The next iPad has been announced. We aren't sure if it will be called the iPad 3, HD, 2s or whatever. The next iPad is punch full of new features let me list them below. This new iPad supports a Retina Display, a 9.7-inch display, 3.1 million pixels in a 2048x1536 resolution at 246ppi. The screen also has better color saturation than the previous. The new model of the iPad also sports an A5x processor and a quad-core graphics chip. Apple states that it can deliver four times the performance of the Tegra 3. There is also a new iSight camera on the iPad which is supposed to be very similar to what is on the iPhone 4s. The 5-megapixel camera is a huge upgrade from the camera on the iPad 2. The new iPad is also capable of capturing 1080p video which is no surprise. Developing.

Originally rumors said that Apple had orders placed for the production of the iPad 3 to release second half of 2011. Now digitimes reports that Apple has deleted those orders and the iPad 3 may release later than originally thought.

Apple was originally set to launch its iPad 3 in the second half of 2011 with a supply volume of 1.5-2 million units in the third quarter and 5-6 million in the fourth quarter, but Apple's supply chain partners have recently discovered that the related figures have all already been deleted, the sources pointed out.

iPad 2 shipments will stay at their current volume with no sign of reduction in sight. Digitimes believes that the cancelled orders may be because of the slowness and cost of producing the higher resolution screens that will be present in the iPad 3. The resolutions are to be 2,048 x 1,536 and a 9.7-inch panel size. I had originally thought that a release of the iPad 3 would be very early since the iPad 2 already released in this current year. However a "Pro" version of the iPad would seem very logical from Apple.

Digitimes reports today that Apple may be actually looking to add another manufacturer to meet iPad 3 demands for a fall release. Taiwan-based Quanta Computer and Petagron Technology is the likely candidate to help manufacture the iPad 3 along side Foxconn Electronics.

Current rumors indicate that Apple may actually be planning an upgraded version of the iPad instead of an all new model. The new iPad would launch at the same time as the iPhone 5 in the fall. The new device from Apple be called the “iPad HD” and will sport a double resolution 2048 x 1536-pixel screen. Apple reportedly would market this in the pro family of Apple products similar to the Macbook Pro or Mac Pro. This product could be marketed towards higher end professionals that need more power than the current iPad can deliver to them. Both products would launch in the fall, current rumors indicate a September release for both the iPad HD and iPhone 5. These kinds of things make me wonder, why couldn't Apple build these things into the iPad much earlier, why now?