Apple Rumoured To Have Begun iPad 2 Production

Technology giant Apple has started manufacturing the new version of its iPad tablet computer, a source from the Wall Street Journal has revealed.

The new tablet is believed to be slimmer and lighter than its mega-selling predecessor, offering a faster processor, more memory, a USB port for connecting to other devices and, for the first time, front and rear cameras.

According to the rumours, Apple is expected to unveil the iPad 2 later this month, before rolling out the gadget around March or early April.

Retina display reserved for iPad 3

Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether the iPad 2 will feature a high-definition retina display, which could help Apple fend off competition from a host of Android-based tablets.

According to IDC research manager Tom Mainelli, Apple will forgo including its high-definition retina display in the forthcoming version. Instead, the iPad 3 will be the company’s first tablet capable of 2048 x 1536 resolution.

Earlier this month, online images posted on 9 to 5 Mac – a rumour site for Apple products – have hinted at another new development for the next-generation iPad.

“At this point, we cannot tell if the resolution is higher (or ‘Retina’) but it is definitely higher quality in terms of its build,” reads the 1 February posting, accompanied by several images.

iPad 2 may sport NFC technology

In a bid to adopt Near-Field Communications (NFC) technology, Apple is likely to introduce its second-generation tablet with NFC chips, which would allow users to make financial transactions, said the report.

NFC is an emerging wireless technology that allows devices to exchange data over short distances.

It lets users pay for products by tapping the mobile device – which is equipped with an embedded NFC chip – on a point-of-sale terminal in a store.