Eric Limer - 

The tablet revolution has arrived and stabilised and now everybody’s scrambling for the next big thing. Google’s quite publicly doing its whole glasses thing, but Apple’s been characteristically quite about any fancy new digs. Now, the New York Times is reporting that Apple’s got an iOS watch in development, but deep, deep, deeeeep under cover.

The Times is getting its info from a few unnamed sources that are alledgedly in on all the development juiciness. The rumour goes a little like this:

Apple is experimenting with wristwatch-like devices made of curved glass, according to people familiar with the company’s explorations, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because they are not allowed to publicly discuss unreleased products. Such a watch would operate Apple’s iOS platform, two people said, and stand apart from competitors based on the company’s understanding of how such glass can curve around the human body.

This isn’t the first time such a conjecture has popped up. In fact, ever since Apple redesigned the Nano away from its squarish you-can-make-a-DIY-watch-out-of-this form factor, rumours have flown that Apple was prepping to make their own, official version of such a device. Apple, of course, has declined to comment.

Rumours, however, are where it begins and ends. Apple has been known to dabble in all sorts of things for kicks, and even goes so far as to have new employees and would-be unnamed sources work on totally fake products for months. And there’s no hard evidence — or even soft evidence — to suggest such a product would ultimately be destined for sale even if it was under development of some sort.

We’ve got plenty of choices when it comes to Apple’s next big things rumours. The iPhone “Math,” the iPhone Budget, and now the iWatch. Take your pick and place your bets. [The New York Times]