DigiTimes reports that upstream suppliers in Apple's manufacturing chain have been given orders to begin preparing for production of next-generation iPhone and iPad models, with a debut expected in the September-October timeframe.
Taiwan-based companies included in the supply chain for iPhone 5 and iPad 3 have begun to prepare materials for the production of the two devices, which are likely to make their debuts in September and to hit the market in October, according to industry sources. ... The sources pointed out that Apple only plans to launch one model of the new iPhone, while iPad 3 has just recently been added to the production schedule with both set to be produced in small volumes in August and the volume will start picking up in September and October.
While Apple has been widely rumored to be preparing to launch its next-generation iPhone within that timeframe, a new iPad has been a controversial topic. A number of sources have reported that Apple may introduce an updated iPad just months after the release of the iPad 2 as the company seeks to maintain its stranglehold on the tablet market in the face of rapidly-increasing competition, but those claims have been met with skepticism by others expecting Apple to roughly stick to its usual annual update cycle.
According to today's report, the new iPad will likely be thinner and lighter than the current iPad 2 and will support a display resolution of approximately 250 dpi, which would be double that of the iPad and iPad 2.
Top Rated Comments
Enough said.
I don't think there will be an iPad 3 this year.
Hmmm should I believe this rumour or the word of Jobs? Hmmmm hard question.
Apple can't ramp up production to do this: Yes, they can, and they are. Read the news. They are adding new iPad production lines. It would be just in time for an October release, if that is what they want to do.
Apple doesn't release products more than once a year: Huh? Of course they do! MacBooks in 2/08 and 10/08, and 5/09 and 10/09. Mac Minis in 3/09 and 10/09. iPod Shuffles in 2/08 and 9/08, and 3/09 and 9/09. iPod touch in 2/08 and 9/08. Macbook Air in 1/08 and 10/08. Macbook Pro in 2/08 and 10/08. iMac in 3/09 and 10/09. If Apple wants to reshuffle the iPad release schedule to be a Christmas release, you bet they will do 3/11 and 10/11.
Apple would piss customers off if they release a new iPad this soon: So? Nothing Apple does is considered right on this site, so why should Apple start catering to the whiners now? If the iPad 3 is ready, it will ship. If it isn't ready, it won't. When you bought your iPad 2 has nothing to do with it.
iPad 2 is selling too well, no need for iPad 3 yet: OMG, I hope you don't run a business with that sort of logic. Apple absolutely will replace a great selling model with a new model if they think it's the right thing to do. It's all those other me-too outfits who coast on success until the rug is suddenly pulled out from under them.
Does this mean there is an iPad 3 coming out in October? I dunno. I'm just saying all the reasons people have given in this thread against it are just wrong.
I second that emoticon