Another day, another Mac OS X tablet computer rumour - this time from the granddaddy of all Apple analysts, Gene Munster.
The prominent Apple watcher says he's absolutely certain that the fabled tablet device will arrive early next year and that it will sell for somewhere between $500 (£295) and $700 (£415).
App Store software
Munster says he knows this because one of the regular Apple hardware suppliers in Asia told him it has orders from the company for a touchscreen device that are due by the end of this year.
He also states that the new tablet Mac will run App Store applications, suggesting it is indeed the swollen iPod touch we all believe it to be.
Kindle rival?
However, Munster throws a wrinkle into the prediction by suggesting Apple could be about to start selling e-books through iTunes, thereby positioning the new machine as a direct competitor to Amazon's Kindle.
As always, Apple has had nothing to say about the speculation, although

Ok I admit it, I've always harbored deep jealousy for those incredibly intelligent jerks at MIT's Media Lab, traipsing around Massachusetts in their incredibly great wearable computers. Well, now that a MicroPCTalk forum member has built his very own wearable computer from a few spare parts lying around the house, we can finally put aside those futile dreams and get to work on our very own nerd-badge-of-honor. Mr. Fiveseven808 took a VAIO UX, Myvu Crystal wearable display, a bevy of Bluetooth peripherals and a iDEN i425 handset for connectivity. Sadly, his UX has since died, but there's more UMPC where that can, and those elitist MIT types can't keep us down forever.