The iPhone Guru - All things iPhone, made clear

Now that Apple’s Tablet device seems to be that much closer to reality we’re able to start getting closer to answers about exactly what market Apple wants to tap with this device. Apple COO Tim Cook has stated very recently that Apple does not want a share of the inexpensive netbook market, because they feel that they cannot deliver quality product in that space. Yet here comes the tablet, admittedly just above the normal price level for a netbook type device, but most definitely aiming at a lot of the things that a netbook user might look to their portable for. So what the heck is Apple up to?

Well for one, I can point to an interesting quote by Peter Cooper on his Twitter feed “Realizing that without Internet computers are boring. Music, porn, videos.. that’s kinda it. And other appliances can do those.” More and more this is becoming the cold reality of the situation, isolated, without connection to the internet, computers become dumb boxes to store whatever collection of crap you downloaded last time you were on the internet. Apple has realized this as well, especially considering that iPhones outsold Mac’s almost 2 to 1 in the last financial period.

For a tablet to be successful, it would almost have to have an always on internet connection included, which does bouy rumors that Apple has been in talks with Verizon, or their current partner AT&T to provide 4G internet and subsidization for a tablet device. It also lends credence to the rumors put forth by The Financial Times that Apple has been working with providers of media, including representatives from music and book publishing concerns.

But why would Apple need to consult with anyone from the music industry? Don’t they already have a longstanding agreement with most major labels to provide music for purchase on mobile devices like the iPod touch and iPhone? The most logical answer is some sort of on-demand subscription-based service for music. Sites like Blip.fm and Last.Fm, Imeem and to a lesser degree Pandora are already providing a similar service and aside from the Zune pass, which is great, but no-one uses because they want an iPhone, not a Zune. For Apple to really deliver a device that sets itself apart, and pushes units, it needs more than statements about how they don’t want to lower their prices. What they need is to give people the access that they have been being given with social media sites on every

What they need is powerful device, perpetually connected to the internet, with the capabilities of a low end Macbook Pro in addition to the ability to gather and display Books, HD movies and music on-demand as well as a price tag suited to the marketplace. The question of whether they are able to deliver seems to have to wait until September, but I wouldn’t bet agains Jobs and Co. just yet.