With enough nudging and winking worthy of Monty Python, Apple (News - Alert) now says it will unveil its 'latest creation' in San Francisco on January 27.

Of course there's only one thing that's on anybody's mind when it comes to Apple these days. Well, besides wondering when the heck they're going to get The Beatles on iTunes: Their heavily-rumored tablet computer.

Apple sent out one of their typically wordy, informative e-mails to journalists: 'Please join Apple on January 27 for a Special Event,' and 'Come see our latest creation.' These guys do PR the way Bill Belichick does press conferences.

The 'special' event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time.

As Agence France Presse (News - Alert) remembers, industry observer Robin Wauters

It's no secret that Apple has a tablet on the way, the $64 question - is, of course, when.

Just before Christmas the Industry Standardnoted that 'reports are pointing to a launch in the spring of 2010,' citing' analysts who are citing contacts in the supply chain as well as publishers who have supposedly been approached by Apple to discuss revenue-sharing agreements for e-books and news.'

As Wauters explains, Richard's the number two guy at the telecom giant.

Evidently he told French journalist Jean-Pierre Elkabbach, 'that the tablet would soon make its entry into the market, and that it will be equipped with a Webcam.'

Apple, of course, doesn't comment on speculation or rumor, preferring to let things build to a fever pitch before a new product announcement. 

The Wall Street Journal describes the long-awaited tablet as a 'color multimedia device which will allow users to browse the Web, listen to music, watch movies or television shows and also serve as an electronic book and newspaper reader.'   


David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of David’s articles, please visit his columnist page. He also blogs for TMCnet here.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi