Apple tablet in September?

Apple's rumored touch tablet could appear on shelves as soon as September, a Chinese-language newspaper writes. The claim comes from Taiwan's Apple Daily, which says that Wintek is supplying displays, while Dynapack is providing batteries. Working to assemble the product is thought to be Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known to many as Foxconn.

Foxconn has drawn considerable criticism in recent days, following a worker's suicide which may have been triggered by company actions. Some Apple products assembled by Foxconn include iPods and iPhones. Wintek has also taken flak in the past few months, principally charges that it is violating labor rights.

The report echoes previous accounts of Wintek's involvement, and a Financial Times story suggesting that a tablet could be timed with new music bundles in September. Apple Daily notes that the tablet could appear in October or later though, and one report has held that the computer should arrive in the first quarter of 2010. Specifications are believed to include a 10-inch screen and built-in 3G data.

by MacNN Staff