The iPad 3 -- set to be announced on Wednesday -- could actually be called the iPad HD, according to leaked part listings from case manufacturers, Gizmodo reports.
An alleged leaked inventory shows the name iPad HD, hinting Apple could choose the moniker to big up the device's retina display. It would make sense from a marketing point of view. And marketing isn't exactly Apple's weak point.
Despite Apple being legendarily closely guarded about its product name and specs prior to launch, some manufacturers are tipped off just before the big day. With the next iPad event just five days away, Apple may have warned case makers so they can have products ready for launch.
The retina display is thought to be the big selling point of the new iPad. With a purported resolution of 2,048x1,536-pixels, it promises to boast ridiculously bright colours and amazingly sharp edges.
A couple of weeks ago someone got their hands on the purported retina display, got the microscope out, and zoomed right in, showing it should have twice the resolution of the current iPad 2. Sadly there was no way to power it up to see for ourselves, but give it a few days and we'll know either way.
The screen is thought to be the same 9.7 inches as the current iPad, so the dimensions of the device shouldn't change much. But Apple might have a smaller version waiting in the wings -- yesterday news leaked of a 7.85-inch iPad due in the autumn.
This backs up previous rumours that it'll have the same resolution as the iPad 2, so apps will work without developers having to tweak them. Apple may also slash the price of the iPad 2 next week to cut off competition from the Amazon Kindle Fire. We could also see an updated Apple TV. Just not the one we all want to see, unfortunately.
Is iPad HD a better name than iPad 3? And will you be buying one? Let me know in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 12
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Kev wicks 2 March, 2012 09:56
How about the Siri ,
Would that be present on both the new pads?
Kev wicks 2 March, 2012 09:57
would be interesting...
anonymous 2 March, 2012 10:00
How about the Ipad Rumuor? Although I suppose that would entail Apple having a sense of humuor which is not very likely.
anonymous 2 March, 2012 10:43
I was this close to buying the original iPad (picture my index finger and thumb being pretty close to one another ;o) but decided against it as there was no camera. Then the iPad 2 came along...and I was this close to buying that (picture my index finger and thumb actually going through one another...such was my eagerness ;o) but decided to ditch my desktop PC and go mobile instead...buying a Dell laptop (a choice I now regret). 2012 will now be the year (just in case the world ends in December) but will it be a price reduced iPad2 or an iPad 3...only time will tell (I’m not really that bothered about picture quality so the retina display won’t be a big enough pull for me – I mean the iPad 2’s picture isn’t that bad is it – what else will the iPad 3 come with?).
anonymous 2 March, 2012 11:01
Apple have always retained originality but it seems they are going the way of the suits by simply adding "HD" to a name like every other company does. Dare I say it, the late Steve Jobs' wouldn't have appreciated such a naming scheme.
Hopefully a sign of things to come. They can only ride that cult of personality for so long.
anonymous 2 March, 2012 12:03
If there is much improvement in the new tablet,might consider having one.
5onthe5 2 March, 2012 12:19
I still can't decide whether Apple would keep on the iPad2 at a reduced price.
Cheapest iPad 2 is £399. If they kept the iPad 3 at that price, then the 2 would have to drop to £275 to be truly tempting. I can imagine the cheapest iPad3 might initially be more like £499, so a £300/350 2 might still sell a lot.
anonymous 2 March, 2012 17:01
Notice no home button (but top casings for ipad3 that have been authenticated and do have a home button hole).
Look at the icons themselves (none of these icons are default icons for the tray).
Look at the fingertip size in relationship to the icon size (icon appears to be much larger compared to fingertip than iPad icons are to a real fingertip)
and finally the bezel width appears to be larger than the bezel size of an iPad.
That ain't no iPad you are looking at. That's a touch screen remote for the new apple tv!!!!!!
anonymous 3 March, 2012 07:45
It also may a touch screen Apple TV.
5onthe5 3 March, 2012 12:00
I think it's just a badly composited photo. Why would the Apple TV need Calendar, Maps and Keynote?
anonymous 3 March, 2012 13:41
VLC Player pre-installed.
anonymous 5 March, 2012 12:29
Personally dont see any great advantage in such a high res screen in something so small anyway, and it will definitely consume a lot more power. As far as Siri goes, its still a bit of a novelty, but the good thing about it is it will force others in that field to compete to provide more services that are actually useful!! I wonder if they will catch up to most other tablets manufacturers and provide USB input and SD card facility. Many things Apple is still behind in.