Microsoft could trump the iTablet with its Courier device

Electronic booklet prototype looking to take on Apple's rumoured device.

With all the rumours recently about Apple's plans for an 'iTablet' device, few experts suggested that it will face stiff competition from a device made by Microsoft.

However, a leaked video and images of a prototype device from Microsoft called the Courier have been setting the web ablaze.

It's a dual-touchscreen booklet-shaped device designed for fingers and stylus, with a slinky user interface that's enough to make even Steve Jobs jealous. A bit.

Tech blog Gizmodo, which broke the story, says the device is real, and in "late prototype" stage, and is being overseen by former Xbox and Zune exec J. Allard, working within Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices division.

Courier is a fascinating device, although there are plenty of unanswered questions about its capabilities: for example, whether it will be Wi-Fi only, or have cellular connectivity. We'd assume (well, hope) the latter.