After a busy 2012, which saw loads of new gadgets making their to the technology industry, 2013 seems equally promising. Apple launched one of the highly-awaited devices of the year iPad mini in 2012; now in 2013, will Apple take a leap ahead and introduce a hybrid tablet/laptop?

Apple revolutionized the smartphone industry with the launch of its iPhone in 2007, which has become one of the most popular smartphone available today. Similarly, the 9.7-inch iPad transformed the tablet industry, giving stiff competition to existing players.

Many tablet owners are using an external keyboard to give ease of writing to their touch capacitive tablet. The portability of a smaller screen and ease of typing with the help of a keyboard has already pushed companies such as Microsoft and Samsung to build a tablet with a detachable keyboard.

If Android and Windows devices are built as a hybrid tablet/laptop, then is it possible that we soon see an iOS device having features of both a tablet and a laptop. Have you ever imagined an iOS hybrid device with a sleek design of the MacBook Air and an iPad screen that detaches from its ultra-thin keyboard?

"For lack of a better term I call it the MacBook AirPad or iPad Air. I know Tim Cook has denounced this type of design," noted the Time report.

Apple may not be interested in developing a hybrid tablet/laptop, but with increasing number of companies offering such a hybrid product, the company may have to rethink its stand and bring forth a hybrid product to keep pace with the current product demand.

Many iFans will be interested to lay their hands on an Apple hybrid tablet/laptop device, will you be one of them?