Psst: Is Apple's tablet finally imminent?

Apple is introducing, well, something on Wednesday. Will it be a tablet computer? The long-anticipated "vaporware" finally seems to be reality, based on the latest reports.

Or maybe that should be rumors, because few people outside of Apple seem to know for sure. In fact, speculation has been so rampant that the tech website Gizmodo (www.gizmodo.com) has created "The Exhaustive Guide to Apple Tablet Rumors" to keep track of the latest revelations.

The folks at Apple are being their usual coy selves. They've summoned the news media to Wednesday's event in San Francisco with the simple invitation, "Come see our latest creation."

If that is an iTablet, iSlate, iPad -- or whatever its supposed name is -- here is what observers expect: The device will have a 7- to 10-inch touch-screen, a perfect size for e-reading (making it a Kindle killer). Computing on the go will include wireless connectivity, Web browsing and apps. And, of course, it will be optimized for music and video. The price will be about $1,000.

The best analogy that has been put forth is that Apple's tablet will be like an iPod Touch on steroids.

Whatever it is, keep in mind that before Apple's most recent big product event, in September, rumors were rampant that the company would finally add the Beatles to the iTunes store after years of legal wrangling. The big announcement? A few upgrades to its line of iPods.