Here's a rumor that's exciting, though highly unlikely. According to Digitimes, Apple is reportedly planning on launching two second-generation iPads in varying sizes. The kicker is that both of them would have OLED display screens.
The rumor comes out from Taiwan-based component makers, who claim that the fourth quarter of 2010 will see 5.6- and 7-inch model iPads for the holiday season, and a 9.7-inch device in the first quarter of 2011.
Sources also indicated that Apple has ordered the OLED displays from Compal Electronics, rather than the originally expected Pegatron Technology. However, Digitimes Research senior analyst Mingchi Kuo made the case that Samsung, the largest OLED maker, doesn't even have enough displays to supply their own handset devices, so there's no way that Apple would be able to procure enough OLED displays to produce iPads in varying sizes.
Kuo also added that Compal is probably not going to work alongside Apple, since their electronic manufacturing service levels (EMS) are a lot lower than notebook makers can accept.
Anyway, we're hoping that this rumor is heavily considered, and that we'll be seeing iPads in varying sizes for the holiday season. This is one editor that would appreciate a smaller iPad that's just a hint bigger than the iPod touch.
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SpaceTrucker
July 13, 2010 at 1:33pm
I personally want to see one that's about 2" bigger than the current model, OLED would just be the icing on the cake at that point, especially if you could actually use the on-screen keyboard with larger hands and still be able to read what your typing… Let's not forget the front facing iSight and closer to OSX than iOS with a processor about 2x what it's current model is sporting.
