Apple’s ‘latest creation’ to debut in San Francisco, most analysts expect tablet computer

more images

more images

Ahead of the Bell: Apple to unveil new gadget

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple Inc. plans to unveil a new gadget Wednesday that many believe will be a tablet-style computer.

Apple has kept its “latest creation” under wraps, but in the last year analysts have grown increasingly confident that it will be a one-piece computer with a big touch screen, probably larger than an iPhone but smaller than a laptop. Such a device would be used for watching videos, surfing the Web and reading electronic books.

The Cupertino, Calif.-based company’s shares have more than doubled over the past year. Apple was barely touched by the recession, and on Monday the company said the holiday quarter was its most profitable ever thanks to strong sales of the iPhone smart phone and its Macintosh computers.

The stock was up $2.43, up 1.2 percent, to $208.37 in premarket trading.