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(Credit: USPTO.gov)

The sharp-eyed bloggers at AppleInsider have noted a newly revealed patent application related to multitouch surfaces--leading to further speculation about Apple's purported tablet PC project.

As per usual, the application came through law firm Morrison and Foerster, and was originally filed in June of this year. According to the paperwork on file at USPTO.gov, this is:

A method of performing operations on a computing system having a touch-sensitive surface, the method comprising; tracking the paths of multiple distinguishable contacts, the contacts corresponding to touch devices as they move on or near the surface at the same time, wherein tracking is based on at least shape and position data corresponding to the contacts; determining scaling motion information corresponding to two or more of the multiple contacts based on the tracked paths of the contacts; generating a scaling gesture control signal based on the scaling motion information.

This reminds us of an earlier Apple touch technology patent application we looked at more than two years ago, for a wide laptop touchpad that could distinguish between intentional and unintentional input. The new application also takes current tablet and touchscreen technology to task, saying:

Touch screens and touchpads often distinguish pointing motions from emulated button clicks or keypresses by assuming very little lateral fingertip motion will occur during taps on the touch surface which are intended as clicks. Inherent in these methods is the assumption that tapping will usually be straight down from the suspended finger position, minimizing those components of finger motion tangential to the surface.

(Credit: USPTO.gov)

There's little else to tie this documentation directly to an Apple tablet, a project long-rumored, and currently thought to be coming sometime early next year, and some commentators even think this patent refers to mouse technology, not a tablet screen.

Interestingly, this comes on the heels of the recent rumors about an imminent refresh of the MacBook laptop line, keeping Steve Jobs and company in the public eye as we head into the all-important holiday shopping season.

(Credit: CNET)

While we've been hearing about a possible fall update to the iMac line, including Blu-ray options, for a couple of weeks now, the online rumor mill has now consigned itself to expecting new MacBook laptops as well. And not just any laptops, but the mythical, long-awaited, low-cost MacBooks that true believers hope will usher in a new age of Apple-based computing for those who find laptops over $1,000 to be out of reach.

AppleInsider says: "The new models, which appear as if they could make their debut alongside a family of more versatile iMacs in the coming weeks, are expected to arrive as the most affordable notebook offerings in the Mac maker's history." The site adds, "One person familiar with preproduction units indicated to AppleInsider several weeks ago that models awaiting certification were seen in white polycarbonate shells, consistent with the sole $999 model currently available."

Other references around the Web make similar claims, saying a less-expensive version of the polycarbonate MacBook would pave the way for a low-cost touchscreen Apple tablet early next year--but each of these reports ultimately leads back to the original rumor posted by AppleInsider.

We've heard nothing from Apple about an upcoming press event to reveal new models, but that's not unusual for the consistently secretive company. We have, however, been under the impression for some time that Apple prefers to stay out of the low-margin sub-$1,000 part of the laptop market, leaving the high-volume, but less profitable, cheap Core 2 Duo laptops and Atom-powered Netbooks to others. CNET Network blogger Brooke Crothers however, takes a stab at speculating what could be in a lower-cost MacBook here.

Should Apple get into the lower end of the laptop market? What MacBook features could you do without for a lower entry price? Sound off in the comments section below.

With the hype around Apple's near-certain upcoming tablet PC seemingly cooling off, our attention now turns to Microsoft--as the company is rumored to be preemptively working on its own Apple-tablet killer.

ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley reports that Microsoft plans to create a tablet, which is based in part on the technology behind the company's Surface project and has been developed under code names including "Oahu" and "Alchemy Ventures." In charge of the project--Chief Experience Officer J Allard, who was the main guy behind the Xbox brand for several years.

But don't look for it any time soon. Mary-Jo says she "wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft is waiting for Apple to show its Tablet hand before trotting out its revamped Tablet."

A key difference between a Microsoft tablet and an Apple one would be that Microsoft would design the basic spec, and let hardware partners build the actual devices--allowing MS to sit back and enjoy revenue from Zune-like subscription services, rather than be in the hardware-manufacturing business (and judging from the Xbox 360's high failure rate, that might not be the worst idea).

LG Chocolate Touch? Maybe?

(Credit: Engadget Mobile)

Engadget Mobile has received this leaked photo of what looks like the LG Chocolate Touch for Verizon, and wouldn't you know it, it doesn't look at all like the LG BL40 that the Europeans are all getting this fall. No giant 4-inch display, no 21:9 aspect ratio, that's for sure. Which makes us wonder if this truly is the LG Chocolate Touch, or if it's some other LG phone.

But since we're used to not getting the pretty European models, we wouldn't be surprised if this really is the Chocolate Touch that we were waiting for. Seeing as the holiday season is coming up, we'll probably know soon enough what the LG Chocolate Touch VX8575 truly looks like.

A Borders customer survey asks about a mystery Apple iPad large-screen reading device.

(Credit: Borders/Screenshot by Michelle Meyers/CNET)

This story was updated Tuesday with some clarification about the origin of the iPad reference. See details below.

There are a gazillion rumors swirling out there about a forthcoming Apple tablet of some sort. And while we certainly don't feel the need to point you to each and every supposed leaked photo or tip from a super-secret inside source, this potential clue is too interesting to pass on.

MacLife appears to be the first to have noticed that a survey Borders e-mailed to customers, for which those willing to participate earn a coupon for 20 percent off, referenced a device called the Apple iPad.

More specifically, after getting a sense of my taste in books and buying habits, Borders asked about my familiarity with digital-reading devices and whether "I plan to buy an Apple iPad (large-screen reading device) this year." Hmmm, that was a toughie.

It's hard to know what to make of this reference. Perhaps Borders has some sort of inside knowledge, or perhaps the third-party producer of this survey reads Apple fan blogs. Or maybe Borders is just listening to CNET readers, who seemed to like the name iPad in our "Name that Netbook" poll.

Only time (and Apple's anticipated September event) will tell.

Updated at 3:15 p.m. PDT on Tuesday: A Borders representative said book audience research firm Codex Group conducted the poll on behalf of Borders and "included the term iPad in the survey." However, Codex Group founder and CEO Peter Hildick-Smith declined to explain the origin of the term, deferring to his client, Borders.

In other words, we still don't know if someone was trying to predict the future, has inside knowledge, or is simply having fun with Apple watchers.

For all the breathless pontificating and predicting on the worst-kept secret in tech, the Apple tablet, most pundits have pointed to Apple's traditional September press event as the likely launch point for this new product.

Now, some are saying that Apple's unconfirmed September confab will be primarily about music devices, and any tablet PC will remain under wraps until sometime in 2010. According to Mac news site The Loop:

Very reliable sources familiar with the product have said speculation of the tablet being introduced during the September event are flat-out wrong. The Apple tablet, they said, would not see the light of day until the first part of 2010.

Helping this rumor rise above the ill-informed fray is that it was reported by former MacWorld Editor at Large (and sometimes CNET blogger) Jim Dalrymple. Are we going to have Apple tablets this holiday season? Or will we be waiting until sometime next year? Sound off below!

(Credit: deepapple.com)

We frequently get tips from readers offering inside information or links to obscure foreign sources. Sometimes they check out, sometimes they feel more like paranoid delusions (and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference).

There was a particularly frenetic message today from a reader offering links to an Russian Apple site called DeepApple, that purported to explain how the still-unconfirmed Apple tablet would in fact be targeted primarily at automotive use. In part, it reads:

"The Tablet itself will be aimed for use in cars (mostly, but not only) as a center of car equipment digital integration... Placing and using (together with iPhone) Apple's computer in a car as an information & communication center for driver -- "killing" idea of Apple's tablet targeting."

While not quite sure what that all meant, we nevertheless popped open the Russian Apple site links and ran them through an online translator. In the end, we didn't get much in the way of clarity, but we found some hilarious mockups of what an Apple-oriented automobile might look like.

So, for your viewing pleasure, we present them below as yet another couple of entries in the Apple tablet family photo album.

Update: Our own Antuan Goodwin points out that the first image below is of a Hyundai Genesis modified last year for the 2008 SEMA car show, as previously featured here).

(Credit: deepapple.com)

(Credit: deepapple.com)

It's happened every September for the past few years, and it appears it's on track again: Apple is planning a keynote event rumored to take place the second week of September, according to AllThingsD's Peter Kafka.

Almost time for a tuneup for the iPod Touch?

(Credit: CNET)

He says he has heard from "multiple music industry sources" that there will be an Apple event held sometime during the week of September 7. Now, this isn't a huge surprise since Apple has held an event announcing the latest upgrade to the iPod and iTunes around this same time every year. But this year there are some interesting variables in play.

It's essentially guaranteed that Apple will announce upgrades across the iPod line, including the iPod Touch and Nano, and perhaps even kill off some older models.The iPod Touch is rumored to be getting a camera, digital compass, and microphone. Other clues have pointed to the Nano also getting equipped with a camera.

Of more interest perhaps is whether Apple will use this event to debut the oft-discussed and long-rumored Apple tablet. Different sources have pointed to a 10-inch touch-screen device that's essentially a giant iPod Touch being available either this fall or in early 2010. It's rumored to have a music element to it, through a new album format supposedly called "Cocktail," making its introduction at a music-focused event seem plausible. The timing would also make sense if Apple wanted to establish some solid pre-holiday buzz before the annual winter shopping season.

And finally, many are wondering if Apple CEO Steve Jobs will use the September event--if it happens--to make his first public appearance since returning from medical leave earlier this year. Apple executive Phil Schiller has filled in for Jobs at these keynote-style events since January, but since Jobs has been officially back at the company's helm since the end of June, the September event would be the first opportunity for him to return to the spotlight.