More recently, companies have been trying to develop a useful and highly mobile computing device, one that is more powerful than a mobile phone, but less powerful than a laptop. Various products such as Tablet PCs and Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPC) have been released but they haven’t been very successful because they are based on Windows XP, an OS that is not really designed to run on such a small device.

In October 2008, Steve Jobs entirely dismissed netbook computers, saying the company couldn’t develop a $500 computer that was “not a piece of junk”. Since then, Apple’s mindset seems to have actually shifted towards a super mobile computing device, with more and more indications the company is readying the release of such a device.

The WSJ reported that despite Steve Jobs taking a medical leave of absence, he is still very actively involved with the company. The WSJ said, “Mr. Jobs has continued to work on the company’s most important strategies and products from home…He regularly reviews products and product plans, and was particularly involved in the user interface of the new iPhone operating system…”

The WSJ also reported today that Apple plans to design its own computer chip processors, a move that can give the company a competitive edge with possibly better designed chips that could be used in this new device.

Last March, Apple reportedly made a significant order of 10-inch touch-screen displays from a Taiwanese manufacturer that would be delivered in Q3 2009.

More recently, BusinessWeek reported Apple could be readying the launch of its “iPad” by the end of 2009, a device about the size of Amazon’s Kindle, but its display would cover almost the entire part of the screen. The display would be bigger than the iPhone’s 3.5-inch display, and smaller than the smallest MacBook display of 13.3-inches.

Reports also indicate the “iPad” would be HD ready, and also support the App Store and would be powered by an embedded version of OS X. The pricetag would probably be around $700.

The rumors come as reports indicated a new “iPhone Mini” is in the works, and even a new mobile device dubbed “Pink” from Microsoft to take on the iPhone.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what (if anything) Apple comes out with, given actual netbooks are already very small and functional. It is also possible we could simply see a MacBook touch device, and not something entirely new. I guess we will all have to simply wait and see.

Note: Photos are only concepts and not representative of any actual product