Rumors about Apple working on touchscreen netbook/tablet have been around the blogosphere for more than a few years now. Apple has repeatedly denied the rumors, but Apple does that with every produce before officially announcing it. According to Chinese language Commercial Times, Taiwan based Wintek is working with Apple for developed of touch panels that will be used in Apple’s new netbook and the shipments of these panels will start in the third quarter of this year.

Wintek has revealed that it is working with Apple on a new product development, but it doesn’t know what applications the new products are for. Wintek further added that no shipment schedule has been set yet, but they believe shipments are likely to begin in the second half of the year.

Commercial Times also adds that Quanta Computer will be manufacturing Apple’s new netbook. Quanta has manufactured various computer models for Apple before and they are also manufacturing the current MacBook laptops. So it’s highly likely that they will work with Apple for the new Apple Netbook.

Commercial Times provided no other information about the design of the new netbook. But if rumors are to be believed, Apple netbook will be like an iPhone with 5-8 inch screen. There will be no physical keyboard like the iPhone, which will make the Apple netbook slimmer than any available netbook making it easier to carry and use it while holding it in one hand. As always Apple hasn’t commented on the story, but we are very sure that Apple is developing such a product.
[Via DigiTimes]