Edible Apple

You don’t typically hear much about juicy Apple rumors this time of year, but this one’s particularly compelling. A report from the Chinese Economic Times claims that Apple and its partners are working hard to release the upcoming iPad 3 on February 24, Steve Jobs’ birthday. Previous iPad 3 rumors have pointed to a release date either in late March, or a more likely scenario, in early April.

Pushing up production by a full month is no small thing and we question if Steve Jobs’ birthday is that big of a deal that Apple would shake things up just to align the iPad 3 release with that particular day.

To reach the rumored deadline, the report claims that a number of iPad 3 component suppliers are having employees work over the New Years holiday. Foxconn’s iPad division, for example, is reportedly only allowing employees 5 days of vacation while employees within other divisions are being given longer holiday breaks.

Casing producer Catcher Technology said that at least some of its employees will have to work overtime during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Other high-end component suppliers such as battery maker Simplo Technology, connector maker Amer International Group and optical lens supplier Genius Electronic Optical Co. are all planning to ask at least some of its employees to work during the Lunar New Year holiday, industry sources said.

As for the iPad 3 itself, users can expect to see a Retina Display, better battery life, and a new speedy A6 processor. One analyst has even speculated that Apple, in an attempt to prevent competing tablets like the Kindle Fire from stealing away marketshare, will release two iPad models this Spring. A full fledged iPad 3 alongside a cheaper iPad 2S model. There isn’t much substantive evidence to back up this claim, however.

via Focus Taiwan