The first iPad was released in April 2010. The iPad 2 was released in March 2011. Could the iPad 3 be released in February 2012?
I don't know, and neither does anyone else! Welcome back to
THIS WEEK IN APPLE RUMORS!
While February 2012 is an intriguing iPad 3 release date for the pattern-obsessed, all we "know" is that the iPad 3 seems to be in production and aiming for an early 2012 release. Apple is historically predictable with its product launches -- this year marked the first year in 5 that an iPhone did not come out in July -- and that an early 2012 release for a new iPad is at least probable, based on previous release dates.
Aside from the lessons of history, this week, FOUR different reports have the iPad 3 coming soon: A Taiwanese trade publication called
DigiTimes has two of these,
first claiming that shipments of panels for the iPad 2 are slowing in anticipation of the iPad 3, and
later writing that Apple's various component suppliers expect to begin building the iPad 3 in January 2012. This could mean prototypes, or it could mean full on production; either way, the work on the iPad 3 surely seems like it has started.
But what will this iPad look like? Well, there were lots of rumors about major changes coming to future-generation iPads this week as well. Read on to see how the Apple slate could be transforming in 2012.
First Posted: 11/20/11 10:26 PM ET Updated: 11/20/11 10:26 PM ET