With most people have the attention span of a 2-year-old child, the rumour mill does seem to be solely focussed on the next iPad update, as if it is a fixed weekly stream of speculation. This week, we have AppleInsider telling us that the next generation of the iPad is expected to arrive this year. But wait, hang on, there is more!
According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next 9.7-inch version of the iPad will bring in design elements from the iPad Mini. He expects the next iPad to be “significantly slimmer and lighter”, which will essentially be the 5th generation of the device. He bases this on the fact that Apple will thin down the bezel around the display, just like in the iPad Mini, and load the iPad with the software that prevents unintended touches from registering a command.
Kuo believes that the next update for the iPad will be launched sometime in Q3 of 2013. This goes against all the recent rumours we have heard about the possible unveiling sometime around March 2013.
However, we must clarify that Kuo had correctly predicted that the modified version of the iPad would be launched before the end of 2012, and it was, along with the iPad Mini towards the end of October 2012. The refresh brought the lightning dock connector and the faster A6X processor upgrade to the 9.7-inch iPad. This came around 6 months after the previous launch, which was in March 2012.
Speaking of the iPad Mini, Kuo believes that the next iPad Mini will feature the Retina Display with the same resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels as the bigger iPad. This would essentially make it easier for developers to build apps for the Retina Display.
Well, we would keep bringing these rumours to you as we get them. In the meantime, we can be sure that the sun will rise again tomorrow.
Source: Apple Insider
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