It may be a case of Apple simply protecting its brand name, but in light of all the Apple tablet rumors, we're treating its recent purchase of the "TabletMac" trademark as yet more evidence stacking up in our favour.

Taking on Axiotron, whose MacBook mod impressed us so much in our review last year, Apple has acquired its TabletMac name in the last 12 months, with documents showing the registration request dated November 6th, 2008. The actual transfer date between Axiotron and Apple for the name isn't clear, but with all of the Apple tablet rumors heating up in recent months, it's a tidy little coincidence. [MacRumors]