Digital Media Buzz > A-Team To the Rescue: Apple Tablet Takes on the eReaders

A-Team To the Rescue: Apple Tablet Takes on the eReaders

By Contel Bradford

According to all the rumors, Apple could reveal official details about its new tablet gadget as early as next month. Though a number of people are anticipating a September launch, others have shot down that idea completely, including Jim Dalrymple of Loop Insight who says, “Very reliable sources familiar with the product have said speculation of the Tablet being introduced during the September event are flat out wrong. The Apple Tablet, they said, would not see the light of day until the first part of 2010.”

Okay, so nobody really knows when the magical Tablet is supposed to hit the market. Perhaps the biggest mystery surrounding the device is what Apple intends to do with it. Gene Munster, senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray, shared his thoughts on what Apple might have in store. “Key apps, like Safari and Mail, could be made larger to make use of the larger screen resolution, making Apple’s Tablet appealing for more extended use, and the company could continue to leverage its primary asset in mobile computing, the App Store, in this scenario.”

Some are speculating that it will be a larger and possibly more advanced version of the iPod while others say it is an e-reader set to rival the likes of Amazon’s Kindle. At this point, only one thing is for sure — nobody is certain of anything. While Apple hasn’t officially gone on the record to explain what the hardware is supposed to do or if it even exists, that hasn’t stopped the imagination of the Internet community from running wild. Let’s join in the fun to see what this mystical device might have to offer and what, if any threat it poses to the fast-growing e-reader market.

Features and Appearance
Take a trip around the web and you will find several mock versions portraying what Apple’s mysterious Tablet could look like. The overall consensus made by analysts is that the device will boast a 10-inch screen with wireless connectivity, the ability to download content directly from iTunes and perhaps all the functionality of an iPod Touch. Experts are projecting that the Tablet could be designed to tackle two markets: netbooks and e-readers, with the latter being the most likely point of interest.

Apple vs. eBook Market
Much of the talk surrounding Apple’s Tablet gives wind to the rumors that it could be an electronic book reader slated to do battle with products marketed by Amazon, Sony and in the very near future, Barnes and Noble. When it comes to what is already on the market, there is no doubt that Apple will sweep the competition clean off its feet and dominate as it has in the multimedia field.

If the device is indeed what many are projecting it to be, it will feature a 10-inch backlit display and touchscreen, wireless broadband and a higher quality web browser. The physical aspects alone give it much greater ergonomic appeal than Amazon’s Kindle 2, which is missing both a touchscreen and backlight. Aside from this, the next-generation Kindle suffers in the usability department so anything Apple introduces will likely enhance the user experience dramatically.

How would it stack up against Sony’s e-readers? The Reader Touch Edition features a 6-inch touchscreen while the Reader Daily Edition is equipped with 3G connectivity powered by AT&T’s mobile broadband technology. Though certainly noteworthy, both are merely single-use appliances limited to the burgeoning, but small eBook reader market. Apple has a clear advantage with a chart-topping iTunes Store that is already renown for its AAC audio files, movies, television sitcoms and of course, iPhone apps galore. No competitor will be able to deliver the versatility and in-demand products that Apple could to the e-reader market.

Time Will Tell
At this time, no one can guarantee whether Apple will cater to the e-reader sector, or the netbook market currently dominated by PC manufacturers. Don’t be surprised if it decides to tackle both. One thing we all should have learned by now is not to count out the A-team. If Apple’s rumored Tablet device really exists, and all indicators are showing that it does, expect it to represent technological innovation that stems beyond the typical gadget and shakes up whatever market it’s best suited for.