Apple iPad launching in 2009?

New year, new Apple rumour

A tablet-style device from Apple has been rumoured for years. In fact, it's been rumoured so long, someone else ended up making and selling one. But 2009 could finally see a fully legit Apple tablet, dubbed the iPad.

Yes, we're in the land of rumour and hearsay once more, although TechCrunch claims 'three independent sources close to Apple' have confirmed details of a prototype device to them. And from what they're saying, it's likely to be a large-sized iPod touch with 7-inch or 9-inch screen, mixing access to the iTunes app store with iTunes and a Safari web browser. They also add that prototypes have been 'handled' by those sources, with Apple now in discussions in Asia about mass production.

We'll file this under 'believe it when we see it' for now, but it could make commercial sense, especially with a proposed launch in time for Christmas 2009.