Mini iPad 3 In the Works?

Amazon’s Kindle Fire has proved that a tablet can be relatively small and still sell well. So why can’t Apple create a smaller, less expensive version of the iPad to compete with a product that is taking sales? In fact, the Kindle Fire has taken away as many as 1 to 2 million sales away from the iPad, according to Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt. Granted, Apple is still selling its iPad in drones and the iPad has 61.5% market share of all tablet shipments in the world, slightly down from 63.3% market share in the preceding quarter. Regardless, a less expensive iPad may help solidify Apple’s dominance at little risk to its bottom line.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is testing designs for an 8 inch model of the iPad, which would sport a resolution similar to the iPad 2. Whether or not such a design comes to fruition will likely be revealed in early March, when Apple is expecting to announce the iPad 3. According to analysts, diversifying the iPad portfolio would be a wise strategic move because the tablet market is getting increasingly competitive. Furthermore, Apple has shown in the past, through its iPod lineup, that diversification can lead to a decade’s worth of market share dominance.

Steve Jobs, in October of 2010, said that the current 9.7 inch size of the iPad was the minimum size needed to support tablet apps. If he were alive today, he’d likely still stand by this statement. At the same time, the market has shown that people are willing to sacrifice screen size for a lower price. Although the Kindle Fire may not be taking away too many sales from the iPad, the Kindle has become a favorite of those who’d like to read in color due to the portability of the device. By making a competing 8 inch tablet, Apple is opening up itself to another market segment that isn’t willing to spend $500 on a tablet and isn’t too worried about having a top of the line device.

Aside from a smaller iPad possibly being unveiled, Apple is expecting to announce an iPad 3 with a retina display and a quad-core A6 chip on the first week of March.

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Apple's iPad 3 Could Face Customs Ban in China

Apple's much speculated iPad 3 has emerged as the latest target in an ongoing trademark dispute in China, after a little-known Chinese firm said on Wednesday it has filed for a customs ban with local authorities to stop the import and export of the tablet.

Ma Dongxiao, a lawyer for display vendor Proview, said the company has filed the request with the country's custom offices, but declined to offer details. "We feel that Apple is infringing on the iPad trademark," he said, adding that the company's goal was to stop shipments of Apple's next generation iPad.

Both Proview and Apple have been locked in a legal battle to determine which company owns the iPad trademark in mainland China. In December, a Shenzhen court rejected Apple's claims to the trademark, putting the company's iPad at risk of further legal action in the country.

iPad 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6 [Rumours]

We take a look at the rumours surrounding Apple's iPad 3 and Samsung's next 11.6-inch Galaxy Tab

We compare two of the most exciting tablet prospects of 2012 – speculatively. But which, out of the iPad 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6, will be worth your cash in 2012? 

We make an educated guess base on current rumours and leaked information below: 

FormThe iPad 3's form factor has been the subject of fairly intense debate online. On the one hand, you have the camp which says it will be a highly distinctive complete revamp worthy of the new iPad 3 label.

The more probable result that is supported by a number of reports, suggests that it will very closely resemble the iPad 2's form factor. We've also heard extensive reports about it being 1mm thicker as well.

Apple iPad 3: how Apple plans to crush the opposition

For a while, Apple held the tech crown when it came to consumer devices. The iPhone was a runaway success and a revelation for the mobile phone world, while the iPod has been one of the most influential devices of the 21st Century.
But the iPod’s popularity is waning, due in part to the success of the iPhone – basically an iPod that can make calls. And as for the iPhone itself, the rise of Android devices have given it some stiff competition.
But there is one area where Apple is still sitting comfortably at the top of the pile. We’re talking of course, about tablets.
Much as it did with the iPod, Apple created a market for itself with the iPad. And it is still a market where Apple is top dog.
Of, course, Apple’s tablets have some drawbacks that have pushed users on to the likes of the Galaxy Tab or Playbook, such as price and its inability to run Flash.
So with the iPad 3 just around the corner, how will Apple stay at the top of the tablet pile? Well, as usual, the US tech giant has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Three things the Apple iPad 3 is sure to feature

Rumors surrounding Apple’s iPad 3 seem to have been flying around since the iPad 2 was released last year. As ever in the tech world, we are always thinking about the Next Big Thing.

And while this is one of the things we love about the world of technology, it does sometimes mean we end up getting excited about something that will never happen.

In November last year we brought you around up of the top five iPad 3 rumors that were buzzing around cyberspace.

Some of them may come true, some may not, and some of them don’t look likely at all anymore. So we’ve decided to cut through the rumor mill to bring you the features that the iPad 3 will almost definitely have.

We don’t want to say they are guaranteed, nothing in the tech world ever is, but they are close enough. And if the iPad 3 doesn’t feature them, Apple has missed a trick.

Apple iPad 3 price & quad-core processor pressure from Eee Pad MeMO ME370T

A few days ago we told you all about the ASUS Eee Pad MeMO ME370T and why it was regarded by CNET as the best tablet of CES 2012 (if you missed this post click here). The 7-inch form-factor may not suit everyone, but the $250 price tag will undoubtedly attract some attention, especially considering the Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM – today we will look at whether this will perhaps have an impact on the upcoming iPad 3.

Apple iPad 3 Release Date

According to sources of DigiTimes, Apple has started certifying process of components for the iPad 3. Few of them have already got certification such as Radiant Opto-Electronics for LED backlight units.