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The Fourth Screen – Are Tablets for Real?

I am seeing startups that are using “tween” computers or tablets  (essentially ipod touch look-alikes running android or linux with a 5×7” screen) for a variety of new applications.  Apple’s entrant into the market is causing substantial speculation and buzz.  The price point is at $300 and declining for a fully performant connected machine, and I wanted to come right out and say that I am a believer in this category.

Frankly, it isn’t that new a form factor.  PSP got it all started with a handheld single purpose game machine.  Then came single purpose digital photo frames.  Then the Kindle came along with a pretty nice single purpose book reader.  Then came netbooks, which are really just small laptops, and I don’t consider them a 4th screen as they can’t perform the functions I describe below.  But a real 4th screen, the often discussed, connected, multi-app touch-screen device that lives always-on and connected on your dresser or stuck to the kitchen fridge leaving both hands free to cook or dress, is poised to take off now that it is approaching the magical $200 price with good performance and good wifi penetration.

Why on earth would anyone want one of these if you already have a netbook and a smartphone?  Because a netbook requires sitting and typing (and is usually not in your bedroom and your kitchen), and your smart phone requires two hands, has a tiny screen, (and for me, it is usually charging by the back door).  I want a screen that I can tap while doing something else with both hands.  Here is what I predict you will do with these machines:

Information

• You wake up, touch the screen on your dresser, and the weather shows up so you know what to wear.  Touch it again, and a video of the local forecast from your local network affiliate plays.  And yes, it has a pre-roll video add.
• You wonder if you are missing a breakfast meeting.  One tap and there is your calendar for the day/week/month.
• You touch sports, and the scores you care about come up while you select and put on your socks.  Touch it again, and highlights play from the sports editor/blogger of your choice.
• Special interest reports like the ski report, surf report, fishing report, bird sightings are all a single tap.
• You are in the kitchen, and need the Joy of Cooking buttermilk waffle recipe.  A few touches later, there it is.
• What’s up with your friends?  Facebook feed is a tap away.
  

Commerce

• You start cooking and want to hear some music.  Walk to the fridge, and you are in control of your music with a few touches.  Perhaps you chose Pandora, and hear something on Pandora you want to own while mixing the batter?  One step, a few touches and it’s yours.
• You see an ad for a great new pair of binoculars during the bird sightings report.  Tap through to purchase.
• You are in the kitchen and realize you need the Silver Palette cook book.  A few touches later, it is yours from Amazon.
  

Entertainment

• A few taps can get you Youtube’s most popular, a joke of the day, etc.
• Crosswords, Sudoku, etc.
• Comics?  Does anyone else REALLY miss comics in the morning?
  

And that is just the consumer app side of the story.  There are plenty of killer business use cases as well.  I have heard these will be here before Christmas.  If so, I expect it will be the hot gift of 2010.