Apple is expected to unveil its latest and greatest gadget, which is widely hoped to be a tablet. For months, the tech world has been hearing leaks, rumours, and strategically planned business moves by Apple.

Post several successful generations of touch-screen devices, along with the acquisition of PA Semi and touch-gesture company Fingerworks, it is not hard to believe that Apple was cooking up something bigger.

Today, the Cupertino, Calif.-based company is convening an event for reporters to unveil its e-mailed invitation tagged with "our latest creation".

The widely rumoured name of Apple's tablet has gone under two main monikers: the "iSlate" and the "iPad."

Similar to the iPhone and iPod Touch, analysts speculate that it will include a Web browser, e-mail client, and multimedia player and host the applications that made Apple's first touchscreen devices so popular. In addition, the larger touchscreen is rumoured to be 10cm wide, could emerge as an optimum device for one other activity: reading.

Moreover it is revealed by a Wall Street Journal story that Apple was in negotiations with Harper Collins; BusinessWeek reported talks with McGraw-Hill Companies; and, this week, the popular blog TechCrunch said the tablet might come with a built-in Barnes & Noble bookstore.