Report: Steve Jobs 80% Likely To Launch Tablet on Jan 19
10:22 am, September 29th, 2009, Leander Kahney
The Apple tablet is 10.7-inch device that runs the iPhone OS and is ready to go, subject to Steve Jobs’ final approval, iLounge reports.
Citing a rock solid source with a proven track record, iLounge says the “iPad” looks like a jumbo iPhone with a curved back and an approx. 720p touchscreen. The device will be announced on January 19 and ship in May or June — the delay is designed to build iPhone-like hype.
It will come in two configurations: One with built-in 3G networking and another without. “Think of the 3G version as a bigscreen iPhone 3GS, and the non-3G version as a bigscreen iPod touch,” iLounge says.
The device is not designed for a work or productivity. It’s for media consumption.
“It’s a slate-like replacement for books and magazines, plus all of the media, gaming, app, and web functionality of the iPhone and iPod touch,” iLounge says. “It is not meant to compete with netbooks. It’s an iPhone OS media player and light communication device.”
And Steve Jobs is 80 percent likely to give the green light for a January 19 launch.
Why January 19? That’s the big question.
Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, News, Rumors, Steve Jobs, Tablet | Comment on this article
If you enjoyed this article:
Subscribe via RSS or email, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter













bullshit! this makes no sense at all.
Carlos, on September 29th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Nicely said, Carlos.
And that “80 percent” just adds to the stench of the date.
imajoebob, on September 29th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Do any of you insiders watch the keynotes? Jobs was banging on netbooks hard! Saying iPhone was the best pocket computer available! And that iPod touch was the best portable gaming system available! Take a second and try to imagine how ridiculous it would look to be drving a 10″ screen while waiting at the doctors office! It’s not going to happen
Garrett, on September 29th, 2009 at 11:26 am
what Tablet? 80%,I find that hard to swallow..
..
Poppa, on September 29th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Aah, I remember how Jobs started out Januray 15th 2007 by saying “We’re gonna make some history together today”.
Hopefully every other January will be history-month
I don’t know if I’m on 80% though..
TheBrew, on September 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
This is bull-shit. There is no explanation why January 19th would be special and why the chance is 80%.
Samuel, on September 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Garrett, it’s not a new iPod Touch.
It’s a media pad. The next generation CD / LP. A Video/music-catalogue/player – hopefully tightly knit to AppleTV. An Internetbrowser. A notepad / Sketchpad. A game-pad for more than one family member? Who knows – I’m just spewing potential uses.. and the developers of those 85K iPhone-apps will definately be bursting with more uses
TheBrew, on September 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I agree with TheBrew… it’s not going to be a netbook. Definitely going to be a media device, book reader, game platform, etc. The recent LP and iTunes movie extras make no sense for a desktop or laptop but make perfect sense for a media pad complimenting a new Apple TV release. In addition, when you take Jobs’ recent comments about the “single purpose” devices… seems a solid guess the pad will be a multi purpose media pad. I for one welcome it over single purpose e-readers and gaming platforms. Something you will use a the doctor’s office while waiting? Probably not. But, you wouldn’t use netbook either. That’s why we have iPods and iPhones.
Besides, seems a lock that Apple will soon expand it’s line of Macbook offerings on the bottom end to give what most think of as a netbook….
Steven, on September 29th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Will it be able to download apps then same as the current iphone/ipod touch?
As I was wondering if I could download Proloquo2go on it (text-to-speech) and use as a communication aid and environmental control (with app thats allows you to use ipod as TV remote)
I can think of uses for it too in Assistive Technology section.
Will it have Bluetooth and be able to control other Bluetooth devices as an accessibility option?
Kati, on September 29th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
If it doesn’t run Snow Leopard, I’m 80% less interested.
JAYnLA, on September 29th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
(Sorry about mass posting. Last one. Promise)
No explanation for January 19?
“Mid”-January? check. (2007-01-09, 2008-01-15, 2009-01-06)
A tuesday? check.
Release of 1st generation products? che..-out-on-a-limb. (iPhone, MB Air, …iWork.com? – well, Schiller called it a “new service” – and Steve wasn’t there (I know, joker-card))
What I’m coming to is that Jan. is for introducing -new- products, not just updates of current techs/prods.
Actually, I just hope that Carlos, imajoebob, Garrett, Poppa, and Samuel are employees at Apple.
..regarding my earlier post – every second year? January 15th? sigh. I guess you just shouldn’t trust me!
Cheers
TheBrew, on September 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I was kinda against the tablet ’cause I see the cool of it but not the utility.
BUT, if it’s 3 times as big as an iPhone’s screen then that puts it at about
the size of a KIndle 2 — the PERFECT size for a tablet — so I AM SOOOOO IN!
BTW, it’s good ta hear it being referred to as an “iPad” by someone else besides me. lol
CaryMG, on September 29th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
One More Thing …. lol
I like Steven’s observation of linking the new “iTunes LP+iPad”.
It DOES make perfect synergistic sense.
iTLP’s supposed to recreate the experience of getting a new album
and lingering over the images, the lyricsheet, contributor’s list, etc.
The fun that anti-digitalmusic advocates say is the main point of what’s missing from just downlading an MP3 as opposed to going into a recordstore and making an “event purchase”.
Instead of handling a new album while a seperate object — the LP itself — plays music, combining iPad+iTLP makes the iPad *itself* the LP, if you will.
CaryMG, on September 29th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Microsoft’s Courier tablet sounds far more interesting and I’m a Mac head.
The Apple Tablet “is not designed for a work or productivity. It’s for media consumption”.
I’m not interested in that. I have an iPhone and I like it’s multimedia portability.
A mini laptop with keyboard and a rotating folding 7″ to 9″ touch screen would be cool. Throw in stylus support and running full Snow Leopard and I would buy it in a heartbeat.
Cancel the Tablet Steve, it’s going to be a dud!
Paul, on September 29th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
day after mlk day?
ksk, on September 29th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
this does sound really lame and my friends call me an apple fan boy. who wants another iphone like device. sigh. i want a product to help me create not consume.
saman Jebeli-Javan, on September 30th, 2009 at 4:24 am
It is true that the medical transcription is the fastest growing field today. Find a local school & get a degree in medical transcription in few months at http://bit.ly/5V4v8
gloriaboddie, on September 30th, 2009 at 4:46 am
From wikipedia:
Jan. 19, 1983 – The Apple Lisa, the first commercial personal computer from Apple Inc. to have a graphical user interface and a computer mouse, is announced.
dan, on October 1st, 2009 at 3:19 pm