iPad 3 coming in early 2012?

Wall street journal recently reported:

"A source at an iPad supplier reportedly told the Wall Street Journal that "suppliers will ramp up production and try to improve the yield rate for the new iPad in the fourth quarter before its official launch in early 2012."

Market strategy wise, this is very curious for Apple who has dominated the recent holiday seasons with its new tech. My guess is that they are going to rest on their laurels with the iPhone 5, and then try and release the iPad 3 in retaliation to Nintendo's impending Wii U launch during that same "early 2012" season. There are rumors that the iPad 3 will support 2048x1536 resolution, but other than that there has not been much speculation on design or increased functionality.

Oh, well at least it won't leak anymore.

Nintendo recently gave Apple a shot across their bow with their unveiling of the Wii U at E3, with it's iPad-like controller that was apple to stream PS3 quality or greater games 1:1. Many of the twitter feeds at the time were buzzing with tags like "iPad killer;" what was interesting, though, is that the official Apple twitter engaged and often directly responded to these claims, with many @ messages pointedly telling customers to "see what they have got in store" for the likes of Nintendo.

As for Nintendo, their new system and American market strategy is brilliant. No longer are they engaging with their direct competition in Microsoft or Sony, but aiming higher at they king of American tech, Apple. Ultimately, this kind of arms race can only lead to more "win" for gamers everywhere.