Noticed a couple of recent articles which add fire to the usual Apple rumour mill about the imminent release of an Apple Tablet.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/12/analyst-apple-tablet-launching-in-spring-to-crush-kindle.ars
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/12/09/tablet_rumors_february_production_start_10_inch_lcd_screen.html
These have been sparked by Yair Reiner an analyst with Oppenheimer who indicated
…the manufacturing cogs for the production of a tablet are creaking into action and should begin to hit a mass market stride in February. Reiner said Apple would likely need at least five or six weeks of inventory built up before it can release the product, positioning a likely launch in March or April.
He also said that Apple has been reaching out to book publishers with a “very attractive proposal” for offering content on a forthcoming ebook platform.
So currently, the strongest rumour is for a 10.1 inch display using similar technology used for the iPhone and aimed as a Kindle e-book basher. Maybe we should just call it an iPod Touch with a 10.1 inch display.
But if the device were also to use a hybrid touch/stylus interface, what opportunities would then become available…
The days when you buy a new phone and get yet another phone charger may be numbered.
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently submitted to the European Commission, 10 companies have signed up to providing a universal charger which can be used to charge any of their devices via a micro USB connection.
The companies have agreed to develop a common specification that allows for full compatibility between chargers and phones and covers data-enabled mobile phones supporting data exchange using USB.
Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for enterprise and industrial policy, said: “I am very pleased that industry has found an agreement, which will make life much simpler for consumers. They will be able to charge mobile phones anywhere from the new common charger. This also means considerably less electronic waste because people will no longer have to throw away chargers when buying new phones. He added: “I am also very pleased that this solution was found on the basis of self-regulation. As a result, the Commission does not consider it necessary to introduce legislation.”
The first devices are expected from 2010 onwards.
Companies who have signed up are:
- Apple
- LG
- Motorola
- NEC
- Nokia
- Qualcomm
- Research in Motion
- Samsung
- Sony Ericsson
- Texas Instruments
Although the MoU only covers the EU the concept could be extended worldwide in the future.
Reference:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/rtte/chargers.htm
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