More iPad 2 details leak out: what we know so far

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Tablets - Friday, December 10th, 2010

A couple of iPad 2 protective cases have already surfaced, but the tablet itself still hasn’t been spotted. It doesn’t mean the details have to stay a mystery though. A number of component suppliers and industry insiders have come out with what they know, giving us some ideas as to what the next iPad could be rocking when it comes out next year.

One source mentioned that it would have dual cameras, likely supplied by Genius Electric Optical and Largan Precision. They’re rumored to be working with Apple, but it’s still unknown if they’re directly linked to the iPad project. It doesn’t matter who ends up with the contract though; the fact that the next iPad is going to rock dual cams is almost a certainty. Everyone expects it to have two cams for FaceTime and for competing with the slew of recent and upcoming tablets.
An insider expects the next iPad to come rocking a screen with a higher resolution. “Retina Display” is being tossed around the grapevine, although that’s a bit unlikely. To fit the iPad, it would need to reach a resolution of 2048×1536 to mimic the iPhone 4’s screen, which would not only be overkill, but that would push the price far past the $500-600 sweet spot for tablets. Realistically, they could be shooting for a better resolution, but probably not a super-sized version of the iPhone 4’s density.
The design is said to be thinner and lighter than the original iPad. Sources name Simplo as the battery supplier and AVY Precision as the cover maker. Rumors mention a smaller circuit board for the slimmer design, and a thinner glass cover to keep it light and slim. Interestingly, some early part listings point to an SD card slot, a fact that could be backed up by the early case leaks that show a slot-sized hole around the bottom corner.
Finally, the launch date: A recent rumor mentioned suppliers starting deliveries around February for an April release.