PC World is reporting that Apple may release a new iPad in December. According to the report, Apple is tinkering with a new tablet that sports a 7-inch touchscreen (a mini-iPad, so to speak) and may roll out before the end of 2010. The source of the report is the Economic Daily News, major Chinese-language Taiwanese newspaper. This news comes on the heels of a source code discovery deep within iOS 4 that not only references a CDMA iPhone but also the next iPad.

It should be mentioned, however, that this is the publication that first reported the iPad's definitive existence while many others still regarded the "Apple tablet" to be a mythical device that would likely not manifest any time soon. With some degree of credibility in tact, the publication follows last week's Digitimes report indicating that Taiwanese companies have already begun assembling the forthcoming 7-inch iPad.

The Economic Daily piece references a number of Taiwanese companies that have secured "component contracts" for the device presently - and unofficially dubbed - iPad 2. Chimei Innolux will supply 7-inch LCD screens, notes the report, which utilizes the same in-plane switching technology of the first generation iPad. Meanwhile, touchscreen technology for the screens will be from Cando Corporation. Compal Electronics will assemble the new, smaller iPads.

PC World