Report: Apple in Tablet Talks with Australian Media

Recent reports say Apple is in talks with Australian media agencies about an ereader device. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the tablet, tipped to be a sort of giant iPod touch, is small enough to carry in a handbag but too big to fit in a pocket.

The report goes on to say that Apple has sent specifications of the device to Australian media companies in an effort to sound out whether they would be interested in delivering their content to the tablet, however, no one from the companies would speak about the tablet on the record.

Now, that's not a lot to go on. Considering there's exactly zero specifics and no one is willing to go on record, we're all taking this news with a huge grain of salt. However, comments made yesterday by Executive Editor of the New York Times, Bill Keller, mention an "Apple Slate." The off-the-record speech made it online and can be found here, but the snippet below is what has everyone so worked up.

“I’m hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that.”

As far as we're concerned, the biggest news here is that this tablet is looking more and more like an ereader. A little less exciting than a tablet in my opinion. 

  • dman3k
    Should Amazon or Sony start screaming patents and accuse Apple of being copycats like Apple does to their competition?
    Reply
  • SamuelL421
    As far as we're concerned, the biggest news here is that this tablet is looking more and more like an ereader. A little less exciting than a tablet in my opinion.

    Agreed, there's going to have to be a lot of added functionality vs the ipod touch or iphone to make this worthwhile to most people.

    As a graphic designer, the idea of a true apple tablet is interesting (I'm thinking wacom tablet + imac). But an apple e-reader? I'll pass.
    Reply
  • ravewulf
    What is with all these eReaders all of a sudden?

    I would still much rather use my laptop or desktop
    Reply
  • deadlockedworld
    I think we all know that Steve Jobs would never settle for an E-reader. He will demand that his employees make it do everything. (except for 1 critical thing everyone wants--like push email).

    I'm guessing this thing will up the ante in the handheld gaming/movie competition and the e-reader part is just an add-on. This kind of legwork in contacting media companies before launch is one of the reasons I think apple does so well--they wont launch it until they get everything in place..
    Reply
  • Drag0nR1der
    ravewulfWhat is with all these eReaders all of a sudden?I would still much rather use my laptop or desktop
    Not me, I read for hours at a time, continuously reading fine text from a backlit screen over that amount of time puts enormous strain on your eyes, especially at the kind of distance you normally are from a book you are holding. and thats before you go in to the inability to get 'lost in the book' whilst reading, thus spoiling enjoyment of most works of fiction. Laptops and desktops are just plain awkward for prolonged reading. (H&S guidance tells people to take regular eyebreaks when working with computers, something you hardly want to do when engrossed in a book, not that any of us bother doign that, probably why our eyes feel so strained at the end of a day in the office).
    Reply
  • croc
    Jane, shame on you. No link to Asher Moses' article in the Sydney Morning Herald? Well, here it is for all to read...

    http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/computers/apple-shops-tablet-around-australia-20091027-hijk.html

    Pretty much all rumour, no facts, but since the 'world' (as defined by the 48 contiguous States of the US of A) is so eager for apple news...

    Maybe you should have posted the article of a few days ago, where it was discussed how, once again, we Aussies were getting raped by M$ in the Win 7 release...
    Reply
  • wildwell
    dman3kShould Amazon or Sony start screaming patents and accuse Apple of being copycats like Apple does to their competition?
    You mean like Nokia?
    Reply
  • JMcEntegart
    crocJane, shame on you. No link to Asher Moses' article in the Sydney Morning Herald? Well, here it is for all to read...http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life -hijk.htmlPretty much all rumour, no facts, but since the 'world' (as defined by the 48 contiguous States of the US of A) is so eager for apple news...Maybe you should have posted the article of a few days ago, where it was discussed how, once again, we Aussies were getting raped by M$ in the Win 7 release...
    Sorry. Actually did include the link but didn't realise it was broken. Should be all fixed now though. So I guess me and my shame will be on our way.
    Reply
  • darkknight22
    Marcus Yam must have had to change his pants after reading this article.
    Reply