Apple owns "iSlate" web domain [U]
updated 12:50 am EST, Fri December 25, 2009
Tablet domain purchased but may not be used
(Updated with trademark info) Apple tonight was discovered through WHOIS records to have acquired the domain iSlate.com (currently inactive) two years ago. The company is known to have picked up the domain in 2007 and used the registrar MarkMonitor to keep the ownership secret. However, MacRumors has discovered that Apple's name was exposed for a few weeks until the identity was suppressed again.
The acquisition suggests that Apple has at least considered using the iSlate name for a product such as its rumored tablet. It's nonetheless an uncertain prospect as Apple is known to register domains out of speculation, choosing them to safeguard potential product names rather than as a sign it has committed to an actual product. Apple registered iPhone.org as early as December 1999, several years before it had even begun work on what would become the shipping iPhone.
Update: Apple is now believed to have filed for trademarks for "iSlate" in the US and Europe, possibly using a shell company in Delaware named Slate Computing for its US trademark. The front firm is described as producing computers, software, handhelds and other products that Apple makes, although none of Apple's goods are mentioned by name. TechCrunch notes the European trademark was filed by the same law firm as for Apple's MacBook trademark and with the same country (Trinidad & Tobago) in priority.
None of the new discoveries necessarily make it more likely that Apple will call any potential tablet the iSlate, though they hint at Apple showing added concern for the name beyond just a website registration.
Apple is...
12/25, 02:53am reply
a brilliant and innovative company. Some may disagree, so why don't they go the websites of those who they like and ignore Apple? Because, they can't... they hate them so much that if Apple left the scene, they would probably be the first ones to cry.
Every time something comes out about Apple and their foresight it undoubtedly makes the imitators cringe and wail. The names and the products are all there, waiting to be discovered. Anyone could do it, in theory, but, they don't.
Bobfozz
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Joined: Jul 2008
iSlate and iBook
12/25, 06:13am reply
Hopefully a $999 10" tablet iBook with osX and a $399 7" iSlate with iPhone OS.
Peter Bonte
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Joined: Aug 2001
Apple
12/25, 06:34am reply
Apple is a great company.
Looking forward to iSlate
Visit http://www.48da.com/
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idgnarn
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Joined: Dec 2009
IsLate.com
12/25, 02:20pm reply
is appropriate.
This thing has been a long time coming.
Kablooie
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Joined: Dec 2009
Useless info
12/26, 11:04am reply
This means nothing at all. We're all still waiting for the unveiling of the great new web site, mammals.org apple bought ages ago. And slate? Does anyone under 40 even know what a slate is?
And I guess there's people with nothing better to do than search up random I words in Whois looking for something bought by apple.
LouZer
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Joined: Nov 2000
iS"o"late
12/26, 12:47pm reply
Some critics rightfully state that 'i'-products cause our world to degrade from a we-place to an i-place.
To introduce a product with the name iSlate would not be clever: it sounds just like "isolate".
picturetalk
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Joined: Dec 2009
or
12/27, 03:53am reply
Could be the iPod slate.
revco
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Joined: May 2005
comment title
12/27, 10:59am reply
Apple's stock has jumped just off of rumors wait until an official announcement.
iSlateTablet
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Joined: Dec 2009
stock price
12/28, 02:40pm reply
Apple's stock has jumped just off of rumors wait until an official announcement
Apparently you have no clue how the market works. Well, here's a quick pointer. The price is jumping ON THE RUMOR. Which means, if Apple announces a product that matches everything about the rumors, the price will NOT go up, since the price has already been driven up by the rumor of the announcements.
The only way the price will go way up is if the announcement makes the rumors look like garbage.
More likely, the announcement will cause the price to drop, as it is doubtful the actual will outsize the expectations.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001