AppleInsider reports today that according to Taiwanese paper DigiTimes, Apple's overseas component suppliers are getting ready for the launch of the second-generation iPad in early 2011. The DigiTimes article actually went as far as to name some of the component suppliers who it said would be involved in the making of the next-gen iPad, listing the likes of TPK Touch Solutions, WinTek, Cando, and Cimel Innolux.
We've been hearing similar rumours for quite some time of course, although with a release date by the end of this year usually, but what makes these rumours different is that AppleInsider says that the new iPad won't have a 7-inch screen as widely predicted, but will actually have the same size screen as the current iPad, which is 9.7 inches. Makes you wonder why they would actually bother coming out with a newer model so soon if it's going to be the same size? One reason could be Apple's desire to get FaceTime functionality added to all its iOS devices as soon as possible, according to AppleInsider. They say that a reliable source has told them that an iPad with a forward-facing camera is currently being tested by Apple, so maybe that will be the main addition to the rumoured new model in 2011.
Source: AppleInsider