WSJ: ‘Apple to Ship Tablet Device in March’

Yukari Iwatani Kane and Geoffrey A. Fowler, reporting for the WSJ:

Looking to build on the momentum of its iPhone and iPod, Apple Inc. will unveil a new multimedia tablet device later this month, but isn’t planning to ship the product until March, say people briefed by the company.

While the device’s ship date hasn’t been finalized and could still change, people briefed on the matter said the new product will come with a 10 to 11-inch touch screen—which would make it closer in size to Apple’s line of MacBook laptops than its smart phone.

Apple was working on two different material finishes for the device, one of these people said, though it was unclear whether the Cupertino, Calif., company was just testing the finishes or planning to come out with multiple versions of a tablet at different prices.

Weird that they’re so certain about the ship date but uncertain about the finish. And no word in the remainder of the story describing the two “finishes”.

★ Monday, 4 January 2010