The iPad 2 has been rumoured for quite a while, and various facts about it have ostensibly been gleaned from cases, covers, and images. For all this, there has been no official confirmation from Apple if the iPad 2 even exists. In the meanwhile, rumours of a Samsung Galaxy Tab III are circulating, with numerous reports indicating a 8.9-inch form factor, positioning the tablet exactly in between the Tab and Tab II. It is expected in the first half of the year.
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Now, Apple has sent out invites (seen above) for a March 2nd event, and it certainly looks like it has something do with a product launch, and the number 2 – a not so subtle confirmation. The original iPad launched at around the same time last year! Let us take a look at all the rumours that have gone past, and try to get a picture of what the world might be getting once the iPad 2 is official.
New display, possible Retina – Though some reports are adamant the iPad 2 will not have a new display, even fewer are sticking by their predictions that it would be Retina Display. At the very least, we can expect an increase in resolution.
iPad 3 to follow soon after – Daring Fireball’s John Gruber is normally quite spot on with his Apple predictions, making the incredible fact that Apple will supposedly release a newer version of the iPad just a few months after the iPad 2 much harder to not swallow. However, the new device might just be an upgraded 10-inch tablet, replacing the original and following the smaller 7-inch iPad 2.
Smaller, thinner form-factor – One of the biggest misgivings consumers have had about the iPad is its not inconsiderable 9.7-inch size, large enough to be cumbersome and not exactly portable. With smaller form-factors also enjoying a decent amount of success in the market, it seems probable that Apple would experiment with a smaller, thinner and lighter, possibly with a 7-inch screen – even though this is against Steve Jobs’ earlier displayed contempt for small screens.
Dual-core processor, integrated GPU – The iPad 2 will have to keep up with such multi-core SoC behemoths as the TI OMAP 5, Qualcomm Snapdragon AP06Q0, Nvidia Tegra 2 and Tegra 3, Samsung Exynos, etc., if it intends to survive in 2011-2012. It would be criminal for them not to upgrade the processor and RAM of the unit, and a dual core 1.2GHz processor with a 2-core SGX453 GPU is expected to be onboard. It would definitely also get at least 512MB of RAM, if not 1GB.
New integrated speakers – It looks like the USB or mini DisplayPort rumours prompted by the port-holes in iPad 2 cases might be wrong, and the slot is now believed to be aroud the new and improved integrated speaker of the iPad 2.
More storage capacity – Some rumours are also pointing to Apple considering launching models with more than just 64GB onboard, a 128GB model is expected. Other reports say the 16GB version will be dropped altogether.
World-mode connectivity – Now that Apple is officially shipping CDMA iPhones, the obvious advantages of dual-mode GSM and CDMA connectivity for the iPad 2 cannot be overlooked. The advantage won’t just be for users, but also from a manufacturing standpoint, where making a world-mode tablet instead of two separate GSM and CDMA units will be easier.
[RELATED_ARTICLE]Front facing camera, maybe back-facing as well – The iPad 2 will almost definitely feature a front camera as well as support for FaceTime, something that the iPad is obviously lacking – and all other tablets are offering. The back-camera looks quite probable as well, again placing it on a level playing field with the other competition – and makes more sense on a smaller form factor.
New interface – With all the money Apple has been investing in gesture controls, along with numerous filed patents, it looks possible – though not very likely – that the iPad 2 will feature not just the classic Apple one-button approach, but more.