The curved back panel of the original iPad might be getting a lot flatter in version 2, according to a Japanese rumor site, which also speculates that a mysterious notch seen in spy shots of purported iPad 2 cases might be intended for a pumped-up speaker, not an SD card slot.
The report comes from a Japanese-language blog called MacOtakara that was spotted by AppleInsider, which passes along the pertinent (translated) details, including word that the new iPad might be a tad smaller, thanks to a trimmer front bezel.
Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), MacOtakara's story, based on the word of an "anonymous Chinese source," qualifies only as rumor. After all, Apple has yet to even confirm that a sequel to the iPad is in the pipeline.
That said, let's get to the good stuff, starting with MacOtakara's claim that the back panel iPad 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) will be "flat like an iPod Touch."
The current iPad has a curved back, similar to the iPhone 3G and 3GS, which makes for a somewhat wobbly experience when you set the iPad on the flat surface of a desk or tablet.
MacOtakara also raises an interesting possibility for a head-scratching detail spotted in leaked case photos for the new iPad: an inch-long notch right next to the opening for Apple's standard 30-pin connector port.
Some Apple bloggers had speculated that the notch could be for a much-requested SD card slot, which would be perfect for those looking to supplement the iPad's internal storage or transferring photos to and from the tablet.
But according to MacOtakara, the notch might in fact be for a new, "wide-ranged" speaker with a "metal mesh" covering ? good news for those wanted better sound from their iPads, bad news for photographers or anyone else hoping for an adapter-free way to plug in an SD card.
The blog also claims that while the iPad 2's display would be the same size (9.7 inches) as that on the original iPad, the new iPad's front bezel may be about three millimeters smaller than that of its predecessor �?? meaning the revamped iPad might be a few millimeters shorter and narrower than the iPad 1.
MacOtakara goes on to repeat a few details that had been rumored in the past, such as the possibility that the new iPad will have both front- and rear-facing cameras, with the front lens intended for FaceTime video chat and the rear sensor capable of shooting video (although that's "unreliable information," the blog warns).
The post adds that production for the new iPad is already underway, with delivery of finished units slated for next month ? a prediction shared by industry observers, who believe that Apple will probably hold off on shipping the iPad 2 to stores until April, a year after the first iPad went on sale.
All in all, interesting reading (although again, none of this is confirmed). Personally, I'd be all for an iPad with a flatter back and a smaller front bezel, but I'd happily trade in a new speaker for an SD card slot. Thoughts?
In any case, I'd expect Apple to make some iPad announcement after the Consumer Electronics Show, where we're expecting to see a slew of pumped-up Android tablets, including Motorola's much-anticipated, dual-core Tegra 2 slate.
Related: Apple's next-gen iPad to get iPod touch-like back, wide-range speaker - rumor [AppleInsider]
? Ben Patterson is a technology writer for Yahoo! News.
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