Rumors that a thinner and smaller 7.85″ iPad to launch in the fourth quarter of 2012 has sparked an onslaught of rumors about how the device is being made and what changes would make it cheaper.

DigiTimes reports that Apple will be using thin-film technology supplied by Nitto and Nissha Printing and TPK will be constructing the touchscreens to be used in the iPad Mini. The design, called “G/F2,” uses one less layer of film compared to the screen technology used in the third-generation iPad and iPad 2. This will allow Apple to make iPads thinner and reduce production costs.

[via AppleInsider]

Remember a few months back when all the tech sites couldn’t help but report on rumors for the “iPad 3″ and a possible cheaper, stripped down iPad or even, a smaller iPad. Well it seems as though people are talking again but with no real information to add.

Steve Jobs himself spoke very negatively about the possibility of a smaller iPad. “The 10-inch screen size is the minimum size required to create great tablet apps. Seven-inch tablets are tweeners: too big to compete with a smartphone, and too small to compete with an iPad,” he said back in October 2010.

“Their manufacturers will learn the painful lesson that their tablets are too small, and increase the size next year, thereby abandoning both customers and developers who jumped on the seven-inch bandwagon with an orphan product. Sounds like lots of fun ahead.”

Last week Ciccarese Design posted some interesting mockups of what a smaller iPad would look like and put it alongside the iPhone and original size iPad. The designs got some buzz and one thing is for sure, nobody complained about how a smaller iPad looked. It was beautiful. See the more images of the mockup below.

With the Kindle Fire and a plethora of smaller Android-based tablets hitting the market every year, it may now make sense for Apple to disregard Job’s initial opinion of not wanting to further fragmenting iOS devices in favor of staying competitive in the lower-end, smaller tablet market.

That’s right. According to M.I.C. Gadget (a Chinese tech blog), they’ve received an early production version of the iPad 3′s rear case. The case is said to be a bit thicker and have more tapering than the iPad 2 would require. M.I.C. Gadget reports that the case suggests the iPad 3 will be 1-1.5mm thicker than the iPad 2.

Other speculation that supports M.I.C. Gadget’s claims are that the increase size of the iPad 3 is to support a retina display, 4G LTE technology and even a slightly larger battery. According to the latest rumors, Apple will unveil the iPad 3 on March 7th.

A “reliable Asian source” has some strong rumors that are making the tech world take notice. The source says that the iPad 3 will have a redesigned dock connector, smaller that the one currently on the iPad 2.  A Tech blog out of Japan states:

“(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 smaller than the current ‘iPad dock connector,’ which (was) released April 2003.”

The same source explains that the iPad 3 will release in March 2012, have the same screen size and come in black or white. Other rumors suggest that although the screen size is the same, the resolution will be getting a huge boost, coming in at 2,048×1,536 as apposed to the iPad 2′s 1,024×768.
News out of CNET explains that a chip consulting firm, Linley Group, says that we shouldn’t expect the iPad 3 to release too early next year because the device will feature a quad-core A6 processor which is still being produced at their facilities in Austin, Texas.

[via Hexus]

Recent analysts suggest that Apple may be working on a lower-end version of the iPad to be released early next year. Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White recounts a feeling of eminence or a foreshadow of something bad to come while visiting with technology supply chain companies at a trade show in China.

Brian also spoke to Apple suppliers which he felt pointed towards a “iPad Mini”, not necessarily smaller in screen size but smaller in price.

“Our research is pointing to the unveiling of a lower priced iPad in the first few months of 2012 that is aimed at expanding the company’s market potential by tapping into a more price sensitive consumer segment,” the analyst wrote. “Essentially, this ‘iPad mini’ will also fend off the recently announced Amazon Kindle Fire that addresses the low-end tablet market with a $199 price tag but could lead to bigger tablet ambitions from the online retailer in the future.”

[via FoxNews]

Many analysts conclude that Apple is in no rush to release the next-generation iPad. Hopefuls entertain the thought of unwrapping an iPad 3 this Holiday season but may be sorely disappointed.

With the lack of solid competition in the tablet computer arena, Apple may hold off till the first or second quarter of 2011 before unveiling the iPad 3. With a lack of real info on the next iPad, many still expect Apple to release a new iPhone.

A recent Wall Street analyst suggest that Apple could surprise us with an iPhone 5 and an improved iPhone 4 (iPhone 4 Plus). J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz says “Our research indicates that there will be an iPhone 5 based on a lighter, thinner form factor that is GSM + CDMA capable, i.e., a ‘world-mode’ smartphone. A second device (4-plus) based on the current iPhone 4 but with some minor improvements could target the midrange and focus on China,” Moskowitz wrote. “As for the current iPhone 4, we expect it to subsume 3GS as the lower-end offering.”

International Business Times is reporting that the iPad 3 won’t be the nexr iPad we’ll see, instead a marginally upgraded iPad 2 or iPad 2 Plus will debut by the end of this year. Skeptical? You should be. FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger stated that although a production schedule has yet to be determined, Apple has asked component suppliers for quotes on parts that will be placed in the iPad 2.

Berger covers himself when he said “While we find this new commentary interesting, we await more confirming data points from other supply chain contacts before fully believing a new iPad device is coming in 2011.” File this one under the not likely category and move on. You’re much more likely to see free ipad 3 gear here within the next few quarters rather that free iPad 2 plus gear..

[source PCMag]

I know, i know, iPad 3 rumors already? Yea. With Samsung showing off their new 10.1″, 2560 x 1600 resolution and 300dpi screens at SID Display Week 2011 International Symposium it has some wondering if these displays could be used for the iPad 3.

The iPad 2 is out and tablet companies are no doubt rushing to release their new android-based tablets between the release of the iPad 2 and iPad 3. With processing power increasing, screen resolution improving and Android-based tablets becoming more refined, Apple may feel the pressure to step up the hardware in it’s next iPad to meet or exceed it’s competitors.

[via MSNBC]

Although there are other dedicated mobile gaming devices on the market, such as the Sony NGP and Nintendo 3GS, EA may have it’s sights on the iPad 2, with it’s improved processor and graphic improvements.

The iPad 2 is slowly becoming available in more locations across the US. The current retail stores that carry Apple products are the Apple Store, AT&T, Verizon, Walmart, Radio Shack, Best Buy, Target and as of today Toys ‘R’ Us. Yes, that’s right, Toys ‘R’ Us has begun selling the iPad 2 in retail stores. You’d be mistaken to think that you could just walk in to your local Toys ‘R’ Us and pick one up though. As with most other retail reseller locations, the iPad 2 has been hard to find.

Some speculate that Apple is widening it’s intended demographic with the iPad 2 to include children. This may not necessarily be the case though. Toys ‘R’ Us has a strong membership for gamers. As you may know, a whole section is cornered off in Toys ‘R’ Us store just for the purpose of selling video games, consoles and other electronics. With the fast graphics processor now installed in the iPad 2, a valid theory is that Apple intends to market harder to young casual and hardcore gamers alike.