A new rumour suggests that Apple could launch its next generation iPad on February 24th to mark Steve Jobs’ birthday. In the past Apple has not tied product announcements to sentimental points in its history. The date also falls on a Friday, a day not normally used by Apple to make announcements.
The Chinese Economic Times report adds that to make the date, Apple suppliers will have to operate through the Lunar New Year holiday, a time when many Asian manufacturers traditionally shut down. Initial production is set for about 4 million units with partners still ramping up:
Because it is a new gadget, it is taking time for makers in the supply chain to raise their yield rates. The sources said all OEM and ODM makers have exercised great caution in ensuring the smooth operations of their production lines.
Rumours so far have only suggested an early 2012 launch (March or April) for the iPad 3 which could come with a high-resolution Retina Display.
The report also suggests that Google may use Taiwan’s Compal Electronics to manufacture its upcoming Nexus tablet.
Source: 9to5Mac