The news is rampant that Apple is going to introduce a large-format iPod Touch later this year.
With a seven to nine inch screen, it’s not really a Touch as opposed to a tablet computer. To me, it’s a game-breaker because it’s a product that will slot nicely in the PC, laptop, PDA landscape.
And with the iPhone and iPod Touch on such a roll with such amazing brand recognition and goodwill, the new Touch could be a monster hit. In fact, I’d want one even though I got a Touch a few months ago.
Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod Touch
This is wonderful news! Do I think the new iPod Touch is going to be a PC killer? No. But I do absolutely believe that it will complement a niche in the market place which has yet to be seen as “cool”. Having been involved with Tablet PC’s since their public release to market in 03′, I often hoped that Apple would follow suit with a Tablet Like product. With the prospect of them launching a 7″-9″ screen product, this could really help to identify the opportunities presented by such products and also drive the cost down at the same time. Tablet PC Manufacturers like Motion Computing, Acer, Fujitsu and others with “Slate” style Tablet products had best keep an eye on this new Apple, as it could help them or hurt them depending on their response to its launch.
I for one, will likely seek to add it to my personal gadget collection.
I doubt it will be a PC killer. It might compete with netbooks though, if the price is anywhere near competitive. However, competing on price has never really been a concern of Apple’s.
While this does sound like an interesting device, I have one huge concern: will it be like the current iPod Touch in that only applications permitted by Apple to be on the iTunes App. store to be installed?
Given Apple’s inconsistent approach on which applications it allows/disallows on the app store, this is not a degree of control that I am willing to cede to Apple for a notebook/netbook replacement.
I think Apple wants to scale up their customer control/lock-in model to larger devices. I do have a Mac at home, but I would not have bought it if Apple had final say on what applications I could install on it.
no. It’s not. The same way that toasters aren’t going to be PC killers. Cause toasters, iPods and a pc all do different things. I think a better debate is weather or not the toaster oven is a traditional toaster killer. I know that it’s been a while and you might be thinking that by now that debate should be put to bed, but i say give it a few more years.
-M
The Amazon Kindle’s days are numbered.
Amazon should just use the new iPod Touch as device for their bookreader platform.
-R
I’m not going to say it couldn’t take some market share from some device niche, but it’s not going to be PCs. I’d say a large interface ipod touch would be a perfect way for Apple to enter the netbook market. Think about it, a 9-inch device that has basic application/Internet uses. What does that sound like if you exclude the touch screen feature from that list?
yeah yeah, the news was rampant that Apple were gonna release a sub $1000 notebook and that never happened (either). It’s just a rumour. You know the VC world is slowing down dramatically when TechCrunch get into the business of starting Apple rumours. *yawn*