date?

Jamie: March-ish

Ryan: March at the latest. Remember, Apple got to set the timetable for this announcement. I've got to think if it wasn't going to be ready until June, they wouldn't be announcing it now.

iPhone OS announcement?

Jamie: iPhone OS 4.0 talked about slightly. More details coming soon. New SDK available today with support of the Tablet. Apple streamlines the process for porting apps from one device to another. iPad will NOT run native iPhone apps.

Ryan: iPhone OS 4.0 available in March. SDK available immediately. Existing apps just need to be verified to run on the new device, much like OS 3.0 rollout.

Wildcard announcement?

Jamie: Flash announced and demoed for iPhone 4.0 and iPad.

Ryan: Steve's been overheard saying this is the most important things he's done. What if, just if, the "one more thing" is Jobs laying out his timetable to leave the company. Go out on top, not risk pulling a Favre.

The Award For First Slate-Related Press Release Goes To...

We know that shortly after Steve wraps up tomorrow's unveiling of Apple'S LATEst creation" we will be inundated with press releases from app developers, eager to re-assure everyone their apps will be optimized for the new device.

In hopes of getting out in front of that avalanche, we've just received a press release from the app PR agency Appular, letting us know Stand Alone's Crosswords app will be ready for the new device:

 Stand Alone, Inc. today announced that they are in the process of designing a larger version of their Crosswords iPhone App. The company has been refining the digital Crossword solving experience on the iPhone since the App launched at the opening of the App Store. In keeping with this aggressive innovation, Stand Alone has been fervently preparing to be among the first to modify their Crosswords App for the new form factor. With the influx of traditionally print media coming to the tablet, it’s only fitting that Crosswords also be at the forefront!

So without giving out any specifics (although they do use the name 'iPad' in the release title) we have our winner in the PR race to capitalize on the tablet/slate release. Can an iSkin be far behind?

(full release)

TDL Live This Week: (1/18 - 1/25)

Tablet, tablet, tablet. There were other tech stories this week, and of course we take a look at them, but the big news was the confirmation of the next Apple event "slated" (haha) for January 27th. A great deal of this week's show is also focused on my belief that we've figured out the name of the elusive device, and Jamie offers up a conspiracy theory involving Fox, Brett Favre, and pants:

What Apple Product Do You Think Of When You See This Image?

It's official. The invites are out, and Apple will indeed have an event on Jan. 27th to celebrate their latest "creation." And in typical Apple style, the invite gave no other hints, tempting all of us to read far too much into the graphics on the front of the invite.

So based on this image, what do you think will be the name of the new Apple device? The Paintball? The Hype? Let us know in the comments.

All kidding aside, we are 90% certain, it will be the Apple Canvas. You heard it here first.

The New Slate Is Released. Oh Wait, You Meant The Other Slate

photo: engadget.comNo need to wait until January 26/27th to get a glimpse at slate computing. The Slate is here. Of course, there's a catch: it's the HP Slate. Well, if nothing else, they were able to copy the name. It's good to know the Apple lawyers won't be lacking for work next month.

This slate seems to be merely a buttonless PC, running Windows 7. It does make you think though: what will Apple do differently from this device? You can easily copy a name, it's not so easy to copy the tech. And to think there was a time when Apple partnered with HP for the HP iPod so it would be adopted by the business masses. Well guess what: the masses adopted the iPod, and hardly anyone bought the HP version.

We want to see true innovation and competition in this space, and from the early reports, it doesn't look like this is it. Send us one and prove us wrong, HP.

(And by the way, kudos to the folks at Engadget who are doing a fine job as always with CES coverage this year.)