Speculation

Yet more rumors are surfacing that Apple will release a lower priced 8GB iPad 2 alongside the iPad 3 this month. Digitimes, which has not been extremely accurate lately, says this is to "defend" against Windows 8 tablets coming later this year.

Back in November I tried to imagine what Apple might present as iPad 2. So now, with the iPad 2 event scheduled for next Wednesday, March 2, I decided to go back, update them with any more recent information, and see if anything substantial had changed.

Note: There's been some debate about whether or not Wednesday will bring a "real iPad 2" or more of an "iPad 1.5". Apple has always been very clear about this. The original iPhone was 1,1; the 3G was 1,2; the 3GS 2,1, and iPhone 4 was 3,1. To Apple the guts -- CPU, GPU, etc. -- are far more important when determining generational jumps (iPhone 3G to 3GS) than case design or radios (iPhone to iPhone 3G).

By every indication we're getting iPad 2,1 next week -- a full generational jump. It may not be the extreme jump some of us want, but then some of us won't setting for any jump that doesn't include a vibranium/adimantium shell with full on Cerebro UI. (That's not happening this year. Maybe not even next).

What we likely will get is enough to make an already great product thinner, faster, and yes -- better.

My guesses after the break!

iPad 2 rumors have been making their way through the internet pretty much since the day after the current iPad debuted but lately they've picked up considerable speed. Leaks have come from supposed manufacturers and suppliers, of course, but given the time of year and Apple's refresh cycles for iOS devices to date, we could be seeing an iPad 2 announcement as early as January/February and a release in April. Either way it's coming. We all know it's coming. (We've even discussed whether or not you should get an iPad now or wait for iPad 2 next year). But what will it be like?

Based on rumors to date, I'm going make some guesses... after the break.