Apple to rush release iPad 2 next week?

There have been many conflicting reports recently about the iPad 2, mainly focused around the release date. According to popular Apple publication AppleInsider customers could be holding the new iPad tablet in their hands shortly after next Wednesday's press event.

The last time KitGuru spoke to a reputable source in Taipei we were told that the iPad 2 was still some months away release due to production constraints however these latest reports indicate that ‘at least one version of the refreshed device will be in transit to retail outlets during the briefing'.

“It should be noted that while nothing is definitive till Apple issues a statement, these same people have consistently provided accurate information regarding Apple's future product plans and the timing related to those plans. At the same time, their predictions arrive in stark contrast to a variety of reports over the past few weeks that have insinuated Apple would for some reason choose preview a new iPad at the top of the month but be unable to ship it till the end of the month, the following month or sometime thereafter.”

So while AppleInsider claim their sources are good, it looks as if there is still some guesswork going on behind the scenes.

No one could have escaped the buzz around the upcoming release of the iPad 2 this year, mainly thanks to the huge sales and marketing success behind the original device last year. It started as a niche product and ended up generating 20% of Apple's business at the end of last year. Analysts have said that $4.4 billion in Apple sales has been linked to the iPad. Why would Apple rush the iPad 2 release? Well people already know it is planned and on the cards, so sales of the original device will already be suffering as people hold fire for the new version. Apple want to minimise this sales decline as best they can, even if it means pushing the new product to market as soon as possible.

Apple are expected to release the new iPad in three versions with different storage capacities. With the new, faster Apple A5 chip based around the Cortex A9 dual core processor, faster 1,066mhz memory (which is also doubled to 512MB) and a new dual camera system in place, the upgrades are significant.

Kitguru says: Apple fans already have the credit cards in hand, ready to order. We expect to see many bargains on ebay in the coming months.

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