<p>The 3.4 percent or $6.94 rise in Apple's stock during the day took its market value to $188 billion. The Apple stock sold for $209.04, surpassing the previous high of $207 last month.<br />The stock surge brought Apple within striking distance of Google Inc. ($196 billion) and Wal-Mart ($204 billion).<br /><br />The Cupertino-based (California) software manufacturer is already ahead of IBM Corp. ($171 billion) and General Electric ($164 billion) in market valuation.<br />The spurt in its stock has been fuelled by the speculation that the company is set to unveil an Apple tablet computer next month.<br />The new device, which could be called iPad, will be a cross between the iPhone and the Kindle reading device.<br /><br />The New York Times said Wednesday that "there are too many signs that point in this direction'' of the Apple tablet.<br />The San Francisco Chronicle also said Thursday that the tablet device "will likely be similar to an iPod Touch but with a 10-inch screen.''<br />The tablet will run a version of the iPhone OS software made to handle larger applications, the newspaper quoted a software analyst as saying.<br /><br />The newspaper said "Apple's tablet would compete well in the netbook category even though it would not be a netbook.Rather, it would focus more on apps, entertainment content (from the iTunes Store) and web surfing.''<br />According to a gadget blog, Apple is may launch a 7-inch tablet alongside or in place of the speculated 10-inch tablet.<br /></p>
<p>The 3.4 percent or $6.94 rise in Apple's stock during the day took its market value to $188 billion. The Apple stock sold for $209.04, surpassing the previous high of $207 last month.<br />The stock surge brought Apple within striking distance of Google Inc. ($196 billion) and Wal-Mart ($204 billion).<br /><br />The Cupertino-based (California) software manufacturer is already ahead of IBM Corp. ($171 billion) and General Electric ($164 billion) in market valuation.<br />The spurt in its stock has been fuelled by the speculation that the company is set to unveil an Apple tablet computer next month.<br />The new device, which could be called iPad, will be a cross between the iPhone and the Kindle reading device.<br /><br />The New York Times said Wednesday that "there are too many signs that point in this direction'' of the Apple tablet.<br />The San Francisco Chronicle also said Thursday that the tablet device "will likely be similar to an iPod Touch but with a 10-inch screen.''<br />The tablet will run a version of the iPhone OS software made to handle larger applications, the newspaper quoted a software analyst as saying.<br /><br />The newspaper said "Apple's tablet would compete well in the netbook category even though it would not be a netbook.Rather, it would focus more on apps, entertainment content (from the iTunes Store) and web surfing.''<br />According to a gadget blog, Apple is may launch a 7-inch tablet alongside or in place of the speculated 10-inch tablet.<br /></p>