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Digital News Report – Whether Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces an iPad / iSlate next week or not, it appears that Apple is defiantly working on a tablet. Apple has been in talks with news and book organizations to bring content to their device.
Tablets were the rage at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The iPad is not expected to replace the Mac, but it is expected to incorporate iPod and iPhone technology, according to reports.
The Wall Street Journal reported today that Apple has been in negotiations with the New York Times for their content. Both the WSJ and NYT are owned by News Corp. Apple has also been negotiating with magazine publisher Conde Nast Publications Inc. and book publisher HarperCollins which are also owned by News Corp.
Citing an anonymous source familiar with the situation, the Journal says Apple envisions a family sharing the tablet. Family members will use the device to read news, check email, read books and more.
The new tablet may also be a gaming machine. Last April, PC Magazine reported that Apple hired two gaming executives within a week’s time. In August an anonymous source told Barons that Apple’s tablet would emphasize multimedia and gaming.
In November Apple solicited the employment of game designers. Apparently they were interested in adding games to the iPod and iPhone.
Writer Jared Newman with PC Magazine summed it up: “But if Apple indeed reveals the tablet on January 27, and a significant chunk of Steve Jobs’ presentation demonstrates some new ways of playing video games, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
By: Sam Lee