The web is already buzzing with iPad3 rumor mills starting from its retina display-like high resolution, A6 quad-core processor, and support for 4G LTE networks. In addition to these what if Apple surprises us with a host of other killer features. Below are some of the items that are on top of the wish lists of iPad users.

1. Different form factor – Apple is known for its historical stand against 7-inch like devices. But there were rumors of an iPad mini. It would be good if Apple gives a choice to its customers in choosing their device size.

2. Siri on iPad 3 – Imagine dictating Siri to send a mail for you! Siri on iPad 3 can attract enterprise customers. Recently 9to5mac found some references of ‘Siri Dictation’ in the iOS 5.1 Beta update. A new section labeled ‘About Privacy and Dictation’ in the keyboard menu raises further hopes on Siri featuring in iPad3.

3. Cut the Glare – Apple should take a cue from Amazon Kindle and work on eliminating the glare which will further improve the user experience.

4. Take the gaming to the next level – How about having 3D support and Vibration effects? That would enhance the gaming experience on an iPad. App developers can leverage the power of A6 quad-core processor to develop gaming space further.

5. Payment solutions using near field communications – Here, Google is ahead of Apple as it already launched Google Wallet service. But again this is more of a smart-phone feature, but good to have on a tablet also.

6. Battery: Apple should continue to improve the battery life as tablets are portable devices and people cannot charge them frequently, particularly during travel. Apple should even consider options of wireless charging of tablets.

Considering Apple’s legacy, it is not too much to expect, as Apple keeps surprising the consumers and the market with their avant-garde features and ideas.

According to sources at Bloomberg, Apple’s next iPad is all set for a March release. As speculated widely, it will sport a high-definition screen, a faster quad-core processor chip and work with next-generation wireless networks. Apple’s Asian manufacturers are ramping up the production of iPad 3. There will be a break during Chinese Lunar New Year holidays before peaking up again in February.

Features like high-definition display and quad-core processors are already expected. The feature that evokes more interest is LTE (Long Term Evolution). Our previous post talked how there is a clash going on between iPad 3 and iPhone 5 regarding who will feature LTE first. Now it seems that LTE will debut first on iPad before iPhone. According to Bloomberg’s sources, the main reason for this is because iPad comes with a bigger battery and can better cater to the power requirements of LTE. 4G networks provide faster data, but they require a higher-power radio and thus drain battery faster.

Apple has a tendency to wait for mobile technologies to reach critical mass before featuring them on their devices. We noticed the same in case of 3G. The original iPhone came with the slower 2G EDGE technology even though 3G technology was available at that time. Recently iPhone 4S came without featuring 4G. It might be also possible that Apple does not want to endorse 4G carriers at the expense of 3G carriers. iPhone has become such an important part of many people’s lives and it seems Apple doesn’t want to test a power-hungry LTE on it. iPad is still a luxury additional device and not a lifeline like iPhone for many.

Is a fight between iPhone 5 and iPad 3 on the cards in getting a first release date? Apple’s traditional release map had gone haywire this year as iPhone’s release date was pushed from summer to fall. And we can be pretty much sure that the two won’t be released back to back. But many decision-making factors like Apple’s 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) roadmap, quad-core A6 processor, Apple’s next gen iOS 6 and partnership between Apple and T-Mobile are common to both iPhone 5 and iPad 3.

Apple needs next generation antennas to release 4G LTE devices with decent size and a good battery life. Apple might be building these devices on its own. In that cases Apple can incorporate LTE in both the upcoming devices – iPhone 5 and iPad 3. iPad sales figures indicate that more and more iPad buyers are going with the 3G enabled model. These numbers affirm that mobile networking will be a significant factor in the iPad 3 also and not only just in iPhone 5. Both iPad 2 and iPhone 4S run on dual-core A5 processor. Its successor quad-core A6 will be ready by next year. This high-power processor can boost the performance of iPad 3 and iPhone 5 and their apps and experience.

Till now, iOS releases debuted along with a new iPhone. As of now we are not sure of either iPhone 5’s release date or the progress of iOS 6. iPhone 5 coming before iPad 3 might change the iOS pattern this time. In the meanwhile, the talk of an iPad 2S can change the equations all together. The technical and marketing teams of Apple will definitely work it out to make sure that there’s enough space between the launches of these widely-awaited products of 2012.

But could it mean a product gets pushed back even later into 2012?  We will have to wait and see

If this fall were really to be something special, I hope to find more than falling leaves and early Christmas commercials. The release date of the iPad 3 may be witnessed sooner than expected. If the iPad 3 would really come out this fall, then you can bet it will be sporting the highly anticipated iOS 5 operating system. Not only this, but the “iPad HD” will appear with an HD screen and 4G LTE networking, along with other goodies any iPad user will surely enjoy. If these were all true, then iPad 2 users will experience both joy and anger at the same time. Anger at the short time their new iPads now become things of the past, and joy at the prospect of a new iPad. Why the mixed emotions? Here’s why:

iPad 3 Comes with iOS 5

Although iPad 3 appearing this fall is still speculative, whether it is coming with iOS 5 is not. Apple claims iPad 3 will be out before snow comes. Although we’ve seen some of iOS 5′s tricks and treats, still one might wonder why Apple is still quiet about iOS 5 and iPad 3’s relationship.  A smart guess says it’s related to the hardware.

iPad 3 is HD!

iPad 2 didn’t quite capture the moment, unlike the iPhone 4 whose screen displayed a resolution far greater than the human eye can imagine or detect. Calling the next iPad as iPad HD is an obvious indicator that the screen will be greatly improved this time. Better resolution means better gaming and better detail in apps, not to mention HD movie viewing experience. Whether the iPad HD would mimic the success of the iPhone 4 in terms of display prowess is another story.

4G LTE with the iPad 3

With AT&T and Verizon betting on the marketing farm on 4G LTE, Apple could add 4G compatibility to the existing 3G framework. Thus, creating another selling point to the iPad 3. As if the better resolution capability isn’t a good enough reason.

A5 and the iPad 3

Since the iPad 2 already runs on the dual-core A5 processor Apple developed, there’s no reasons why the iPad 3 should not run on an A6, or at least a juiced up A5. Apple could always clock the iPad 3 faster. After all, I wouldn’t want a newer device whose only feature of being fast is in its name.