January 27 Event Will Include New Hybrid iPhone/Tablet SDK

Apple’s January 27th surprise product announcement will see the introduction of the tablet, the iPhone OS 4.0 and an associated Software Development Kit for programmers, the French site Mac4Ever reports.

According to the Mac4Ever (Google translation), the SDK will include a tablet “simulator” to help developers port their iPhone/iPt apps to the tablet’s larger screen.

Several of our sources give us two pieces of information concerning the famous Apple tablet: In late January, in addition to its tablet, Cupertino should have a beta of iPhone OS 4, accompanied by an SDK. Our informants also tell us of a “simulator” specifically adapted for the tablet. Evidently, the major novelty of the SDK therefore concerns the interface, making it easier for developers to adapt to different screen resolutions. The new iPhone could also benefit from a higher pixel density.

Mac4Ever notes that the information should be taken with a grain of salt. But the site recently nailed details of Apple’s new iMac models and Mighty Mouse weeks before they were released.

Mac4Ever also recently claimed that the tablet will be “far different” than most internet mockups, a tantalizing tidbit bolstered by a NYT report that we will be “very surprised how you interact with the new tablet.”

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Leander Kahney

Leander Kahney is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

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8 comments

    I want one of these so bad I can *taste* it ….

    I wonder how much like the pic the tablet will look like. Apple is leaving all competitors in the dust.

    Im guessing it will be like nothing we have ever seen before. I can totally believe the reports that the internet mock-ups will be completely wrong.

    As another commenter puts it, i want one of these so bad i can taste it – my views exactly!!!

    I’m eating an apple as I read this and drool apple juice all over the keyboard. Apple overload!

    That’s awesome to hear.

    Although some said the tablet is just a bigger iPhone, still very curious about how you can interact with it. Also looking forward to see the new SDK to include public APIs that allows access to the direct feed from the camera, it will open up the doors for better augmented reality apps!

    All this talk of tablet is all hype. Smoke and mirrors. I doubt apple has the talent or ability to make a device beyond the iphone.

    Just stop distracting the inevitable GREATNESS OF THE GOOGLE EMPIRE! Just buy a Nexus One already…. I bought mine yesterday!! :) The best mobile device in the world. The Google Nexus One is the one true iPhone-Killer!! ;)

    PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN GET TICKETS TO ATTEND THE SHOW IN NOCAL ON THE 27th – THANKS.

    The tablet’s sweet, don’t know if I’ll be paying for it as I just bought another mac, but iPhone OS 4.0 that I really can’t wait for.

    Full speech to text, and text to speech libraries included maybe?

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