Apple 'Kindle killer' rumor gets touch-screen
A tablet by any other name...
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More evidence has surfaced that the long-rumored Apple tablet/netbook/media-pad/ebook/whatever is on its way to a fanboi near you. Or to you yourself, if you swing that way.
Taiwanese market-watching site DigiTimes reported Friday that touch-screen manufacturer Wintek has been tapped by Apple to supply display panels for Cupertino's "upcoming e-book form factor netbook product."
Back in March, DigiTimes reported that Wintek - headquartered in Taiwan and with manufacturing facilities in the People's Republic of China, India, and on its home turf - would supply panels for "Apple's new netbook," with shipments beginning in the third quarter of 2009.
The twist in DigiTimes's latest report, of course, is the mention of an ebook form factor.
Speculation about whether or not Apple is - or should be - preparing an ebook reader has been floating around for over a year, and has recently picked up steam - even here at The Reg, where this morning we pointed out that long-time Apple analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray ses a "Kindle-killer" coming out of Cupertino early next year.
But speculation is just that - Webster defines "speculate" as "to take to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence."
But Friday's report from the oft-reliable DigiTimes adds to the mounting evidence. Exactly when that volume of evidence will graduate from insufficient to sufficient remains ... well ... a matter of speculation. ®
COMMENTS
re: ebook?
Didn't the XO from the OLPC folks have a dual-use screen that was either a standard LCD or a low-power monochrome display depending on how you were using the device?
If the OLPC people could do this a couple of years ago at a very low cost then I'm sure an improved, touchscreen version in ebook form-factor is possible.
killer?
The only "Kindle Killer" in my books would be something that combines the illiad iRex touch screen and annotation functions (but not tied to Microsoft), the Mac Air form factor, and a device independent library of books that could be used. Amazon is just using the Kindle as a loss leader for their overpriced, DRM-infested online book selection. Something that gives me more choice would be the killer for me. As in, I'd be more likely to buy it. I've been waiting for a decent book reader for years.
Hey look!!!
An article about Apple, lets all read it, and then post saying how not-interested we are and how much we hate Apple and Steve Jobs is Satan. My ain't I cutting edge and down with the kids for being so smart as to "dis" Apple.....
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