Apple Prepping For iPad 3 In 2012?

We haven’t even had the iPad 2 for over a year yet, and already we’re hearing that the iPad 3 isn’t far behind.

The Wall Street Journal reported today that Apple was working closely with component suppliers and assemblers in Asia on development for its latest iteration of the iPad, the long-rumored iPad 3. Display panels and chips are reportedly being prepped for production, with a million and a half units being planned for the first production run. According to the Journal’s report, Apple is aiming for an early 2012 launch.

Interestingly, the iPad 3 will supposedly include a new high definition display, one that’s set at 2048 by 1536 pixels – a far cry from the 1024 by 768 pixels that the iPad 2 currently has. There’s also a very good chance it will have retina display, similar to the output that the iPhone 4 currently provides. (This all has yet to be confirmed by Apple, though.)

“Suppliers will ramp up production and try to improve the yield rate for the new iPad in the fourth quarter before its official launch in early 2012,” an anonymous party working at one of the suppliers for the new tablet told the WSJ.

Considering how hot the tablet market is right now, we can kind of understand why Apple is so expedient to get a bigger and better iPad on the market. Still…what kind of market value would that leave the few-months-old iPad 2? We’ll just have to wait and see with the company’s official announcement, whenever it comes.

• Cutting Edge NASA iPad App Brings Science To Life
• Will Apple Offer a Cheaper iPad 3?
• Top iPad 2 Tips for Work