Apple in 'Crunch Mode' Lining Up Apps for iPad 3 Demo and Commercials?

Rumors continue to swirl about the iPad 3 launch following yesterday's claims that Apple will be holding a media event during the first week of March for the introduction. The Next Web now reports that Apple is currently said to be in "crunch mode" as it works to finalize its plans for the event.

white ipad 2 oblique
According to the report, Apple is working to pin down select third-party apps to be the featured demonstrations at the media event and in commercials for the upcoming device. Apple is said to be emphasizing apps that will show off the iPad 3's high-resolution "Retina" display.

Our sources tell us that this selection process is continuing at an increased rate as Apple looks to finalize the lineup for the iPad 3. There is also emphasis on graphics-oriented applications with high-definition assets, which appears to be in line with the new iPad featuring a ‘Retina’ display.

In addition, some apps that Apple is impressed with are being forwarded on to its long-time advertising partner TWBA/Chiat/Day for possible inclusion in the initial iPad 3 commercial spots. This process is entering its final phase as well, with the company on a tight deadline to deliver assets for playback during the presentation and later, television broadcast.

Apple has been known to bring third-party developers to Cupertino in the weeks and days leading up to a major keynote or media event in order to work through presentation plans for demos and ensure that they will run smoothly. One account from the early days of the App Store related Apple's work with a developer to spend a week's worth of 16-hour days at Apple headquarters porting an app to iOS in time for the company's September 2008 "Let's Rock" event, only to see Steve Jobs nix the demo over concerns that it wasn't "fast-paced" enough.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

iOS 26

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.2

Friday December 5, 2025 9:40 am PST by
Apple is about to release iOS 26.2, the second major point update for iPhones since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least 15 notable changes and improvements worth checking out. We've rounded them up below. Apple is expected to roll out iOS 26.2 to compatible devices sometime between December 8 and December 16. When the update drops, you can check Apple's servers for the ...
ios 18 to ios 26 upgrade

Apple Pushes iPhone Users Still on iOS 18 to Upgrade to iOS 26

Tuesday December 2, 2025 11:09 am PST by
Apple is encouraging iPhone users who are still running iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 by making the iOS 26 software upgrade option more prominent. Since iOS 26 launched in September, it has been displayed as an optional upgrade at the bottom of the Software Update interface in the Settings app. iOS 18 has been the default operating system option, and users running iOS 18 have seen iOS 18...
iOS 26

Apple Seeds iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 Release Candidates to Developers and Public Beta Testers

Wednesday December 3, 2025 10:33 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 updates to developers and public beta testers, with the software coming two weeks after Apple seeded the third betas. The release candidates represent the final versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 that will be provided to the public if no further bugs are found during this final week of testing....
Photos App Icon Liquid Glass

John Gruber Shares Scathing Commentary About Apple's Departing Software Design Chief

Thursday December 4, 2025 9:30 am PST by
In a statement shared with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Apple confirmed that its software design chief Alan Dye will be leaving. Apple said Dye will be succeeded by Stephen Lemay, who has been a software designer at the company since 1999. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Dye will lead a new creative studio within the company's AR/VR division Reality Labs. On his blog Daring Fireball,...
iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
Intel Inside iPhone Feature

Apple's Return to Intel Rumored to Extend to iPhone

Friday December 5, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Intel is expected to begin supplying some Mac and iPad chips in a few years, and the latest rumor claims the partnership might extend to the iPhone. In a research note with investment firm GF Securities this week, obtained by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu said he and his colleagues "now expect" Intel to reach a supply deal with Apple for at least some non-pro iPhone chips starting in 2028....
ive and altman

Jony Ive's OpenAI Device Barred From Using 'io' Name

Friday December 5, 2025 6:22 am PST by
A U.S. appeals court has upheld a temporary restraining order that prevents OpenAI and Jony Ive's new hardware venture from using the name "io" for products similar to those planned by AI audio startup iyO, Bloomberg Law reports. iyO sued OpenAI earlier this year after the latter announced its partnership with Ive's new firm, arguing that OpenAI's planned "io" branding was too close to its...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air's Resale Value Has Dropped Dramatically, Data Shows

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:27 am PST by
The iPhone Air has recorded the steepest early resale value drop of any iPhone model in years, with new data showing that several configurations have lost almost 50% of their value within ten weeks of launch. According to a ten-week analysis published by SellCell, Apple's latest lineup is showing a pronounced split in resale performance between the iPhone 17 models and the iPhone Air....
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

iPhone 17 Pro Lost a Camera Feature Pro Models Have Had Since 2020

Thursday December 4, 2025 5:18 am PST by
iPhone 17 Pro models, it turns out, can't take photos in Night mode when Portrait mode is selected in the Camera app – a capability that's been available on Apple's Pro devices since the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. If you're an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max owner, try it for yourself: Open the Camera app with Photo selected in the carousel, then cover the rear lenses with your hand to...

Top Rated Comments

HarryKeogh Avatar
180 months ago
Man, I cannot wait.

I use the iPad as a comic reader and everything about is perfect except the fine print. Sometimes it's just illegible. This display will make it beyond great.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
180 months ago
The iPad is worthless without a universal model that will work on AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, with no contract.
I wondered why iPad sales were so low.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
basesloaded190 Avatar
180 months ago
iBooks, a photography app of some kind, and an app with streaming high definition content (MLB perhaps).

Maybe they have finally done an Aperture app! Perfect time to show something like that off if you ask me.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gnasher729 Avatar
180 months ago
What is the point of a 2048x1536 resolution if the video streaming apps are all stuck using 480-720p resolution for bandwidth purposes.

It's excellent for reading eBooks with absolutely perfect text rendering. Or websites with absolutely perfect text rendering. Video is actually what I care about the least, because you can't see the pixels in fast moving motion anyway.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Lesser Evets Avatar
180 months ago
128GB, please.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Patriot24 Avatar
180 months ago
I am personally boycotting future Ipad purchases until Apple reigns in on the types of apps being offered on the App store. It has gone from a really bright future of new technology to total garbage in the 2.5 year span since the Ipad 1 came out.

What is the point of a 2048x1536 resolution if the video streaming apps are all stuck using 480-720p resolution for bandwidth purposes.

What is the point of the new higher resolution if 9 out of 10 games that come out are all designed to just milk money out of the user rather than provide a fun experience? Id rather spend $10 on a game than get it for free and have the mechanics broken because they are geared to make me spend money to make the game tolerable.

Sounds to me like the hardware has moved beyond software and I blame it entirely on Apple. They manage the app store and they let companies make free apps with $99 in app purchases.

I don't disagree with your comments regarding quality, but I think we need to examine some key points here.

As a customer, if you put two apps in front of me - one is free with DLC and the other is $99 but includes everything, I am going to choose the freemium app 9 times out of 10. If the full-price app is the only one available, I am less likely to jump in due to the risk/reward ratio ("That's a lot of money for an app I'm not sure I'll like...").

As a developer, I would rather have 9 free downloads of my app with a couple hundred dollars worth of DLC purchases than 1 download of my full-price app.

As Apple, I prefer whatever method customers prefer and are willing to pay for. Why argue with consumers if they are happy and you are still getting your 30% cut?

In the end, the market will determine what is acceptable. If people stop buying freemium apps and upgrades, then developers will need to re-think their strategy. Just realize that there are a lot of folks out there with iDevices that can't jump at every $20 app they see. Freemium makes sense for a lot of people.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)