RUMOR: NEXT iPAD COMING IN MARCH, iPAD 3 TO LAUNCH Q3 2012

Apple is preparing to launch a slightly upgraded iPad 2 in March of 2012, DigiTimes reported on Thursday. The new iPad is rumored to be thinner and is said to offer better battery life than the current model. It is unclear what Apple will call the device launching in March, but the company reportedly has plans to launch a “real” iPad 3 during the third quarter of 2012. Samsung, Sharp and LG are said to be working on a new Retina Display for the next-generation iPad, which may also pack a faster A6 processor, but rumors of manufacturing issues have suggested it may take Apple longer than originally planned to introduce a model with that equipment.

A report last month from Ticonderoga Securities suggested that Apple is planning a cheaper iPad model that will debut early next year ahead of an iPad 3, which won’t launch until the second quarter.

RUMOR: APPLE iPAD 3 DELAYED UNTIL 2012

Digitimes reports that Apple’s plans for a Retina Display iPad launch this fall have been terminated; if they even existed in the first place. According to the report’s sources, Apple’s initial plan was to produce 1.5-2 million units in the third quarter and 5-6 million in the fourth quarter of a new iPad, but these orders have apparently been cancelled.

The report also believes that plans for the new product’s launch were cancelled due to yield rate issues in the production of the 2048 x 1536 Retina Display. Apple will likely stick to their annual release cycle and release a Retina Display iPad during spring 2012.

APPLE TO ADD SECOND MANUFACTURER TO MEET DEMAND OF NEW iPAD HD

Hot on the heels of reports that claim Apple is gearing up to launch a new iPad model this fall, Digitimes reports that Apple will be adding a second manufacture to augment the tablet’s current manufacturing from Foxconn. Foxconn is currently Apple’s exclusive contractor for iPad 2 production and since the plant’s devastating incident in May and with a new tablet right around the corner, Apple is looking for a second manufacture to build their popular tablets.

According to the report, Apple’s second iPad manufacture will either be Petagron or Quanta Computers. Petagron, notably manufactures the Verizon iPhone and reportedly landed 15 million iPhone 5 orders for a fall release. Quanta manufactures some Macs and other Apple products. With Apple reportedly gearing up to launch a new iPad 2 model, dubbed iPad HD, now is a perfect time for Apple to use more manufacturing power.

The ‘iPad HD’ is expected to be a professional-minded tablet from Apple with a 2048 x 1536 Retina Display. Artwork of this high resolution has already appeared in iOS 5 exclusive SDKframework files and has been a long-rumored feature for the tablet family. This new iPad is pegged at being another iPad model, not the iPad 3.

IPAD2 TO GET RETINA DISPLAY, OTHER TWEAKS

Engadget and other sites are reporting some interesting things about the upcoming iPad2. First, the release of the updated device is not as imminent as some people have speculated. The tablet will be released in April, continuing Apple's practice of a one year release cycle.

The popular computer will get an update to the display. Following in the footsteps of the iPhone 4, the iPad2 will sport the Retina Display, doubling its resolution to 2048x1536. The new hardware will be both thinner and “sleeker” than the current iPad. The iPad2 could also have an SD card slot, though no USB slot as some people have speculated. Also, front and rear cameras are expected.

Apple is expected to replace the current chipset with a dual GSM/CDMA one from Qualcomm. This will allow for usage on both types of networks without having to have two different SKUs.

RUMOR: iPAD2 TO BE ANNOUNCED FEBRUARY 1ST

Digg founder Kevin Rose has jumped into the prediction arena on his blog. He has stated on "good authority":

Apple will be announcing the iPad 2 in the next “3-4 weeks”, possibly Tuesday February 1st. The iPad 2 will feature a retina display and front/back cameras.

Rose has a fairly good track record with these types of announcements.

The iPad2 is expected to have a Retina display and 2 cameras for Face Time.

RUMOR: iPAD 2 NEW FEATURES

We all know it it coming, but when and exactly what the iPad 2 will have has led to speculation and rumor. DigiTimes is reporting the iPad2's new features will include:

• Retina Display
• Thinner glass face to cut down on weight
• Front facing camera for Face Time
• 3-axis gyroscope
• USB connection port

It makes sense for the iPad2 to have Retina Display and we know a front facing camera was yanked from the current iPad just before it went into production, but the USB port is probably not going to happen.  Apple has indicated numerous times they want to leave USB and go with Light Peak, a technology they are developing with Intel. [DigiTimes]