Apple's iPad 3 is due to go into production in January ready for a March or April launch. Or at least so say rumours from the various contracting companies along the production chain.
The next generation iPads are expected to be available in the next 3-4 months as makers in the supply chain have started delivering parts and components for the new tablets to OEM contractors while reducing those prepared for iPad 2, according to sources in the supply chain.
Of course this is part rumour but the thing is that the iPad, like the iPhone, has become such a huge product, selling so many units, that preparation for even a change in the machine, let alone preparation for a new model, simply cannot be kept quiet. There are just too many people making too many millions of pieces of components for true secrecy to be possible.
Which might just ever so slightly worry Apple's managers. For while they are reducing iPad 2 construction at the same times as they ramp up for the new, it's also obviously true that sales are going to drop dramatically in Q1 2012. Just as they did for the iPhone 4 in the months running up to the iPhone 4 S release.
From an investing point of view this could well mean that Apple's earnings are going to be more seasonally variable. Entirely possible that second and fourth quarters will be booming, while first and third relatively poor as people hold off on purchasing the soon to be out of date of either the iPad or iPhone line.
As to what the iPad 3 is actually going to feature, one whisper is a new screen:
The new tablet's key feature is expected to be a 2048 x 1536 display, possibly from Sharp.
We've got months and months of these rumours to come yet: what fun!
