Apple Tablet computer may have stylus

Apple tablet computer may come with a stylus (pen). The Apple tablet (slate) computer, expected to be in the market next year is one of the most-awaited product from the Apple farm.

As always, Apple is mum about the project, which Wall Street Journal said was closely supervised by CEO Steve Jobs. The Apple Tablet Slate is expected to be a touchscreen device with a stylus (pen) which will convert the writing to text. Handwriting recognition and speech recognition software will be art of the package, say rumors on the Web.

Apple once had a similar touchscreen based handheld, called the Apple Newton. The Newton found few buyers. As soon as Steve Jobs returned to the company he co-founded, he killed the embarrassing failure that was Apple Newton. Interestingly, Apple recently re-hired some of the executives and developers who previously worked on the Newton project.

Stylus (digital pen) based products are not new. Apple’s success with the stylus on the tablet slate computer will depend on how well the handwriting software works. Many touchscreen devices and handheld already use a stylus, but mostly as an accessory.

Apple is believed to have filed for a patent for its digital stylus (pen) and ink technology, which may be used in the Apple Tablet computer.