Chinese Paper Pins iPad 3 Launch on Steve Jobs’ Birthday

A Chinese newspaper is spreading the word that Apple’s third-generation tablet computer will be unveiled on February 24th, the day Apple’s iconic co-founder, Steve Jobs, was born.

Citing a story by the Economic Daily News, Focus Taiwan reports that the iPad 3 will make a splash in the market as it is the first major product to be unveiled by Cupertino next year.

That sounds just about right to us, including the fact that industry sources said the first shipment of the iPad 3 could exceed 4 million units.

Makers in the supply chain have been forced to raise their yield rates and, because the tablet is a new device, “the sources said all OEM and ODM makers have exercised great caution in ensuring the smooth operations of their production lines,” according to the Taiwanese paper.

The Economic Daily News’ sources specifically said (text reproduced by the aforementioned Focus Taiwan) that “…main assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry's iPad division will only allow its employees to take five days off during the Lunar New Year holiday, while staff at the company's other divisions will have a longer holiday,” in order to meet the iPad 3 delivery date.

Aluminum case manufacturer Catcher Technology is also mentioned in the report. Catcher was in the news two months ago when Chinese regulators prompted the company to shut down production amid pollution reports.

Catcher, whose operations are now back online, said that at least some of its employees will have to work overtime during the Lunar New Year holiday in China.

Other suppliers, such as battery maker Simplo Technology, connector maker Amer International Group and optical lens supplier Genius Electronic Optical Co. are also reportedly telling their staff to prepare for longer shifts.