Apple Execs Downright Giddy About The Tablet (For Them Anyway)

Screen shot 2010-01-25 at 3.47.48 PMYesterday, we noted that multiple sources have heard Steve Jobs refer to the soon-to-be-unveiled Apple Tablet as the “most important thing I’ve ever done.” Today brought two statements out of Apple that are just about as close as you’re ever going to get to a confirmation of that.

In Apple’s press release for its strong Q1 2010 earnings, Jobs said the following: “The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about.” What’s odd is that not only does Jobs (or anyone at Apple, for that matter) usually make no comments about as-yet unannounced products, but why would he do so in a release about the previous quarter’s earnings — which have absolutely nothing to do with the tablet? He simply had no reason that he had to make that statement. I can only interpret that as he’s just that excited about what he’s going to unveil on Wednesday.

I’ve talked before of the importance of enthusiasm in any product, particularly with regard to Steve Jobs. Clearly, he has it again, and maybe more so than ever before — and that’s saying something.

Perhaps even stranger is what was said during Apple’s earnings call today. Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer fielded a question about unannounced products affecting Apple revenues next quarter, and quickly jumped to his own conclusion. “I think you’re alluding to our event on Wednesday.” While he said Apple had nothing to share on it today beyond “stay tuned,” the fact that he’s the one who brought up the Wednesday event as it relates to a new products also seems to signal his own excitement about it. Again, usually Apple completely stonewalls any questions related to these types of things.

And then there was Apple’s number 2, COO Tim Cook. During the call, he fielded a question more directly about a new product unveiling saying, “I wouldn’t want to take away your joy of surprise on Wednesday when you see our latest creation.

It’s not that Apple is saying anything hugely revealing about the new product due on Wednesday — it’s that they’re saying anything at all. At times, Apple is a company that tries to dampen its own often-frenzied hype by way of strategic press leaks. But this time, they’re actually feeding it. I just can’t imagine they would do that unless the product really is that good.