Remember that report from late last week that Apple was sampling displays for an upcoming touchscreen iMac? Well, fuggedaboutit.

For now, at least.

This Tuesday, DigiTimes issued a concise retraction: "Barry Wu, VP and spokesperson of Sintek Photronics has denied reports that the company is sampling projected capacitive touch panels for Apple's iMac."

Well, that's that.

Those uninitiated in the ways of Jobs & Co might think: "Wu could merely be covering up, denying involvement to keep the secret a secret." But they'd be wrong.

In you humble Reg reporter's experience since the Jobsian Second Coming in the late '90's, the first rule about working with Apple is that you don't talk about working with Apple. That means no confirmations, no denials, no hints, no facial tics, no hand gestures, no nuthin'.

As one industry rep recently told your reporter when asked about his company's involvement in a known Cupertinian endeavor: "Apple? I can't even talk about the fruit!"

So if Wu says he's not working with Apple, odds are high that he's not working with Apple.

Touchscreen iMac rumors — intriguing patent or no intriguing patent — will have to wait for another day. ®

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• Apple rumor mill predicts 'all new Mac' (22 August 2011)
• HP intros 'lay it flat' all-in-one touchscreen PC (7 February 2011)
• HP builds touchscreen Linux PC for India (2 December 2010)
• Apple patent pic revives touchscreen Mac buzz (8 October 2010)
• Multi-touch iMacs prepped in Cupertino? (1 October 2010)
• Apple demonstrates how to do touchscreen desktops (24 August 2010)
• Apple preps touchy-feely iMac (18 January 2010)