14 DAY TRIAL // Already rumored to be planning the introduction of an iPad 2 ‘Plus’, Apple is now even more widely believed to have a ‘premium’ tablet on the launch pad, such predictions coming from Rodman & Renshaw and IHS iSuppli, as of late.
Quoted by CNet, Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, wrote in a research note to investors that "Apple is...expected to roll out a premium version of iPad 2--a higher resolution screen, front-/rear- facing HD cameras--in the current quarter."
Reached on the phone, Kumar added that "It looks like Hon Hai is going into production with this new SKU." This information, he said, was coming from supply chain sources.
Apple has no intention of retiring the iPad 2, he said, therefore this ‘premium’ model makes sense for “the publishing vertical and some other select segments,” according to Kumar.
IHS-iSuppli analysts seem to agree with his predictions. Wayne Lam, an analyst at iSuppli, said it's “definitely within the realm of possibility.”
“The true third-generation iPad would be on a yearly [timetable]. That said, I wouldn't preclude anything they could do incrementally," CNet quotes the iSuppli analyst as saying.
Indeed, Apple would have no reason to dissipate the iPad’s momentum by introducing a third-generation device ahead of its time, merely to scare off competition.
Admittedly, in a few months Apple's post-PC device will have some stiff competition. Yet, the iPad 2 is on track to beat every tablet this year, and by quite a margin too, most analysts agree.
Analyzing how Apple could beef up the iPad 2 to make it a ‘pro’ device this year, Lam said that "Anything modular that's in the device can be easily upgradeable.”
He added “For example, the 3G module. Potentially they can upgrade to a 4G module. And the display. If it contains the same footprint, size, power requirements and if the OS supports higher resolution, [it's possible]."
The IHS iSuppli researcher also suggested that iOS 5 would leverage the new hardware well, and vice-versa.