iPad 3 Release Date: Retina Display Excluded From Device?

By Elton Jones, Christian Post Reporter Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Apple's upcoming iPad 3 could exclude its rumored retina-display feature upon release.

The display sports the highest pixel density of 326 PPI for any tablet screen. Apple explained that when it comes to a retina display, the human eye could not distinguish between individual pixels.

For iPhone 4 and 4S, with their 3.5-inch display, smartphone manufacturers were able to handle the production requirements for these devices swiftly. However, the larger display size of Apple's iPad 3 could present some production issues.

Leaked company information suggests that mass production for 264 PPI is scheduled to start this month. This is the highest tablet screen resolution Samsung and LG can construct now.

Development for the retina display's 226 PPI will arrive much later. Some analysts have said the current production costs vastly exceed those required to deliver tablet retina display to retail by 2012.

Industry insiders have also said the iPad 3 will not be finished any sooner than 2013.

Linley Group, a chip consulting firm, said the iPad 3 will not appear early in 2012, because the iPad 3 features the quad-core A6 processor. This processing chip is currently being produced at an Apple plant in Texas.

By 2013, production costs could lower considerably and assembly lines may be put in place for the device.

Apple previously launched the original iPad in April 2010 and the iPad 2 in March 2011.

A recently published patent application filed by Apple also indicates that the iPad 3 will come with handsfree controls. Apple filed for this technology patent back in the second quarter of 2010.

The patent application, which was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, presents a visual interpretation of the controls.

Owners of Apple's next iPad device may be able to control cursors, icons, files, lists, text, and images with various hand signals. Users would use several specific hand gesture animations to manipulate any number of the tablet's activities.