iPad 2: First preview next week as a “One more thing” during an iOS 4.3 developer event?
A release date between 2nd and 9th April seems quite likely, sources – not only ours – pointed to a release in early April. The only question is: When will the iPad 2 be presented? One manufacturer of iPad accessoires now told us Apple is planning on holding an event next week.
They weren’t sure about the circumstances, but were already able to tell us more about their knowledge of the features: The iPad 2 is going to be based on the Apple A5 processor, a completely new processor that is going to to replace the Apple A4 soon. The form factor of the case will change, to a more iPod touch 4G-ish look, comparable to the first mockups we’ve seen already.
Even the speaker grill on the back of the device is going to become true (we still hope this is not the case, but who knows…). Instead of a micro USB port the iPad 2 will be equipped with a Mini DisplayPort, something that’s possible in case Apple will go for a new processor basis in the iPad 2.
Our guess is Apple will present the iPad 2 as a “One more thing” during a special iOS 4.3 developer event next week. iOS 4.3 is still a beta, Apple released the third beta on Tuesday. It still contains critical bugs, but might be released soon as soon as all the bugs are fixed. In his review of the Verizon iPhone 4 David Pogue mentioned 13th February as a likely release date of iOS 4.3 for AT&T iPhones, which will contain the touted Personal Hotspot feature. 13th February is a Sunday – how likely is it that this date is true? Pogues statement was corrected to “soon” at some point, but it’s not completely unlikely that iOS 4.3 is being released soon.
This is somewhat confirmed by the statements Eddy Cue gave during the presentation of “The Daily” yesterday: He mentioned that the in-app subscription feature is going to be available to other developers/magazines soon, Apple is planning on their own event to show off the feature. How about having the iPad 2 as a little add-on during that event?
Reuters mentioned that the first prototypes already circulated yesterday during the press showcase of “The Daily” – they only weren’t clever enough to take pictures of the mentioned prototype.
