Not since Moses ambled down a mountain brandishing 10 commandments has a tablet generated as much excitement as Apple's iPad. After two years of living in the 'post-PC era' -- and with competitors scrambling to keep up -- Apple's CEO Tim Cook is fighting to keep the iPad's third incarnation in his magic hat before the big reveal next year.
Despite Apple's inherently secretive nature, the iPad 3 rumour mill has been grinding since before the second version was even released last spring. But with so many tidbits flying about, it can be difficult to know who or what to believe.
We put our best digital detectives on the case to help you distinguish leaked secrets from pure tabloid fantasy.
iPad 3 launch dateDetails of previous versions of the iPad have been unveiled in the springtime, with an international release following soon after. Hopes were raised that a third iPad would break the cycle and launch alongside the iPhone 4S in October to catch Christmas shoppers -- this was fuelled by new iPad parts appearing on component store SW-Box over the summer.
While this failed to materialise, there's a chance the iPad 3 won't actually fit the spring release pattern set by its predecessors. One analyst predicted a hold-up with processor development, which could delay the launch until June 2012, where the iPad could be revealed at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), as the iPhone once was. We're still pretty confident Tim Cook will take to the stage to unveil his new tablet by spring.
iPad 3 retina displayThe iPhone 4S display has a pixel density so high the human eye can't discern individual pixels at a normal viewing distance. This means bootylicious curved edges and kern-perfect text. It's a real joy to view. It's pretty much a dead cert for the new iPad too.
Sources reckon Apple recently bought a tonne of 2,048x1,536-pixel displays from rival Samsung, which makes their litigious relationship all the more complex. We're happy to see them snuggling up if it means having twice the resolution of the iPad 2.
By our calculations, the iPad 3 display will end up with a 264 dots per inch (DPI) display, which is technically less impressive than the iPhone 4S's 326 DPI. This may not be a critical drop in resolution by comparison because you'll probably hold the iPad 3 a little further from your face. But it's a shame not to see the same crisp standards across the full iOS range. Still, your old apps should scale up to fit the new screen without a hitch while developers prepare their updates in HD.
iPad 3 A6 processorApple is busy testing its quad-core successor to the A5 processor, which currently sits cosily in your iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. But after some early issues with its original supplier in Taiwan, Apple has once again had to turn to its rival Samsung to make the A6. If Apple had a Facebook page, its relationship status would say, "It's complicated."
The A6 promises to be quite a beast. It's sure to boast rip-roaring speeds and better power efficiency so it doesn't drink all of your battery juice in one swig.
There's one potential catch with the new processor and it could really throw the iPad 3 launch into disarray -- as predicted by the analyst who thinks the A6 won't be ready until June 2012, Apple might have to stick with the older A5 or hold off the launch for a few months. After all, it will take something special to push all those new pixels around.
Siri on iPad 3?Siri, the sassy voice-activated personal assistant that features on the iPhone 4S, is likely to make its tablet debut on the iPad 3.
You might need a 3G model if you want it to arrange your affairs while out and about, as it needs to send your demands over the airwaves to Apple for processing. But the prospect of deeper integration on an iPad is tantalising. You might have to wait for iOS 6 before Siri gets a fancy set of full-screen features, but any Siri integration is sure to be the icing on a perfectly formed 10-inch cake.
iPad 3 thinner battery and lighter designAccording to website BGR, Apple has secured a stash of thinner batteries that hold a longer charge than older models, despite a 20-30 per cent increase in cost. Let's hope Apple makes those savings elsewhere so we don't see a price hike.
The new battery will potentially allow for a thinner iPad, though the new display could take up any extra space. Have faith in designer Jonathan Ive to shave a few nanometres from somewhere else.
iPad 3 curved glass display?New glass manufacturing techniques mean that sleek, curved displays are finally a commercial reality. Our CNET News cousins from across the pond hear that Apple bought as many as 300 special glass-cutting machines to add a new curved display to its own products.
Observers are quick to assume this means a curved-glass iPad next year, but it's not a convincing prediction yet. If the rear of the iPad 2 needs to be flat for typing stability, why add a bulbous display to the front and confuse the design? Maybe the curvaceous new displays will appear on something from the iPod range instead.
iPad 3D displayHollywood insiders are so sure the next iPad will support 3D that they're said to be "running around like blue-arsed flies" trying to gear up plenty of 3D content for the next iPad launch.
But does Apple really need to compete with the failing Nintendo 3DS and its measly sales figures?
Apple does have a patent for a special kind of glasses-free 3D, but we think the retina display will be more than enough to pull lustful buyers in this time around. Real-time 3D processing takes some serious grunt so we doubt we'll see a 3D upgrade until the next-generation hardware of the iPad 4, if ever.
iPad Pro?Will the iPad get a Pro model as seen on older generations of Mac products?
The Unofficial Apple Weblog found references to an extra model buried in code as far back as iOS 4.3, which they think signals an impending pro model.
Others think a smaller 6 or 7-inch model is on the cards, but why launch an extra version when the 10-inch iPad already sweeps away all the competition?
Apple makes dozens of prototypes before picking an A-grade product for launch -- there is the suggestion it gave an extra model some serious consideration, but for now it's hard to believe it will emerge as the iPad 3.
iPad 3 predictionsThe iPad 3 might be months away, but there's a stable set of rumours that fit Apple's release trends.
We think it's fair to assume the iPad 3 will arrive in spring with a beaming 2,048x1,536-pixel retina display and a feisty A6 quad-core processor. Throw a chattering Siri into the mix, and you've got a serious piece of portable kit that will give rival Android tablet makers nightmares.
Are you bursting at the seams for an iPad 3, or is it just another year of predictable hype? Share your reaction in the comments or over on our Facebook page.
Update: This article was updated with the latest information and republished on 8 November.
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