As the 2011 Macworld Conference & Expo gears up, rumors are flying about Apple's anticipated new tablet, which people are calling the iPad 2. The original iPad released about this time last year and completely bypassed the existing "tablet PC" industry, stalling the growth of the netbook market and carving out its own playing field.
Will the iPad 2 appear at Macworld Expo 2011?
No. Apple has not exhibited at Macworld since 2009.
There's a remote chance that some new scoop will be unearthed, similar to Engadget's exclusive preview of the iPad 2 from earlier this month. Apple is not going to be there, though; and with Steve Jobs' recent medical leave, it wouldn't be quite the event anyway. It is more likely that Apple will announce the new iPad 2 at an event of their own making.
Will the iPad 2 feature the iPhone 4's Retina Display technology?
Very unlikely. The iPhone 4's Retina Display features pixels so small they can't be discerned by the human eye, but it also uses a much smaller screen. To create an iPad-sized touchscreen using the Retina Display technology would be a feat of engineering that even Apple's not likely to make in one year; and because of the logistics of programming an app's user interface, an intermediate step (a "half" Retina Display) is also unlikely.
Will the iPad 2 use Verizon or AT&T LTE technology?
Unlikely. LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is a "4G" wireless speed that is only available in select markets right now. It's not expected to see a nationwide launch on AT&T until 2012, and even Verizon hasn't launched nationwide LTE yet.
The Verizon iPhone 4 lacks LTE capability, and it's likely that the iPad 2 will lack LTE also, even the one on Verizon's network. As the history of cut-and-paste on the iPhone shows, new features don't tend to be introduced to Apple products until they're polished and completely ready.
What else is rumored about the iPad 2?
While the exclusive Engadget preview suggests the the most interesting new features are "under the hood," it also says that the iPad 2 is supposed to have both front- and rear-facing cameras, allowing it to use Apple's Facetime video chat. An SD card slot, for camera memory cards, is also rumored to be in the works.
While no new revelations from Apple are likely at Macworld Expo 2011, a new third-party peripheral like the ClamCase -- which turns an iPad into a touchscreen netbook -- may shake things up nonetheless.
