Apple files Mac Tablet patent — let the rumours begin!

Apple tablet rumours are racing around the net again following a filing by the computer company discovered by AppleInsider. This patent presents several images that depict a mobile internet device with a software keyboard.

[eminimalls products="apple tablet"]

As you can see the illustrations cover a number of formats for a mobile/portable device which could run a full-blown version of OS X and incorporate multi-touch gestures as seen on the iPhone, iTouch and recently launched MacBook trackpads.

The question is: Is this a patent to protect a future model or is it just to fence of an area of intellectual property so others cannot exploit it?

The document, dated 15th April 2008 apparently builds on earlier filings from up to two years ago and so appear to contribute to a gradually growing body of protection rather than a lawyer’s sudden brainwave. Dare we imagine an actual product on the horizon?

[UberGizmo via JPEGradar]