CNN Interviewee: Apple Knows What I Want Before I Do

[Wonderful Pork]

Why would someone need it?

the iPhone took the place of a cellphone and PDA

What will the tablet take the place of?

We'll find out tomorrow. Before the iPhone, Blackberries, Treos and WinMo phones took the place of a cellphone & PDA. And very few consumers had those phones, mainly business and enthusiasts. My mom has an iPhone. She can't program the time on her microwave.

 

[jpeyton]

Why would someone need it?

the iPhone took the place of a cellphone and PDA

What will the tablet take the place of?

Even more than that; the iPhone also replaces PMPs, which is why iPod sales are dropping steadily.

My bet is that Apple wants their tablet to take a bite out of the netbook market.

 

[ElFenix]

This happens ad nauseum in any Apple product thread. Take your flames to PMs, phone calls, text message, or morse code.

ATOT Moderator ElFenix

You really think Apple is the only company that has ever innovated? Google - one of the most innovative companies this decade - doesn't innovate, just because you don't like Android? Microsoft doesn't innovate? You're right, xBox Live didn't fundamentally change online gaming. I guess you assume because something is multitouch enabled, Apple is the only company that's done it, right? And for that matter, no one ever made an internet-enabled smartphone before the iPhone, right? That was PURE innovation! They INVENTED the smartphone! Its not like they took something that had existed for a decade and slapped a new UI on it. And no one has ever made a tablet before. Nope, no one. Apple is the first. Wait....right?

BS. Go into any iPhone / Apple post on a site like say, Digg, Engadget, Gizmodo and you will see the Android fanboys trolling all over the comments with claims of finding a superior platform with Android. With Apple being a mainstream success, the backlash is inevitable and blindly apparent on the web. And yes, the majority of the people buying Andriod and Zune are looking for alternatives to Apple, because they think they are trend-buckers. It's always been that way when one platform dominates.

And BTW, way to miss the point, which was Apple's willingness to take chances vs Google/Microsoft playing it safe by copying merely Apple's prior successes.

 

[Deeko]

Even more than that; the iPhone also replaces PMPs, which is why iPod sales are dropping steadily.

My bet is that Apple wants their tablet to take a bite out of the netbook market.

netbook market & ereader market. The ereader market is particularly lucrative for content as well. If the Apple Tablet includes an app store like the iPhone does, it will be interesting to see what happens. I'm sure Apple will come out with an iTunes-type service for delivering eReader content - what happens to the Kindle app? There's already a Kindle app for iPhone/iPod Touch. Does that get ousted? Or does Apple allow it to be integrated into the tablet ecosystem as well?

 

[Deeko]

this happens ad nauseum in any apple product thread. Take your flames to pms, phone calls, text message, or morse code.

Atot moderator elfenix

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[Terzo]

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[AMDZen]

I will bet that the Apple Tablet will be a new class of product in the same way the iPhone was a new class of product to the smartphone market. Even more so, in fact.

Nothing Apple will ever do again will have the impact the iPod did. The iPhone is merely the evolution of the iPod in a lot of ways, formed to a phone. This iSlate thing won't come close to either of them. That last sentence says insane to me.

 

[jpeyton]

netbook market & ereader market. The ereader market is particularly lucrative for content as well. If the Apple Tablet includes an app store like the iPhone does, it will be interesting to see what happens. I'm sure Apple will come out with an iTunes-type service for delivering eReader content - what happens to the Kindle app? There's already a Kindle app for iPhone/iPod Touch. Does that get ousted? Or does Apple allow it to be integrated into the tablet ecosystem as well?

I'm torn on the issue. Print media of all types would get a boost from the popularity of tablets/e-readers (which is great), but I absolutely do not want to see Apple have a stranglehold on the digital sale/distribution of said media. iTunes is an abomination. 99 cents per track is ludicrous.

 

[Arkaign]

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[Fenixgoon]

I'm torn on the issue. Print media of all types would get a boost from the popularity of tablets/e-readers (which is great), but I absolutely do not want to see Apple have a stranglehold on the digital sale/distribution of said media. iTunes is an abomination. 99 cents per track is ludicrous.

personally, i just think itunes is a shitty program.

 

[dullard]

I will bet that the Apple Tablet will be a new class of product in the same way the iPhone was a new class of product to the smartphone market. Even more so, in fact.

Ok, lets consider taking that bet. I'll even let you define "new class of product". So, what is your definition.

 

[Arkaign]

personally, i just think itunes is a shitty program.

It works okay on Macs, even though I think the interface sucks. But it's a royal piece of flaming dogshit on PCs. The recent Zune software is astonishingly good in comparison, and also looks awesome when you use it to play music. Not as awesome as Winamp+Milkdrop, but still cool.

 

[AMDZen]

netbook market & ereader market. The ereader market is particularly lucrative for content as well. If the Apple Tablet includes an app store like the iPhone does, it will be interesting to see what happens. I'm sure Apple will come out with an iTunes-type service for delivering eReader content - what happens to the Kindle app? There's already a Kindle app for iPhone/iPod Touch. Does that get ousted? Or does Apple allow it to be integrated into the tablet ecosystem as well?

So you think people will spend $700-$1000 for an eBook reader + the price of books? I think the whole reason the kindle/sony ereader and others aren't successful yet is the price. Both are still $300 and then the books aren't even cheaper or are barely cheaper then the print media.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Apple is innovating by introducing a totally new class of product

I agree with this. Apple do not necessarily create out-of-the-blue new experiences and innovations

Make up your mind.

 

[Agentbolt]

God dammit, I hate being an Apple fan. No, I really do. I have a Macbook pro, Ipod Touch, and I'd camp out for an Iphone if Verizon ever gets one.

But what the fuck, Steve? What am I supposed to do with a tablet that has a crippled walled-off OS and no physical keyboard? What am I supposed to do with a 1000 dollar e-reader? What am I supposed to do with a 10-inch, ~2-3 pound PMP player?

I just don't see how I could ever talk myself into buying this new thing.

 

[Fizzorin]

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Wow, angst much?

 

[Deeko]

So you think people will spend $700-$1000 for an eBook reader + the price of books? I think the whole reason the kindle/sony ereader and others aren't successful yet is the price. Both are still $300 and then the books aren't even cheaper or are barely cheaper then the print media.

Apple fans will. I'm not saying it will catch on there, just that its a market segment they're likely aiming at. I have a 2nd gen Kindle and I couldn't imagine dumping it for a tablet - regardless of the manufacturer. eInk > LCD for reading.

 

[ElFenix]

*sigh*

 

[Agentbolt]

*sigh*

You brought this upon yourself, boss.

 

[Sumguy]

I can actually see Apple having some success with this thing if its a tablet PC. The first company to make one of those things functional and intuitive can market the shit out of it and the majority of people will see it as the next step in computers.

As I look more into the rumors it looks kinda like an iKindle. With better internet capabilities, but it has a 10" screen and no physical keyboard (because Apple apparently has a thing against buttons). Useless.

 

[jpeyton]

It works okay on Macs, even though I think the interface sucks. But it's a royal piece of flaming dogshit on PCs. The recent Zune software is astonishingly good in comparison, and also looks awesome when you use it to play music. Not as awesome as Winamp+Milkdrop, but still cool.

Ditto. The new Zune software is surprisingly great. Even if I didn't have a Zune HD, I'd still use it.

 

[zinfamous]

No worse than the anti-Apple brigade who pretend Android is a viable alternative to the iPhone or the Zune HD is an iPod Touch killer. Sink or swim with the tablet, Apple is innovating by introducing a totally new class of product where Google and MS are merely copying Apple's prior success.

the point is that it's NOT a new class of product--it's been around for more than 5 years, much like when the iPod came out. Android is a great product and technically speaking, is a viable alternative. The only thing keeping it from being a commercial success is the Apple marketing juggernaut.

Apple does make some great products--but their real success is in marketing their products. Hell, you seem to believe that there is something "totally innovative" in this "totally new class of product"--this 5 year-old tablet PC. So they sure as shit worked you over.

 

[zinfamous]

I agree with this. Apple do not necessarily create out-of-the-blue new experiences and innovations, but they take what's out, refine the hell out of it, make it simple for non-techies, and then market the hell out of it. Touch devices existed before the iPhone but Apple absolutely nailed the interface and user experience and then wrapped it up in a perfect package.

There's a ton of tablet devices out now as well as eReaders, etc, but what Apple is going to attempt is to tie it all together. Nobody has gotten the tablet right. It's hard to fathom that such a device will be a success as I know absolutely zero people who are interested in a tablet device. Then again, a lot of people poo-pooed the iPod, iPhone, and iMac when they were respectively announced, so I am reserving judgment until it's been on the market for a while.

ah yes, see.

THIS

:beer:

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I can actually see Apple having some success with this thing if its a tablet PC. The first company to make one of those things functional and intuitive can market the shit out of it and the majority of people will see it as the next step in computers.

Lenovo already made an excellent tablet/notebook hybrid and showed it at CES 2010. It's beautiful, but of course it won't get the attention of whatever copycat BS Apple releases because the media isn't currently fellating Lenovo. Lenovo Ideapad U1.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

New device revealed!

Mac Wheel!