Rumor: Apple to be preparing something between an iPod and a Macbook?

Image from an Apple patent

Yes, Apple has dismissed the idea of creating a netbook, arguing that they don’t know how to make a $500 laptop that is not “a piece of junk”, but according to the NY Times, a search engine company has seen data about an unannounced Apple product with a display somewhere between an iPhone and a Macbook. It seems unlikely that Apple would have anything online so early, but who knows? snafus do happen.

What could this be? Laptop? Nettop? Tablet? Hoax? Drop a comment.