Rumor: Apple to redesign iPad, iPhone, MacBook Air, and iMac next year?

Randomly accurate rumor site Digitimes has pair of stories up saying that Apple may be looking to re-design the iPad, iPhone, MacBook Air, and iPad next year. This according to "upstream supply chain" sources.

Apple has asked makers in the supply chain to develop flat panel modules and LED light bars for two iPad prototypes, codenamed J1 and J2, the sources revealed.

Stranger still:

Apple's new generation iPad will enter mass production soon with the launch set for March 2012, according to sources from the upstream supply chain; however, the sources revealed that internally Apple does not view the new iPad product as iPad 3, but rather an upgraded iPad 2 and the real iPad 3 will not be launched until the third quarter of 2012 at the earliest.

iPad 3 likely will ship when Apple can make Retina display panels cheaply enough, at high enough yield rates, to make sense.

Source: Digitimes, x2

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.