Apple Working on XL Aluminum Tablets (Rumor)

Citing a “100% reliable” source, Gizmodo claims that two prototype tablets were spotted in a factory in Shenzuen, China. The extra-large Apple tablets, as described by the source, allegedly sport screen sizes measuring 13-inches and 15-inches with one of the devices reportedly running Mac OS X when seen.

“One of them ‘was running Mac OS X 10.5.’ When I asked, the source didn’t know if these were built for demonstration purposes, or if they were preproduction units. The company has a tight relation with Apple but ‘it’s not FoxConn,’” the report in question reveals. Apple was, until now, believed to be working on a 10-inch screen tablet, not a 13-inch device, let alone 15-inch, which comes close to the company’s bigger MacBook Pros.

Via CultOfMac (and used with a CC-license), comes this tablet mockup thanks to Sean (aka perfect pixel) on Flickr. Going by the description of the two tablets spotted in China, this is what they would look like:

“...the two touchscreen prototypes—made of aluminum, but on the shape of big iPhones—were in a factory in Shenzuen, China,” the description goes
Credits: Sean (aka perfect pixel) on Flickr via CultOfMac
Gizmodo also points out that Steve Jobs is personally driving this project, citing several sources. Softpedia also detailed that an unnamed Apple employee had reportedly told the press that Steve Jobs’ return to Apple’s Cupertino campus HQ was not entirely welcomed by staffers. Additionally, the same source revealed, Apple’s CEO was said to be heavily focused on the rumored Apple tablet.

And even earlier reports said that a tech analyst (who preferred remaining anonymous), had allegedly touched a prototype of the tablet device as well, while a report over at CNNMoney included bold estimates from renowned Piper Jaffray Senior Analyst Gene Munster, who provided sales estimates and even a mockup of the device.