Apple Tablet rumors spread. Device said to launch on January 26

Business Week announces as almost sure that Apple prepares a new consumer device. A 7-10 inch, ITouch like tablet. The tablet might use the patents Apple just applied for this summer, which include off screen haptic controls and haptic feedback .

Apple Inc., seeking to win a larger share of the market for handheld computers, is planning to unveil a tablet PC this month, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The device is scheduled to go on sale in March, said the person, who declined to be identified because details of the product are private.

Offering a tablet PC would help Apple capitalize on demand from consumers for devices that can surf the Web and play movies and music. The product may also spark fresh competition for Amazon.com Inc., maker of the Kindle electronic-book reader, as well as makers of netbooks such as Acer Inc., Asustek Computer Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co.

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The announcement is preceeded by rumors of an affordable, lightweight tablet computer, which is set to be released later this year by Freescale.

Freescale supplies the guts for tiny subnotebook “smartbooks”.

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