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1. TimVFR

   Fresh-Faced Recruit

   Joined: Jan 2002

   +2
   01/12, 02:33pm | report spam | close reply

   Possible reason

   Think about the way a tablet will be held. Now, think of a person trying to watch your image in a video chat while you're trying to use the tablet and hold it at the same time.

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1. medelegant

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   Joined: Sep 2002

   +4
   01/12, 03:19pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

   Camera Would be useful

   Having a camera built in to a tablet would be a fabulously useful feature. In a medical record application, having a camera built in would enable a health care provider instantly snap an image for inclusion in a medical record of a rash or lesion, or even a head and shoulders shot for inclusion on a patient demographics screen.

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1. testudo

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   Joined: Aug 2001

   +7
   01/12, 03:24pm | report spam | close reply

   Obvious

   It should be obvious that the tablet will have zero, one, or two cameras, and some combination of those might be video cameras.
   
   It also will have a default orientation of either landscape or portrait or diagonal. It will be 5", 7", or 10", or, possibly, some number around there. It will have a variant of the iPhone OS or OS X.
   
   It may or may not require a data plan, may or may not allow for a data plan. It might be tied to 3G, or also work with Verizon's system.
   
   It's bluetooth capability may or may not allow for keyboard and mice to be attached.
   
   It will NOT have a Firewire port, but it may have a super mini display port.
   
   There, no need for rumors now! We know everything there is to know.
   
   Man, I just wish Steve would get over himself and announce the stupid thing so people can stop making up stories about what this mythical device is.

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1. testudo

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   Joined: Aug 2001

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   01/12, 03:26pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

   But

   Wouldn't it be funny if Jan 26th rolled around and there wasn't a special announcement?
   
   Or, even funnier, the big get press event was convened so Apple could announce their iPod Touch 4.0 with camera!

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1. cmoney

   Mac Enthusiast

   Joined: Sep 2000

   +4
   01/12, 03:32pm | report spam | close reply

   Re: Obvious

   Also, it will most likely NOT contain the impending PowerPC G5. I'm like 95% sure on this. Don't ask me how I know.

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1. iphonerulez

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   Joined: Nov 2008

   -4
   01/12, 04:04pm | report spam | close reply

   Apple will be announcing...

   the "funnest" tablet ever. It will be more powerful than the PS3 and already have access to over 5,000 games. Apple will sell 500,000 a month and that will be the start of all things tablet.

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1. eldarkus

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   Joined: Feb 2004

   +1
   01/12, 04:21pm | report spam | close reply

   @medelegant

   Thats a very small percentage of what they could be used for. Apple, is a consumer company. If a camera is really needed, i'm sure an easy add-on will be sold by the company who would make software for the medical profession.

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1. malax

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   Joined: Aug 2006

   +2
   01/12, 04:46pm | report spam | close reply

   Testudo nailed it

   I suspect testudo got all the particulars exactly right.
   
   The rumor level is extreme even for an Apple product, especially considering that even the January 26th date is a rumor based on the scheduling of the venue. The cryptic invitation to the press hasn't even gone out yet.
   
   What will be really funny (although not for AAPL shareholders) is when they use that date for an employee-only presentation on how to be greener by carpooling and turning off your computers at night. "We never said there was going to be an annoucement. We're comfortable with our current product lineup for the next 6 months or a year." AAPL stock: 74.03 (-134.34)

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1. wrenchy

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   Joined: Nov 2009

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   01/12, 07:37pm | report spam | close reply

   WAIT!

   I heard it had two cameras thus enabling 3D movies to be made! It was to be called AppleVision. It was supposed to be more powerful than a cluster of PS3's and a super hi-tech battery that gives you 72 hours of battery life (with wi-fi turned off of course!) and an OLED 3D screen. I can't wait!
   
   These rumours are killing me.

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1. ebeyer

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   Joined: Jun 2004

   +3
   01/12, 09:34pm | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

   So what's left?

   If the consensus of rumors is true, and what we're looking at
   is a tablet that's essentially a big iPod touch with 3G, no
   cameras and tethered to the App store, that costs
   about $700, how is this new device a game changer?
   
   A regular iPod touch starts at $299 and has most of the
   same features, but of course is smaller (some would say
   more portable). But it's less than half the price, too.
   
   There has to be something else we don't know about
   to make a device like this compelling. Especially if
   analysts are expecting Apple to move millions of these
   by the end of the year.
   
   EB
   

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1. PatriSolo

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   Joined: Jan 2010

   +2
   01/13, 09:43am | report spam | close reply

   Big iPod touch

   Sub $300 (heading towards $200) netbooks have the ability to video chat. This e-book/e-magazine reader/e-TV monitor won't? Doesn't make sense. I travel to Germany a lot for work and want to iChat with my family and won't carry an iphone, a PC netbook and an iSlate or whatever it's called.
   
   I won't buy if the following aren't met:
   1.) Must be able to use Flash websites. (Doesn't make sense that a faster processor can't do this).
   2.) Must be able to video chat. (Have been holding out buying a netbook for over a year).
   3.) Must be able to tether to my iphone for data. (Won't pay for two separate data plans, not fair to the consumer)
   
   If Apple wants to charge their normal high price it must be fully functional. $600 will buy a lot of magazines and books and I can play movies and TV off a PC netbook. In fact the Lenovo with removable tablet screen looked attractive and it video chats.