Many a wide-eyed fanboy would love for Apple [NASDAQ:AAPL] to release a touch-based tablet. Fortunately for them, the touch technology coming out of the company's iPhone team makes the possibility of a touch Mac more likely than ever. Now new patents are revealing that the Cupertino computer maker is at least considering the idea.

The US patent application appears to cover a tablet-like computer, which seems to operate using the same multi-touch functionality that made the iPhone an international star.

Of course, Apple is known for patenting things they have no immediate intention of making, laying claim to ideas that might not materialize for years. In fact, Apple has flirted with slate computing before, apparently filing ancillary patents as far back as 2005 and 2006.

Skeptics are asking why Apple would want to venture into a space that, to date, hasn't shown much growth. Despite Bill Gates' sometime-ago prediction that all mobile computer would be tablets by this date, no one seems to really want a computer slower than a laptop, but almost the same size. To be sure, touch technology -- especially pen input -- has never made it to a solid, usable state. But it's possible that Apple is seeing an iPod-like opportunity in tablet computing: get into an existing space, and do a better product. It's certainly worked before.

It may be true that processors are not the most exciting doohickeys in the consumer electronics world, but when AMD [NYSE:AMD] does anything, it's time to pay a little attention. That's because the processor world is home to one of the most unequal playing fields in the tech industry; with Intel [NASDAQ:INTC] head and shoulders above AMD and VIA [TPE:2388], any move by the underdogs bolsters hopes for a little more competition in the space.

Such is the case with a new rumor out of AMD: a few different blogs are reporting that sources have told them the company's "Kuma" chips' release may be imminent. The Kuma is the next generation of the Phenom processor, and will sport dual-core architecture, akin to Intel's Core 2 Duo chips.

The new Phenoms will range from 1.9 to 2.3GHz, with 1MB level 2 cache and 2MB on level 3. There's also reportedly a "Black Edition" Phenom 8750 on the way, running at 2.4GHz, as well as 125-watt 9950 chips on the way as well. No word on how these will stack up to Intel's competing chips, but with any luck, they'll give the processor giant a run for it's money; that, of course, would benefit consumers.

Canon [NYSE:CAJ] is reportedly refreshing their 5D digital SLR with a new version called the 5D Mk II, which may arrive as soon as September at the Photokina show. CanonRumors is spreading word that they've gotten leaked specs for the 5D Mk II, which their sources say will feature a full-frame, 21.1MP sensor, DIGIC IV, and even a movie mode that can shoot in HD.

Film speeds will range from ISO 100 to a whopping ISO 6400, and burst shooting mode will capture at five frames per second. Like many new dSLRs, the new 5D will feature live view on its 3.2-inch high-res screen. As if all this weren't enough, Canon is also adding an incredible 19-point autofocus feature, and full weather-resistant sealing.

To be sure, none of these specs are set in stone, and 21 megapixel is a huge marginal improvement over the old 5D. The real 5D will hopefully stand up by fall.

To my amazement while flipping the pages of People yesterday, I saw that the youthful, high fashion label, Alice + Olivia, now has a collection at Payless.  Has everyone gone to the cheap side? Not that I'm complaining in the slightest. As the tagline of Sarah Jessica Parker's low-cost label, Bitten, says: "Fashion is not a luxury." If the fashion industry's royalty dubs it a right, shouldn't we all be able to look as good as we want?

Target just premiered longtime guest designer, Isaac Mizrahi's fall women's collection (newsflash: vintage is in…again). On August 3, Fashion Avenue's rising star, Richard Chai, debuted his Target collection to rave reviews (personally, I had to have his purple plaid trench coat, and it was an absolute steal at $44.99).  Target isn't alone in its quest to spread haute fashion to the masses. Swedish clothing giant, H&M, has brought countless prominent designers to their racks, including Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, and Karl Lagerfeld. On Monday, the discount department store announced they would launch a new line with Comme des Garçons this November.

But why has this development become the it-trend of the fashion business? You could say the economy is helping it. Many young people can't afford to dish out $60 for a t-shirt at Urban Outfitters anymore. But now they can buy an equally fashionable (if not more so, thanks to the designer label sewn inside) product at a fraction of the price. Plus, it’s great exposure for these designers and for building a customer base that could stay loyal to a particular designer as it gets older (and richer). Thanks to Target, Mizrahi has really become a household name, and he has recently been courted and signed with Liz Claiborne as the fashion house's new creative director.

More and more top designers are spreading their brands to the middle class. I think this is one trend that will not be going out of style anytime soon.

We're all probably pretty happy with the red-eyed laser on the bottom of our optical mouses, but apparently, Microsoft [NASDAQ:MSFT] isn't. They've released a tantalizing new ad campaign with the slogan "Say Goodbye to Laser," and while they haven't let the cat out of the bag yet, some users have spotted a new Microsoft Mouse listed on Germany's Amazon site that sports something called "Blue Track" technology. It's essentially a blue ring around the bottom perimeter of the mouse, and could be the laser-less solution that Redmond seems so excited about.

So how's it work? A wide-angle lens on the bottom of the mouse picks up an image of the tracking surface, which is lit with blue LEDs. Supposedly it will work on a greater variety of surfaces than laser mice, which can often track wrong on surfaces like wood. However, because Microsoft is releasing this first as a travel mouse, complete with USB wireless transmitter, there might be something about the technology that lends itself more readily to mobile devices than desktop use. That, of course, remains to be seen -- as does the date of US landfall, and MSRP.

A few weeks ago, there was web-wide speculation that Microsoft [NASDAQ:MSFT] was giving up on its beloved Zune. That, of course, would be a true shame, as the company has put together a pretty stellar device, even if it was a little late entering the mobile media game. Well, Zune-lovers everywhere can rejoice, because it looks like Redmond is keepin' on with the device, and updating it very soon to feature a 120GB capacity, as well as new software, and new (presumably lower) price points. News of the updates was revealed first by an FCC filing, and then by a Microsoft rep talking to Engadget.

First it was problems with MobileMe, and then iPhone 3G chipsets. Now Apple [NASDAQ:AAPL] has a pair of new problems on its plate: a potentially egregious security loophole and a possible class action suit.

First, the security problem. Enterprise customers have been reluctant to adopt the iPhone until they were assured its security was on par with other smartphones, and news of an easy exploit isn't quite the assurance Apple could have used. As it turns out, if you pick up an iPhone running the most recent OS (2.0.2), and it has a pin-number required for unlocking, you can hit the button for "Emergency Call" and get a lot further than you'd think. First of all: not only can you make an emergency call, but you can call any number you want. If you're in Emergency Call mode and you double-tap the home button, however, you'll get access to the phone's favorite numbers, which can, in turn, allow you to access the address book, which can, in turn, allow you to get into Mail, Safari and Maps. Uh-oh. That's a pretty big breach.

But that's got nothing to do with Apple's false advertising woes. In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority has banned the Apple ads that feature a user's finger browsing with Safari, because the phone cannot, as it claims, access all parts of the Internet. In fact, the device doesn't support Java and Flash, which are admittedly pretty important, but probably not crucial enough to warrant the UK's actions. Back in the US, a woman is filing suit over another function of Safari -- the unexpectedly low 3G speeds. She's seeking class action status, and might just get it. If Apple doesn't get back on the horse quickly, it could have 10 million very disgruntled iPhone owners on its hands, and that will get expensive.

This week Garmin [NASDAQ:GRMN] introduced a handful of GPS updates to its lower-end models, bringing them up to speed with some trickle-down technologies present in their high-end devices. The entry-level 2x5 series (which includes the 265T, 265WT and 275T) will gain Bluetooth connectivity, larger 3.5 or 4.3-inch touchscreens, and traffic alerts via NAVTEQ [NYSE:NVT].

The mid-range 7x5 line will now feature 4.3-inch touchscreens on the 755T, 765T and 775T, also adding NAVTEQ traffic, as well as a handful of other high-tech goodies: transparent 3D building views, speedier graphics rendering and something called HotFix, which apparently stores satellite information for one purpose or another. They've also added a feature called LaneAssist, which the company says will "give drivers a clear view of the road ahead." Not sure what that means, exactly, but it sounds promising.

Garmin hasn't announced availability dates or retail prices for the updated devices, but we should be seeing them this fall.

Sandisk [NASDAQ:SNDK] has a nifty little technology called Extreme III that the company says improves speed and reliability in its data storage cards. The only problem with Extreme III, until this week, was that it wasn't present in the company's high end SDHC cards. Sandisk has finally ameliorated this caveat with a new group of cards that can achieve 30MBps read and write data speeds, which is about 50% faster than the old cards, according to Sandisk press materials.

All that speed will serve consumers well in the next generation of digital cameras, which are featuring increasingly dense continuous-shooting modes, some as high as 4 or 5 frames per second. Shooting in RAW format, or RAW+JPEG, that could generate upwards of 15MB per photo, flooding the storage card with data. Luckily for pro's and amateurs alike, Sandisk's new cards will feature big-time storage, as well as speed: 4GB, 8GB and 16GB cards are due out in October for $65, $110 and $180 respectively.

Epson [TYO:6724] added to its line of consumer-oriented Moviemate projectors this week with a new model it's calling the 55. First and foremost, the 55 boasts a slot-loading DVD player integrated inside the projector's enclosure, and also has a pair of stereo speakers in case your home theatre setup consists of solely a blank wall and a power outlet.

The 55 also boasts some great specs, including a three-chip LCD system for ultra-high image quality, as well as a new lamp that can produce up to 1200 lumens of brightness. And while it's not HD -- in fact, Epson doesn't specify the resolution beyond saying that its 480p -- the company does say that it can produce the 16:9 aspect ratio and create a 60-inch image from a distance of only 6 feet. The best part: it only costs $700, a veritable steal in the world of projectors, and weighs a scant eight pounds. Epson says it will be available in October.