Never mind iPad 2, is iPad 3 already in the pipeline?

With Apple’s iPad 2 not even a confirmed device, it seems ridiculous to talk about a follow-up; but some speculators are predicting an iPad 3 before the close of the year.

The Washington Post have run with a story from tech-blogger John Gruber, which talks of indicators from Apple that a third iPad is not too far away.

John Gruber – writing on his blog, Daring Fireball – said that the later release of the HP TouchPad would clash with that of the iPad3, backing up his comments with reports that Apple are planning a “big fall surprise.”

“Apple has a history of not resting on its laurels,” agreed TechCrunch writer, MG Siegler, “That’s perhaps the key reason why they have been so successful in the recent years. And that’s exactly why they strike with the iPad 3 in the fall.”

Gruber also highlighted the benefits of an autumn release, pointing out that iPod and iTunes announcements are usually made in the autumn, a time when consumers are more confident that their new piece of tech is not going to be usurped by a better model before Christmas.

He also cited Apple’s development of retina display technology as a motive for releasing a third iPad so soon after the second, hinting that Apple may have just fallen short in the race to have 2048 x 1536 resolution ready for the iPad 2, leading them to whip out an “iPad 2.5” with this capability so soon after.

How likely this speculation is to become a reality remains to be seen, but with so many competing Android tablets in production, few could blame Apple for wanting to reignite their market presence as soon as possible.

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