Apple Tablet to be dubbed "iSlate"

Rumored iSlate compared to iPhone

Image credit:The Reader

Rumors have heated up recently regarding what many, including yours truly, believe are indications pointing to the 2010 appearance of the long awaited Apple Tablet. Now, amidst all the swirling rumors, is a new tantalizing rumor courtesy of the MacRumors folks. The rumor indicates that there is now a name for the Apple Tablet—the iSlate

MacRumors reports that, “After we broke the news...that Apple had acquired iSlate.com, other pieces to the puzzle seemed to fall into place. Notably, TechCrunch found that iSlate had been registered as a trademark by an unknown Delaware company by the name of Slate Computing, LLC in November 2006. iSlate had also been registered as a trademark in Europe using a law firm that Apple employs.”

MacRumors explains that this series of events may mean, “that Apple set up Slate Computing, LLC as a dummy corporation to secretly acquire the iSlate trademark. Apple has been known to do this in the past. For example, the iPhone trademark was originally filed by Ocean Telecom Services, another anonymous Delaware-based company.”

So putting two and two together and getting 57, we arrive at the conclusion that the soon to be announced Apple Tablet will be dubbed the “iSlate.”

Now the question is, despite its new moniker, can Apple break the mold that has haunted tablet PCs until now. They have shown much in potential and little in practical benefits. Too big, too bulky, too heavy and often two slow; they have missed the mark for most business users. Even my boss, who was as dedicated a tablet user as anyone, has long since shelved his Dell Latitude XT2 tablet PC. He used to carry it with him everywhere he went, now it is nowhere to be seen.

So, Apple, the ball is in your court. For the tablet it’s the fourth quarter with 62 seconds to go. The tablet is two touchdowns behind. But Steve Jobs has the ball. If anyone can toss the iSlate into the end zone twice in a minute and two, it’s Steve Jobs and Apple.

(It’s interesting to note that the name “iSlate" is already taken. It’s a portable digital clapperboard for the iPhone by iBuiltThis. And, according to Engadget, the iSlate is also a solar-powered, WiFi, stylus-controlled tablet PC developed in India.)