It seems like a long time ago since This is my next reported on the possibility of an iPad HD this year. 3rd-generation Apple tablet rumors have been running rampant. The next-gen iPad is expected to sport a screen with double the resolution of its predecessor, and debut sometime this fall.
Though the gossip is getting stronger, you can’t help but be skeptical, as Apple’s never released products in 6-8 month increments. Not only that, but how can they expect to ship a new tablet when they can barely make enough of the previous version to go around?
Luckily, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, as Fortune is reporting that Apple’s iPad 2 supply bottleneck is finally evening out. Over the last 4 months, the Cupertino company has struggled to manufacture enough tablets to keep up with customer demand.
“Shipping times were stuck at 1-2 weeks from mid-April to July 8, when they were cut to 3-5 days. Reader Howard Kaplan noticed Saturday morning that they have since fallen to 1-3 business days, which is about as fast as Apple can get any product out the door.”
9to5Mac notes that Apple let educational affiliates know that iPads were eligible for Affiliate Development fund, which also suggests supply is catching up.
I would say that now’s your chance to make sure you grab the iPad 2 model you’ve been waiting for, but you might want to hold out another month or two. Skepticism or not, Steve Jobs and company could always have “one more thing” up their sleeves.
Is anyone planning on snagging an iPad 2? Or are you holding out for the iPad HD?