Engadget’s Tablet Pictures: We Were Skeptical, But Now Not So Sure
2:21 am, January 27th, 2010, Leander Kahney
Everyone’s getting very excited by these Engadget pictures, which purport to show a prototype of Apple’s tablet. Says Engadget:
“It’s big — really big — and it’s running what clearly looks like an iPhone app, although we’ve never seen an iPhone app with that interface or at that resolution before. We also see a WiFi icon and a cell service indicator, although tragically there’s no carrier listed.”
But color us skeptical. The pictures appear to have been sent in anonymously (“Okay, we obviously can’t confirm this…” the post starts). And trying to explain the bolts around the edge, Engadget suggests it has been bolted to the table. Bolted to the table? WTF? Why would it be bolted to a table?
And what’s going on in the picture below, in the bottom left corner of the screen? It looks like the screen is transparent, and its showing a support of some kind underneath. Or is it a reflection? Perhaps it is an Apple prototype, but a tabletop system, like Microsoft’s Surface table?
In the picture below, at the bottom of the screen, is the reflection of what looks like a utility pole (with transmission wires running left to right) and the image of the photographer, who has been whited out.
So the picture was taken outside (in the U.S. Virgin Islands perhaps?), while the picture above looks like an indoor shot. The tablet seems to be sitting on a tabletop, with white wires running underneath — perhaps the AC charger and headphones. Note the Home button sitting right in the middle of the shortest edge, plus the recessed screen. It looks to be the same size and shape as a tea tray.
The bolts around the edge are reminiscent of the bolts used in the stairs at Apple’s stores, and the pivot arm of the old G4 iMac. However, it seems unlikely that Steve Jobs and Jonny Ive would leave bolts exposed in the final design.
Still, after being initially highly skeptical of these pictures, they’re now starting to look more real. What are the blacked out labels though?
Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, Apple Tablet, News, Rumors, Top stories | Comment on this article
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The bolts could be a protective case. But you’d think eveything would be landscape on somthing that big
Caleb, on January 27th, 2010 at 2:28 am
The bolts are to secure the device so that nobody takes it and displays it to the world early. The raised edge is the encasement that is holding it down. This will be a hand(s) held device.
Tose are fairly standard security/theft proof bolts and the bit can be acquired easily in many places.
Ken, on January 27th, 2010 at 2:40 am
The blacked out part looks like a blacked out post it note stuck to the side of the screen.
iaindxb, on January 27th, 2010 at 2:44 am
How did you get utility pole from that? It’s indoors – you can see the ceiling on the left side. The pole is probably a building support of some kind. If it’s bolted to the table, why would wires be running underneath? It’s just running into the left side, some sort of port – my guess would be USB, since a headphone or power port there would indicate it’s supposed to be used in landscape mode.
Dan, on January 27th, 2010 at 2:50 am
To me all the bolts and the frame seem to be indicative of a display case. The bolted frame seems to be clearly separated from the device itself, its just there to hold it in place so it doesn’t get stolen when put on display to the general public. So is this photo from someone who is putting together the display case for tomorrows press mobs outside the announcement venue? The nature of the pictures looks like someone has been trying to be very discreet while taking the pictures, the blacked out labels seem to be post-it note bits of paper, the kind of thing that would be stuck onto large amounts of kit being moved around for a trade show with notes of positioning and last minute details.
Just my 2 cents worth, may be totally wrong but its fun to speculate xD
Leon, on January 27th, 2010 at 2:52 am
Anyone looked at the exif data on the pictures? Could say something, I would but I’m on my iPhone
Max p, on January 27th, 2010 at 3:45 am
The image has been watermarked by Engadget, so there is no EXIF/IPTC information left.
Antonio, on January 27th, 2010 at 4:19 am
It looks like a development board,
used to test the hard and software configuration.
But this is pre, pre, pre-production and probably
little clue to the finished product.
Anyhow just a few more hours before we know it all.
J, on January 27th, 2010 at 4:43 am
If you go to the same place using the iphone maps app, and zoom in until you see the same amount of detail, you can then measure the screen by comparing it with the iPhone. Here are my results: 768×1024, 8 inches.
Which adds the question: why 8 inches, not 10? Are there 2 size versions? Wouldn’t that by untypical of Apple to leave such a decision to the consumers, with the potential for them to buy the wrong thing and be dissatisfied.
And a potential for imperfection because every design is a result of compromises, and having variable screen sizes adds more compromises resulting in a weaker design?
Wum, on January 27th, 2010 at 5:10 am
it loks transparent. And with talks about using it from the back it makes sense…you could see your fingers!! Just remember, at CES this year there was a japanese firm with a transparent OLED screen…….rings bells doens’t it???
just a few more hours and we’ll all know!!
Dirk Simons, on January 27th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Today is Mozarts Birthday, will they call it “iMozart”?
kentkb, on January 27th, 2010 at 11:13 am