An Apple tablet with a default Windows Web browser? That's just one of the latest rumors surrounding Apple's supposed device, which may or may not debut on Jan. 27 at a launch event in San Francisco.
As the date draws nearer for the supposed release of Apple's
rumored touch screen tablet device, let's take a look back at some of the
rumors that have caught the attention of the tech community this month. The
very latest rumors have come on the heels of Apple's long-awaited official
announcement of a launch event in San Francisco on Jan. 27. In typical Apple
fashion, the announcement was cryptic, featuring an Apple logo against a
background of colorful overlapping paint splatters. "Come see our latest
creation," the invite beckons.
On Monday, The Wall Street Journal, quoting unnamed sources
close to the alleged negotiations,
reported that HarperCollins Publishers is in
negotiations with Apple to make e-books available over a tablet. Previously,
HaperCollins CEO Brian Murray alluded to multimedia-enhanced e-books as a way
for cash-strapped publishers to squeeze out higher margins in the e-reader
business, which is currently focused on producing text-heavy e-volumes for
grayscale devices such as Amazon.com's Kindle. The news followed rumors that
The New York Times, which will likely start charging readers for access to
content, may also be in negotiations with Apple to broker its own content
access deal.
Meanwhile, across the pond, British newspaper The Guardian
reported Apple is quietly seeking an agreement with U.K. network operator
Orange to help subsidize the cost of the device, which will likely feature a
10.1-in. diagonal screen and WiFi access, but will lack a physical keyboard.
Business Week also
suggested Apple is looking to ink a deal to help subsidize
tablet costs to consumers, but this time the company was a far less likely
partner-no less than Apple arch-rival Microsoft. The magazine quoted two sources
"familiar with the matter" who said Apple is in talks with the company to use
Bing, Microsoft's recently launched search engine, as the device's default Web
browser.
The magazine quoted its sources as saying negotiations have
been underway for two weeks, and noted the development might further strain
Apple's relationship with search giant Google, which has been developing its
own open source mobile phone platform, Android. "Apple and Google know the
other is their primary enemy," the magazine quoted one source.
"Microsoft is now a pawn in that battle."
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