Rumors about the long-anticipated Apple (News - Alert) Tablet release ramped up today, as several sources reported that Apple Inc. plans to release the new multimedia device later this month. However, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Apple doesn’t plan on shipping the product until this spring.
As TMCnet reported, former Google China President Kai-Fu Lee reportedly announced in a blog post that Apple’s Steve Jobs (News - Alert) is planning to unveil a new tablet device next month.
Lee also said that the Apple tablet will feature 3D graphics capability and will be available at a price of less than $1,000. Lee worked for Apple some time back and left Google (News - Alert) recently.
“Most surprising: Apple predicts production of nearly 10 million units in the first year,” said Lee in a post made by him on a Chinese microblog service. This post is based on news received by him from a knowledgeable source.
One of the people briefed added that Apple was working on two different material finishes for the tablet, though it was unclear whether the Cupertino, Calif.-based company was testing them or planning to come out with multiple versions of the device at different price points, the Journal reported. Industry analysts have predicted the gadget will cost anywhere between $500 and $1,000.
The new tablet device will resemble a large iPhone and will come with a 10.1-inch multi-touch touchscreen, a virtual keyboard and will offer support for videoconferencing and e-books, according to Lee’s post.
The Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reported that Google Inc. has been working on its own version of a tablet computing device.
Erin Harrison is a senior editor with TMCnet, primarily covering telecom expense management, politics and technology and Web 2.0. She serves as senior editor for TMC's print publications, including "Internet Telephony (News - Alert)", "Customer Interaction Solutions", "Unified Communications" and "NGN" magazines. Erin also oversees production of TMCnet's weekly iPhone e-Newsletter. To read more of Erin's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by Erin Harrison
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