Apple to launch iSlate on January 26

Apple’s new ebook and web surfing tablet is due for launch on January 26. The device will not be called the iTablet or iBook as had been rumoured – neither names are available as .com domains – and the iBook name has already been used for Apple laptops. iTablet.com is registered to a company in Taiwan, while iBook.com is registered to a company in the Isle of Man.

iSlate.com has been registered by a San Francisco Trade Mark protection company and looks set to be Apple’s site for the new product. Device details are very thin on the ground  but one Apple employee is reported to have said that Steve Jobs is extremely happy with the new tablet.

The new device seems likely to feature a 7″ screen but whether it will be a black & white e-ink display or a full-colour OLED display remains to be seen. Expect multi-touch like the iPhone and a similar ‘soft’ keyboard.