“They've hinted that they may be introducing a new tablet.”

You have heard some information that makes you think that Sony is going to start selling a tablet computer. The information came from things that the company said and wrote, but they haven't officially said that they will do this. You think that they will announce it at a conference next week. You are writing about this on an Internet message board about this conference. You write:

Sony has hinted that they may be introducing a new tablet computer at next week's conference.

hint that (dependent clause)

"Hint that ___" means to say things that make people guess that you are thinking a certain way.

In the example above, if Sony "hinted that" they were introducing a new computer, it means that the company hasn't directly stated that they are releasing it. But they have said other things, like:

We're releasing a new product that will give Apple something to consider.

Since Apple has released a tablet computer, it seems that Sony might be talking about competing with that product.

(someone) may be (doing something)

This phrase means that someone might have plans to do something.

There's a slight difference between using "they may be ___ing" vs. "they may ___" like in this example:

Sony has hinted that they may introduce a tablet computer."

"They may be ___ing" suggests that they are already planning to do it. The person who writes the example at the top is guessing that Sony has already decided to introduce the tablet.

"They may ___" doesn't specify whether Sony has firmly decided to introduce the tablet or is just considering it.

introduce (a product)

This means to announce and start selling a product.  Notice that it's followed by the singular ("introducing a new tablet computer") instead of the plural ("introducing new tablet computers").

tablet computer

This is a flat computer device with a screen but no keyboard attached, like the Apple iPad.

next week's (event)

This phrase can be used if the people who are listening to or reading your message already know what conference you're talking about. If they don't know, then you should write:

Sony has hinted that they may be introducing a new tablet computer at a conference that's being held next week.