As the presumed launch of iPad 3 nears, the blogosphere is rife with rumors of what Apple will pack into the next-gen tablet. Until the device actually appears, a lot of these are no better than guess work from industry watchers, though some sources, like teardown team iFixit, are more reliable than others. Accordingly, iFixit's Kyle Wiens has offered some predictions about the iPad 3 to PC World.It's worth pointing out that iFixit has a recent track record of accuracy when it comes to Apple product predictions. In fact, Wiens predicted that the iPhone 4S would not run on 4G and he also tipped more RAM and a dual-core processor for the iPad 2, as well as no upgrade for its resolution.
As far as the iPad 3 goes, Wiens said it will retain the same form factor but that the resolution will be much higher. It might not fit the technical definition of Retina Display, but Wiens said it will be close. In addition, he said a high-res camera might be included.
Wiens predicted that performance enhancements will be "incremental." He claimed that it will probably get an A6 chip, and said while the device might have a quad-core processor within the next two years, it might not happen for the next version of the iPad.
And what about the next iPad's name? Wiens doesn't think it will be called the iPad 3, but that Apple will go with something like "iPad 2 HD." He added that the price will probably be about the same, starting at $499.
Apple will likely launch its third-generation iPad sometime this spring. Predictions of when that reveal will happen have run the gamut; Mackotakara has claimed it will happen this month, but other sources have pointed to a a March launch. One forecaster said the iPad would be unveiled in January, though that time has passed, and another called for a launch on Steve Jobs' birthday.
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