ASUS: Apple tablet is in development

Apple is in the middle of developing a tablet computer, according to contacts within ASUS speaking to CNET. The Taiwan firm is reportedly contracted to build the device, which would be a completely new design rather than share roots with any existing ASUS model. No details have been provided as to the nature of the tablet, though all of Apple's touchscreen devices to date have included a mobile-optimized version of Mac OS X as well as a multi-touch display. A release date for the system is also unspecified, though the timing of the news points to a release next year.

The report has not been directly corroborated but comes from a normally reputable source and fits with ASUS' manufacturing history. ASUS is regularly contracted to produce notebooks for other companies and is frequently tasked by Apple with assembling certain models from the Mac portable line, including MacBooks. A separate claim made in late September by AppleInsider suggested a Newton revival that would resemble a larger iPhone with a more data-centric design. Neither Apple nor ASUS has responded to the claim.