An Insider On the Apple Tablet
Despite the rumors, I never fully believed the Apple tablet was real, until I heard these words over my phone: “Hey, it's [redacted]. I may or may not have sat in some Apple meetings for the tablet.” — I was driving, and swerved a little bit, even though both hands were on the wheel.
Context & Ripple Effects
The Apple tablet has been a running rumor for nearly two years: back in November 2007 Asus said an Apple Tablet PC was real, and earlier this month an analyst claimed first-hand knowledge of a gaming and home-media tablet. On the same day as this piece, a purported leak of a Tablet OS interface circulated, though its authenticity is doubted and Apple has not confirmed it.
What changes with this post is the sourcing tier: instead of analysts or supply-chain chatter, the author describes a named-but-redacted insider who says he personally sat in Apple meetings about the device. It is still unconfirmed hearsay, but it moves the rumor from 'what people believe' toward 'what someone claims to have seen,' which is why the writer says he swerved while driving.
First-order effects
- The credibility of the tablet rumor rises a notch: readers and rival outlets now weigh an alleged eyewitness account against Apple's continuing silence, and the unverified OS-interface leak gains a more plausible backdrop.
Second-order effects
- With multiple music-industry sources pointing to a keynote the week of September 7, accessory makers, publishers, and App Store developers — where Distimo's research shows games dominate sales — face pressure to plan for a new touchscreen form factor before Apple confirms anything.
Third-order effects
- If the pattern holds, Apple's biggest products will arrive pre-launched by an ecosystem of leaks and insider claims, letting the company test demand and shape expectations without committing to a word on the record.
The trend: Apple's product pipeline is shifting toward a model where unconfirmed insider accounts, not official announcements, set the terms of public anticipation.