More iPad 3 rumors are surfacing, giving information about a potential release date, when trial production could begin and even the display resolution of the next generation Apple tablet.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that "people familiar with the situation" indicate that the iPad 3 could be available to consumers in early 2012. Taiwanese component suppliers are indicating Apple is looking to begin trial production of the third iteration tablet in October of this year. This kind of jives with an earlier rumor suggesting the device would be available to consumers in October. It makes far more sense for Apple to wait until 2012 to put the device on shelves. One component supplier is claiming Apple has ordered parts for 1.5 million iPad 3s already.
Suppliers have also detailed that Apple is placing orders for 9.7 inch screens with an expected resolution of 2048 x 1536. For reference, the iPad 2 screen resolution is 1024 by 768. In fact, if that resolution does end up being the final screen resolution of the iPad 3, it will be even better than that of the 17" Macbook Pros.
The iPad has an overwhelming share of the tablet market, clearly dominating the field by a large margin. If Apple can pull off a screen resolution that high on the iPad 3 and keep the current pricing structure in place, it will be quite an impressive feat. If the production rumors are true, it seems Apple is attempting to get a nice stock of devices ready before putting them on sale. That might help mitigate the stock issues Apple saw with the launch of the popular 2nd generation iPad.
Do you own an iPad and if so would you consider an upgrade to get this higher resolution screen? What other additional features are you hoping that Apple will include in the iPad v3?
