With Apple largely expected to release a 10-inch tablet style media device sometime in late 2009 or early 2010, a new report from Shaw Wu of Kaufman Brothers reveals that Apple purchased a number of touchscreens in varying sizes over the past few years. While some of these purchases were undoubtedly for testing purposes, the report notes that some orders were so large as to suggest that some actually went into small-scale production.
The report specifically states that Apple has purchased 4, 7, 9, 10, and 12-inch touchscreens over the past few years, a fact which leads Wu to believe that Apple may deliver portable media devices in a number of different sizes and form factors.
We are under the impression that these screens could be used in new form factors including a sub-notebook and/or tablet, and would more likely launch in 2010 as opposed to 2009. As usual, exact timing is always tough to pinpoint as Apple works on its own schedule.
Seeing as there is still no official announcement regarding an Apple tablet, we’re of the mind that it’s far too soon to start predicting various form factors when there’s still no telling how a 10-inch tablet will sell.
via AppleInsider
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Tue, Aug 4, 2009
News, Rumors