New From Piper Jaffray Analyst Gene Munster: The Apple iPad
by John Paczkowski
Posted on May 21, 2009 at 8:30 AM PT
So that mysterious media tablet Apple’s rumored to be developing? It exists, but it probably won’t ship until 2010. This according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who offers up a heaping pile of grist for the Apple (AAPL) rumor mill in a new research note today.
“Between indications from our component contacts in Asia, recent patents relating to multi-touch sensitivity for more complex computing devices, comments from Tim Cook on the April 22nd conference call, and Apple’s acquisition of P.A. Semi along with other recent chip-related hires, it is increasingly clear that Apple is investing more in its mobile computing franchise,” he writes. “Specifically, we expect this to result in a larger (7″-10″) touchscreen tablet that will launch in 1H CY10. Additionally, Apple’s consistent message that it refuses to launch a ‘cheap’ portable netbook, and its desire to differentiate itself in a maturing market before it’s too late, plus its gradual addition of multi-touch technology to all of its core products (iPhones, iPods and Macs) leads us to conclude this product will be a touchscreen tablet.”
Munster theorizes that the device will use a third version of Mac OS X to offer a sort of middle ground between the iPod touch and the MacBook. “The device’s OS could bear a close resemblance to Apple’s iPhone OS and run App Store apps,” he wrote. “Key apps, like Safari and Mail, could make use of the larger screen resolution, making Apple’s tablet appealing for more extended use, but the company could continue to leverage its primary asset in mobile computing, the App Store, in this scenario.”
The design of that OS, however, has been time-consuming and will keep the device from market until the first half of next year. “We expect the development of such an OS to be underway currently,” Munster says, “but its complexity, along with our conversations with a key company in the mobile space, leads us to believe it will not launch until CY10.”
[Image Credit: MacBlogz]
Comments
Although Munster doesn’t have that great a track record when prognosticating on the topic of Apple, I think he has a good point about the OS. Last time push came to shove, Leopard was delayed about six months so that they could finish the iPhone OS on time.
With Snow Leopard slated to be finished and shipping this Summer, maybe the next big push will be to go with something like this before moving on to 10.7 Serval Cat.
Posted by Eric Welch at May 21st, 2009 at 8:25 amWhile I think that this type of device has the potential to be a homerun, the projected timing (vs. this year) isn’t shocking for two reasons:
1. Partitioning the platform between open PC-like layers (i.e., download apps from anywhere) and managed/closed runtime layers (App Store is THE marketplace with a singular SDK, APIs, etc.) is a potential hornet’s nest of technical, user experience and ecosystem decisions.
2. Such a device is a logical point for Apple to define forking decisions between abstractions and uniformity, relative to supporting all sorts of different form factors under this platform (e.g., Macs, Apple TV, iPhone, iPod touch, Tablet, keyboard, touch/tilt only, camera, video, TV tuner).
For more fodder on the topic, check out the post:
Apple, TV and the Smart Connected Living Room
http://bit.ly/FBEk
Cheers,
Mark
Posted by Mark Sigal at May 21st, 2009 at 10:10 amAlthough Munster doesn’t have that great a track record when prognosticating on the topic of Apple, I think he has a good point about the OS. Last time push came to shove, Leopard was delayed about six months so that they could finish the iPhone OS on time
Posted by John Hodgkins at May 21st, 2009 at 7:20 pmThoughtful comment, John.
Posted by Eric Welch at May 22nd, 2009 at 8:27 am