New iTablet Details Emerge: Jan. 19th Announcement?

Sep 29 2009, 11:03am CDT | by Robert Evans

Today is a good day for tablet rumors. Fresh on the heels of the latest big Microsoft Courier leak, we've got a whole bunch of new information on the iTablet from the iLounge. They've received word from a reliable source (who accurately called the iPod Nano 5G, 3GS, and Chinese iPhone for them) about the new iTablet.

First off, they say that Apple has built at least three prototypes of the tablet. Version one was apparently just seven inches, but the current working prototype is 10.7". The tablet runs iPhone OS (which I am sceptical about; we've heard just as many 'reliable sources' claim it's OS X based) and will basically look like a giant iPhone 3G. Apple will be releasing two versions; a 3G enabled one, and a non-3G one. Basically, a bigscreen iPhone and a bigscreen iPod touch.

We can expect around 5-6 times the resolution of an iPod or iPhone screen, and video of at least 720p quality will be possible. Apple apparently sees this product as a "slate-like replacement for books and magazines", along with a media device on par with the iPhone. Don't think of it as a netbook, think of it as an iPod touch with more communications ability and a much bigger screen for HD movie watching. The tipster states that Apple will announce their new tablet on or before Jan. 19th of next year, with a release due in May or June.

These rumors have some fairly solid back-up, but I still don't fully believe them. If all Apple can think of is a giant iPhone/iPod touch with better media functionality I will be truly surprised. Can you imagine a world where Apple releases a dull, uninspired device and Microsoft produces a ground-breaking, niche-defining gadget? Because I honestly can't.

I'm no Apple fanboy (I own exactly 0 of their products) but they have a reputation for innovation for a reason. If Apple is working on a tablet, I have a feeling that not one real detail about it is going to leak out before the official announcement. Apple is better at secrecy than any other company. Right now, that fact is the only hope the iTablet has.

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Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.