Sources: Apple will be unveiling new iPad at iWorld

We’re still on the second day into the new year, and already the rumours about Apple’s next-generation, yet-to-be-unveiled gadgets are making the rounds. Apple changed the consumer electronics industry with their series of iProducts, including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. I think one reason why it has been so successful is because of the iTunes App Store, which has millions of downloadable applications that only run with Apple’s operating system, the iOS. The huge appeal is that users can get apps for as low as $0.99, with some pretty useful ones being offered for free on iTunes.

Reports in early December last year indicated that the iPad 3 was set for a February release. In that report, Citi analyst Richard Gardner predicted that the iPad 3 would feature a retina display that can display an impressive resolution of 2048×1536. He also asserts that “there do not appear to be any significant technical hurdles remaining” on the matter of Apple releasing a tablet with a higher resolution screen.

Now sources at its supply chain partners are saying that the iPad 3 will be released much more sooner: at the iWorld that’s scheduled to take place on January 26, 2012. And there won’t be just one iPad. These sources claim that two versions of the next-generation device are slated for release. The sources claim that the iPad 2 will be made to compete directly with the Amazon Kindle Fire in the price-sensitive market, while the new iPad models will be focusing on mid-range and high-end segments.

The sources added: “Instead of the previously-rumoured 7.85-inch, the upcoming iPad models will still feature 9.7-inch screens but come with QXGA resolution (1,536×2,048 pixels), the sources indicated. Dual-LED light bars are designed for the new iPads to strengthen the brightness of the panels.” They also indicate that Apple will continue to contarct and work with Samsung to manufacture its quad-core A6 processors, which will be used in the next-generation iPads.

Apple officials declined to comment on these reports.

Source – DigiTimes