Apple is rumored to be working on something more than the IPod Touch, but less than the MacBook. Previously, patent applications filed by the company and the whispers from the contract manufacturers point to a gadget with a screen average of 7 to 8 inches in the works, perhaps, is scheduled to debut early next year. There were different type device called a tablet, “Media-pad, and IPod press on steroids.

But the average between the handheld device and the traditional hand-historically it was difficult to sell the main consumers. Apple has some experience to invent what is not considered to be balanced, or product categories, and is known for its rigorous product review process, so that if someone has the opportunity to do something compelling to this “tweener” category, in the company to do so.

For Apple, this could be its response to the Netbook craze – 20 million of them scaled-down computers are shipped to retailers this year, double last year’s output. Apple was quite clear in their distaste for him, using descriptors like “addict”, and the average selling price of about $ 400 will not allow Apple to maintain its margins higher than they are accustomed.

But, obviously, there is a market, especially given the current state of the economy, for the device in the middle range between smartphones and notebook. Interim Director Tim Cook has recently admitted that Apple has “some interesting ideas in this space.”

For instance, he makes one. What exactly should tablets from Apple to do and what functions it should be sports in order to avoid mistakes in any other “non tablet PCs, ultramobile PCs and mobile Internet devices, is now collecting dust in basements and desk drawers of early adopters?

Some recommendations:

Invent categories: First, Apple must solve the major problems that plague all types of tablet devices so far: a lack of interest from consumers as well as clear objectives for the device, which is no small feat. “This should be a very different spin on the phenomenon of tablet,” said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of analysis for interpretation. “What can (pill), that neither do (phone or laptop), can do so leads to the consumer to bear one more thing? Consumers want a maximum of two, maybe three things.”

The decision will make it as easy to use as possible, thus, the company has no further with features such as those listed below.

Being thin and light: the device is thinner and lighter than the 3-pound MacBook Air and some heftier than the 1.1-pound DX inflame the people more likely to carry it around. Clunky, heavy ultramobile PCs (UMPCs), as the OQO, such as portable in theory but not practical for more than a niche business audiences. If people do not want to carry it around, they can also deal with a smartphone and a laptop. This is what happened to tablet PCs, which currently occupy about 1 percent of the total PC market, according to IDC. UMPCs market share essentially zero.

I set up the software: No-man’s land of devices like Tablet PCs and UMPCs / MIDS Failed partly because of their operating system is Windows XP, was not optimized for these devices. Apple has an advantage there with the iPhone OS. It could be tweaked for the average between the device and the iPhone MacBook.

“Migrating from iPhone OS, probably cause the benefits in terms of simplicity, the battery form factor, price and stability,” said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis at NPD Group. “Mac OS, on the other hand, would provide a more robust web-surfing experience, enabling Adobe Flash”.

What’s key to keep the best parts in the iPhone, and the best part of the desktop Mac OS, like iPhone versions of the browser Safari, as well as compatibility with the App Store, he said. “One way to do so may put them out the window, just as Canonical is now talking about running Android applications on the desktop.”

Built in wireless 3G: It seems fairly obvious, but while the iPhone this year IPod Touch and the MacBook does not. This tablet would quickly get online, download videos, books, applications, etc., so it seems fairly certain, if Apple were to make a tablet.

Inclusion of the best parts of the IPod Touch, such as multitouch screen, an accelerometer to quickly switch between landscape and portrait mode, and built-in App Store access. Apple of pinching and zooming multitouch screen that gets all the users iPhone giggly. Imagine, these gestures in a much larger area: scanning through the pictures and album art, drawing his fingers, and scaling on the tiny details of the photo would be improved in all 7-inch (or so) screen.

AppStore access is a prerequisite. This is insanely popular – gone billion downloads in April, after only nine months and open for business. This is attracting a decent amount of revenue Apple, as well as developing the hordes of developers on the Apple platform. A big screens even more opportunities for things like gaming applications.

Innovation input text: Apple has already demonstrated this. And with more screen real estate to potential tablet, a larger version of iPhone in the virtual keyboard appears to be the most obvious direction for Apple to go here. It would significantly increase the usability, and depending on the size, can afford even a room to touch type with two hands.

iSight within: Integrated camera can turn this device into a mobile video conference system. It is a great business applications for use – video conference calls from any location – as well as consumers, for example, that parents encounter with their new freshman out of college, even if he or she is away from his notebook.

A built-in wireless video camera can also take advantage of bar code reading, Apps, to get more product information, images or search through the applications as SnapTell, already is in the Apple iPhone TV spot. Take a picture of the book, DVD, or a cereal box with a built-in camera, and it brings information about it on sites like Google, IMDB, eBay and others.

Be able to watch several feature films on a single charge: A Mac tablet with a screen about 7 inches, as well as rumors, presumably, would be primarily at the consumer media, so that the opportunity to watch full-length film on a long plane ride would be great. “Good performance power that will enable,” said Daniell Hebert, director of Moto Development Group, a consumer product development laboratory in San Francisco. This means that the screen can not be too much leakage in the battery, and as a background application will address, too.

Please e-book reader: E-Books are hot right now. Although Steve Dzhobs memorably said: “People do not read more,” he was known Bash product categories before you jump into them. Apple adopted a set of electronic books for reading Apps App Store, so the prospect of an even larger screen will be very attractive to read books and newspaper articles.

Price must be right: We know, Apple does not do cheap. He’s the same reason, the company has repeatedly said he would not do Netbook. Apple tablet will likely lower the price of the cheapest MacBook to $ 999. Apple observer Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray happens to believe that it will be marked between $ 500 and $ 700. And if the IPod Touch is $ 399 for 32 GB, then ignite DX is $ 489, it should not be too far above $ 500.

While some of them hope for the reference tablets from Apple developers at the World Conference that takes place only during the week, it’s probably not a good bet. In addition, the fact that the focus of attention recently, it was all WWDC iPhone, Munster said that his sources in the foreign production believe that this tablet device will not be ready until 2010. At the same time, let us know what features you would like to see the device as from Apple.