![The Mythical Apple "iTablet" should become a reality with in the next few months.](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/3d/0c/3d0cbaaa048540dc522fda9c602bc768.jpg "The Mythical Apple "iTablet" should become a reality with in the next few months.")
The Apple tablet, that started as a mythical Web Creature that was surrounded by a cloud of unconfirmed rumors, finally got some credibility from a Financial Times report. The tablet's screen is reported to be up to 10 inches in diagonal but it won't have phone capabilities like the iPhone.
It will have Wi-Fi (presumibly to access to Apple's online stores). Beyond the iTouch style features or Kindle-ly capabilities, the Apple tablet (being an Apple Product) should be great for watching videos. No word on pricing, but speculation points to around $800. That more than twice what a 10" netbook is goinf for this holiday season.
The Financial Times reports that Apple is working on a project code-named "Cocktail," a collaboration between the Cupertino company and record labels. "Cocktail" will be a new type of interactive album, combining photos, lyrics sheets, video clips, and liner notes. The claim it will play songs directly, without having to go through iTunes.
The Apple tablet will not only be an oversized iPod Touch, ready for prime-time movies and music. Internet connectivity is the key to delivering the content to the device. Reports from an Apple Insider say the tablet would feature 3G connectivity, same as the current iPhone models.
What about Non-Apple tablets? Archos is a European corporation that has been marketing internet connected media players for years now with a different stratagy from Apple and other PMP models. Since about 2001 they have sold reletively affordable hardware charging users for add-ons and plug-ins to ad features and functionality.
The ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet is still out there using a 5’’ screen and its 800x480 native resolution. It will let you surf the web pretty much like on your PC. Using an ARM Cortex Superscalar processor inside and a Linux based operating system, the ARCHOS 5 has the ability to connect to Wifi 802.11 b/g/n networks, or to tether via Bluetooth® to a 3G phone. Ther are several optional accessories such as the HDMI Minidock or the DVR Station, which allow you to access 1,000 webTV stations and webradio stations.
The newer ARCHOS 7 is nick-named "The Travel Companion" on the Archos Website features an internal hard drive from 160 GB to 320 GB, With an 800 pixel-wide resolution and a 7” screen, you can browse the Web in full width just like on your PC. You can download music and video, and can play movies in HD or DVD quality for the richest media experience on the go.
With the optional the DVR Station your ARCHOS contents may be played directly back to your TV. Schedule TV recordings from any channel on your cable or set-top box. Then choose how you want to watch them, either on your ARCHOS 7 or your TV, in 720p HD.
This year brings the Archos 9 is predictably a 9" Tablet-style PC. They are offering a Windows 7-based (rather than Linux) device that focuses on high-end video. The chipset is capable of 1080p and Windows 7 can certainly drive H.264 up to extremely high bitrates. With 12mbps average throughput, on this 9", 1024x600 screen, the current question is, will Archos add their own software or use on Windows 7 Media Center to provide the touch-friendly user interface.
This morning brought news of a new hat in the Internet tablet ring. Notion Ink is apparently readying an Android driven internet tablet with a Pixel Qi display—the very same that was rumored to be used in the Apple tablet. The transflective Pixel Qi display measures 10.1-inches, and offers 1080p resolution video playback. The rest of the device is 6.3 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches, and weight is listed at 1.7lbs. Connection wise, it has a USB, HDMI, 3.5mm jack and microphone input. With Wi-Fi b/g and Bluetooth 2.1 for now, they're only showing renders of the tablet. Images show a thin silver, MacBook Air-like physique, A-GPS, a digital compass, accelerometer and proximity. There's even a 3.0-megapixel camera with autofocus, capable of recording video. Reports say it'll be available in 16GB and 32GB SSD (solid-state drive) options, and will have an SD (secure digital) card slot too.
Slashgear reports that this smartpad will use the regular Android UI, with full gesture support. Navigation is either via the touchscreen or a trackpad, and Notion Ink have added a matte-finish anti-glare, oleophobic and scratch-resistant coating to the Pixel Qi display. Of course, the panel itself can be viewed indoors as a regular LCD, or outdoors in either transflective mode with reduced color vibrancy or fully reflective 64-level grayscale mode. Notion Ink say they’ve been developing a number of applications, including Office-style software. Media playback hasn’t been sacrificed, and Notion Ink have apparently played three 1080p HD videos simultaneously with only a slight loss in frames.
By the time it becomes a reality, a $300 price tag might be a possibility, especially if there is a subsidy from a wireless carrier like Verizon etc. And regardless of the name or logo on the device, it's fairly evident that the public wants flexible and portable hand-held computing that's bigger than the iPhone. Only time will tell if Apple manages to climb to the top of that pile as well.
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