With a long-awaited Apple event (and perhaps even an iPad announcement!) just one day away, on March 7, rumor has it that the latest Apple tablet release will not be called "iPad 3" nor "iPad 4G," but "iPad HD."
Gizmodo discussed the rumor on March 1, citing alleged part listings from accessory manufacturers Griffin and Belkin as evidence that the talk may, in fact, be true.
On March 5, VentureBeat backed Gizmodo's claim, noting that "a reliable source" confirmed the next iPad will indeed be called "iPad HD." In addition, CNET gathered the same information from their own source, a developer who has proved reliable in the past.
If the gossip is true, it's likely the world will finally meet Apple's iPad HD as early as tomorrow, a fitting name for a tablet with a rumored high-resolution Retina Display of 2,048x1,536 pixels.
And, although it doesn't look like it will be named the "iPad 4G," other corners of the web are whispering about the next iPad offering 4G LTE connectivity. According to an unnamed source of theirs, iMore reported on March 5 that the upcoming iPad will offer this feature. And, on March 6, Reuters heard the same from its own source.
Reuters' report went on to explain that, according to some analysts, the iPad HD could "help boost the telecoms market" if consumers latch on to the appealing offer of a high-speed 4G LTE network.
"It's going to dramatically improve video consumption," UBS analyst John Hodulik told Reuters. "This is the device people want. They want the fastest speed. They want high resolution."
While these reports confirm rumors of a 4G-equipped iPad HD, Business Insider reported on March 5 that, according to Chinese tech website M.I.C. Gadget, 4G LTE networking would not be included with the new iPad.*
Hopefully, there really is just one more day to wait before all iPad talk -- whether right or wrong -- is finally laid to rest.
UPDATE: An Apple Store source told 9to5Mac on March 6 that the iPad HD will likely hit stores on Friday, March 16, nine days after tomorrow's much-anticipated announcement.
*UPDATE 2: Business Insider retracted their previous report that the upcoming iPad will not have 4G LTE network connectivity -- so it's likely it will based on the iMore and Reuters reports referenced above.
To catch up on what other rumors the mill has been churning out in the last week, flip through the slideshow below. Which rumors do you think will prove true tomorrow?
