'Minor Issues' Pushing Apple’s $999 Tablet to June

Shaw Wu, analyst with Kaufman Bros., says that new developments indicate a delayed tablet launch for Apple, although the unveiling is still on for later this month. Wu claims to have heard the "iSlate" is a hybrid between the iPod touch and the MacBook, calling the device a "super" iPod touch.

"This tablet product has been described to us as a hybrid between an iPhone/iPod touch and a mac but in terms of software and components, it appears closer to the former, meaning it is most likely ARM based," Wu wrote in a note to clients, according to AppleInsider. "From our understanding, it is not intended to replace a Mac but be somewhat of a 'super' iPod touch where video, gaming, Web browsing, e-books and the ability to run multiple apps would be enhanced with the much larger screen."

Shaw Wu added that, "The product would most likely not ship in volume until the June timeframe, as there may [be] minor issues that need more work including battery life and durability. We believe the timeline could be similar to the original iPhone, where it was announced in January 2007, but didn’t ship until six months later." Key observations included in his report are broken down below (courtesy of World of Apple)

- The tablet will act as an intermediary between the iPod touch/iPhone and Mac.
- Wi-Fi would be the "most likely option" for Internet access making no clear ruling out of 3G network access.
- The tablet’s price point comes close to $999, according to Wu, who believes that carrier subsidies could reduce cost.
- Supply chain sources suggest Apple is looking to sell 5 million tablets in first year.

Apple has recently confirmed an event scheduled for January 27 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts In San Francisco, where the company is believed to finally introduce its much-rumored tablet device. A new version of the iPhone software is also expected to debut at the event.