Sam Oliver
Citing sources in the company's upstream supply chain, DigiTimes reported this week that Apple has tasked its suppliers with the development of two tablet projects, code-named "J1" and "J2." Both of the new models are said to have different sizes, specifications and technologies from the currently available iPad 2.
Both new models reportedly in development have a higher-resolution screen than the current iPad model, and Apple is said to have demanded that the displays feature two LED light bars on the left and right sides of the screen. The adoption of two LED light bars is said to have created problems in shrinking the thickness of the next-generation iPad, prompting some vendors to create designs with one light bar and two LED chips.
The report claimed the resolution of the next iPad will be 2,047 by 1,536 pixels, but difficulty with the higher resolution and new LED backlight design has "affected the launch schedule" of the next-generation device. Still, the necessary components began arriving at the end of October, and accumulated inventory of the new iPad is expected to reach about two million units by the end of December.
"The sources pointed out that the J2 project seems to be an upgrade version of the J1 and although Apple has not yet decided which project will be used for the final launch, Apple is likely to make the final decision based on its needs," the report said. "As for the upstream side, the component suppliers have already conducted pilot production and prepared for mass production."
The details seem to contrast with an earlier report from DigiTimes, which claimed that a "real iPad 3" would not arrive until the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest. It claimed that the new iPad released in March of 2012 would simply be an upgraded iPad 2.
The report also added that suppliers have already begun "proofing" for the next-generation iPhone, and production of the handset is expected to begin in June of 2012. Apple's new iPhone 4S went on sale in numerous countries around the world last month.
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Andrew Orr
Mike Wuerthele
44 Comments
Put me down as sceptical on the dates.
Citing sources in the company's upstream supply chain, DigiTimes reported this week that Apple has tasked its suppliers with the development of two tablet projects, code-named "J1" and "J2." Both of the new models are said to have different sizes, specifications and technologies from the currently available iPad 2.
I call bullshit.
We all know that Apple tested the size extensively. They created prototypes of every likely size, they tested them all and determined that the size of the iPad was optimal.
Now we are to believe that Apple will release iPads which are sub-optimal?
Bullshit.
Call it nitpicking if you like, but the statement "...Apple has tasked its suppliers with the development of two tablet projects..." would mean that Apple is no longer doing its own designs. And I don't believe that for a nanosecond.
The details seem to contrast with an earlier report from DigiTimes, which claimed that a "real iPad 3" would not arrive until the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest. It claimed that the new iPad released in March of 2012 would simply be an upgraded iPad 2.
I don't understand why reports that claim Apple will release a new product only to release a massively better upgrade a few months later are given any weight. We heard this with the iPhone 5 rumors and now we are getting it with the iPad rumors. Apple has never done anything like this. Why would they? Apple seems to have figured out that demand for its devices seems to run on a year cycle (look at the drop in iPhone 4 sales in the months leading up to the 4S). If Apple releases a new device before that year is up, not only will it piss off a bunch of customers whose devices have become obsolete prematurely, it will also be cannibalizing its own sales because demand had not yet dried up for the old product. Either we will see an iPad "2S" type device next year or a true iPad 3. We won't see both.
Call it nitpicking if you like, but the statement "...Apple has tasked its suppliers with the development of two tablet projects..." would mean that Apple is no longer doing its own designs. And I don't believe that for a nanosecond.
Perhaps 'construction' would have been a better fit?