Brad Arsenault (dot com)

I’m going to make the assumption that we’re going to see an Apple tablet tomorrow after all of the hype about it.

So here are my 15 things I want from it:

1. iPhone tethering. The tablet could command it’s own 3G connection subscriptions, however, like many iPhone users, at which this tablet is directed, I’m paying $70+/mo for a data connection. I don’t want to pay more. As the iPhone already tethers (in Canada at least), it doesn’t seem unreasonable that this wouldn’t be an option.
2. An iPhone-like OS. The iPhone works so well because it has a Unix/Darwin/BSD-based operating system. It doesn’t do background applications because it isn’t intuitive to have an application without a physical presence (like a window), like Windows (for the most part) does, even though the Mac OSes have never done it like this. The tablet should do background applications, but there are many other places that Apple could find similar simplification.
3. Front-facing camera. I wish the iPhone had this, too! I want the tablet to have a front-facing (and rear-facing, too!) camera. This camera could do (if it’s cellular connected, video calling on Rogers and other carriers), Skype/iChat, or just video capture (for video blogging). But it also needs to edit videos, kind of like iMovie Lite®.
4. Microphone and speaker. The possibilities are endless!
5. App Store…. but that’s a given.
6. Best in industry HTML5 support.
7. Dock connector. The tablet is going to be a secondary platform for computing, similar to the iPhone, and there has to be a way to get more information onto the device, manage it, restore/reset it, update it, and provide media to it.
8. High-pixel density screen. I know that ‘OLED’ is a buzzword at the moment, however if it inhibits cost, a TFT (hopefully LED backlight though) screen (of higher pixel density than the iPhone) would be excellent.
9. iTunes managed. iTunes is a ubiquitous platform (Windows, Mac) which people already have and know.
10. If the tablet is cellular (and/or can tether to iPhone) text messaging.
11. Bluetooth/wireless keyboard connectivity. This is the iPhone biggest short fall (aside from the monthly cost!); this will then be the ultimate tool for a student.
12. An Android-like notification system. The iPhone has popups, but doesn’t have a way to go back to notifications.
13. A new UI.
14. STEVE JOBS! I want to see the beloved SJ again, even if this may be his last ever presentation or Apple project.
15. A better way to input text than a pen, current style of virtual keyboard, or slide-out keyboard (although I’d be skeptical of that last one).

However, I’ve made predictions using the Prediction Score Card by David Weiss.  You should too!  (Will tweet my score card soonl I’m on Twitter as @bradarsenault )