Unscrew the salt shaker and empty it onto your uvula, because it’s Digitimes rumor time. According to the always questionable publication, Apple’s already got the parts suppliers for the iPad 2 lined up… and they’re ready to name names.
Those names: Ibiden, Tripod Technology and TTM Technologies. This is the triumvirate of manufacturers who will Apple ramp up full scale production of the second-generation iPad in Q1 of 2011 for an early 2011 launch (probably April or May, a la the first-gen iPad).
Other suppliers will join Ibiden, Tripod and TTM as they gain certification, but these three have already gotten the nod to start producing and shipping limited quantities of any-layer HDI boards, starting next month.
As for what form the iPad 2 will take, that’s anyone’s guess. My feeling is it’ll be a relatively modest improvement over the previous gen, mostly satisfying itself with improving the pixel density of the display and adding FaceTime to the mix. Even if Digitimes is wrong, one thing’s for sure: given the iPad’s amazing sales, Apple’s talking to someone about making the second-gen.
