14 DAY TRIAL // In what is probably the best indication that Apple plans to refresh the iPad line soon, people within the company's distribution channels are reporting constraints of the 3G versions of the iPad 2.
Citing a source familiar with Apple’s product distribution channels, 9to5mac informs that the iPad 2 WiFi + 3G is now constrained.
The shortages go beyond Apple’s distribution channels all the way to other major iPad sellers, including Carphone Warehouse and Orange in the United Kingdom. Both are reporting “out of stock” status for the 3G-capable iPad 2.
Apple may be planning to continue sales of the WiFi-only iPad 2 after the iPad 3 is released, as an entry-level version of the company’s tablet computer selling for $399, or less.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the WiFi iPad 2 is going to stick around for much longer. Stocks of the WiFi-only tablet may also see constraints soon.
An Apple event is rumored for the first week of March, when most analysts believe Apple will unveil a Retina-display iPad 3 with LTE wireless and a faster processor.
There have been conflicting reports regarding the number of cores Apple’s next A-series CPU will sport, while most sources quoted on the matter say the GPU is something worth paying more attention to.
Some hardware leaks have painted a faint image of the device which appears to be almost identical to the iPad 2 in terms of design.
According to an Apple employee speaking with the NY Times on the condition of anonymity, the iPad 3 features a “truly amazing” screen.
Most pundits agree that Apple’s third-generation iPad will boast a Retina display maxing out at 2048x1536 pixels. One iOS developer has suggested that this will prompt Apple to roll out development-centric Macs with Retina-grade displays.