Apple’s Tablet - the (non)facts
Published: January 10, 2010
Later this month Apple are supposedly revealing their much anticipated tablet computer. It will no doubt revolutionise our mobile lives, but what will it mean for gamers?
There has been much speculation on the device it’s self. Apple are well known for keeping secrets in silicon valley, with many gear and gossip columnists getting it wrong in the run up to the iPhones first public unveiling back in 2007. So lets look first at the tablet rumours so far.
iName
For a long time now the tablet has been simply known as ‘the tablet’. Apple are keeping things close to their chest, but according to a recent trademark filed by a company that registers names for Apple, the device could be named iSlate. Other rumours include iGuide, and Magic Slate.
Personally I think iSlate is a terrible name, it sounds so backward, like something Fred Flintstone would do his accounts on. I doubt iGuide will be it’s name either, instead more likely being a new application within iLife, with a possibility of being specifically for the tablet. Magic slate is also very unlikely, it just doesn’t sound like Apple, and may instead be a name for some underlying tech within the tablet itself. If I were Apple I would simply re-use the old iBook monicker, especially when it seems that the main purpose of this tablet will be as a e-book. But again that is unlikely. Whatever name Apple go with, expect it to capture the essence of the devices main use. Be it multi-media, e-books, internet, business, gaming or a combination of all five.
Size:
Most theories see the form factor of the tablet to be around 9-10 inches in screen size, along the same lines as the current net-books out there such as the Acer Aspire series, though some think it will be smaller, with a 7 inch screen. There is of course the possibility of a range of sizes like their MacBook pro range. But expect something in size of three iphones in portrait mode side by side. Anything bigger than that and your getting into MacBook territory, any smaller and you’re stepping on the toes of the iPhone and iPod ranges… and one thing Apple won’t do is put their current products in direct competition. It’s all about the Benjamin’s after all!
Hardware Capabilities:
The current speculation sees the tablet as being more powerful than an iPhone but not as powerful as the MacBooks. It looks likely the ARM Cortex A9 could be a contender for processor, it’s long been rumoured that Apple is a licensee of ARM technology, and may use the tech in conjunction with their purchase of P.A. Semi, founded by the lead designer of the StrongARM processor (which I had in my trusty old Acorn RISCPC computer back in the day).
The ARM Cortex A9 has proved in tests to be comparable to high speed NetBook processors, but at a much lower clock rate, resulting in far less battery usage. Perfect for a device such as the tablet.
Not much is known on graphics acceleration, and if it would have a dedicated one. If it were to be used heavily for multimedia content such as interactive magazines, HD movie playback, then I think it would be a necessity. And it would certainly mean more advanced gaming graphics. It’s quite possible though that it will be to the iPhone what the Wii is to the Gamecube… slightly more powerful, but not noticeably so.
Obviously the tablet will feature multi-touch capabilities, no doubt similar to the iPhone’s. But what strides have Apple made int is department. Many users of iPhone’s complain of the lack of tactile feedback. Could we see the first tactile touch screen premier with the tablet? Various patents filed by Apple show research into haptic feedback, where parts of the screen vibrate when your finger moves over it, giving you the impression of clickable buttons. Another gives examples of a gel based film over the screen that can raise and lower depending on amount of pressure from the user, which could for example highlight the keys of a onscreen keyboard. This kind of technology would certainly create the wow factor that Apple could be looking for.
Another patent application from Apple shows that the device could also have far advance touch capabilities than the iPhone. The patent mentions using touch sensing pixels. Which not only emit the light of the screen, but also relay touch information. Not only would this allow for pixel perfect accuracy but also remove the need for a separate touch sensing overlay, reducing the form factor and weight.
Finally, the device will no doubt include an accelerometer like the iPhone. If it is indeed going to be pitched as an e-book then many user will want to flip the content into portrait mode for reading purposes, so I think tilt functionality is a given.
Software Capabilities:
A lot of the success of any device rides on it’s interface. When the tablet was first rumoured, most expected it to run a version of Mac OS X, but now it seems that some form of iPhone OS will be used. Again it is unlikely that Apple will create yet another device for simply do computer based tasks and instead pitch this as full mobile device for entertainment and online information. However, I doubt it will simply feature the same interface as the iPhone, just larger. The iPhones home-screen is designed at a minimum for one finger use, but the tablet with it’s bigger size will most likely be designed for full hand or even two. So I expect a hybrid of both Mac OS X and iPhone OS, with the simplicity of Application selection like the iPhone, but with extra features and abilities that the bigger screen can provide.
The bigger screen will also allow for the kind of Application that the would be difficult or unusable on the iPhone. Applications such as word processing, and drawing could be possible on the tablet. A perfect companion for writers, particularly if there is tactile feedback for a larger on screen keyboard. Graphic designers, such as myself could also benefit, using the device as a virtual sketch book for jotting down notes, story boarding or sketching up logo and layout ideas.
Multi-media will no doubt play a huge part in the device. It’s bound to have a more full featured iTunes player and store browser. Online browsing will also play a major part, utilising a tablet version of Safari, with the multitouch abilities of the iPhone version coupled with gestures from the MacBooks touchpad.
One of the main uses though, which people see as the tablets killer feature, will be e-books. And not just Kindle style books either, we’re talking fully interactive newspapers, magazine and comics, featuring mock-paper style page turning coupled with the rich multi-media of video and sound, all with-in fully customisable interfaces.
Of course with the success of the AppStore it would be silly not to expect a huge selection of Apps that can perform any task you desire, be it banking and accounts, social networking, shopping lists, travel, and of course entertainment. Here at TouchGen though, we’re more interested in what this could mean for gaming.
A question many are asking is will the tablet be able to run the existing lineup of AppStore titles, or will they need to be rebuilt. In a way I hope both are true. The AppStore will become a tricky place if there is separation between devices. Instead I’d like to see ‘Works with iPhone’ and/or ‘Works with tablet’ labelling, so you know when you buy it that it works for your device. At the same time though, I don’t want to be playing a game that is designed for the smaller screen, which while they look great on iPhone, will look nasty upscaled to 2 or 3 times the size. Rumour has it that Apple has asked a selection of iPhone developers to create versions of their Apps and games specifically for the tablet, fuelling the thought that the device will indeed need it’s own AppStore.
Until we know more though, lets look at what kind of games could work on the tablet, and those that won’t.
Racing games
Racing titles work great on the iPhone. It’s smaller size and tilt abilities mean you can get that steering wheel feel while not looking too silly when on public transport. On a larger device though you’d look a fool. Despite the likely hood of the device having tilt, it would be too cumbersome to be flipping around. This then means that most racers will require touch based controls, with games such as Need For Speed needing to be re-coded to include that ability.
First person shooter
These will also need to be re-thunk if they are going to work on the device. Current virtual setups in NOVA and Eliminate would again be too cumbersome due to the upscaling. A tablet version would need reduced sized controls, and also repositioned for optimum position of hands while griping it. Maybe lap based play will be more common on the tablet, allowing you to use two hands and all fingers fully, with a control setup more in line with the PC’s WSAD keys, while one hand is used as the mouse.
Platformers, arcade games and RPGs
Again the current iPhone controls will need a re-think, with virtual d-pads needing re-mapping. Games that employ more touch and follow controls like Ice Age. Infinity Gene and Zenonia will work best.
Puzzlers and Strategy
If there is one genre that can be ported from iPhone to tablet with relative ease it’s tower defence and strategy. Games requiring almost entirely touch input such as positioning tanks, turrets and soldiers will work a treat, and possibly be even better on the larger screens. Even the more intricate RTS games like Command & Conquer will translate nicely. Puzzle games like Enigmo and iBlast Moki will also work well.
It’s looking likely then, for games at least, that the tablet will be ideal for more casual games. But if there is one thing that the iPhone has proved over the past few years is that developers can surprise us and push experiences well beyond what we thought the device was capable of.
Roll on January 26th!!!
Information sourced from: MacRumors.com, Reuters, New York Times, Engadget and Wikipedia
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6 Comments on "Apple’s Tablet - the (non)facts"
Bowling4Mac on Sun, 10th Jan 2010 8:53 pm
I’m still to be convinced there is a market for this thing.
I just can’t think of anything it could do that the ipod/macbook can’t do.
I’m surprise at the success of ebook readers. For me books are dead. It’s all about audiobooks. I know that a really lazy option but its just a lot quicker for me listening to an audiobook and I actually find I take more of it in.
Having said all that I can’t see Apple getting into a market just because people expect them to. I’m sure it will make sense once we have seen it in action. Magazines and news are a area it could work in. I still think there’s a market for them.
Matt Dunn, USA on Sun, 10th Jan 2010 9:06 pm
Great article! I also think iSlate is absolutely terrible, so I hope that’s not true. Then again, everyone thought the Wii was terrible (it still is), but most people have accepted it without issue.
I also agree with Bowling, in that I don’t see any use for a tablet other than to look cool.
Jas on Sun, 10th Jan 2010 10:15 pm
If the new device can edit and manipulate HD video as well as the Mac can, and output files to a PC for bruning to DVD, I’d buy one.
There’s a market for it if the device is capable enough.
I reckon it’ll be called the iPad.
Legend.inc on Mon, 11th Jan 2010 11:21 am
I’m really excited for this. Especially if you can transfer all of your purchaced content to it (like all the apps you have already bought). I don’t want to be spending money to get the same content again. I’ll just have to wait and see.
Nigel Wood, UK on Mon, 11th Jan 2010 1:41 pm
Good point Legend… one hopes you can sync it with your current iTunes Apps
Jas on Mon, 11th Jan 2010 4:04 pm
Legend,
The in-app purchase concept is designed to prevent us doing just this.
I hate in app purchases for this reason