A report by DigiTimes says that Apple (News 
- Alert), major tablet king, will release two new iPads in the next month. This contradicts the other rumor saying that an iPad 3 will be released in February 2012.
The rumor started with information revealed by supply chains for Apple's liquid crystal display panels, which it uses for its iPads. Rumors speculate that the release will come in Apple's iWorld trade show on January 26th of next year. The two new models are said to be a completion of Apple's iPad series: an entry-level device, the mid-range snazzy device, and the high-range “i can do it better” beast.
According to the supply chain sources, “the iPad 2 will be competing directly with Amazon's Kindle Fire” in a market that's rather fickle when it comes to price range. New models for the iPad will supposedly just offer higher level functions for those willing to dish out the cash and want something with a little more kick in it than any other tablet offered so far. Apple refused to comment on the matter, however.
Apple's new iPad models will allegedly feature a much larger 9.7-inch screen with QXGA resolution, measuring at 1,536 by 2,048 pixels. The panels will be made primarily by Sharp, although Samsung (News - Alert) and LG haven't been discounted. The rumors until now have been saying that Apple was going to come up with an iPad that sported a 7.85-inch screen. Many people who had their hopes up for a portable device that fits in their hands might be disappointed upon hearing this.
The company will also rely on Samsung to create the mid-range iPad's 5-MP camera, while Sony will be responsible for the 8-MP camera for the high-end version. The processors on both models will be the same quad-core A6 produced by Samsung.
As with any rumor, we warn you not to take everything you see or hear seriously, since some reports might just be sensationalist. DigiTimes itself reported that Apple will launch two iPhones in October. Only one appeared, contrary to what the company speculated.
Three different rumors place the new iPad launch at different times. One of them says that the iPad model(s) will launch on February 24th, as a posthumous tribute to Steve Jobs (it was his birthday that day). Other rumors say that the iPad(s) will launch on January 26th or sometime in March.
Miguel Leiva-Gomez is a professional writer with experience in computer sciences, technology, and gadgets. He has written for multiple technology and travel outlets and owns his own tech blog called The Tech Guy, where he writes educational, informative, and sometimes comedic articles for an audience that is less versed in technology.
Edited by Jennifer Russell
