Apple Finally Starts Production of New iPad 2
By 
According to its sources, The Wall Street Journal claims that production of Apple’s new second iPad is now underway. The newly designed iPad 2 is expected to have several new features such as a front and rear facing camera, improved graphics performance and a thinner and lighter body design.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the new iPad will be available through AT&T and Verizon. The fact that the iPad would be available from both wireless carriers could indicate that the new iPad uses the same Qualcomm “World Band” chip that’s found in the new Verizon version of the iPhone 4. The Qualcomm MDM6600 integrates both CDMA and UMTS radios into a single chip making it easier for device manufacturers to build one device that supports all major wireless standards.
Late last year Taiwanese news site DigiTimes reported that Apple had selected the major component suppliers for the new iPad 2. The companies were ramping up production and planned to begin shipping components in December in order to meet a 1st quarter iPad 2 launch date.
The new iPad 2 will face increased competition from consumer electronics companies launching a range of new tablets based on Google’s new Android 3.0 mobile OS. The new version of Android, code named Honeycomb, is the first version of the OS to be designed specifically for new tablet devices. The Motorola Xoom will be the first tablet to use the Android 3.0 and is expected to be available later this month.
