'Major' Apple Announcement: Tablet Confirmed to Ship in March

by Blaine Metzgar | January 5, 2010 at 02:47 pm

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According to John Paczkowski's Digital Daily column at All Things Digital Apple is set to release a "major new product" announcement at a rumoured late-January event.

Sources in a position to know tell me Apple (AAPL) is indeed planning a media event later this month at which the company will announce a major new product.

The event is scheduled to take place at Apple's seemingly go-to announcement destination, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco where CEO Steve Jobs made his first public appearance since his medical leave in September 2009. It was first reported by the Financial Times that Apple would make the announcement on Tuesday, January 26 but according to Paczkowski's sources it will instead take place on Wednesday the 27th. Now while the day of the week may seem frivolous, Apple apparently prefers Wednesdays to Tuesdays for special events; the special “It’s Only Rock and Roll” iPod even t was rumoured to take place Tuesday, September 8 last year but was ultimately held the next day.

Following the announcement of Apple's announcement, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that people briefed by the company have confirmed the company "will unveil a new multimedia tablet device later this month, but isn't planning to ship the product until March." The tablet is said to have a 10 to 11-inch touch screen and will be offered in two different finishes.

Condé Nast already anticipated the impact of the tablet when they included the digitizing of content for their publications in their annual report.

So even if the recently-announced Nexus One is the unlikely iPhone killer, Apple has the tablet up their sleeve to maintain their dominance.