Apple In 2010: The Year of the Tablet?

2009 has been quite a year for all of us smart-phone fans. We got to see what Apple had to offer with its latest generation iPhone. Apple finally gave the iPod Nano a boost by adding video capture capability to the device, and killer iMacs and Macbooks were introduced to the market as well. As exciting as 2009 was for tech fans, it will pale in comparison to what’s in store for us in 2010. Apple is going to have one busy year if all the rumor that we have heard are true.

In case all the talks about iSlate has made you forget about the iPhone, the 4th generation of this revolutionary device will most likely be released in June 2010. iPhone 4.0 is expected to be a much more powerful phone (with a better camera, longer battery life, …), and it will handle more sophisticated apps much better. Sources have indicated that Apple is also in talks with T-Mobile, so Apple could have a new partner in the near future. But if you check the news these days, you don’t really hear too much about iPhone 4G. Apple tablet has the searchers mesmerized, and even stock analysts are predicting a huge year for Apple if a tablet is in the cards.

Steve Jobs has not been too kind when talking about Kindle and similar devices. Let’s not forget that he has shown no interest in introducing a netbook either. But no one is going to be fooled by Steve as most rumors claim Apple tablet to be hybrid device that is capable of being a killer for all those one pony devices and more. Apple probably won’t introduce a Kindle killer per se. While it’s possible for Apple to get into the business of selling e-books for its tablet, Apple’s iSlate (or iGuide) will be a large screen iPod with a few more bells and whistles. The device will probably not replace your Macbook Air or Macbook Pro. Nonetheless, developers are expected to take advantage of Apple’s SDK to enhance the device’s capability and make it one powerful portable computer.

It’s not tough to see why some netbook manufacturers feel threatened by the prospect of Apple introducing iSlate in 2010. The device will probably cost you at least $800, but it may be a much more effective portable computer than most netbooks. Apple has also been working on streaming technologies, so iSlate could be one heck of an entertainment system. Will it be as revolutionary as Apple iPhone? That’s tough to say. I have believed for years that tablets are overrated. Steve Jobs did surprise us all with the iPhone, and as long as the company follows the same success formula, the device should do fine. With tablets, you just never know.