Gruber: iPad 3 coming this fall?

When it comes to Apple predictions, I assume people are making things up that fall outside of Apple's normal pattern. The iPhone tends to get one hardware update per year. I'm not sure if quality will sip or the schedule will increase with Steve Jobs gone, but a "2 in a year" release prediction for the iPad makes me think Gruber is making things up. If Dan Lyons didn't shut down his Fake Steve blogging during Steve Jobs illnesses, I bet he'd have a hilarious rant going later today.

I'll go along with the idea of an iPad "family" of devices, much like the iPhone and iPod lineups.

However, a September iPad refresh makes absolutely no business sense. The iPad is making a huge impact in education, and schools often make their purchase plans months in advance. Apple isn't going to cripple their back to school sales by withholding new gear until their customers' purchase cycle has ended. I'm predicting a June announcement of iPad2 (electric boogaloo) at WWDC.

or it could be . . . . .

iPad 1.5 this April.

Then, iPad 2 in the "Fall". Just in time for back to school promotions and then on to holiday shopping. School purchases and Holiday shopping being the key sales targets.

With, the "Fall", whenever that is, becoming the main refresh date for the iPad. But, really, given the manufacturing capacity and development/upgrade cycle, I would not be surprised if they didn't release two new models a year. Now that they are "rolling" along and have the experience, manufacturing logistics/contracts and components lined up - two models a year would seem to be possible. They should be able to sell everything they make and support several models through the OS.

Gruber is a tool...

iPad 4: 3D! Fall 2012.

iPad mini which will also serve as game controller for new Apple TV. iPad mini will be 7" with "retina" display.

It's the only way I can see them having a retina level screen w/o making us all pay through the nose

What Gruber is speaking about is the launch of the new OSX Lion devices (laptops and iMacs) which which will include a hybrid iOS / OSX platform.

Macbook Air will be a product line to replace the MacBook line.
MackBook Pro line will be the dockable hybrid line.
the iMac line will also be docable and hybrid as well.

This also addresses the rumor of a retnia display, as a MacBook Pro and a "iPad 3" would be about the same resolution.

I think Apple wants every last dime I make. Grrr ....

You're all wrong.

It'll be the AppleTV in September... along with a new gaming remote to compete against XBox/Wii/PS3.

The beauty of the current IOS is that it will not need any resolution adjustment so introducing a new form factor can be quite easy , all apps will run on all future IOS including AppleTV.

Think of a 7 " iPad (touch) specifically geared to gamers and game center with the ability to broadcast to AppleTV.