iPad 3 rumours: Release date, specs and more

Not since Moses ambled down a mountain brandishing 10 commandments has a tablet generated as much excitement as Apple's iPad. After two years of living in the 'post-PC era' -- and with competitors scrambling to keep up -- Apple's CEO Tim Cook is fighting to keep the iPad's third incarnation in his magic hat before the big reveal next year.

Despite Apple's inherently secretive nature, the iPad 3 rumour mill has been grinding since before the second version was even released last spring. But with so many tidbits flying about, it can be difficult to know who or what to believe.

With a March announcement fast approaching, we put our best digital detectives on the case to help you distinguish leaked secrets from pure tabloid fantasy. Watch the video then check out our detailed breakdown below.

iPad 3 launch date

Apparently reliable sources say Apple will unveil the next iPad on 7 March, which is pretty much the same week the iPad 2 was announced last year. Based on previous release schedules, UK buyers could be queuing in front of Apple stores before April.

Are we safe to assume it will be called iPad 3? Nope. Apple has never given the iPhone a full version number for more than two releases in a row, probably because it will run out of attractive single-digit numbers before the decade is out.

By that logic, it would be called the iPad 2S, but last year's iPhone 4S left fans thinking the name represented a minor upgrade -- even when the internals were fully revamped. No one knows for sure, so until Apple reveals all, we're sticking with iPad 3.

Unusually, there are hints that extra iPad models could be released, though the evidence is flimsy. In November, hackers found four references to what looks like new iPad models hidden deep in iOS 5, and rumours of a smaller 8-inch iPad are gaining speed yet again. Still, it's hard to believe Apple will go ahead with a smaller model when the current 10-inch version continues to outsell the competition.

We've heard the iPad 2 will remain on sale at a lower price, which would help Apple counter the growing popularity of cheaper tablets like the Kindle Fire, without committing to a smaller tablet just to shove the price down.

iPad 3 retina display

The iPhone 4S display has a pixel density so high the human eye can't discern individual pixels at a normal viewing distance. This means bootylicious curved edges and kern-perfect text. It's a real joy to view. It's pretty much a dead cert for the new iPad too, at 2,048x1,536 pixels.

By our calculations, the iPad 3 display will end up with a 264 dots per inch (dpi) display, which is technically less impressive than the iPhone 4S's 326dpi. This may not be a critical drop in resolution by comparison because you'll probably hold the iPad 3 a little further from your face. But it's a shame not to see the same crisp standards across the full iOS range. Still, your old apps should scale up to fit the new screen without a hitch while developers prepare their updates in HD.

iPad 3 A6 processor

Apple is busy testing its quad-core successor to the A5 processor, which currently sits cosily in your iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. But after some early issues with its original supplier in Taiwan, Apple has once again had to turn to its rival Samsung to make the A6. If Apple had a Facebook page, its relationship status would say, "It's complicated".

The A6 promises to be quite a beast, and there's been plenty of evidence it will be quad-core, though The Verge thinks it might remain a dual-core chip.

It doesn't matter either way -- the A6 will be a monster. Expect rip-roaring speeds and better power efficiency so it doesn't drink all of your battery juice in one swig.

4G?

The future of mobile broadband is nearly here, and reliable sources say Apple will finally offer a 4G iPad. Even if it's really called LTE, and not 'proper' 4G. They're both much faster than 3G, so we won't quibble.

There's just one big problem. The UK doesn't have a 4G network, and the party-poopers at Ofcom say we won't have one until 2015. Thankfully, the European Parliament just ruled that EU countries (including ours) will have to free up those dusty old radio frequencies for 4G use by 2013.

In summary, the new iPad will allow for super-fast mobile broadband in certain countries, but will still run at reasonable 3G speeds over here.

Siri on iPad 3?

Siri, the sassy voice-activated personal assistant that features on the iPhone 4S, is likely to make its tablet debut on the iPad 3.

You will probably need a network-enabled model if you want it to arrange your affairs while out and about, as it needs to send your demands over the airwaves to Apple for processing. But the prospect of deeper integration on an iPad is tantalising. You might have to wait for iOS 6 before Siri gets a fancy set of full-screen features, but any Siri integration is sure to be the icing on a perfectly formed 10-inch cake.

Thinner battery, thicker design?

According to website BGR, Apple has secured a stash of thinner batteries that hold a longer charge than older models, despite a 20-30 per cent increase in cost. Let's hope Apple makes those savings elsewhere so we don't see a price hike.

Slimmer batteries would normally allow for thinner designs, but the new retina display is expected to take up all the extra space. It's rumoured to use up so much room that some are saying the iPad 3 will be even thicker than its predecessor. Gasp!

It would be very un-Apple to take a step backwards in the design department, recent patents for space-saving batteries should limit the damage. You can expect it to be roughly the same size as the iPad 2, with iLounge claiming it will only expand by about 1mm -- a fair trade for dazzling HD goodness.

What about the cameras? The iPad might be an unwieldy snapper when you compare it to the iPhone 4S, but we think the new model will sport the same camera as its pocket-sized brother. Even better, the front-facing camera should see a resolution upgrade, given that FaceTime chats will now take place on an HD display.

So far, we've discussed the most plausible upgrades to the iPad. But the rumour mill isn't shy of spewing out other wild ideas. Until Apple lifts the lid on its new baby, some of them could still come to fruition.

iPad 3D display?

Hollywood insiders were so sure the next iPad will support 3D that they were said to be "running around like blue-arsed flies" trying to gear up plenty of 3D content for the next iPad launch.

Apple does have some interesting patents for a special kind of glasses-free 3D, but we think the retina display will be more than enough to pull lustful buyers in this time around. Real-time 3D processing takes some serious grunt so we doubt we'll see a 3D upgrade until the next-generation hardware of the iPad 4, if ever.

iPad 3 predictions

We think it's fair to assume the iPad 3 will arrive in spring with a beaming 2,048x1,536-pixel retina display and a feisty A6 quad-core processor. Pin-sharp cameras should deliver FaceTime chats in glorious HD, and a supercharged battery should keep it all running till the wee hours.

Throw a chattering Siri into the mix, and you've got a serious piece of portable kit that will give rival Android tablet makers nightmares. It's just a shame our mobile networks won't fully support the super-fast network model, but our trusty old 3G infrastructure should keep mobile users going in the meanwhile.

Are you bursting at the seams for an iPad 3, or is it just another year of predictable hype? Share your reaction in the comments or over on our Facebook page, or on Google+ if you swing that way.