Rumor: Apple May Add Second Manufacturer for “iPad 3” Launch

Just when you thought you'd gotten nice and cozy with your iPad 2, along comes all of these nasty rumors about an iPad 3/iPad HD that might come flying into stores later this year -- which may require Apple taking on a second manufacturer to keep up with demand.

AppleInsider is reporting that Apple may be adding a second manufacturer for its iPad line, with Quanta Computer or Pegatron Technology the likely candidates to help supplement existing production lines with Foxconn. According to DigiTimes, industry sources in Taiwan claim that a second manufacturer will be necessary to handle production of an iPad 3, which is rumored to be coming later this year.

Also known as the "iPad 2 Plus" or even "iPad HD" because of its rumored 2048x1536 pixel double-resolution display, an updated iPad could be targeted for "the end of the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of calendar 2011," just in time for the holiday season.

While the iPad appears to be crushing tablet competitors running Android, BlackBerry QNX and now HP's webOS, the new rumor could be an indication that Apple plans to fortify its wide lead in the market by introducing a new model in the same year as the iPad 2 -- despite the company's boast that 2011 would be the "Year of the iPad 2." However, some believe the new model will simply be an additional offering to expand the product line, rather than a replacement for the existing model.

DigiTimes claims that Pegatron Technology may have the advantage in becoming a second iPad manufacturer for Apple, having already reportedly received production orders for upwards of 15 million iPhone 5 models expected to debut in September.

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