Yep…that rumor again! Is Apple going to release a 7-inch iPad? Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research, told Computerworld that later this year,  Apple could surprise us all with the release a smaller version of the hugely popular tablet.

But there’s more: according to the analyst the 7-inch iPad could ship with a case that integrates a keyboard as a standard accessory.

“I believe that’s always been in the plan,” Gottheil said in the report. “Actually, that’s a good form factor for some users, and although they will also charge a premium above other similar-sized tablets, they want to protect that price flank.”

Although Steve Jobs commented in the past that a 7-inch tablet would have a “screen too small to express the software”, users have well received the Amazon Kindle Fire, that sold by the millions.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what 2012 will bring beside the iPad 3, iPhone 5 and what else? Redesigned MacBook Pro?

(Via)