In a decade, we will probably remember 2010 as the groundbreaking year where the way people use computers would change forever as ideas, technology and investment came together to make low-cost consumer tablet devices a reality for everyone. ASUS and MSI are the front-runners right now in terms of offering a low-cost tablet already but Apple, Dell and Intel, Nokia, HTC and many more technology giants are ready to jump in to the market in 2010. Many of these players are actually waiting to see what Apple will come up with. Like they previously with the iPod and iPhone, they won’t be the first to create something in a new product segment, but they will be the ones defining the segment with a flagship product that everyone will try to imitate.

Hewlett-Packard has released its DreamScreen five months before Apple’s tablet is supposed to. The interwebs is going crazy about this DreamScreen. But should Apple be worried? Let’s compare the two.

• Display:
  • Apple tablet: 9.6″ widescreen multi-touch display (by WinTek)
  • HP Dreamscreen: 13.3″ widecsreen non-touch display
  • Apple tablet: 1440-by-1050-pixel resolution at 489 pp
  • HP Dreamscreen: 800-by-480 pixel resolution at 270 pp
  • Apple tablet: Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
  • HP Dreamscreen: Gloss coating, attracts fingerprints
• Processor:
  • Apple tablet: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.13GHz
  • HP Dreamscreen: ARM-based processor
• Memory:
  • Apple tablet: DDR2 2 GB @ 667 MHz
  • HP Dreamscreen: see storage
• Video:
  • Apple tablet: nVidia GeForce 9400M
• Storage:
  • Apple tablet: 64 GB flash drive
  • HP Dreamscreen: 2 GB (1.5 GB usable) flash drive
• Optical drive:
  • Apple tablet: Apple SuperDrive with DVD±RW and CD-RW
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
• Wireless:
  • Apple tablet: Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • HP Dreamscreen: Intergrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • Apple tablet: 3G: HSDPA (through AT&T)
  • HP Dreamscreen: No 3G
  • Apple tablet: Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • HP Dreamscreen: No Bluetooth
• Location tools:
  • Apple tablet: Assisted GPS (aGPS)
  • HP Dreamscreen: No GPS
  • Apple tablet: Digital compass
  • HP Dreamscreen: No compass
• Battery:
  • Apple tablet: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery (by DynaPak)
  • HP Dreamscreen: No battery, powered only by cable
• Usage time:
  • Apple tablet: Internet: up to 6 hours on 3G
  • HP Dreamscreen: Infinite
  • Apple tablet: Internet: up to 12 hours on Wi-Fi
  • HP Dreamscreen: Infinite
  • Apple tablet: Video playback: up to 12 hours
  • HP Dreamscreen: Infinite
• Sensors:
  • Apple tablet: Accelerometer
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
  • Apple tablet: Proximity sensor
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
  • Apple tablet: Ambient light sensor
  • HP Dreamscreen: None
• Colors:
  • Apple tablet: black with silver or white with silver
  • HP Dreamscreen: Black
• Software:
  • Apple tablet: Mac OS X 10.6 with touch-enabled interface
• Price level:
  • Apple tablet: $899 USD, 799 EUR

Do they compare? Not at all. It’s an internet hype! The DreamScreen is nto a contender for the Apple tablet, nor will it ever be. It’s not even a tablet!

The rumored Apple tablet is due for a February 2010 release date. Previous accounts also reported a release date in 2010. This time the information comes from a newspaper in Taiwan According to Tawian’s Economic News, Apple will be receiving parts from suppliers in December and it will then start assembling the first batch of devices for shipment in February. Mentioned is a long-lasting battery from DynaPack, it expects to make around 300,000 batteries a month for Apple. This number translates into the expected number of tablets on the market in the first months.

The newspaper also mentions some new specifications:

• ARM-processor from Apple-acquired PA Semi
• A 3G HSDPA connection through AT&T’s network
• Long-lasting battery (up to 10 hours) from DynaPack
• Price between $799 and $999

The touchscreens for the iPhone and iPod are produced by WinTek. This supplier is said to be supplying Apple with the tablet screens.

See the full updated Apple tablet specifications for more information:

• Display:
  • 9.6″ widescreen multi-touch display (by WinTek)
  • 1440-by-1050-pixel resolution at 489 ppi
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.13GHz
• Memory: DDR2 2 GB @ 667 MHz
• Video: nVidia GeForce 9400M
• Storage: 64 GB flash drive
• Optical drive: Apple SuperDrive with DVD±RW and CD-RW
• Wireless:
  • Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • 3G: HSDPA (through AT&T)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Location tools:
  • Assisted GPS (aGPS)
  • Digital compass
• Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery (by DynaPak)
• Usage time:
  • Internet: up to 6 hours on 3G
  • Internet: up to 12 hours on Wi-Fi
  • Video playback: up to 12 hours
• Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity sensor
  • Ambient light sensor
• Colors:
  • black with silver or
  • white with silver
• Software:
  • Mac OS X 10.6 with touch-enabled interface
• Price level:
  • $899 USD, 799 EUR

The Amazon Kindle e-book reader will be out of the market in a bang when Apple introduces the Apple Tablet (or iPad), says Steve Jobs.

The Apple Tablet will be a touchscreen MacBook used for functions as broad as browsing the web, watching movies, writing notes, playing games, and now it becomes interesting: as a device to read e-books on.

In an interview with the New York Times yesterday, Steve Jobs has hinted pretty strongly at Apple’s plans for the future. He criticizes Amazon’s Kindle strongly and continues to state that if there will be a device like the Kindle from Apple, it will be a multi-purpose device. Such as a tablet computer. Additionally he states that Apple does not see e-books as a market to move into at this point due to lack of scale.

It’s a good point. Why would a person on the move want to hold his mobile phone, media player, (touchscreen) laptop, also his e-book reader. It’s not realistic. The e-book reader is for a different kind of market. Avid book readers that stay at home, not mainstream multi-purpose media consumers.

“I’m sure there will always be dedicated devices, and they may have a few advantages in doing just one thing. But I think the general-purpose devices will win the day. Because I think people just probably aren’t willing to pay for a dedicated device.”, Steve said.

Apple has been rumoured to release a portable touchscreen computer for the high-end segment for a while now.

Any data on specifications or other technical details on the tablet were unfortunately unknown, up until now.

An industry analyst has just reported to Apple Tablet the specification sheet for the Apple Tablet to be launched very soon.

• Display:
  • 9.6″ widescreen multi-touch display (by WinTek)
  • 1440-by-1050-pixel resolution at 489 ppi
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.13GHz
• Memory: DDR2 2 GB @ 667 MHz
• Video: nVidia GeForce 9400M
• Storage: 64 GB flash drive
• Optical drive: Apple SuperDrive with DVD±RW and CD-RW
• Wireless:
  • Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • 3G: HSDPA (through AT&T)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Location tools:
  • Assisted GPS (aGPS)
  • Digital compass
• Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery (by DynaPak)
• Usage time:
  • Internet: up to 6 hours on 3G
  • Internet: up to 12 hours on Wi-Fi
  • Video playback: up to 12 hours
• Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity sensor
  • Ambient light sensor
• Colors:
  • black with silver or
  • white with silver
• Software:
  • Mac OS X 10.6 with touch-enabled interface
• Price level:
• $899  USD, 799 EUR

[Photo courtesy of Fotoboer.nl]