Latest Batch Of Apple Tablet Details Are Interesting [UPDATE 5]

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In a rather long-winded story published by the WSJ tonight this week, a handful of new facts have been revealed about Apple’s purported iSlate/iTablet/iPad. You know, the one that’s supposed to be announced next Wednesday in San Francisco. I’ll save you the trouble of reading the whole thing because we’ve mostly covered it all on Techland before.

Update 5: And now The Post is chiming in with details from sources that say Apple will announce Verizon as the carrier of choice for the Tablet.

Update 4: Expect to see a lot of updates to this post between now and Wednesday morning when Apple unveils something. Flurry Analytics is reporting that they’ve found 50 tablet devices running what they believe to be iPhone OS 3.2 at Apple’s Cupertino campus. The majority of apps being run on these devices that Flurry purports are the fabled Tablet have been games. Weird, right? It was just last week that we heard rumors of seeing iPhone OS 4.0 (see below). Link bait? Probably, but we’ll bite to cover our bases.

Update 3: HotHardware is citing an “inside source” in a rumor that claims Apple will announce the end of its relationship with AT&T. We’ve heard ourselves that Verizon will be getting the iPhone in June, but why would Apple announce a switch this early?

Here’s what’s even newer (update 2):

FOXNews is reporting that both AT&T and Verizon will carry the tablet, bringing two very adverse mobile competitors into the same room next week during the big unveil. Awkward? Maybe. But, the decision makes sense. If Apple wants this to be successful on an iPhone level, consumers will need a choice of networks. Says FOX: “One version of the device will run on CDMA networks such as Verizon’s, and one will operate on GSM networks like that owned by AT&T.”

There are also a slew of new tablet details iLounge says they’ve had “double-confirmed.”

  • Double-dock connecting that will enable the tablet to be charged in either portrait or landscape mode
  • Antenna compartment for wireless radio
  • Subsidy-pricing for tablets bought with multi-year contracts from wireless providers
  • Service fees could climb into the $50 or $60 range for monthly wi-fi access.

Here’s what’s new:

Apple or Steve Jobs’s vision for the iSlate/iTablet/iPad is to share the device among family members, says the WSJ. Contrary to what Gruber has heard, the iSlate/iTablet/iPad will have a built-in webcam with facial recognition allowing multiple users to leave virtual sticky-notes for each other. However, the WSJ isn’t sure whether or not said features will be included at launch.

iTunes will hit the Web (iTunes.com) allowing users to purchase content without having iTunes installed. Is this where Lala comes into play? If it turns out to be true then I’d say it’s a safe bet. And it appears that Apple will deploy “buy” buttons to various sites.

I honestly don’t see this happening, but the WSJ’s source(s) are saying that Apple is in deep talks with Microsoft over ditching Google for Bing. I can see Apple ditching Google Maps after their acquisition of Placebase, but I’m not buying Bing for Google for search. Microsoft would have to shell out mucho bucks for that to happen. I’ll eat something terrible on camera if it does.

Here’s what’s old:

Apple has been in talks with Conde Nast, Harper Collins, NYT, WSJ, etc.:
NYT To Charge Online, Apple Content Deals Abound

What To Expect From Apple’s “Latest Creation” Event

Paying for the NYT content through iTunes: See above.

TV subscriptions:
Apple TV Subscriptions On the Horizon?

And that’s about it. If anyone has any info on what OS the device will run, let me know: peter at techland dot com. I still think iTunes will play a major role in the Tablet’s OS.

More on Techland:

Jobs Confirms “major new product” Out This Week

Podcast: Apple Cozying Up to Verizon? A New Way Around iTunes

Yerba Buena Center Gets Dolled Up For Apple