To those who care intensely about this kind of stuff–which would be pretty much everyone in the tech ecosystem–Apple will hold its much-anticipated event on March 2, where the tech giant seems poised to unveil a new version of its hugely successful iPad, according to multiple sources.

As in, iPad 2! Or, as BoomTown is now officially nicknaming it: iPad Too!

Analysts expect the iPad 2 to be thinner than its predecessor and feature an improved display, as well as front-facing camera and Facetime video chat support. And some reports suggest it will be powered by one of Qualcomm’s multimode chips and will run on both GSM and CDMA-based networks around the world.

In its last earnings calls, Apple said it had sold nearly 15 million iPads, since it went on sale last spring.

This is a very big deal, although Apple will be facing increased competition with the launch of a passel of tablets coming from numerous manufacturers, most of which are using the Honeycomb version of Google’s Android mobile operating system.

According to several sources close to the situation, the Wednesday date in a little more than a week is firm and will take place in San Francisco, the scene of many such Apple events.

In that case, the venue is likely to be the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

It’s not clear when Apple will begin sending out its famous invites for the gathering, but I am guessing soon, in order to get the Apple faithful to the proper level of froth.

Now that this date is confirmed–at least by me!–the next round of speculation will be around whether Apple CEO Steve Jobs will appear or not.

He is currently on leave to deal with ongoing health issues, although has been sighted all around Silicon Valley at various places. In addition, Jobs sat right next to President Barack Obama at a high-profile meet-the-tech-moguls dinner in the area last week.

In other words: Let the media frenzy begin!

Apple is holding an event in San Francisco on March 2, and many feel the company is getting ready to unveil the newest version of the highly successful iPad.

Kara Swisher of All Things D writes that “multiple sources” say the iPad 2 is coming and will be announced and demoed at this event.

We’ve been monitoring (and doing our best to critically examine) a slew of iPad 2 rumors since the screens on our original iPads first got smudged. Here are the rumors we think are more or less likely to have some basis in fact:

-The iPad 2 might come in three different versions with different connectivity — including a Verizon version that won’t require a MiFi card.
-The iPad 2 might have front- and rear-facing cameras.
-The iPad 2 will be slimmer, lighter and support Retina Display.
-The iPad 2 might have a dual-core CPU and/or GPU.
-The iPad 2 will have a non-smudge screen and a gyroscope.

Given the phenomenal sales figures of the original iPad, we’re excited to see what comes next from the manufacturer — and how it plans to keep up and compete with the increasing diversity and agility of its competitors, especially Android tablet manufacturers.

All Things Digital reports that Apple has scheduled a media event for March 2nd where the company is expected to introduce the next-generation iPad.
To those who intensely cares about this kind of stuff - which would be pretty much everyone in the tech ecosystem - Apple will hold its much-anticipated event on March 2, where the tech giant seems poised to unveil a new version of its hugely successful iPad.

As in, iPad 2! Or, as BoomTown is now officially nicknaming it: iPad Too!

According to the report's sources, the scheduled date is firm, and the event will take place in San Francisco. Apple has generally held its San Francisco media events at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
It's not clear when Apple will begin sending out its famous invites for gathering, but I am guessing soon, in order to get the Apple faithful to the proper level of froth.

Late yesterday, a rumor surfaced claiming that the second-generation iPad would not launch until June, but multiple sources have refuted that claim today.

i hate apple. just when you about the buy (or already bought) their product, they come up with an even better product in short amount of time. what a troll

im not really convinced to get the ipad2, pretty happy with my ipad now. I read all the specs they all predict that apple put on the ipad2, still not convinced.

better display? ipad1 has already a good display in my opinion.

more powerful processor? thats great,but so far ipad1 still gets the job done for me.

camera front and back? i dont need to take pictures with the ipad and even if I do have a front cam for chatting, how many of us are really using facetime on a regular basis to chat with friends? i love this feature but i think we are not ready for it yet.

slightly thinner? the ipad1 is already thin enough.

better battery? i welcome this, but the ipad1 has great battery life already.

So, dont really think im going to be interested in upcoming ipad2. but Apple sure knows how to surprise us all. so im curious to see that.

sure about tat? this is the main point im attracted to. current one is albeit too heavy in my opinion.

The Loop reports that Apple has officially issued invitations to a media event scheduled for next Wednesday, March 2nd, with the graphics suggesting that Apple will indeed introduce the next-generation iPad at the event. The invitation comes with the tagline "Come see what 2011 will be the year of."
Apple on Wednesday sent an invitation to media inviting them to a special event on March 2 in San Francisco, Calif.

According to the invitation received by The Loop, the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 10:00 am. This is the same venue Apple has used to introduce a number of products in recent years.

Claims of the March 2nd media event surfaced just yesterday, putting the quash on recent rumors that the device's debut may be delayed until June.

While Apple is set to hold a March 2nd media event. apparently to introduce the second-generation iPad, we don't yet know when the device will actually go on sale. But regardless of the on-sale date, Apple may be reducing its initial production target in the face of low touch panel yields and last-minute design changes that have cut into the company's ability to pump out the new version at the levels originally anticipated.
The sources pointed out that Apple still maintains its plans to mass produce the iPad 2 by the end of February; however, affected by low touch panel yields and an adjustment in specifications, Apple's production volume forecast for the first quarter is expected to drop from 400,000-600,000 units originally to only 300,000-400,000 units.

The report suggests, however, that there are no indications of any delays in Apple's internal plans for a launch date.

An analyst report earlier this week similarly pointed to "production bottlenecks" and "design changes" as affecting iPad production, but claimed that the issues would result in Apple delaying the device's launch until June. The "delay" claim was quickly refuted by multiple sources, and claims of the March 2nd media event followed soon after with the official announcement coming today.



New mockups of the second-generation iPad have surfaced on the blog of Japanese parts vendor iLab.cc (via 9 to 5 Mac), showing what could be considered the most realistic-looking physical mockup of the second-generation iPad yet published. The mockup seems to be based on information from parts and case vendors near Apple's manufacturing partners' facilities in Shenzhen, China.




The mockup appears to demonstrate a much thinner design than the current iPad, and shows a realistic-looking mesh cover over what has been claimed to be a revamped speaker design.

As for when we can expect to see the second-generation iPad on sale, 9 to 5 Mac reported yesterday that its sources have claimed that the device will launch "towards the end of March". In addition, we have received word of a vacation blackout for Apple's retail store employees set for the end of March, but we have yet to obtain confirmation of that claim.