Define the Problem

The creative-style invitations recently sent out by Apple imply some sort of creative device (e.g. drawing tablet). And now there are rumors that the tablet will be a general purpose device. Compared to the iPhone and iPod launches, attempting a general purpose device is uncharacteristic of Apple; they tend to define a problem, invent a device to solve it, and have that device solve only that problem and solve it really well. Of course, the only exception is in their general purpose computers, which do a lot of things very well. I've predicted possible tablet application approaches before, but I now think that the tablet will be simultaneously released with iLife '10, which will have a painting program. I predict a combination device (remember the phone, iPod, internet communcator?): Web Reader, Sketchpad, Game System.

Gamechanger

So, is the iPhone 4G coming to Verizon?. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't; we can't know until next week. Here's what's not going to happen:

“The phone will be carried on Verizon and hence will operate on the CDMA network,” he asserts, adding, “however, it will also support European GSM and HSPA standards. An updated 4GS version that will support LTE is anticipated to arrive in June 2011.”

Umm... no. Apple's not going to bend over backwards to put more chips in its phone and make it even thicker and more power hungry. Compare the thickness of an iPhone to that of an iPod touch. That's mostly the cellular chip.

The iPhone is a worldwide device by virtue of supporting the only worldwide standard. I think that the iPhone LTE will come out on Verizon. I just don't think that before that it will be worth it to manufacture a version with a different wireless chipset just for the US or China. It's in Apple's best interest to push the carriers to move to LTE as quickly as possible, giving it an easy way to switch carriers without any hardware change if need be, and thus an easy way out of a poorer carrier. The iPhone LTE will be a kingmaker in the LTE market, not only because of its success at attracting customers from other carriers, but also because it will force carriers to rapidly support LTE infrastructure.

The tablet isn't about the iPhone at all

It has been proposed several times that the supposed upcoming apple tablet will run iPhone OS at a higher resolution. It's not going to. It's not in apple's style to adopt a one size fits all strategy in anything. However, I have a two theories about what the tablet may be (in order of likeliness):

• A device running iPhone OS X with UIKit interface and frameworks: This may sound like it would run iPhone apps, but it will not. Instead, it adopts frameworks more similar to the iPhone's UIKit than Mac OS X's AppKit. And if it does this, OpenGL ES, not OpenGL, will be the 3D provider of choice.
• A device running full OS X: Full OS X is not a one size fits all strategy in this case... if the tablet's form factor is large enough. The MacBook Air, supposedly the "apple netbook", has a 13" display, and runs OS X perfectly well. The limiting factor on the Air is the full-size keyboard, but if Apple loses the keyboard and goes for handwriting recognition or thumb-typing, the display could likely be a high-DPI ten inch display. If the tablet ends up being as popular as the iPhone, this may serve to push the iPhone halo effect over the edge and get all of those iPhone developers developing for the mac.