Thursday, Nov 19, 2009    Text size: 

Content providers are already preparing to deliver their wares over the device. That’s a remarkable feat, according to tech analyst Devin Coldeway, who noted that Apple not only hasn’t unveiled the device, but that they’ve also outright denied its existence.

But two prominent mainstream publications have already revealed plans to optimize their online presences for the as-yet-unseen device.

According to online reports, Wired Magazine will be “tablet-compatible” by the time the device hits the market. In addition, Bill Keller of the New York Times accidentally revealed his own company’s plans to sync up with the tablet.

But for adult producers who are eager to be ready follow suit, what does optimization for the tablet even entail?

This much is known: The tablet will run on the iPhone OS, which means that users will navigate via Apple’s well-known touch interface, which relies on a series of taps, pinches and swipes of the fingers to get around.

With that in mind, Coldeway said that developers who want to optimize their sites might want to take steps to make sure their layout columns are flexible, and that their should avoid putting any important links in rollover menus, because user will have a harder time finding them.

That said, Apple may still out-think everyone.

“But if the Apple tablet is anywhere as interesting as people hope it will be, I doubt you’re going to be reading Wired in a browser anyway,” Coldeway said. “Quixotic would be too kind a term for what they’re doing; not only are they tilting at windmills, but the windmills don’t officially exist.”

Also of interest to adult producers are Wired’s plans to sell virtual magazines over the tablet. According to CrunchGear.com, Wired’s parent company, Conde Nast, is working with several other tech companies to build a digital delivery platform that would let Wired sell its print edition over the tablet.

Concurrent with these reports is the news that the device is dead, at least according to one prominent source.

Accordint to Paul, Apple has pushed back the release of the tablet to the second half of 2010 because of technical difficulties. In addition, he suggested that the device may retail for as much as $2,000, if it ever hits the market at all.

“Let's face it: the Apple tablet is a mirage created by legions of fanboys and tech dreamers,” wrote Ian Paul of PCWorld.com. “The closer you get to that mirage, the more you realize it's not going to be there when you arrive.”