Earlier this year, Chinese language newspaper Commercial Times reported that Wintek is working with Apple for development of touchscreen, which will be used in Apple’s new netbook. The shipments of these panels will start in the third quarter of this year. Adding more substance to the above rumor, Taiwanese news site InfoTimes reported today that Apple is preparing to debut its long rumored netbook this October.

According to the InfoTimes – Foxconn, Wintek and Dynapack have received orders from Apple related to manufacturing the upcoming netbook/ tablet. The news site further adds that Apple will not follow the current market trend (by producing netbooks with 10.2 or 10.1 inch screens). Apple will produce 9.7-inch touchscreen and Wintek will be the main manufacturer of the touchscreen. Apple will also not compete at lower price points, the netbook will probably be sold at around $800. The news site stresses that they have received the information from a very reliable source.

In another news related to Apple tablet, Dean Takahashi of Venture Beat is reporting that Apple’s own internal chip team is designing the processor chip for the tablet. According to his sources, Apple has split the PA Semi team into two parts, one designing portable ARM-based processors for iPhones and iPods, and another designing a processor for the tablet device. Apple acquired the chip design firm PA Semi last year, so it logical to think that they are use the firm to design chips for next generation devices.

If Apple is planning to use their own chip in upcoming tablet they will have to not only match but also out perform Intel’s Atom processor. ARM processors are very good for energy efficiency but they fall behind on raw processing power. Apple could overcome this limitation by using multicore ARM Cortex A9 processor technology, which would keep the power requirement very low compared to Atom processor while providing almost same level of performance.

Here’s hoping we would see the much-rumored netbook/tablet in October this year after many years of speculation. 
[Via MacRumors]