Could Apple be preparing an assault on PS3, Wii and 360 with its new Tablet?
TechRadar (via Kotaku) has got wind that US video games journos are being invited to the launch of the device on January 27th - setting tongues wagging about what Apple will unveil.
The firm's move into gaming has already been phenomenally successful, with iPhone and iPod becoming strong contenders as standalone 'consoles'.
If you've been living on the moon, Apple's Tablet is effectively a slate-shaped netbook, complete with a touch screen.
What do you reckon readers? Can Apple take on the might of Microsoft in the world of games? Should Sony be looking over its shoulder? Could we be looking at the future of the MMO? let us know below...
Not a chance. Mark my words, it'll have the same internal workings as the iTouch (maybe the iPhone) but with just a bigger screen. There's no way the GPU will be able to produce anything but high-res versions of the sorts of things we already see on the iPhone.
That's by no means a bad thing, Flight Control is absolutely ace, for example. But to say it'll compete with the 360, PS3 or even the Wii is ridiculous.
I hope so. Apple bring out quality products that revolutionise a genre. Ipod is the best MP3 (MP4 whatever) player STILL. And nothing comes close to the iPhone.
I really hope they do enter the console market in one way or another; even if it's not a machine for the hardcore gamer it'll be better for the consumer in general. With their habit of forward thinking and innovation it'll improve the next Gen of consoles no end if apple throws a load of good ideas around to pilot.
I agree with altitude2k, many of the iphone games will have upped resolution to play on the larger screen, but there's no way this'll be a 3d powerhouse like the 360 or PS3. It'll be aimed at the casual gamer market more than anything else. I for one will no doubt land up getting one so it'll sync with my iphone 4g when it comes out later in the year!
Technically there's no reason why Apple couldn't enter the gaming market.
The issue is Apple's attitude towards games. They never dismissed games outright (although that could be argued since Halo was first presented to the world as a Mac exclusive). But in their efforts to remain a serious design/business computer they certainly didn't do much to encourage games on the Mac. Which I find slightly ironic.
After years of selling themselves to the professional market, Apple suddenly seemed to understand how big the home market was. They introduced their family-friendly looking operating system and the colourful iMacs, then of course moved into music players, selling music and mobile phones.
Apple's recent success, as far as I can see, is very much down to marketing and product design. Their products, which might not appeal to all, are generally considered well designed. It seems to be a company policy that's proved quite successful; good product design, easy to use functionality. Interestingly they've also shown that they can enter an established market – music and mobiles – and be pretty successful.
I have no doubt that if Apple wanted to compete with the likes of Sony and Microsoft they could. After all Microsoft and Sony weren't always in the console/games market.
If games have shown us anything it's that the market is continually changing and expanded, and the big players in hardware and software are also a moving target. Apple will decide if and when it wants to enter the gaming market. I'm convinced it still doesn't really care to. But if and when it does I'm sure it'll have the same impact as it's had on mobile phones and music players.
I wonder if Apple are waiting for technology and the infrastructure to improve enough that a completely online gaming system is a viable business plan.
Erm... PS3, Wii and 360 are home consoles, apple tablet will be a tablet PC. They are completely different devices, consoles are for gaming tablets are for work orientated tasks and surfing the net etc. It will also have no buttons which will make it rubbish for most games. I assume it will not have a huge amount of power under the hood as being a portable device it will need to be easy on the batteries. It is going to have as much impact on the consoles as netbooks are currently.
Personally i wouldnt touch a Apple product with a 10ft barge pole. Their customer service sucks. Had to send the misses macbook all the way 2 Oslo because the apple store in Birmingham wouldn't look at it. They want £100 just for saying its Broken and another £750 to replace the faulty logic board. Cant even get the mac back broken untill she hands over the hundred!! CONNING RIP OFF TAT
I read a very interesting article the other week about tablets and their purpose. It was decided that there wasn't a single reason to ever buy a tablet because it sits in between 2 markets that are perfectly well catered for and doesn't do a very good job of either.
For example, they can do all the stuff the iPhone can do - but it's too big to carry around on you. They can do things like allow you to write up documents, go on the internet etc., but with a non-tactile keyboard it's nowhere near as good as a netbook - is just as big and costs a hell of a lot more.
A lot of the buzz on the internet seems to be that it isn't going to be a fully features table PC, like we've seen before. Obviously it'll have multi-touch (maybe an advanced version?) and run some kind of build of OSX, but beyond that I don't think anyone can say.
There have been a LOT of murmurings about Apple re-entering the games market, so it wouldn't be surprising if it was something they were thinking about with their tablet, whatever it is. Should know soon enough now anyway.
whatever it'll be no doubt it'll be overpriced and hampered all to hell and back with DRM! Sure, it'll look nice and the fashion followers will no doubt get it, therefore setting a trend that all the little sheeple will follow blindly!
Definatly not!!! (Unless of course I am made to eat my words and they include a blu-ray player, hi-res graphics, proper stereo surround sound, and free online - what are the chances?)
whatever it'll be no doubt it'll be overpriced and hampered all to hell and back with DRM! Sure, it'll look nice and the fashion followers will no doubt get it, therefore setting a trend that all the little sheeple will follow blindly!
Well Apple have built a business on 'overpriced' computers, and I understand their 'overpriced' phones and music players are doing quite well. Or at least all the millions of 'fashion follower's are buying these products. If Apple product purchasers are 'sheeple', what exactly are Sony, Microsoft or PC purchasers? I think you're just anti Apple to the point of bitterness. That's a bit tragic these days as Apple products are all around us now.
I read a very interesting article the other week about tablets and their purpose. It was decided that there wasn't a single reason to ever buy a tablet because it sits in between 2 markets that are perfectly well catered for and doesn't do a very good job of either.
For example, they can do all the stuff the iPhone can do - but it's too big to carry around on you. They can do things like allow you to write up documents, go on the internet etc., but with a non-tactile keyboard it's nowhere near as good as a netbook - is just as big and costs a hell of a lot more.
Good point, but the article must have missed one thing.
Do we actually need many of the products or services we already have?
Tablets just haven't been marketed well so far. We need a tablet no more than we need a phone to do anything but allow us to talk to people from a distance. We don't need mobile music players, but we justify buying them.
The tablet just hasn't fallen into the correct marketing hands which is why we currently don't need it. One day a company will convince us that our lives will be better with a tablet than without. While it has the functionality of a mobile computer, it has the easy of use and more natural control system of touch screen and it looks 'cool'. If anyone can sell this, Apple can.
Interesting how you took this news to be a gaming tablet. I took it that they will push gaming on the Iphone in a big way. Its certainly a capable device (im not buying one) but always let down by controls. Could they have something in mind for that? add-on perhaps? maybe a gaming portal to? At the very least I expect to see companies like EA there talking about developing for the platform
my guess is that it will be HD, wireless and with possible tie-ins to mobile supplier for 3g connectivity a la iphone. much more geared up do do docs, games and media. a lot more horse power than an iphone. it could have a slide out keyborad on 'snap on' keyboard option.
some kind of device that would beam the image up to your big ass tv would also be nice.
if Apple think they can take a slice out of the big boys games market then they'll do it. they've certainly taken a chunk out of the DS and PSP market with the iphone/ipod touch.
stands to reason the bean counters will be chasing the untapped dollars.
i look forward to what they're going to launch, you never know some of you might like it!
I read a very interesting article the other week about tablets and their purpose. It was decided that there wasn't a single reason to ever buy a tablet because it sits in between 2 markets that are perfectly well catered for and doesn't do a very good job of either.
For example, they can do all the stuff the iPhone can do - but it's too big to carry around on you. They can do things like allow you to write up documents, go on the internet etc., but with a non-tactile keyboard it's nowhere near as good as a netbook - is just as big and costs a hell of a lot more.
Good point, but the article must have missed one thing.
Do we actually need many of the products or services we already have?
Tablets just haven't been marketed well so far. We need a tablet no more than we need a phone to do anything but allow us to talk to people from a distance. We don't need mobile music players, but we justify buying them.
The tablet just hasn't fallen into the correct marketing hands which is why we currently don't need it. One day a company will convince us that our lives will be better with a tablet than without. While it has the functionality of a mobile computer, it has the easy of use and more natural control system of touch screen and it looks 'cool'. If anyone can sell this, Apple can.
Well yes, Apple fanboys will buy anything that Apple bring out, not matter how pointless.
The Iphone and Ipod Touch can do handheld games brilliantly but I don't think the tablet could really be a rival to the type of 3D games console owners are used to.
When all said and done it's just a netbook. A netbook with no keyboard. How many netbooks do you know of that can play Oblivion or Mass Effect?
well, this device will probably be completely game-changing (pun intended) or a complete flop (yeah, i know, that's playing it pretty safe...) however, in terms of hardware i'm guessing that it'll have more heft than people on here are expecting. i certainly disagree with altitude2k. there's no way it'll have the same hardware as the itouch/iphone. the form factor and subsequent increased battery life alone will preclude this. i reckon they'll be looking more to ion/moorestown level territory, which will certainly take it beyond what the wii is capable of in terms of visuals. but then maybe it'll just have next-gen arm SoC, although again this should take it beyond a wii. anyway, if it's any less capable than this then i'll eat my hat and my cat!
The Iphone and Ipod Touch can do handheld games brilliantly but I don't think the tablet could really be a rival to the type of 3D games console owners are used to.
When all said and done it's just a netbook. A netbook with no keyboard. How many netbooks do you know of that can play Oblivion or Mass Effect?
I have got mine running canon fodder... does that count?
by the way, no this won't be competing with any of the mainstream consoles, so the articles hyperbolic bleating of questions about apple 'taking on' the consoles is misleading. it's in a completely different market and is akin to asking whether the launch of a new car will affect whether people will still buy a mountain bike. my point is just that, in terms of processing power, the apple tablet will quite possibly be able to compete visually with modern consoles. and again, i agree davemerritt, playing anything more than casual/simple interface games on a touchscreen is a horrible experience. also just like to add that i'm not an apple fanboy. i've never owned any of their products, and probably never will. overpriced isn't the word...
By 'Apple fanboys' I assume you mean anyone who owns an Apple product? Apple products have a reasonably large and growing market in their phones and music players so the tablet still has a fairly large target audience.
I don't doubt Apple computer users will take more interest in the tablet than say hardcore Microsoft-PC based users. But until we fully understand the product or more importantly see it's marketing I think it's too early to guess who this tablet is aimed at. I may be wrong, but I assume this will be marketed to a larger audience than just Mac users.
I'm a Mac user, but I don't have an iPhone or an iPod or a MacBook, so I'm probably not one of your 'Apple fanboys' and am probably no more likely than yourself of buying this product. But I would hazard a guess it'll be aimed at the largest possible market, namely anyone who has a laptop or uses a computer at home.
By 'Apple fanboys' I assume you mean anyone who owns an Apple product? Apple products have a reasonably large and growing market in their phones and music players so the tablet still has a fairly large target audience.
I don't doubt Apple computer users will take more interest in the tablet than say hardcore Microsoft-PC based users. But until we fully understand the product or more importantly see it's marketing I think it's too early to guess who this tablet is aimed at. I may be wrong, but I assume this will be marketed to a larger audience than just Mac users.
I'm a Mac user, but I don't have an iPhone or an iPod or a MacBook, so I'm probably not one of your 'Apple fanboys' and am probably no more likely than yourself of buying this product. But I would hazard a guess it'll be aimed at the largest possible market, namely anyone who has a laptop or uses a computer at home.
Nope, I mean fanboys. Those that can see no wrong and will purchase whatever Steve tells them too. Fanboy and user are not one and the same.
Apple however do have a great marketing department and this will ensure sales too. Most kids probably don't even know that there is any other choice than ipod when it comes to buying an MP3 player. Even though there are plenty of better and cheaper players on the market.
I think it's fair to say that Apple fanboys are the most loyal and blind of any I've ever encountered. If you think the console kids on these boards are bad, well they pale in comparison to Apple devotees. They will buy anything. The MacBook Air, for example - the most useless, overpriced piece of s**t laptop ever produced. But it was so thin! And that's what we needed! Thinner laptops! For £2500! Idiots.
I'm not really against Apple - I use a PC, but I have an iPod. But damn, I want to smack Apple heads in their silly mouths when they say "Oh, you should switch to Mac, everything just... Works!"
I think it's fair to say that Apple fanboys are the most loyal and blind of any I've ever encountered. If you think the console kids on these boards are bad, well they pale in comparison to Apple devotees. They will buy anything. The MacBook Air, for example - the most useless, overpriced piece of s**t laptop ever produced. But it was so thin! And that's what we needed! Thinner laptops! For £2500! Idiots.
I'm not really against Apple - I use a PC, but I have an iPod. But damn, I want to smack Apple heads in their silly mouths when they say "Oh, you should switch to Mac, everything just... Works!"
Does it b******s.
They are also the most vicious when it comes to any one criticising their beloved apple. All fanboys are bad, but Apples fanboys take it to a whole new level. I have seen many posts from fanboys shouting that for instance apple were correct to leave out copy and paste on the iphone as it was not needed then when it was put in the same people we on there shouting about how great it was that apple had listened and that they have re-invented the copy and paste! Anyone that disagreed was faced with some of the worst abuse I have seen on any forum....
Well I guess I'm an Apple fanboy then. I've always used Macs because of my work, and would never go near a PC. So much so, when I won a PC in a competition I didn't even care to claim it. It's probably fair to say it was the lowest powered money could buy, and the fact they're so worthless second-hand I couldn't be bothered even trying to sell it. Saying that my next Mac will be able to run Windows which I will do purely for gaming, so I'm not denying the usefulness of PCs. As far the non-gaming home market is concerned, I'm with the fanboys in that PCs offer nothing Macs can't do. And of course I am biased and I do think Macs do everything more elegantly and are easier to use for those uninterested in computers or techy stuff.
The argument's really only about taste and preference. One person drives a Ford, another a Mercedes. One person prefers PCs, another prefers Macs. There's no right or wrong. The thing I've never understood is the continual argument about cost. If you don't want an Apple product why does it matter how much it costs? And if one person is happy to pay twice what you paid for a computer, what difference does it make? There are literally millions of people who have more expensive cars, clothes and homes than me, but I've never considered calling them names or discrediting them. Some PC people definately have product cost related issues. If anyone can explain why, I'd love to know.
Well I guess then I'm an Apple fanboy then. I've always used Macs because of my work, and would never go near a PC. So much so, when I won a PC in a competition I didn't even care to claim it. It's probably fair to say it was the lowest powered money could buy, and the fact they're so worthless second-hand I couldn't be bothered even trying to sell it. Saying that my next Mac will be able to run Windows which I will do purely for gaming, so I'm not denying the usefulness of PCs. As far the non-gaming home market is concerned, I'm with the fanboys in that PCs offer nothing Macs can't do. And of course I am biased and I do think Macs do everything more elegantly and are easier to use for those uninterested in computers or techy stuff. The argument's really only about taste and preference. One person drives a Ford, another a Mercedes. One person prefers PCs, another prefers Macs. There's no right or wrong.
You are no fanboy if you go around saying that the choice is a matter of opinion!
I personally can't see the point in macs as a PC can do everything a mac can do and more along with a cheaper price point and more choice in the market (Plus windows 7 is truly excellent) Everyone I know that has a mac has Windows installed, says everything really. In fact one person I know only ever uses the mac for photoshop (which I find very strange as photoshop is no different on the PC....) However there is enough room for both systems to live in harmony and there is the benefit of MS, Linux and Apple pushing technology forward by competing.
However the greatest computer ever made was the Amiga. Shame those at the top of commodore proved so incompetent....
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
