Apple Confirms January 27th Media Event
Apple has confirmed a rumored media event scheduled for Wednesday, 27 January 2010, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco by sending email invitations to media outlets, including TidBITS. As usual, the invitation gives no details as to what will be announced, merely providing the time, place, and directions along with the phrase, “Come see our latest creation” under a paint-splattered graphic.
Most people we’ve spoken with expect Apple to announce some sort of tablet-sized device, though speculation has run so rampant that it’s impossible to say anything more than that with any confidence. But Apple has surprised in the past, and it could happen again, with something entirely unexpected.
Needless to say, the timing of this announcement is either ironic, coming as it does between the time when Macworld Expo was traditionally held in early January and the new date in mid-February, or intentionally scheduled to emphasize the level to which Apple can manufacture its own media attention rather than piggybacking on a large trade show.
Wait, "Tuesday the 27th"? It is on the 27th, yes? That's a Wednesday.
Whoops, wrong calendar page. Clearly I was looking at... hmm... October! Fixed; thanks...
No prob - long-time reader, first-time caller. :)
From that graphic maybe Apple is planning on bringing back MacPaint. ;-)
They could call it iPaint! And get that painting elephant in the ads, which would each feature some artistic masterpiece, done by the elephant.
And I bet Apple could get him to work for peanuts. ;-)
Yeah I know, but I couldn't let that one go.
That's not "splattered" paint but spray paint, which suggests graffiti, which suggests writing on a wall, which suggests, yes, a tablet.
"Truly, you have a dizzying intellect." :-)
It comes from sniffing paint. Actually, it's the smell of new electronics that I love -- in the morning or any time. They ought to put it in a spray can.
I hope is a real appleTV with 32" display with TV tuner AV I/O and DVR =)
I now think Apple will call their new creation the iT.
That's it, the iT.
The rumors were pointing that the Tablet could be to do with the e-book reading, web surfing and targeted to the education sector. With the above colored (artwork) invite, does it point to something else with the rumored Tablet? Say, more to do with music?
Unlikely that Apple would create a device with a narrow focus. They are going for as much mass market appeal as they can.
Since "irony" is to say something that means the opposite of what it seems to say, in what sense is the timing of this event "ironic"?
There's always a pedant. :-) It's ironic because one of the reasons given for Apple pulling out of Macworld Expo is so they wouldn't feel compelled to have a major announcement for the show, and here they are with a major announcement that could easily have been made at Macworld Expo. So the reality is either the opposite of what was suggested as a reason for the pullout, and thus ironic, or they're doing it intentionally to make a point. (I'd bet on the latter, personally.)
As to the timing, not being involved with Macworld Expo means they aren't compelled to have something ready. It doesn't mean that something won't become ready not far from the traditional Expo time.
Meanwhile, the thing is still a RAT at least until the gathering on the 27th.
About the jpg invitation picture: it's electronic (digital) ink, which means a colour e-book reader... wow!
Time and will it be streamed?
Apple never streams these events, for whatever reason. I can't see any good reason not to, and they are a media company.
It starts at 10 AM Pacific, and although there won't be a live stream, you can follow along with liveblogs from Macworld, Ars Technica, Engadget, Gizmodo, and the like. Or just wait a bit and watch the video when Apple does post it. See my article on the topic at: http://db.tidbits.com/article/10557