How does Steve Jobs turn his inspiration into innovation?  It is said that inspiration is the creative spark that drives individuals to envision, then create, and put new ideas into motion.  His leadership goes further, I believe, to infuse his energy and collaborate with his team to perfect in each detail his inspiration.  I think his team player attitude and sharing this with his bright, intelligent picks from the computer industry is how he manages to keep staying on top and out maneuvering his competition.

THE BEGINNING OF THE ISLATE RUMORS
Apple registered the “iSlate” trademark in 2006.  They created a shell company called Slate Computing, so that they could trademark the name iSlate.

My sources tell me that in 2007, the number one Google site iSlate.org was the first to uncover the tracks left by Apple for this trademark, they were also the ones that originally put out the best name of the new technology as possibly being iSlate.

Sources also have said that the reason they did not release this information first, was in fact, to not hamper Apple in disclosing this hypothetical information just in case it did turn out to be true.

Credit was claimed by Arnold Kim of MacRumors regarding online sleuthing uncovering the original patent application being filed for islate.

From that point on the Internet became the web of conspiracy, rumors, speculations, and anonymous sources and quotes coming in daily which set the fire going.  The fire raged on for months with most pointing to the unveiling of a super tablet that would be called the iSlate.  The fire was doused on January 27th, when Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs introduced us to the iPad.

With all of the speculations and unconfirmed rumors that surrounded the iPad, Apple has had a tough time making everyone happy.  We’ve corralated all of the rumors, quotes, predictions, and speculations and can now actually compare them with the finished iPad.  In some ways, we can see a map of how many of them were true and possibly even credit them to Apple as being unofficial but desired releases on their up and coming iPad to be.

These quotes were among the raging fire that started and continued the flames burning for several months.  I think the iSlate/iPad furor was one of the first major episodes to hit the internet and consume the software industry market.

QUOTES

JOHN O’BRIEN:
“At risk of releasing yet another rumour, may we speculate that the big item due to set the Macintosh welkin ringing at Macworld San Francisco next month just might be an Apple tablet computer.

BILL KELLER, NEW YORK TIMES MANAGING EDITOR:

“I can already feel the iSlate hate building up in the Windows fanboy hearts. They’re starting to seethe because Windows Mobile has died and now The Apple Tablet is stealing their Windows 7 thunder. They’re waiting to throw a banana peel onstage at the YBCA and hope Steve Jobs slips on it and breaks the tablet into a dozen pieces.”

“They’re praying so hard that the tablet is a failure that he who art in heaven has to wear earplugs to drown out the wails. If the tablet is a success, they’ll have to listen to endless babbling about the device that changed the publishing world and why didn’t Microsoft build one (that was useful). Why should MS build a tablet? Those Windows fanboys are so in love with their low-cost netbooks, what would be the point.”

PHONE ARENA:

“The iSlate will have a seven-inch screen and run a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache and 1066MHz system bus. It will be sold with 2GB of RAM, but will support up to 8GB. The iSlate will feature a 120GB SATA hard drive that spins at 4200rpm.” Other specs include a “built-in iSight camera and projector; multitouch display with oleophobic coating; two USB ports and an SD slot; stereo speakers with mic and optical digital output; and gigabyte ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.  It will run “Mac OS X Clouded Leopard v10.7.”

ORANGE EXECUTIVE:
At one point he seems to confirm there is a rumored Apple iSlate.  His comments at one point suggests there is, then the next there isn’t.  The old now you see it, now you don’t.  At one point he suggested that the Apple tablet would contain an inbuilt webcam for video calling.
Orange’s then number-two executive Stephane Richard starts backtracking.  Orange took the approach that their executive’s comments were “taken out of context.”  Orange had been said to have a history of prematurely revealing Apple products.  They have been quoted as saying “These responses in no way reflect Orange’s confirmation of the existence of the rumoured device.”  They have further said that Orange would be delighted to have such a product, were it ever to be available.
DAVE TAYLOR OF ASKDAVETAYLOR.COM:
He has a tech support blog at AskDaveTaylor.com, he also runs a popular film blog at DaveOnFilm.com.  Years ago he actually did some consulting work with Apple.
His opinion was that the iSlate would either be a big iPhone or a Macbook without a keyboard.  Dave Taylor claims to be an Apple fan and says that he will be in line at the Twenty Ninth street mall Apple Store when they’re released.  Dave seems to agree with the  rumor mill suggesting it will have a 7 to 10 inch color screen and will look like a really, really big iPod Touch. His guess at price also hovers around the $500-$700 price range.  He feels that a light, powerful capable tablet could have a profound impact on the computer industry.
The iSlate could leave the Kindle market with a smaller market share overnight.  With a 7-inch full color screen that can access the media on a daily basis, from music to TV shows and photo sharing, it would have a lot more to offer.
EX-GOOGLE CHINA PRESIDENT KAI-FU LEE:
Kai-Fu Lee had his own predictions regarding the Apple iSlate.  He believed the tablet would have 3D graphics, a 10.1-inch screen, would include an e-book reader, videoconferencing capabilities, and a virtual keyboard and cost under $1000 dollars.  He also predicted a production of nearly 10 million units in the first year.  He cited a close friend with knowledge of the situation as being his source.
BRIAN CAULFIIELD, SENIOR EDITOR SILICON VALLEY BUREAU OF FORBES:
“Now it’s Apple’s turn.”  After Lenovo, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard offered a peek at their new tablet product line at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week,  he seems to felt it was “Apple’s turn to step up to the table.”
TONI SACCONAGHI, BERNSTEIN RESEARCH ANALYST:
In a note to investors reported that Apple “could sell 3 million of the iSlate in its first year.”
DESIGN FIRM:
Claims by a design firm said that they had been trying for months to order 10 inch screens, but they could not get any from any of their Asian manufacturers.
“We were told that Apple pre-ordered them all.  All 10 inch LCDs, and all 10 inch OLEDs too.”
RICK BROIDA OF CNET:
” he received an email from a prominent iPhone developer alleging Apple is testing certain third-party iPhone apps against a rumored iPhone OS 4.0 build. He was also quoted as saying ” iPhone OS 4.0, a major iPhone software revision expected to support Apple’s iSlate tablet.”  Portion of the email included.  “Just wanted to give you a heads up that we’ve submitted an updated app for the new iPhone OS 4.0 software.”
CALVIN REID, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY SENIOR NEWS EDITOR:
His opinion was that the iSlate would offer “multiple functions and a high quality UI experience (color, multimedia, web browsing, high res screen) closer to  what we all think the digital reading experience should be.  Or at least what I think it should be.”
RICHARD NASH, TODAY’S PUBLISHING CONSULTANT:
“The iSlate/iTablet/iRock will help us sing karaoke better.”  He even had an example of a fitting song, Step Right Up, the Apple Shuffle.
SHERVIN PISHEVAR, SGN IPHONE SOCIAL GAMES PUBLISHER:
“With the industry preparing for explosive growth this year – resulting from massive expansion in the iPhone, Android and tablet marketplace – I strongly believe that Randy’s experience and knowledge will be instrumental in building SGN into the largest mobile social gaming company of 2010 and beyond.”
“if SGN’s mobile energies have been poured entirely into iPhone. If it’s counting on “massive expansion” into tablet games, it’s surely fair to assume that they’re not talking about huge sales on Dell’s five-incher.”
SCOTT STEINBHERG, TECH ANALYST:
His view on Apple’s iSlate.  He referred to Apple’s tablet as the “wonder slate.”
“If anything, don’t judge a slate by its cover.” He described Apple as being the quiet, mysterious company when it comes to new products.  He seemed to applaud Steve Job’s strategy for keeping the consumers”waiting and wanting and hungry” for whatever they have to offer.  “Nothing for months and then all of a sudden Apple announces a new lineup of Mac hardware.”  He goes on to say that Steve Job’ strategy is launching projects aimed at gaining a foothold.  He felt that if anyone stood a chance of bringing a tablet PC or slate device to mainstream popularity, it is Apple.  He also felt that even with the increasing number of companies jumping onto this new found tablet, that Steve Jobs and company may be the most successful.  Quoted as saying “The reality is that in many ways the iPhone has been a prototype for this type of technology all along.”  Steinberg seemed to have high hopes for the Apple iSlate, he seemed to think it had potential to be the tablet PC to end all tablet systems, just as the iPhone has become.
“He predicted that the “tablet wars have just begun” which will only continue to challenge Apple’s inovations.
DAVID CARR, THE TIME’S STAR NEW-MEDIA COLUMNIST:
“he would buy the iSlate in a minute, even if it did cost closer to $1,000 than $200.  I haven’t been this excited about buying something since I was 8 years old and sent away for the tiny seahorses I saw advertised in the back of a comic book.”
“Man, I can’t wait to see the look on Ballmer’s face if Stagemaster Jobs captures the media hearts with a tablet demo that knocks their socks off.”
“As the new decade is starting to unfold, and having its CEO being the decade of the year nominee with its 2 products (iPod and iPhone) hailed as one of the best gadgets of the decade, their Tablet having a warm buzz is well predicted.”

REPORTS THAT WERE COMING IN:

Apple’s patent application filed August 28, 2009, titled “Keystroke Tactility Arrangement on a Smooth Touch surface” and credited to FingerWorks co-founder Wayne Westerman.
It outlined a tactile keyboard described as an “articulated frame” that could change its surface by determining your typed intentions.  The pantent indicated a tablet that could display by touching pixels.

According to past Apple employee’s they had been working on a computer tablet for years.

Claims that Apple leaked an internal document. “PhoneArena claimed to be the recipient of a document, which allegedly detailed the specifications for Apple’s forthcoming, highly-anticipated iSlate tablet.”

Precision aluminum unibody, 7.1 -inch capacitive multi-touch touchscreen with some sort of “intelligent feedback” and an anti-fingerprint coating,  2.26Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, 120GB hard drive, Built-in projector, Built-in iSight camera, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and Mac OS X 10.7 Clouded possibly trying to take back some of the spotlight that Google has been basking in since they have launched with their Nexus One handset.  Apple has good timing when it comes to competition.  So a “leaked document” might just be their styleLeopard.

Apple reserved a space for several days at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco January 26th and 27th, rumors abounded that this would be the unveiling of the iSlate.  It was also expected that the iPhone OS 4.0 update would be released.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the iSlate might include a nationwide Wi-Fi plan, and that If the iSlate could fulfill the need for Apple TV and a Wii, that would be a slam dunk for Apple.  If this was more than a replacement for magazines and newspapers, and  speculated the future features would control the HDTV, lights, thermostats and everything else from your very own coffee table, then it would be the most innovating and usable product as of yet to be put on the market.

Anonymous sources were popping up claiming that Apple had pre-ordered all 10.1 inch LCD and OLED displays from suppliers in Asia.  Possibly destroying the theory that it would be a smaller 7 inch screen.

Apple was said to tell Australian publishers that the tablet is “small enough to carry in a handbag but too big to fit in a pocket.” 10.6 inches (with LCD).  That would explain the rumor that all of Asia has been cleaned out of 10-inch LCD and OLED displays.

Digitimes though claimed that there would be two tablets, one that would be 9.6 inches (with OLED) and another at 10.6 inches (with LCD).

A report surfaced showing that Apple had secured all the top level domain’s for all countries, for islate.com, islate.co.uk, islate.cn. and so on, so we know they have been working on the iSlate since then.

Toward the end a lot of people were getting tired of just rumors and speculations, and wanted to hear something directly from Apple.  Tensions were high, the war was ongoing with iSlate followers and iPad followers.

The software industry was getting a little worried that this speculated mega monster, do all, know all, device might really exist.

There was a bounty reward for the top secret iSlate/iPad published.  Not surprising at all.  Seems the company Valleywag is desperate to see anything.  It was reported that they set the following bounties.
$10,000 for bona fide pictures
$20,000 for video of one in action
$50,000 for pictures or video of Steve Jobs holding one
$100,000 to let [them] play with one for an hour.

Of course it didn’t take Apple long to set their legal sharks on Gawker Media after the bounty was posted.
Apparently within hours after the publication of the article posting the fees for secret information, California-based consumer electronics giant, Michael Spillner of the New York-based law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe sent out a cease and desist letter demanding that the publication stop the tablet hunt.

It was speculated that the iSlate/iPad would run the operating system Clouded Leopard and would include iTunes, and an array of popular games such as Safari, include Photo Booth, Mail, iChat and iCal.

Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, previewed his HP Slate at the January Consumer Electronics Show.  It seemed to have been put on a back shelve, and was not given a lot of attention, because of all the hype on the new and upcoming secret iSlate/iPad rumors.

Insider information by sources were released reporting that there would not be a camera on the iSlate/iPad.  Speculation was that Apple didn’t want the iSlate/iPad to be too all-purpose.

Five Apple Experts have gave their invisions of what this new technological device might be.
The IRead, improving on current e-readers.
The iTenna, an add on for the iphone, that would allow users to use any cell network other than AT&T’s.
The iVision, an Oakley’s type of sunglasses using a Bluetooth or possibly some type of advanced wireless standard.  You would be able to view through the glasses your caller ID or data for your music.
The exerPod, a handheld device that would track heart-rate monitors, bike speed sensors , tracking anything active that you do.
The iMake, a 3D rapid prototyping, it could be used to build just about anything, you choose a design, data is sent in 3D, and it builds the parts layer by layer.

Gamers starting putting out their Wish lists for the iSlate/iPad.

The journalists and media of America started panicking, feeling threatened in regards to the Internet and e-readers hitting the market.   They felt they would be seeing a loss of actual reporting, beating the sidewalks, eye to eye contact with sources.  They felt they would be  replaced by someone sitting at a desk, surfing the net for their story source.

A diversified Internet holding company, Metatron Inc.  claimed they would “harness the power of today’s online and wireless consumer interactivity to make daily life easier, more productive and more entertaining for people all over the world” and released their ContentLive” on the Apple iTunes platform.

Rumors of hardware failure for Apple’s iSlate/iPad started surfacing.

Sources were suggesting that it would have a 3G version, would be a dual-tablet, would be 7-inch, 9-inch, or 10-inch screen.  Rumors were escalating.  Industry insiders believed it would use  Verizon LTE 4G wireless network.  It would be using PA Semi chips, basing it on the in-house chip company that Apple had purchased in 2008.

It started being referred to as “The Jesus Tablet”, referring to Moses, when he was given 2 stone/slate tablets from God.

Tech analysts were speculating the iSlate/iPad would cost around $600.00.

Microsoft and Lenovo were predicting delivery of their versions of the iSlate/iPad in mid-2010.

A released report from Reuters said that a number of hardware manufacturers had told them they were already working on the Apple tablet device, and would be ready for shipment in the second quarter of 2010.

AVY Precision Technology, which produced covers for electronics, said they were scheduled to start production for the iSlate/iPad in February.

It was also reported that TPK a manufacturer for touch screen panels was also starting production on the iSlate/iPad.

Rumors of the iSlate/iPad would offer a three-dimensional multitouch interface beyond what was currently available on the iPhone started circulating.

Speculations that the iSlate/iPad would offer cloud-based computing , which would be able to stream more and would be able to sync with Apple applications, possibly even non-Apple apps.

It would come embedded with some type of image-recognition software system, that you would be able to use the camera for various tasks, possibly even be able to use the camera as a virtual joystick controlling actions and apps on the tablet.

It was circulated that possibly Apple had leaked an internal document, possibly trying to take back some of the spotlight that Google has been basking in since they had launched with their Nexus One handset.

One source  claimed that “It doesn’t take that long for the company to assemble the PC together, but a second-quarter shipment date is what we’re looking at now.”

Apple was rumored to be ready to make their big announcement at the end of January, regarding their secret weapon, being touted as the iSlate/iPad.

An Apple iSlate/iPad leak came from a close Apple contact that BGR seemed to trust.  It was said they have just about the best track record for rumors.  That the iSlate/iPad rumors were spinning  “out of control.”  They reported that Apple had been patenting different multi-touch gesture-related controls, and that the iSlate/iPad would be  powered by an “incredibly fast” ARM CPU and is said would run on the iPhone kernel.

It was reported that the reason we hadn’t seen an updated version of the iPhone OS is because the OS was being revamped to include the iSlate/iPad, and Apple didn’ want any code exposing thier new secret project leaking out.

Because of all the hype and rumors circulating regarding Apple’s tablet being called the iSlate it was being called “The Year of the Slate.”

The iSlate/iPad was not being described as a “stripped-down Mac, nor a  bumped-up iPhone.  It was being touted as to performing tasks that other devices would not be able to do.

Imagination Technologies’ new PowerVRSGX545 mobile GPU chip was being rumored to be finding its way into the iSlate/iPad. Though Imagination Tecnologies’ did not confirm the tablet, it appears the other suppliers for Apple’s iSlate were already doing so.

A social Advertising company Vitrue, ranked Apple for the second year in a row at the top of their list.  Placing them 3 times in the top 10 for the iPhone, iTunes, and Apple.  The iPod came in 34th, and the Mac came in 35th.

A conspiracy theory started circulating that Apple was actually controlling the leaks and rumors regarding the iSlate/iPad.

It was rumored and speculated that the next and obviously only news to be coming from Apple would be the invitations to the event being sent out.

Two weeks later, invitations were finally sent out to the media and software industry, citing “Come See Our Latest Creation” on January 27th at the Yerba Buena Vista Center for the Arts in San Francisco.  Finally rumors were confirmed about the time, place, and a good chance that they would be revealing the tablet device iSlate/iPad.

The Friday before the big event was set to take place.  Apple appealed to the US Patent & Trademark office for an extension to the time during which it’s allowed to appeal the ownership of iPad.

This was the first sense of doubt felt from the iSlaters of the world that after all of the rumors, speculations, released documents and hype that had been put into the name iSlate, that something at the last minute might alter the course of what they really felt the name should be.

D-DAY

Then finally D-Day January 27, 2010 for the iSlate defenders.  Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs unveiled his “newest creation” to the world.
And then the final specs were released by Apple for their iPad:
The listed price starts at $499.00 for the basic 16GB Wi-Fi.  Upgrades for 32GB and 64GB, with the Wi-Fi or the Wi-Fi + 3G, range upwards from $599 to $829.
The device is 9.56 inches in height, width 7.47 inches, 0.5 inch depth, and the weight for the Wi-Fi model is 1.5 pounds and the Wi-Fi and 3G model is 1.6 pounds.
The display is a  9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch, with IPS technology, 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch, with fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating.
The processor is a 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip.

Also included:
Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, audio playback, TV and video support, mail attachment support, languages support, built-in rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, 10 hr. battery power, mono audio, docking system connector, stereo headphone jack, built-in speakers, microphone, iTunes Store account, Internet access and an e-reader.
The Wi-Fi models are set to start shipping in late March, the 3G models are set to start shipping in April.

From here you can piece together the pieces of the puzzle that started popping up through the months of torture for the wait of the iPad.  Possibly now it will be easier to determine what speculations and rumors were actually true and which companies actually had the inside track to Apple and were used to release the actual facts and features that Apple really wanted released.
We will be keeping a closer eye on Apple from now on, we may have a better link to figuring out what Apple is actually up to the next time they start a secretive hush, hush project.

The iSlate is also purported to be a real game changer.  Rumors, speculations and leaks are all that we have to go on with this one also.  It is to have a seven-inch screen and run a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache and 1066MHz system bus. It will be sold with 2GB of RAM, but will support up to 8GB. The iSlate will feature a 120GB SATA hard drive that spins at 4200rpm.” Other specs include a “built-in iSight camera and projector; multitouch display with oleophobic coating; two USB ports and an SD slot; stereo speakers with mic and optical digital output; and gigabit ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR.  It will run “Mac OS X Clouded Leopard v10.7.” This one seems to be serious competition for the Courier.
Well, now you have it, which one truly exists, which one will be declared the winner,   will either or both of them actually ever leave the gate?  Questions..Questions…Questions