Josh Ong
Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes reported Tuesday that Apple was originally set to launch the iPad 3 later this year, but has canceled orders for the second half of 2011.
"Apple's supply chain partners have recently discovered that the related figures have all already been deleted," the report noted sources as having pointed out. The Cupertino, Calif., iPad maker's supply schedule had reportedly been 1.5-2 million iPad 3 units in the third quarter and 5-6 million in the fourth quarter.
Tipsters told the publication that the yield rate of a 9.7-inch panel with a resolution of 2,048 by 1,536 may be the "major reason of the supply delay" because Apple partners Samsung Electronics and LG Display have been unable to reach adequate production levels.
"Due to iPad 3's requirements over the physical thinness, rich color support and toughness will all conflict with the panel's technology restrictions; therefore, this could cause a delay in the launch," the report said.
Rumors of the iPad 3 have been on again, off again since even before the announcement of the iPad 2. Various reports have suggested that Apple is prepping a higher-resolution iPad for release later this fall, while countering reports claim Apple will not release a new iPad this year.
In June, Bloomberg claimed that Apple has been testing an iPad with a higher resolution screen, though that report said the resolution was just "one-third higher," not the doubled 2,048 by 1,536 screen that others have said Apple will use.
In spite of the rumored delays to the iPad 3, Apple appears to be setup to continue solid sales of the iPad 2. According to Tuesday's report, Apple's suppliers remain on track to produce between 28 million to 30 million iPad 2 units in the second half of this year. Apple sold 9.25 million iPads in the June quarter.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
54 Comments
The iPad 3, IMO, doesn't need to come out until next year.
In fact why not just wait until an Ax processor can be designed based on the
ARM A15 core.
This is supposedly a core that's 40% than the A9 core and ideal for tablet and netbooks.
I'd rather iPad 3 be a significant jump in speed, camera quality and display. .
Until the next rumor which says the iPad 3 will ship in September...
Because tablets are the future of personal computing. Apple would have a complete victory in its domination of the tablet market.
Its probably an over reach to attempt to have such high resolution displays at this point. But I can understand their push for it.
The iPad 3, IMO, doesn't need to come out until next year.
The iPad 3, IMO, doesn't need to come out until next year.
In fact why not just wait until an Ax processor can be designed based on the
ARM A15 core.
This is supposedly a core that's 40% than the A9 core and ideal for tablet and netbooks.
I'd rather iPad 3 be a significant jump in speed, camera quality and display. .
With the iPad3 (hopefully) having a faster CPU/GPU, Retina Display, same quality, thinness, and durability, it will be interesting to see how Apple will top itself post-iPad3 from a hardware perspective. iOS will really have to stand out.
How can something that wasn't ever announced be cancelled? And when has Apple ever, EVER release multiple versions of the same product within the same year other than minor spec bumps in a computer? Apple is so far ahead of the curve in performance, price, consumer adoption, developer adoption, mindshare, etc. that they don't need to rush another new version out the door. They obviously need to keep innovating, but they are not at the point where they have to panic. Releasing a Retina iPad 3 in March or April will still be the huge, shocking OMG moment Apple always goes for with new products.