I’ve been holding my breath, waiting to see what Apple’s potentially game-changing new tablet device might bring with it. Well, happy new year to us! Thanks to a leak of what seems like an internal document, it looks like a lot.

PhoneArena got the goods from an anonymous tip serving up more than just vague buzz, but actual specifications. The info comes courtesy of images that appear to be Apple memos or fact sheets. Among the details contained therein are some pretty juicy bits, including:

• 7.1-inch multitouch display (with fingerprint-resistant coating)
• 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB DDR3 RAM
• 120GB hard drive
• built-in projector

What isn’t clear from this is whether the tablet will be 3G-enabled. This is a pretty big factor for any mobile device, since it will determine how truly portable it is and whether it will allow data through cellular networks. In laymen’s terms, that means you’d be able to browse the web, get email and such whenever you want, even without Wifi. It could also potentially mean there could be some relationship with one of the major mobile carriers.

And last, but definitely not least important, is the operating system.

If you laid bets on whether the tablet will run the iPhone OS or a version of Snow Leopard, be prepared to pay up. The document mentions neither. Instead, the tablet seems to jump the fence, and dive right into a next-gen operation system that isn’t on the market yet: Mac OS 10.7, codename “Clouded Leopard,” a new platform that allows for touchscreen functionality and a new widget-based homescreen. 

This is some crazy stuff. That OS on top of those specs — well, that simply has my jaw hitting the floor. Not just because this might be an unbelievably sexy beast of a mobile gadget, but because of the ramifications this could have across other Apple products. Think of it: Clouded Leopard sort of seems like an evolution of both the iPhone and Mac platforms.

The fact that this new OS takes on the nomenclature (or naming convention) of Apple’s desktop operating system is no joke. The current version is Snow Leopard, aka 10.6. If this tablet debuts with 10.7, what would the next desktop operating system be called? Or could this possibly suggest the general direction for Cupertino’s whole line of computers? And what would that mean for the iPhone? Will we see 10.7’s influences reach into the next version of the smartphone platform? The possibilities are just mind-boggling.

Now that we’ve pondered that for a moment, let’s come back down to earth. It’s important to remember that all this comes from an anonymous source, so you know how that goes: We need to put our cynical pants on, just like with any other rumor. Docs can be faked, and unknown sources are always a little suspicious. Luckily, we don’t have too much longer to wait and see if this pans out. January 26th is when Apple is expected to make some sort of announcement, and most of the industry believes the purpose is to introduce this tablet to the world. 

But one thing’s for sure — if these specs and OS details are true, then they definitely call up more questions than they answer.

Via: PhoneArena

Fast facts (rumors?) on the Apple tablet

This is some of the recent gossip that's circulating

• Some blogs report that the tablet’s name may be iSlate or iGuide
• Expected to have either 7-inch or 10-inch display (or both via two different versions)
• Apple vendors are working on strengthening the glass displays (presumably so such a large screen won’t be vulnerable to easy breaking or shattering)
• Cost may be around $800
• Announcement expected this month, but won’t launch until March or April
• The main purpose of the device may be for media consumption (and not content creation)

Mock-ups of what the Apple tablet could look like:

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