Edible Apple

In the latest round of Apple tablet rumors, Digitimes is reporting that the scheduled release of Apple’s forthcoming tablet has been pushed back to the second half of 2010 due to a last minute desicion to switch components.  The report also states that Apple’s planning to release 2 separate tablet models, with the higher-end version being a 9.6-inch device with an LG supplied OLED screen.  If you recall, LG struck a $500 million dollar deal with Apple in January of ’09 to supply Apple with flat panel displays for 5 years, and DigiTimes reports that the contract includes OLED screens.  OLED screens, though, are pretty expensive, and DigiTimes speculates that when the high-end tablet finally hits the market, it will retail for around $1,500+.  This seems a bit high, so take that with a grain of salt.

In addition to the 9.7-inch tablet, Apple will reportedly be releasing a cheaper 10.6-inch model with an LCD screen.  This cheaper tablet will supposedly retail for about $800+, which is in line with earlier rumors regarding tablet pricing.

Tablet rumors have definitely been ramping up over the past couple of weeks.  In late October, Silicon Alley Insider reported that Apple engineers had been travelling abroad to China with increasing frequency to check up on the manufacturing process of the upcoming Apple tablet, and that trips during the Christmas holiday season were also scheduled.  Also, it was just a few weeks ago that Bill Keller, executive editor of the New York Times, delivered a speech to his digital staff and spoke of an impending “Apple Slate” in the context of mobile media publishing.  This, of course, is in addition to reports that Apple has already been reaching out to a variety of publishers to gauge their interest in making their content available for the tablet.