Rumours have been circulating about a new device from Apple that'll be appearing next year, and the nature of its recent patent suggests they could very well be true. Details of a new large screen iPod, dubbed the 'iPad' have been released with the device likely to sport a 7" or 9" touchscreen display. This is a market that Apple has been contemplating for a while now, and the success of recent additions like the iPhone and iPod Touch suggests that it's now well prepared to get involved. Exactly how far-reaching the application of such a device would be is anyone's guess and there's still very little information on what else it'll bring to the table and even if it'll definitely be released. TechCrunch reports that Apple is talking to OEMs in Asia about mass production though and the range of independent sources close to Apple who have confirmed the rumour does suggest that it's quite likely to appear. Tablet PCs never really took off though, so is there really a market for such a large touchscreen based device? - Paul Lester [TechCrunch] Apple touchscreen iPod