iPad 3 event confirmed for March 7; invite teases ‘retina display’

Apple has confirmed a media event for March 7th, as the Cupertino, Calif. based company sent outmedia invitations on Tuesday. The event had already been rumored for March 7, with the expectation being that Apple would send out invitations today or tomorrow, as Apple usually sends them about one week in advance.

The event will take place at 10:00 a.m. PST on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. All of that was expected.

Many other things are expected for the iPad 3, which was teased in the invite as Apple said “We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

That teaser seems to point to the much anticipated iPad 3 “retina display,” expected to be double the resolution of the iPad 2 (in both directions) or 2,048 x 1,536. Other changes from the iPad 2 to the iPad 3 include:

  • dual-core A5X or quad-core A6 processor (of late, this has been leaning toward the A5X — an enhanced A5 processor)
  • Slightly (1mm) thicker
  • LTE-capable
  • 8MP rear-facing camera
  • HD Facetime camera
  • Better battery life
  • Nearly identical form factor to the iPad 2
  • Possibly $70 – $80 more expensive per price tier
  • iPad 2 to continue to be sold at a lower price with lower storage

Some have taken the image on the invite to mean Apple will be dropping the Home button, something that was rumored last year.  As the, we believe this isn’t going to happen, as the Home button makes it easy for a newbie to pick up the device and find their way around.

The truth will be revealed on March 7.

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