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CNBC is tweeting this morning the alleged specs of the iPad 3 and the location of the Apple event that it will be unveiled. As you can read from the official tweet below, the tablet will have a retina display (like the iPhone 4/4S) or HD, a quad-core processor (A6 or modified A5) LTE connectivity (defaults to 3G) and will be shown off at a NYC Apple event. If Apple can pull those specs off and keep the price at $499 – take my money now! If Apple can pull off those specs and keep the price point at $499 and continue to sell the iPad 2 for $399 or lower – god help the competition.

BGR has posted what it claims are leaked specs from Apple’s upcoming iPad 3 and if the info is correct, Cupertino’s next tablet is going to pack some serious horsepower. The source providing the information to BGR has said that they have an iPad 3 production unit and have used a system utility called iBoot to record its internal specs. How about these specs:

 …the model numbers are J1 and J2 (iPad3,1 and iPad3,2), and while DigiTimes reported this a few weeks ago, these two models are not different devices, just a single iPad available in two versions — one with Wi-Fi only and one with Wi-Fi and embedded GSM/CDMA/LTE for all carriers. Also included in the photos is, for the first time, confirmation of which processor Apple will be using in the iPad 3: an A6 processor with model number S5L8945X. For reference, the Apple A4 model was S5L8930X and the A5 is S5L8940X. The new processor will also apparently be a quad-core model, making the upcoming iPad 3 the fastest iOS device ever….

So, what does this mean for us? Well, from the above specs, it looks like Apple’s next iPad will sport an A6 quad core processor – adding additional horsepower. Additionally, it looks like Apple will use a new broadband chip, allowing it to make one iPad, which will be able to use GSM (AT&T/T-Mobile) CDMA (Sprint/Verizon) and LTE (GSM/AT&T) high speed mobile data. One iPad to rule them all! If Apple can add a high resolution screen and sell the iPad 3 for $499 – lights out for the competition! If it also decides to continue to make and sell the iPad 2 for $399 – God help Samsung, Motorola and the lot.

Source: BGR

The chatter is heating up again, this time it’s DigiTimes claiming that supply partners are delivering components to OEMs for assembly of Apple’s next generation iPad. Production orders of Apple’s iPad 2 are starting to slow, which also points to a somewhat immanent refresh:

OEM production of iPad 2 will remain high at 14-15 million units in the fourth quarter of 2011 but decline to 4-5 million units in the first quarter of 2012, paving the way for the launch of the new iPads, the sources noted.

So what’s Apple’s Next-Gen iPad going to have? Rumors point to a A-6 processor (possible quad-core) – Retina display similar to the iphone 4/4S (sharp built) – Better batter life – Possibly a slightly thicker design. Besides those goodies, the rumor mill has been chatting about those specs only, so if Apple has any other upgrades, we’ll have to wait. If you’re in the market for a tablet  and can wait a couple of months, best wait.

Source: Digitimes