Apple tablet announcement eagerly awaited

Though the company has not divulged any details, Apple has confirmed an event for the reporters at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco to unveil its “latest creation,” which is expected to be its long rumored tablet computer.

Apple tablet details
The tablet has already generated so much interest that the Internet is abuzz with the leaked details of the device.

According to engadget.com, the tablet will have a 10-inch screen, and it resembles an iPhone with a home button at the bottom.

The gadget has a MacBook-like aluminum back and will be priced around $800 when tied to Verizon and $1000 without it. The tablet is expected to hit the stores in March.

Though its name remains a secret, Apple employees have codenamed it ‘K48’.

According to the analysts, the tablet could be called an iPad or iSlate as it is expected to bridge the gap between an Apple iPod Touch and an Apple MacBook.

It will play music, videos and games, facilitate reading books and magazines conveniently, and rely on Apple’s iTunes, which has more than 2 million applications in store.

Tablet to hot-up competition in e-reader market
The Apple tablet is expected to eat into the large part of the market share long enjoyed by Amazon’s e-reader Kindle, states research firm Forrester Research Inc.

The tablet will surely force Amazon and Sony to come up with upgrades of their e-readers to compete with Apple.

In fact, Amazon has already realized the threat posed by Apple tablet. In order to ensure that it does not lose its customers, Amazon has already been unveiling innovations. The company has launched a software development kit that will enable its e-reader users to build and sell their own applications for the device.

But, James McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester, holds the belief that by the end of 2011 Apple’s tablet will surpass Sony’s e-reader in terms of sales, thus making it second to Kindle.

Readers’ reactions
The Apple tablet launch has created quite a buzz online. Many readers have taken to blogs and forums to discuss the upcoming device by Apple.

As per the talks and discussions on the Internet, majority of the readers are impressed and are looking forward to the launch, but there are some who have expressed reservations about the price.

A reader named paul2100 commented on mashable.com, “Nice I'm so excited... only a few more hours to go...”

Another reader named lamerz posted his view on engadet.com as, “$1000. MASSIVE FAIL, Apple, if that is the case.”