Apple's Split Keyboard Makes It Possible For Tablets With Less Than 10" Screen Sizes

I mentioned last Friday that I would point out something within the framework with what Apple has shown us that points the Apple tablets with less than 10". That feature is the new split keyboard that will soon be available in iOS 5. And this split keyboard will allow Apple

During a few financial calls back, Steve Jobs disparaged those tablets on the market with less than 10" screen. It was the 7" Galaxy Tab that Steve Jobs are up in arms about. Steve Jobs basically said that unless users are able to file down their fingers to tap at the screen, it would make no sense for users to operate a tablet with a less than 10" screen. As I was listening in on that call, I thought to myself, "well, the iPhone and iPod touch had a pretty small screen. In fact, they are 6.5 inches smaller than the 10" iPad and they seem to work just as well".

I think what Steve Jobs was ranting about in particular was the keyboard. As for trying to type with both hands in landscape mode, the 10" screen on the iPad is just perfect. In the portrait mode, you're forced to tap at the keys or use your thumbs but unless you've got a larger than normal hand, you can have problem trying to reach for certain keys while trying to hold the iPad at the same time.

This is where the split keyboard comes into play.

Now, consider trying to do the same on a 5" to 9" tablet. A full sized keyboard on these screens might be possible on a 9" screen but anything below that, you have to have a child's hand to be able to peck at the keyboards in landscape mode accurately. And if you try typing in portrait mode, everything from a 6" and bigger screen, you run into the similar problem you do know with the 10" tablet. Depending on the size of your hands, you will have a hard time typing with your thumbs while trying to steady the tablet.

This is where the split keyboard in iOS 5 comes into play. The split keyboard would allow Apple to make a smaller sized iPad or a bigger sized iPod touch and allow the user to be able to type with their thumbs more easily, thereby, eliminating the problem of trying to type to peck at the keys with your fingers as you type.

Here is a video the split keyboard works. See how with split keyboard allows you to type and reach all the keys and smaller icons without having to try and reach the middle of the screen with your thumbs.



On top of that, the increasing chatter about and iPod touch with 3G modem makes very little sense. I think the people who are leaking these news may not have all facts. I think it makes more sense that there could be a smaller sized tablet, or, again, a bigger sized iPod touch with the room for a 3G modem and a large enough battery to give this tablet sufficient battery life.

And the split keyboard would work great on it. So, what do you think? Do you think I'm on to something or am I just grasping at straws? The main point here is this. Apple cannot ignore the mid-sized segment of the market indefinitely. It is a spot where Apple's competitors could try to grab a foothold in the tablet market and expand from them. Apple will eventually have to nip it in the butt. And one more thing: Apple, particularly Steve Jobs, has a way of saying that Apple won't do something but exactly a year or so later, do exactly what they said they wouldn't do.

They said they would never make an iPod that plays video. Jobs said no one in America reads anymore but we all know where we are with iBooks. And what better way for Apple to do a 180 on the no 7" iPad than to come out with one a full year later - complete with iOS 5, split keyboard, and 3G access.

Skype For iPad Here! (For Some)

I eager wait for the arrival of Skype app for iPad.  I've been using the iPhone version on the iPad and I just have had enough of it.  I do quite a bit of IM on Skype and it just was maddening to type on it.

As you know, Skype was recently bought out by Microsoft and there is no way we can tell what Microsoft intends to do with it.  

For now, I'm just going to think small and appreciate the arrival of a native iPad app.  

On another issue:  FaceTime.  It's Apple's video chat solution.  Could se see some kind of an improvement with the arrival of iOS 5?  There is chatter that Apple may being 3G to the iPod touch (I think it's more likely a larger sized iPod touch with 5-7").  I would love to see FaceTime and Skype go head-to-head.

Source:  Appleinsider.

HTC Filed Suit Against Apple In the UK; Apple Likely snapped HTC's Olive Branch

After being handed a setback by ITC that ruled HTC violated two key Apple patents and having the S3 patents that Apple's Mac alleged violated be ruled unpatentable, HTC was in a much weaker position in the courts and bargaining position.  

Hence, HTC suddenly became malleable to sitting down with Apple and negotiate an agreement with Apple.  That was last week.

Today, we learned that HTC filed a suit against Apple in the UK and the war between the two is likely to escalate to the level of fighting between Apple and Samsung spanning continents in multiple jurisdictions.  

Why?  Is HTC simply trying to rattle Apple a bit?  On the surface, one could see this as a ploy to bring Apple to the tablet.  However, I've got another explanation.

Apple took the olive branch from HTC, broke it in half, and threw it right back at it.  

And if I'm right, all the Android device makers will have to deal with Apple in just such a manner.  Apple does not file patents to collect royalties. Many Wall Street analysts mistakenly insist that exchange of money will make this "all go away" especially Taiwanese research firms.  Apple filed patents to protect its products from being copied and infringed upon.  

Also, HTC assured investors that the spat with Apple will not hurt its business.  I think HTC investors ought to do a little homework and find out just who HTC is dealing with.

Some TV Shows Bought On iTunes Streams To Apple TV, Now About iOS Devices?

Apple has a deal with ABC, Fox, and possibly others that allows Apple TV to stream TV shows they bought.  When I first read about this earlier this morning, I had to reread the post to make sure it was what I thought it to be.  And this was made possible through an Apple TV update available today. (Macworld)

If you buy a TV show from a studio has such a deal wtih Apple, you can now download the TV show but also stream it live through Apple's servers to your Apple TV and onto your HDTV.  This certainly has me closer to buying a TV after all.

What's missing is that some studios and channels have not yet agree to this.  Hence, users reported that some TV shows are missing.  

And while Apple now allows TV shows to be redownloaded, I wonder how soon before Apple allows users to simply stream TV they've gouth.  Furthermore, are we any closer to a TV subscription?

No 3.5" iPod Touch with 3G; 7" iPod Touch With 3G Makes More Sense

I'm gonna make this my thing for the fall until the next iPod touch comes out.  3G access is something I've wanted for the iPod touch but never got and now it's likely Apple is shipping an iPod touch with 3G.  My question is which one.

See, I've been using my iPod touch with my Clearwire iSpot until I bought new Android and iPhone recently.  It was my mobile battle platform if you will.  As a mobile warrior who insisted on taking that extra leap into what I think is the future, a future where there are no voice plan but data only plans, it was a grand experiment.  

My set up was not as robust as I would have liked largely because the VOIP options were spotty.  Now with Apple likely to release a touch with 3G, I reckon Apple should have an option for VOIP in development in the future.  Perhaps, there could be a FaceTime option for just voice.  

So, would this just be a conventional iPod touch upgraded with a 3G modem?  I think not though because the addressable market is just too small.  

I'm going against convention and speculate that the iPod touch as we know it will remain the same while there could be a separate subset of the touch with a bigger screen and form factor to support 3G and a larger battery life.

Just yesteryday I posted the news that Samsung has developed a 7" screen wtih 1024x768 resolution, the same one as the iPad.  To call this an iPod touch 7 would make sense and the resolution would allow Apple to let this 7" touch use iPad apps without requiring developers to rework their apps.

Furthermore, a 7" iPod touch form factor would allow Apple to increase the battery of this new device with similar battery life to that of the iPad.  

So, I'm gonna be looking at the Web to see if there are more evidence to support my assertion.  I promise to show you that Apple has already show us that it could be working on just such a device.  I'll get to it soon enough.

Apple's Gears Command more than 8.5% Web Access - Evidence of Windows Cannibalization

If you add both Mac and iOS shares, you get 8.57% of total Web access  What this means is the likelihood of the iPad making some inroads into the typical browsing behavior of its users and creating spike that could in a couple of years even rivaling the Mac even as Apple's computers continue to grow.

What it does mean is that future share loss will come mostly at the expense of Windows.  And with the new Macbook Air releases that coincided with the release of OS X Lion and back-to-school sales, Apple may further gain market shares.  It isn't inconceivable that we will see Apple's duo of OS X and iOS reach greater than 10%.

And depending on when the iPad 3 comes out with other Macbook Pro updates, well, I don't want to go overboard and speculate just how much higher Apple's Web access share will go.

Source: Macnn.

iPhone 5 (or 4GS) Launch Date A Moving Target; October Launch Now?

I find this information highly suspect given the movements in the retail market, both by Apple and its carrier partners but still, it would be of interest to those looking at the next iPhone as an upgrade.

According to Macrumors, AllThingsDigital sources place Apple's plans to launch the next iPhone in October instead of the early to mid-September date that had been flying around

Though it could happen, it is highly unlike to happen.  This would place the iPhone launch squarely into the iPod update time frame.  And while you might say "that would make sense", all the price drops for the iPhone 4 and free iPhone 3GS (refurbished) are taking place now or could start next week.  

In the past, Apple's carrier partners typically lower their iPhone prices about a month before the next upgrade happened.  

AllthingsD began their post, defiantly declaring "they're wrong" about the September timeframe that other blogs and news posts have been advocating.  

All I know is that a later iPhone launch would make my white iPhone 4 phone feel more fresh and I'm okay with that.  But I would like for us to remember just how right or wrong AllThingsD are with this new date.  

I sense that it's possibly that is a planted information by someone to misdirect the public.  There is just a smell to all this.  Wall Street and blogs will be rattling the bushes this week to see if they can shake up new information to back up this new October launch frame.