iPad 3 Retina Display & March 2012 Release Date – Too Good To Be True?

According to a Japanese tech blog, iPad 3 might be out as early as March, 2012. As per their ‘reliable Asian Source’, production of iPad 3 is being rushed due to Chinese New Year Celebrations which are from January 22nd to 28th. Also as per this site, iPad 3 will come with a redesigned dock connector. This new connector will have the same number of pins but a smaller shape than the one on the iPad 2. This could result in compatibility issues with existing devices that plug into the dock. The tech site even published images of the dock connector obtained from one of Apple’s Asian suppliers.

As per these sources iPad 3’s screen size will remain the same, but still it is not sure if Apple is aiming for a Retina Display-like resolution on this tablet. Retina Display means a very high pixel density so that human eye cannot distinguish individual pixels. iPhone 4, 4S and iPod Touch 4G come with this resolution. For iPhone 4S it meant a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch (PPI). But this much pixel density is not needed for iPad as its screen is not held so close to the eyes.

LG and Samsung reached a resolution display of 2048 x 1536. This is a PPI of 264, which is twice the resolution of iPad 2. The challenge is to manufacture these displays in the volumes that Apple need. Right now there are production plans but converting these plans is a giant leap which was not achieved till now. As per the same Asian Source, resolution of 1600 x 1200 would be an interim option. Launch time of March 2012 is safe considering the similar timing of Apple’s previous launches of iPad and iPad 2. At the same time there is a rumor doing the rounds that Apple might fit iPad with an A6 processor and this might push the launch till June 2012 or later. It seems that with each day Apple is pushing the limits of displays, processors and user experience.

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