Apple has reportedly met with major U.S. publishers, including The New York Times and Wired.com’s parent company Cond? Nast, to discuss the future of digital media — perhaps floated by a touchscreen tablet. Now, even Australian media companies appear to be in talks with Apple , too.

Australian newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday that Australian media companies have received specifications of Apple ’s tablet. However, the Herald said none of its sources would go on the record (presumably because they are barred by a non-disclosure agreement.)

Corroborating previous Apple tablet rumors, The Herald claims the device is “tipped to be a larger version of the iPhone ,” with a strong focus on e-reader capabilities.

The Herald’s report trails a video making rounds on the web yesterday, in which NYT editor Bill Keller alluded to an “impending Apple slate” during his keynote speech discussing digital strategies. Keller declined to comment when Wired.com requested clarification on the remark; he responded, “I ain’t sayin’” to All Things Digital.

Nevertheless, to date there’s a heap of independent reports citing anonymous sources who claim a media-centric Apple tablet is due out early 2010. To keep up with the news and rumors, read our previous round-up aggregating rumor reports about the Apple tablet.

See Also:

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Illustration of an imaginary Apple tablet: Factoryjoe / Flickr