More evidence has surfaced that the long-rumored Apple tablet/netbook/media-pad/ebook/whatever is on its way to a fanboi near you. Or to you yourself, if you swing that way.

Taiwanese market-watching site DigiTimes reported Friday that touch-screen manufacturer Wintek has been tapped by Apple to supply display panels for Cupertino's "upcoming e-book form factor netbook product."

The twist in DigiTimes's latest report, of course, is the mention of an ebook form factor.

Speculation about whether or not Apple is - or should be - preparing an ebook reader has been floating around for over a year, and has recently picked up steam - even here at The Reg, where this morning we pointed out that long-time Apple analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray ses a "Kindle-killer" coming out of Cupertino early next year.

But speculation is just that - Webster defines "speculate" as "to take to be true on the basis of insufficient evidence."

But Friday's report from the oft-reliable DigiTimes adds to the mounting evidence. Exactly when that volume of evidence will graduate from insufficient to sufficient remains ... well ... a matter of speculation. ®

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