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.