Apple confirmed on Feb 28 that some form of new iPad tablet computer will be announced next week, and so here is an overview of what the world's biggest technology firm may be about to unleash.
After months of rumour and speculation, an invite was issued yesterday confirming the event at the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts in San Francisco at 10am PST (6pm GMT) on Wednesday, March 7.
The invite simply says that Apple has "something you really have to see - and touch". It is expected that Apple chief executive Tim Cook will lead the presentation, which will be live streamed to a UK press event in London's Kings Cross.
Should an updated iPad be on the agenda for next week, there are things we think we know about the iPad 3, features we're less certain about, and then a few features we're quite certain won't make the cut.
What seems likely
Display fair: Of all the rumored features that the iPad 3 might include, none have been rumored louder than a Retina display. That's the term Apple coined to describe the screen it initially unveiled with the iPhone 4--a screen with a pixel density so extreme that, at normal viewing angles, the average human eye literally can't discern the individual pixels. The iPad, however, has never sported a screen of that quality, even as the iPod touch got in on the Retina display action. A Retina display on the iPad would be no small feat, especially at the iPad's current price, but it seems likely that Apple really will implement the display on its tablet.
True to form: The rumor mill suggests that the iPad 3 will look an awful lot like the iPad 2, though not entirely identical. But we envision a design change far less dramatic than the changes between the original iPad and its successor--don't expect any major hardware changes or new buttons. Some have suggested that Apple might go so far as to remove the Home button in the new iPad, but we don't think it likely since it provides a convenient and impossible-to-lose anchor for users.
Carrier on, my wayward son: And let's not forget carrier deals--the iPhone isn't the only device that can be used on a cellular network. Right now, the iPad 2 is available with a 3G data option for either AT&T or Verizon in the U.S. The iPhone 4S, of course, is also available with Sprint, so it certainly seems like a no-brainer that the company will roll out an iPad model compatible with that carrier's network. That's aided by the fact that Sprint and Verizon both use the CDMA standard for their cell networks, so it should be little trouble for Apple to add a third model.
Photo finish: The iPad 2's cameras are mainly good in comparison to the cameras on the original iPad--which, as you may recall, did not have any cameras. Still, in comparing them to, say, the iPhone 4S's, or even the iPhone 4, the iPad 2's cameras leave much to be desired. While some may argue that the iPad doesn't get used to take pictures in the same way that your phone does, there are plenty of apps that use the camera for other tasks, like video capture and chat, data input, and games. So why not punch up those cameras on the iPad 3? They don't necessarily have to be of the same quality as the cameras built into the iPhone 4S, but the ones from the iPhone 4 would be more than sufficient for now. already have an ipad 2, want to transfer photos from ipad to computer, use the aiseesoft ipad transfer coupon code or cucusoft itunes transfer discount to help you.
What might be possible
Quad-core-rophenia: You can never have too many processor cores, right? The iPad 2's A5 chip sports two cores, packing significant punch over the single core in the original iPad. Apple has shown that it thinks the future isn't just faster processors, but multicore ones. So the company's rumored A6--which would follow logically on the heels of the A4 and A5--could pack four cores, possibly once again giving the device a big boost over its predecessor. Such a change would likely come with a power-consumption price tag, however, especially if combined with LTE. But the improvement in processor capabilities would be nice, especially for those constantly power-hungry games that people so love to play on their tablets
Touch-a, touch-a, touch-a touch me: Looking back at the invitation to the iPad event, it says: "We have something you really have to see. And touch." The first sentence (or, for pedants, the only sentence) seemingly refers to the Retina display. But the follow-up fragment may just imply that the iPad 3 employs some sort of haptic feedback--a tactile response when you touch the screen. Of course, the "And touch" line could merely be nothing more than marketing-speak. But typing is probably the least satisfying element of using an iPad to date. Haptic feedback coupled with the on-screen keyboard might make multitouch-typing a bit easier, if you could feel some physical sensation as you "depress" the virtual keys.
What we don't expect
A smaller iPad: Apple will bundle a stylus with the iPad before it releases a 7-inch version of the tablet.
A stylus: Apple will shut down its company and return the money to the shareholders before it releases a stylus for any of its touch screen devices.
The iPhone 5: This is not an iPhone event, people. The iPhone 4S isn't even six months old yet, so don't expect a newer model.
An updated Mac Pro: We don't even know what article you're reading anymore.