According to MacRumors, it looks like the domain islate.com was registered by Apple in 2007. I checked out the domain on DomainTools, and the domain was updated as recently as October, 2009. While that activity could explain a simple update to the management of domains, it’s suspiciously close to the upcoming January 2010 announcement, which is believed to be the unveiling of their new tablet computer.
Wikipedia describes a slate as:
A writing slate is a piece of flat material used as a medium for writing.
If that really is the name for their new tablet, then it would suggest that there’s more to their tablet than entertainment. Could it be that the tablet will also be a productivity device–a minimalist computer designed for reading and writing? And if that’s the case, does the killer new user interface include a tactile interface, as described in Apple’s patent, “Keystroke Tactility Arrangement on a Smooth Touch Surface“?
If that is the case, and they’ve solved the problem of battery life, then the so-called iSlate may end up being several things:
- Portable Multimedia Device
- Reading and Writing Instrument
- Kindle Killer (oh Kindle, we barely knew you)
Update: More evidence for the “iSlate” trademark is coming in, including “Magic Slate”.
[...] Apple is coming out with a tablet soon, and I have no doubt it’s going to include the interactive experience I’m longing for. There’s also a very good chance that it will include the ability to use it as an e-reader. Knowing Apple (as I do), this will most likely be a Kindle-killer (among other things.) [...]