Apple to Unveil Tablet in January 2010 [Developers Cooking “Full Screen” Apps for January]

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Are you ready for Apple’s tablet? It looks like the device will be unveiled a lot sooner than expected. Cupertino hasn’t officially confirmed it but according to latest rumors the company is getting ready for a January 2010 launch.

What points to the imminent announcement is the fact that various app developers have been advised by Apple to make special versions of their apps capable of running in a “full screen resolution” environment. The apps should be ready to be demoed next month. Either Apple is going to launch a big-screen iPhone in January or the tablet is what’s actually happening.

Don’t get too excited, folks! Come this January you won’t actually be able to buy the tablet. But you’ll get a feel, and possibly a very special presentation of the tablet featuring Apple’s brain, CEO Steve Jobs.

Mass production of the tablet should start at some point in February which means that Apple could launch it in March which is a lot earlier than initially expected.

Various reports seem to suggest that Apple is going to launch a 7-inch tablet although a 10-inch tablet could also be in the making. I certainly am hoping for the latter version which would better suit my needs but a 7-inch version sounds pretty interesting too.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Muster is expecting Apple to ship the tablet by the end of March which could increase the value of Apple shares in the near future:

We expect the multiple to increase as tablet hype builds and Street models begin to include tablet estimates. While the tablet is not currently in our model, we believe Apple could sell about 1.4M units if the tablet shipped in March, adding 2% to revenue.

The analyst is almost certain that Cupertino will host a special event in January. While the tablet seems like the most likely gadget to be announced at said event, Apple could surprise us by actually presenting other devices like a new Apple TV that would come with a subscription service or an iPod touch with video support.