Apple changed the way we looked at tablets with the release of the iPad. It may only be two years old, but it’s already an institution and we reckon any radical shifts in design or philosophy are out of the question; sorry 7 inch believers. We do however expect to see changes both inside and out..
The release…
You’ve probably heard every rumour going about the release date rumoured to be March 7th. The time fits with previous Apple iPad releases and coincides with the release of iOS 5.1.
If previous patterns are anything to go by, and assuming the iPad 3 is announced March 7th, it should become available internationally by March 30th…
Apple iPad 3 display
One of the iPhone’s most beloved features is its ultra sharp retina display and it would seem the iPad 3 will follow suit. There are rumours going around that the iPad 3 will see a higher resolution screen than its predecessors. Apple are reportedly testing suppliers’ current shipments of 2048 x 1536 resolution 9.7-inch displays…so this looks to also carry some weight in the rumour ring. Android tablet displays passed the iPad last summer, and since then have moved into 1080p territory, so it seems far fetched that Apple would put off upgrading the iPad’s screen another year.
However, other reports are gearing towards the previous CES iPad 3 sighting; reporting no big changes in line for the iPad.
Apple iPad 3 have a quad-core processor…
It looks likely that the iPad 3 will come with a new processor – and we think it’s extremely unlikely that anything other than a super fast new A6 chip will power it. Both BGR and Bloomberg have recently reported that the A6 will indeed be quad core.
The A6 is a vast improvement over the dual-core A5 processor that is in the current iPad model. The A6 will surely be a quad-core ARM-based processor, with designs already coming from various ARM partners.
The design is not for turning, sir…
We think the one thing that is almost certain NOT to change is the overall look and design of the iPad. Apple has had nothing but success with the size and shape; so why would it change now? We don’t feel there is any real weight to the of a 7 or 8 inch counterpart either, despite The WSJ saying that Apple are testing them.
The only real change, well amend really may be the thickness as they may need to a very slightly thicker build to account for a retina display or a larger battery.
Let us know your thoughts on the iPad 3 and what rumours you think carry weight, or what you would like to see…