Analysts Say the Next Generation iPad Will Have Dual Core Processor.

A bit of rumor has found its way around, as analysts suggest that the next iPad will pack a dual-core processor. But the complete story on this involves a few extra twists, turns, and leaps of logic.

Analyst Ashok Kumar of Rodman & Renshaw, whom you might remember showed up out here not too long ago saying that the Macbook Air was stealing sales from the iPad, and also featured an incredible conclusion that the iPhone would be a flop back in 2007, busted out a new report today suggesting the new chip would be a part of the next iPad. Quoth the Kumar, from research notes:

“Apple is on track to refresh the iPad by March and iPhone by late summer. A key component upgrade across these platforms will be a dual-core processor featuring a pair of 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 cores.”

Just what Kumar is basing this latest shot in the dark on is anyone’s guess–the bits I’ve seen of his research notes so far don’t make that suggestion very clear–but it is still a good speculative topic to wonder where the next iPad will go in terms of tech specs. Not that this would be any match for definitive word from Apple (because Kumar’s track record is at least somewhat tarnished, according to reports), but it’s still an interesting note. It’s not as though anyone’s really been complaining, at least not that I’ve seen, about the performance of the iPad, but it does make some sense that Jobs et al will want to keep their tablet in prime operating condition. This means, necessarily, tech upgrades in terms of processor and memory and the like.

It might be a bit too much, though, to slap dual-core processors into iPads, because what would they be used for? After all, as some suggest, why write multithreading capability into, say, a $.99 app, which is a goodish portion of what the iPad is running anyway.

So I’ll put this one out to you, as I like to do when a clear course eludes me: does the iPad need some tweaking upward? What would the users get out of such an experience? Is it even worth it? Good questions all–hit the comments section and try for some answers.

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Apple May Introduce Thinner IPad Tablet Early Next Year, Analysts Predict

Signage is displayed at an Apple retail store in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg

Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Bloomberg's Mike Firn reports from Tokyo on Japan's efforts to attract more overseas visitors. The number of Chinese travelers to Japan rose to a record 137,500 in September. Last month Japan and the U.S. signed an Open Skies treaty erasing limits on flights and setting the stage for greater collaboration between the nations’ airlines. (Source: Bloomberg)

Apple Inc. may introduce a thinner iPad in the first half of next year with features such as a camera for video-calling and chips made by Qualcomm Inc. that let it work on global wireless networks, analysts say.

Production may start as early as January, with an introduction to the public by February or March, said Mike Abramsky, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets in Toronto. The device will feature Qualcomm chips that allow a Web connection on both GSM and CDMA networks, the dominant radio standards used in mobile phones, said Brian Blair of Wedge Partners, who said he expects an April debut.

“They can sell it around the globe without having to worry if it works with one carrier’s network or another carrier’s network,” said Blair, who is based in New York.

Infineon Technologies AG, whose wireless business is being acquired by Intel Corp., now makes those radio chips for the iPad.

The announcement’s timing would put the iPad on an annual cycle of introductions similar to those of iPhones and iPods.

Paul Jacobs, chief executive officer of San Diego-based Qualcomm, declined to comment when asked in a Nov. 16 interview if his company’s chips will be part of new products by Apple. Apple declined to comment, said Natalie Harrison, a spokeswoman.

Suppliers of parts to the iPad have had fourth-quarter orders cut by about 10 percent, said Patrick Wang an analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities in New York. The most likely explanation is that Apple wants to draw down inventory ahead of the new model’s launch in the first quarter of 2011, he said.

Bigger Than IPod

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, fell $1.70 to $306.73 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have risen 46 percent this year. Qualcomm, up 3.7 percent this year, advanced 24 cents to $47.96 in Nasdaq trading.

The iPad, which went on sale in April, accounted for about 13.7 percent of Apple’s revenue last quarter, more than the nine-year-old old iPod media player. The device helped establish a market for tablet computers that blend the capabilities of a smartphone and notebook computer, leading rivals such Samsung Electronics Co. and Research In Motion Ltd. to introduce their own models.

Apple may sell 48 million iPads next year, said Blair.

To contact the reporters on this story: Adam Satariano in San Francisco at asatariano1@bloomberg.net; Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net

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