Guest User

Sinobytes

Navigating the bamboo scaffolding of China's rapid-rising tower of technology

by Steven Millward, China

Subscribe to this blog

Apple engineers flying to China suggest "tablet" in 2010

Oct 30, 2009 01:51

A number of senior Apple engineers are reportedly taking an extraordinarily high number of trips to China right now, with more scheduled throughout November. This revelation points to a major new product from Apple, most likely in 2010, with many analysts saying it'll be the much-hyped yet totally unconfirmed "tablet" device; sort of like an oversized iPod touch.

Citing an anonymous source, The Business Insider, which got this tidbit of info, said that Apple engineers are flying out of California and visiting manufacturing plants here in China. That would either be Foxconn or Asus, both Taiwan-based manufacturers with several plants in mainland China, which between them produce all Apple's hardware that's "assembled in China".

Apple VP Phil Schiller said this week that its product lineup for "the holidays" is all set, so common sense and production lead-in times suggest this year as a no-no for any major new device.

It's not just globetrotting engineers who give credence to the reports of a tablet, but also ripples in the publishing industry which suggest (or, maybe, "fear") that an Apple tablet will do for magazines, newspapers and books what the iPod and iPhone has done for music.

It's iPhone launch day!
Now that it's October 30, today is, indeed, the very first launch for the iPhone here in China. Let's not even get started with why on earth it took so long. And let's not even get into the idea that everyone in China who wants an iPhone (and can afford it) has already bought an unlocked gray import one.

China Unicom's press release prior to the big day promises unspecified "Apple marketing executives" and a "mystery guest" for the launch in Beijing later today. Who's the guest? Not Steve Jobs, me thinks. Maybe a star appearance from Kanye West who could interrupt China Unicom and Apple execs to tell them he thinks the Motorola Droid will be the best phone this year. Hmmm.

« Prev

Report offensive

Talkback

Sepanta

View profile

Send mail

Sepanta says...
Iphone Price Whats You Said In Your Previous Post ? Do Its Price Dropped ?

Oct 30, 2009 03:16

Comment

Report offensive

ferdiei

View profile

Send mail

ferdiei says...
all the rumors about the mythical Apple tablet is making sense now, after Microsoft comes out with their own prototype. and due to intel's deliberate delay of developing USB3.0 (would HDMi benefit?) & shows-off a version of'lightpeak' Apple in this regard might revolutionize the industry into adopting a defacto standard, of which a final version of this 'lightpeak' connectivity. but apart from Apple's SW strength, everybody's waiting what is that 'tablet' going to implement to start a whole new slew of innovations, whether its for multimedia playability, ebook capability, MiD functionality, and few more surprises up their sleeve...watch out Nook & the rest

Oct 30, 2009 08:22

Comment

Report offensive

sirsteven

View profile

Send mail

sirsteven says...
@Sepanta The official China Unicom iPhone is cheaper if you sign for an expensive monthly plan (it could even be free for heavy business users; but ordinary people would not need such an expensive monthly plan). So, for most people on the two cheapest monthly plans, the 16GB 3GS costs 3999 or 3799 RMB excluding the deposit (that's USD 556 to 585).

Nov 01, 2009 00:32

Comment

Report offensive

About Steven Millward

Six years after arriving in China to 'check it out', Steven Millward has decided to stay put, and is hooked on the fast-changing dynamic of mainland China. He's not too intimidated that his current city of residence has a greater population than his entire homeland of Wales. A freelance editor, lifestyle magazine writer, English teacher, and enthusiastic blogger, he can also be found on twitter (as @SirSteven) discussing media, tech and music. You can email him with any tips, queries or feedback.