iPad 3 Release Date: Will New Apple Tablet Really Feature Retina Display and iOS 6?

The iPad 3, Apple's next flagship tablet, is expected to be launched on March 7 at Yerba Buena Center for the Art in San Francisco. The iPad has been ruling the global market for the past two years and has set the benchmark in the tablet industry. iPad 3 is expected to boast of significant improvements (read: hardware and software advancments) over its predecessor iPad 2 and the latest buzz is that the new tablet was being tested by people over at Cupertino headquarters, with Retina Display and iOS 6.

On March 2, Ars Technica reported that the Apple employees have started browsing the Web at the Apple's corporate headquarter using iPads, which were running on iOS 6. It can be assumed that the devices identified could be the iPad 3. In addition, it was discovered through the server logs that 365 visits from a device (or devices) with the screen resolution of 2048x1536 pixels. It is the resolution which is likely to be expected for the Retina display of the iPad 3.

The server logs have also shown that the iPads running the iOS 6 are making use of the newer WebKit build 535.8 while those running on older iOSes show the WebKit 534.46 version.

The iPad 2 does not have the upgraded display so it is highly expected that Apple will bring the high-resolution ultra-clear Retina Display to its third-generation tablet.

Moreover, Apple had sent the invites to the Press for the event that is scheduled on March 7 where it will release the next-generation iPad. Examing the image on the invite, the guys over at iPhoneHacks said the Calendar icon which is visible in the invite seems to make sure that iPad 3 will feature the Retina Display with 2048x1536 pixels resolution.

The words on the invite say, We have something you really have to see. And touch. Probably the tagline with the words have to see could hint at the Retina Display of the iPad 3, which clearly highlights higher pixels. And touch, on the other hand, possibly hints that Apple will be launching iPad 3 without a physical home button.

As early as Feb. 17, MacRumors confirmed the iPad 3 will have the high-resolution Retina Display, which is double the iPad 2's resolution. The comparison made between the iPad 2 and the (purported) iPad 3 panels under the microscope shows iPad 2 panel having 4 pixels in each cluster while the other panel has 16 pixels in each cluster.

Hence, one can be almost certain that iPad 3 will boast of Retina Display. This is good news because the existing display in iPad 2 is good for viewing basic videos and photos but it can't handle architectural 3D renderings and full-HD graphics and videos well.

An improved display will be a major hit with developers as they can create applications and games that are demanding and can match console-class or desktop-PC type ones.

However, it is doubtful that iPad 3 will debut with iOS 6. iPad 3 will either debut with iOS 5.0.1 or iOS 5.1, which is out in the wild (it's in developers hands now). Nobody can say with certainty that iOS 6 is set to debut with iPad 3 though it is probable that it is already being tested in Apple labs. So, if you're expecting iPad 3 to debut with iOS 6, despite the hullabaloo surrounding it, you'll be in for a disappointment.

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