iPad Rumor Wrap Up and Likelihood of 22-Inch TouchScreen iMac

With the launch of the Apple iPad, we can finally put to rest long running rumors of the Apple tablet. We've been talking about the possibility of an Apple tablet for nearly a decade with an early MacRumors forum poster from 2001 even labeling a rumored Apple PDA at the time the "iPad". Most surprisingly, this rumor predated the launch of the iPod by 6 months.

Given the large number of tablet predictions leading up to the iPad launch, we aren't going to bother rehashing every single report. Unsurprisingly, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal had the most specific and reliable information about Apple's plans, while analyst reports remain widely varied and unhelpful.

Here are a few of the more interesting reports that turned out to be correct:

- Apple must be behind the Delaware corporation IP Application Development, LLC (IPAD) which applied for international trademarks on the term "IPAD" in the weeks leading to the launch. Given all the media attention on Apple, the company is clearly making efforts to hide its moves with dummy corporations.

- Alex Albrecht of Diggnation may have been right that the Apple tablet was priced "shockingly low". A somewhat vague, but memorable rumor that seemed to come true with the launch price for $499 for the iPad.

- Mobile Analytics firm Flurry's analysis that approximately 50 iPhone OS based tablet devices were in testing was correct. They pinpointed iPhone OS 3.2 as well as the ability to run existing iPhone applications. We had some doubts about their conclusions at the time, but it turns out they were right.

Finally, with all the rumors about a 10-11" screen for the Apple tablet, only one report accurately pinpointed the fact that the iPad actually houses a 9.7" screen. China Times predicted that Apple would launch a 9.7" device by the end of January. While this fact alone may only be of passing interest, the same article reported that Apple is also preparing to launch a 22-inch touchscreen iMac in the second half of this year.

So, if we believe they knew about the 9.7" iPad, then we should also believe that multi-touch will be coming to the Mac line later this year.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Neutral)
Related Forum: iMac

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...