Clean slate
Apple dubbed 2011 ‘the year of the iPad 2' yesterday, halting speculation that an iPad 3 could be launched in time for Christmas.
There have recently been rumours from multiple sources that tipped the iPad 3 for an Autumn launch and if these rumours proved true, would have meant the iPad 2 would be ‘old' in around 6 month's time!
The rumours raised eyebrows, with many people sceptical any firm would plan such a short sales window for a new product, especially one so high profile as the second generation iPad.
Apple's CEO Steve Jobs floated the idea that 2011 will also be the ‘year of the copycats' as companies wade into the lucrative tablet market. However, after making jibes at some of Apple's competitors' offerings including Google's Android Honeycomb's app store, Jobs said, "we think 2011 is going to be the year of iPad 2," based on the tablet's improved hardware and app universe of over 65,000, Apple Insider reported.
While it is unlikely Jobs would have commented on the iPad 3 at the iPad 2's launch, the message seems to be very clear, that people should not expect the next version of the tablet to surface in 2011.
The rumours started when commenting after the launch of Touchpad (which is due to launch in summer with superior spec to Apple's iPad 2,) John Gruber of The Daring Fireball, wrote: "Summer feels like a long time away. If my theory is right, they're not only going to be months behind the iPad 2, but if they slip until late summer, they might bump up against the release of the iPad."
The casual mention of Apple's third generation slate implied it is scheduled to launch in early autumn and Tech Crunch has previously reported that it heard from a ‘very good source' that Apple is planning a ‘big fall surprise'.
The website said: "the plan is apparently to release one iteration of the iPad in the next few weeks. And then blow the doors open with another new version in the fall."
It apparently heard the launch was to do with the iPad 3, but now that appears to be improbable, could it be to do with Apple TV, iTunes in the cloud, a touchscreen Mac or just iPod refreshes?
Apple Insider reported that the iPad 3 will probably have a higher resolution screen of 2048x1536 and it will probably not be launched in September, but later, according to Ming-Chi Kuo of Concord Securities.
There are however rumours that Apple is working on an iPad/iPod Touch mash-up, so an iOS device with a screen size of between 5 and 7 inches. However, it seems unlikely based on Jobs' scorn for smaller tablets.
Reports have also emerged that former Prime Minister Gordon Brown blocked an honoury knighthood for Jobs, according to The Telegraph.
Apparently Brown refused to recommend Jobs for a knighthood in 2009 as he snubbed an invitation to speak at Labour's party conference, a senior Labour MP revealed.
Jobs was reportedly chosen by the MP for his services to technology and the MP told the newspaper: "no other CEO has consistently shown such a commitment" to back well designed technology.
However, a spokesperson for Brown told The Telegraph: "Mr Brown did not block a knighthood for Steve Jobs".
