Today’s Apple Event – Apple iPad live blog

San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where 

Apple's special event is taking place tomorrow. 

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Apple is holding its iPad-themed event on Wednesday, and you can get your full dose of the news right here.

The event takes place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in downtown San Francisco and kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. CNET’s Donald Bell, Jason Parker, and I will be bringing you the news live, and we’ll have live commentary from the Buzz Out Loud crew.

Tune in to the live blog here:

March 7 : Apple Event Live Blog

This Is the iPad 3 Hiding In Plain Sight

Gizmodo - Apple just flashed their new iPad 3 on their Wednesday 7 event invite. You can clearly see the new Retina displayin all its glory. Compare the left (invitation) to the right (the iPad 2).

The top has a lot more definition. It’s clear on the typography in the Wednesday, the spacing in relation to the icon and the edges of the icon itself.

Not only that, but there seems to be NO home button, which explains the mention of the “And touch.” in their invitation. How can we know? First, the photo they are showing is on portrait mode. You can’t achieve that icon spacing in the landscape mode (which is the only explanation for the lack of home button).                 More

iPad 3 rumor roundup

CNET - With the success Apple is enjoying with the iPad 2, we’re not sure it even needs to make an iPad 3.

It will, of course. Just as it’s done over the past two years, Apple will likely unveil its latest, greatest tablet around April 2012. Until then, it’s open season on iPad 3 rumors.

In this ongoing blog post, we’ll be collecting the best, most interesting rumors and predictions for the Apple iPad 3. Which of these rumors will pan out? Only time will tell.

Looking for an iPhone 5 rumor roundup? We have one of those too.

February 17
Is this the iPad 3′s Retina Display?
A purported photo of the iPad 3′s display is published by MacRumors. A microscopic inspection shows it to have more pixels than the current model, while maintaining the iPad’s same 4:3 aspect ratio and 9.7-inch screen size.

February 14
Supplier chatter points to smaller 8-inch iPad
The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is talking to component suppliers about an iPad with a smaller screen. This rumor matches up with a previous rumor that Apple may create three tiers of iPads, including a smaller model offered at an entry-level price.

February 13
Verizon and AT&T to back iPad 3 4G capability
The two telecom carriers will carry a next-generation iPad running on the fast, next-generation wireless technology, sources tell The Wall Street Journal. Both carriers currently offer versions of the iPad 2 that make use of their respective 3G networks.

February 10
Apple March announcement, iPad 2S a possibility
A source quoted by the New York Times claims that the next generation of the iPad will be announced in early March 2012, and will look very similar to the iPad 2. The article goes on to speculate that the new iPad may not be called “iPad 3,” considering how Apple’s modestly updated iPhone 4S was thought to be called the iPhone 5.

February 9
iPad 3 launch to coincide with iOS 5.1
Profiles created for different iPhone operators point to early March as a possible date for the release of iOS 5.1, one that could coincide with the debut of the iPad 3.

February 9
Alleged iPad 3 Retina Display photographed
Leaked photos surface of what looks to be a new iPad-compatible high-resolution display. The panel is manufactured by Sharp, matching up with one previous rumor.

More

Apple iPad 3 may get March release date, 4G

Will the next iPad be 4G-friendly? (Credit: Apple )

CNET - Apple’s iPad 3 will reportedly hit the market in March and work with Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.

According to Bloomberg, the iPad 3 will land in the calendar first quarter. Bloomberg cited manufacturing partners in Asia. In addition, the iPad 3 will sport a quad-core chip.

The iPad 3 is expected to be one of Apple’s big revenue drivers for the upcoming year. While the iPad 3 is critical, most analysts expect the iPhone 5, which is also expected to be 4G friendly, to drive sales more.

Volume manufacturing is expected to ramp up in February, according to Bloomberg.          

More

iPad 3 To Hit in 3 Months?

 

iPad 3 rumor roundup

 

CNET - With the success Apple is enjoying with the iPad 2, I’m not sure it even needs to make an iPad 3.

It will, of course. Just as it’s done over the past two years, Apple will likely unveil its latest, greatest tablet around April 2012. Until then, it’s open season on iPad 3 rumors.

In this ongoing blog post, we’ll be collecting the best, most interesting rumors and predictions for the Apple iPad 3. Which of these rumors will pan out? Only time will tell.

December 12
iPad 3 expected in March/April 2012
After a supply chain analysis, DigiTimes predicts that Apple’s iPad 3 will be ready for retail in three to four months. Given that the original iPad was released in April and the iPad 2 released in mid-March, the timing of this prediction seems consistent with Apple’s history.

December 12
iPad 3 expected in March/April 2012
After a supply chain analysis, DigiTimes predicts that Apple’s iPad 3 will be ready for retail in three to four months. Given that the original iPad was released in April and the iPad 2 released in mid-March, the timing of this prediction seems consistent with Apple’s history.

November 22
iPad 3 will be thinner with low-power non-IPS display
Forbes claims that Apple will ditch its IPS technology for a lower-powered Sharp display with a higher resolution and a thinner profile that will allow for a thinner overall design.

November 16
iPad 3 to use Qualcomm 4G LTE Gobi 4000 chip
Qualcomm is the current manufacturer for the 3G mobile chip inside the iPhone 4S, so it stands to reason that Apple may take advantage of its latest and greatest chip for use in the iPad 3. Using the 4G-compatible mobile chip would make the iPad 3 the first 4G device Apple has produced.

October 26
iPad 3 QXGA display
Of all the iOS devices out there (including the iPhone and iPod Touch), the iPad is the last to receive the upgrade to Apple’s Retina Display technology. The problem is that touch-screen manufacturers simply cannot yet make panels at the iPad’s size with the same 326ppi pixel density. They can get close, though. QXGA resolution (2,048×1,536 pixels) gets you a pixel density of 264ppi, which is twice that of the iPad 2.              More

Apple iPad 3 in 2011? Try 'iPad 2 Plus'

Apple might not debut the iPad 3 this fall, but it's possible it will launch a new version of the iPad 2 dubbed "iPad 2 Plus," the International Business Times is reporting.

In a note to investors, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said evidence, such as requests to component suppliers, indicates that Apple will introduce this "marginally different device" in late 2011. Berger said a production schedule has not been determined, but that Apple has asked component makers for quotes on parts for the iPad 2 Plus.

Apple didn't upgrade the display of the second-gen iPad, but this rumored intermediate device could have a higher resolution. The company will reportedly increase the iPad 2's pixel density from 132 pixels per inch (ppi) to between 250 and 300 ppi for the iPad 2 Plus, Berger predicted.   More