From VoIP Blog.... speculation about the coming tablet wars:

"A rumor which could be a deal changer for the technology market comes from Seeking Alpha and discusses a potential new Apple device which seems like a Nokia N800 clone. I am a huge fan of the Nokia N800 as it is speedy, has wonderful resolution at 800x480 and can do so much more that a smartphone. But while the Nokia has a 4.1 inch touch-screen the rumored Apple device has a 5.2 inch touch-screen with the same resolution. I would be a huge fan of such a device and if it has a built in 3G (EVDO Rev. A?) connection it will likely be another game-changer for Apple. Will it be called the iTablet? I haven’t a clue but I am sure it will sell nicely."

http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-teh...c-27-2007.html

No matter what I will not buy one. It will be great for it to shake up the market, that always leads to innovation. The iPhone is the perfect example- there are tons of clones either already out or on the way. Or even the iPod (never owned that either, adopted MP3 format back in 1999 and haven't used anything but)
Apple was smart to come out with an iPod Phone (iPhone) as they knew that complete convergence is around the corner and dedicated music players are becoming obsolete. Therefore, they HAVE to go along with the "smartphone" theme. Being first didn't hurt either (even though many devices before it did the same things, but not for the "average" user.) Apple will steadily lose ground to more open systems and neverending competition from many manufacturers. The game of mobile performance has already begun.
Either they will open up their software and do more to make the devices more powerful and versatile (removable battery, anyone?) or they will die out slowly similar to AOL, remember them? The only game in town always goes bust in the end.
I just have no love for closed systems with DRM-crippled music options and no way to cut-and-paste or save properly. Sorry this post is pessimistic towards Apple, but I feel the same way about Windows even though I use or administer it on more PCs and servers than I can count.

apple has release a dev kit for their iPhone and iTouch interfaces, giving you the opportunity to create your own apps for the devices. Of course, there will be a huge community of users that will be all over this.

And I don't understand what you mean about not having an iPod because you adopted the mp3 format. I have a 4g ipod, and have never used anything except MP3 files on my ipod. And I have never used DRM protected media either. I am no apple fanboy by any means, but at the time, I looked at a lot of different mp3 players, and the ipod did have the best combination of features, price, and reliability. it is the only apple product I own in fact. But, if I were going to get a media player today, it would probably have one of the creative zen players.

also, I remember the good old days of the mp3, when it was all about FTP searches, and dealing with share ratios on private sites.

At least their update server won't go down.

I used to be quite indifferent to Apple (never flet the need to get one).

But after I discovered that with the iPhone, they don't let you use your own Music files for ringtones but force you to get ring tone versions (for an additional fee of course) I got put right off them.

There is no technical reason why the iPhone should not to be able to use already purchased music that is already on the device as ring tones. Just pure selfish green as far as I'm concerned.

They are with Sony now on the only if I'm really desperate list (will buy grudgingly if the product is that much better).

I have no problem with companies that make stuff and want to make a profit. But when they go out of there way to make things difficult for you so they can screw you for for more it puts me right off...

Zuber

In other words, I had my music collection ripped to a hard drive long before the iPod came out and copied those files to all my PCs including an onboard car PC in 1999 and a media server in my home. And since the Jornada PDAs I could use one of those as a portable music player. There was never a need for an iPod or dedicated MP3 miniplayer to me. I admit the iPod series of products are sexy as can be. That doesn't justify being carried alongside a very capable mini-computer and/or high end phone these days.
And going back to the thread topic, whatever Apple makes as an Internet Tablet will ultimately compete against both the iPod Touch and iPhone, along with several new upcoming products. It's a losing battle in the end for everyone that makes them but the consumer will see great benefits in lower prices, faster more capable hardware, and more refined GUIs.

According to Engaget, the iTablet just a photoshop fake. but who knows for sure...

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/27/d...-umpc-fantasy/

Zuber

Kinda like the Nokia concepts we've seen over the past few months? It really does seem silly to build three 'almost the same' models but that never stopped General Motors from trying... Look where that got Oldsmobile and soon Buick.

I'm not really understanding the thread here... Apple does have an internet tablet that competes directly with the Nokia, the iTouch of course. I await the real specs of the SDK (software development kit), and hope that at least for the iTouch, they open it up completely (or as much as they have on the Mac platform).

Make no bones about it, the iTouch (and its future ilk) are competitors. We true believers can take pride in the openess, the linux-ness, of the platform, but in the end, it won't really matter to the long term success of the Nokia. What will matter is actual programs that work well, that are integrated with each other.

I am a long time Palm OS affianado (and programmer for said), and have spent 100's of dollars on software for my Palm III/V/Treo's that made my life easier and better. I am amazed that on a platform a couple of years old, there is virtually NO commercial software available. I am amazed that there is no decent solution to having a unified PDA programs that sync with my Windows desktop. I know the iTouch/iPhone isn't all that much better (right now), but I bet you in one year, it'll be there.

</rant out>

Most sources regard the itablet as just a rumor. It is not likely that it will be announced at MacWorld in Jan so don't get your hopes up too high. I do think Apple has such a prototype device and is waiting for the cost of production to come down..and is doing some field testing of such a device - hence the rumors . However I think such a device is more likely to come out in Fall of 2008 or later. I am waiting to see what gets announced at CES and MacWorld. There may be something worth a 6 month wait or there may not be, I don't know if there will be or if their won't so I won't make predictions.
I will just wait to find out and decide if I will buy an N810 then.
It is more likely that the N810 competition will come from the MID devices to be announced at CES.
It's only a few weeks. There even may be a credible leak or two to entertain us till then.