New iPad Could be Extra Thin

Apple is preparing for an announcement to be given at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Wednesday regarding the iPad 2. This is the official unveiling of the iPad 2. While there were some recent rumors surrounding whether the iPad 2 release date had been pushed back along with the iPhone 5, the earliest estimates are that the iPad 2 will be available as early as March.

Others put the release date further out. According to Goldman Sachs in a letter to investors, the iPad 2 should be available by April. The highlighted features from the iPad 2 are the front-facing camera for FaceTime video chat, a new processor, a more advanced operating system (iOS 4.3), more RAM, GSM and CDMA wireless technology supported, USB/ SD card slots, increased memory, and augmented graphic performance.

The iPad 2 is not expected to be a 4G compatible device. Rumors are now surfacing that the most marketable feature of the new iPad is that it is supposed to be far thinner than the original version of the iPad according to the same investors letter from Goldman Sachs.

Forbes states that while they can neither confirm nor deny whether the rumors regarding the delay of the iPad 2 were false, there are likely to be supply shortages due to production difficulties associated with the iPad’s new thinness. According to the same article the iPad 2’s extremely thin glass screen is causing yield issues. The problem appears to be less about the technological functionality of the product, and more about the technological and manufacturing processes needed to produce it. Once the process is refined, the size and scale of production should increase greatly.

Sources:

http://blogs.forbes.com/briancaulfield/2011/03/01/new-ipad-announced-wendesday-could-be-served-extra-thin/

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/28/production_issues_with_new_thin_display_could_limit_apples_initial_ipad_2_supply.html

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/02/28/production_issues_with_new_thin_display_could_limit_apples_initial_ipad_2_supply.html