The invitation-only event that will be held at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater read “Come see our latest creation."
Reports suggest that this device has been years in the making (just take a look at this enthusiast-generated gallery of Apple table concepts, originally posted to Gizmodo two years ago), and I'm as excited to see it as you are.
I spoke to a source at Apple this morning, before the invite hit my inbox, who said the event would likely focus on three projects: The tablet device, iPhone 4, and a new round of iLife 2010 software. While we won't see new iPhone hardware just yet, we will see the next-generation software.
Apple is known to pull a last-minute rabbit out of a hat, however ... and just as likely to stuff it back in again. Last September, the company surprised fans by suddenly removing the camera from latest generation iPod Touch just before the Fall iPod event. As a result, the big stories from the September keynote were Steve Jobs back on stage after liver surgery and a Nano with a camera -- not a powerful new Touch.
Today's Apple invitation is vague as usual, but people love to look for clues in the message. The invite features spray-painted blobs amid vibrant color swatches, which could point to a device that captures "creative" activities. A tablet, perhaps? You bet your bottom dollar. Of course, it could also be a new Apple spray paint can that holds MP3s and unicorn tears. My money remains on the tablet, however.
With the invite teasing people to "Come see our latest creation," no one knows for sure exactly what Apple has up its sleeve. But the rumor mill has been busy speculating on some type of tablet device that would let people surf the Net, watch movies, read e-books, and probably perform other tricks conjured up by the mind of Steve Jobs.
Sources have reportedly told The Wall Street Journal that the device would be a 10- or 11-inch touch-screen tablet offering wireless access and sporting a price tag of $1,000. The rumored device of the day, however, is a reported 22-inch tablet PC.
In the past month, multiple independent reports have claimed Apple in late January will launch its highly anticipated tablet, which the company has reportedly been developing for several years. Many rumor reports have described Apple’s tablet as a 10-inch version of the iPhone with a strong focus on reading capability.
Whatever be the latest creation we hope Apple pulls a rabbit out of the bag and amazes all of us. Will fill you in with all the details on Jan. 27