With Apple saying only that it will unveil its “latest creation” at a media event in San Francisco next week, speculation about music, gaming and a new iPhone operating system is adding to the tablet buzz that has been building for weeks.
Ever since Apple last month reserved the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts for Jan. 27, analysts have guessed it was time for the computer giant to roll out its version of a tablet computer. Apple CEO Steve Jobs reportedly scrapped early versions, but touchscreen advances from the iPod and iPhone seem to have paved the way for a tablet some have dubbed an iPhone on steroids.
Many industry observers expect the “latest creation” to be a multi-touch device with a 10-inch screen called the iSlate that will sell for about $1,000. That is more than three times the price of Amazon’s Kindle e-reader.
Games and Content
When Apple invited the gaming blog Kotaku to the event, it set off speculation that the iSlate may have enhanced gaming features and be compatible with modified apps from the iPhone. The event could also mark the debut of the 4.0 edition of the iPhone operating system.
“They’ve been known to do multiple announcements, so chances are they will [unveil the new OS],” said Kirk Parsons, a telecommunications analyst at J.D. Power and Associates.
With agreements in the works between Apple and music, television and news organizations, the company could also announce new content providers for iTunes and the App Store.
“At this point, with many people projecting their own impressions onto Apple’s invitation, anything is possible,” said Interpret Vice President Michael Gartenberg. “It’s certainly within the realm of possibility that any new form of device Apple would bring to market would also include entertainment content such as games.”
Game Time
Joe Berkowitz, founder of Interactive Moxie, a digital strategy…
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