iPad 3 Release Date: Production Rush, March 2012 Launch?

By Elton Jones, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, October 27, 2011

A slew of rumors suggest that Apple will be launching its next computer tablet, the iPad 3, in March 2012.

Macotakara, a Japanese technology blog, provided details on Apple's upcoming device: "(The) new iPad seems to have (a) re-designed dock connector. (The) dock's 30-pins and electricity specification will not be changed, but (the) shape will be more smaller than current 'iPad dock connector', which (was) released April 2003. (The) new Dock connector design will bring compatibility problem with current dock connecting products."

Macotakara also said: "Another source told (us), (the) new iPad has black and white case color models, and 'One More Thing' of iOS device is (being) prepared. This (is) another iOS device and color information is not reliable, but it's interesting."

Apple is reported to be developing the iPad 3 with a retina display-like resolution. The company defined the screen's retina display as a "pixel density so high your eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels."

Brooke Crothers, a writer for CNet, recently reported that the closest iPad display manufacturer's, such as LG Display and Samsung, could get is a 2048x1536 resolution.

“That's a PPI of 264, twice the 132 PPI on the iPad 2,” wrote Crothers.

Macotakara said Chinese production factories would rush to finish the development of the iPad 3. Other analysts, however, seem to think the new iPad will not hit until the summer.

Linley Group, a chip consulting firm, said the iPad 3 will not appear early in 2012, because the iPad 3 features the quad-core A6 processor. This processing chip is currently being produced at Apple's plant in Texas.

Apple previously launched its original iPad in April 2010 and the iPad 2 in March 2011; therefore, a March 2012 release or the iPad 3 may be probable.