The iPad 2 isn’t even out yet and is presumably still a few months off from its release, but already, tech blogs are buzzing about the iPad 3. According to TechCrunch and Daring Fireball, Apple may be planning to release the iPad 3 later this year during fall. If the rumors are true, the unveiling of the third generation tablet would be a surprise, since first of all, it would come so shortly after the iPad 2, and second, Apple usually sticks to rigid schedules as far as product development cycles and release dates – iPhones in June/July, iPad in April, etc.

TechCrunch reports, “We’ve now heard that this ‘fall surprise’ is related to this would-be iPad 3. We don’t have any more concrete information beyond that. But, as of right now, the plan is apparently to release one iteration of the iPad in the next few weeks. And then blow the doors open with another new version in the fall.”

Interestingly enough. HP announced yesterday that it would be releasing a tablet as well, called the TouchPad, “sometime this summer.” Daring Fireball’s John Gruber points out, “If my theory is right, they’re [HP] not only going to be months behind the iPad 2, but if they slip until late summer, they might bump up against the release of the iPad 3.” Yikes! Time for some healthy competition.

Tags: ipad 3, ipad 2, ipad, apple, touchpad, hp
Categories: High Tech Toys