Introducing the iSlate
Based on common sense:
- Physically, it’s a big iPhone. You need a data plan through a cell carrier (if you also have an iPhone, your bill goes up by $20). But it will not make calls.
- On the plus side, the entry level is only $599 or $699, because it’s subsidized through the carrier.
- The screen is transflective LCD, so it’s perfectly readable outside, yet still bright and colorful in low light.
- It has a powerful GPU which helps with games and 1080p output
- Like the iPhone, it has an on-screen keyboard.
- It acts like the (read: “is the reason they created”) Apple TV
- It has a (read: “is the reason they created”) Mini DisplayPort, which
- Works for games
- And HD movies
- And apps
- …and that’s why they hampered video-out on the iPhone.
- It features “rich” editions of select publications (NYT, etc), for free. Papers are happy because the ads (and thus ad revenue) are “rich” too.
- Introducing iTunes Bookstore
- Publishers would chew off their limbs to get into iTunes.
- Apple will own 75% of the textbook market in 5 years.
- The split is 70/30, just like the App Store.
- It features interactive magazine content like (read: “is the reason they created”) iTunes LP
- Magazine subscriptions / sales are through iTunes Bookstore
- This will save the magazine industry.
- …and that’s why you were like “what the hell?” when they announced iTunes LP.
- You can buy Tablet-specific or “Universal” apps through the App Store
- Universal apps work on both the iPhone and the iSlate.
- Buying a Universal app syncs it to both devices.
- …and that’s why they redesigned the App Store recently (larger screenshot area, among other things)
- You don’t have to sync it.
- It comes with MobileMe, to sync your contacts/email/calendar over the air.
- You can keep iTunes purchases (but not CD rips) in the cloud, and stream them at will to your Mac, iSlate or iPhone.
- Or you can get content directly from your Mac or vice versa (“Home Sharing”)
- Why no sync? When you have three devices, it’s too frustrating to track what is and is not synced.
- …and that’s why they bought Lala
