The recent commercial release of the iPhone 4S has prompted the whole Apple world to start rolling things in relation to the much awaited iPad 3. Now according to Jeff Fidacaro, an analyst for Susquehanna Financial, Apple have now put their Apple iPad 3, into production.
He justifies this statement by saying, that Apples suppliers are receiving an increased number of orders for the iPad, in the 4th quarter. A estimated 12-15 million, a massive increase from 12 million. This then leads to speculate that Apple is possibly working on 3 different design models for the Apple iPad 3, which is always a good bit of news for the tech savvy Apple fan, and also because competitors like Amazon are beginning to flood the market with their releases ie the Kindle Fire.
Fidacaro carries on to say:

“Since our last month supply chain checks, we are now seeing 600,000 to one million iPad 3 builds showing up on the plan for the fourth quarter calendar 2011,”….“Our previous estimate did not include any iPad 3s.”

It is alleged that Apple is now planning to release the new iPad 3 model early next year, just scraping past the Christmas holiday season. With insider reports of a March release, which is more realistic considering the iPad 2 was released on March 11.

Another more interesting aspect of the next generation iPad 3 development, is that Apple are developing a cheaper version of the Apple iPad. As mentioned before, with companies such as Amazon flooding the market with their Kindle Fire, Apple is expected to release a low budget iPad to rival the cheaper models. Brian White, an analyst for Ticonderoga Securities, that he picked up hints towards an Apple iPad Mini, whilst in Taiwan meeting component suppliers. Implying that the iPad Mini, represents a cheaper iPad, not necessarily a much smaller iPad.

Estimations of this new iPad Mini put in the price brackets of $150 to $250, although the original iPad 3 price would remain unaffected. The cheap iPad would in fact be released alongside the much awaited Apple iPad 3, now with forecasts showing Apples improvement in orders, and suppliers getting ready, it shouldnt be long before an iPad 3 Event is called, and the iPad 3 is finally announced.