Smaller iPad, 4G LTE and New Smartcovers Rumoured

The same rumours are going around today which is just one day ahead of the iPad 3 announcement. Today the three rumours are about a smaller iPad, 4G LTE as well as new smartcovers.

Smaller iPad – AKA, the iPad Mini. Todays rumours hint that Apple will be launching a smaller iPad with a 7.1 inch screen although this will be later on this year, not tomorrow. This rumour started a couple of years ago and there has been little to no evidence to support it other than Digitimes claiming inside information. I personally don’t see this happening any time soon although anything is possible really. The main reason is that apps are now developed for 3.5 and 9.7 inch screens. Making a smaller 7.1 inch screen will mean that some apps need to be reworked again as the touch elements might not work as well on a smaller screen if shrinking a full iPad app down to 7.1 inches. Also, Steve Jobs said that a smaller iPad wasn’t coming although Tim Cook may have different ideas.

Next up are more 4G LTE rumours. A source of iMore has mentioned that 4G LTE would be happening in 2012 although the message wasn’t clear about it making it for the iPad 3 launch. We think that it wont hit the iPad 3, but that it might first arrive on the iPhone 5. The main problem is that Apple will want to keep the idea of a “World Phone” or “World tablet” so that it’s a single device that works on any network around the world which is capable of faster speeds. This could delay the integration in to the iPad this time around but if the rumours are correct, expect it later this year.

Finally, we have been hearing that a new smartcover will be launching.

Apple apparently has been working on a Smart Cover-influenced case of its own for the upcoming iPad. Said to be similar to Incase’s Magazine Jacket (and a host of subsequent alternatives that have appeared for the iPad 2), this new case has a folding magnetized Smart Cover on the front, and a rear shell made from fiberglass covered with PU/bicast leather. It’s unclear whether this case will be solely for the thicker new iPad or include backwards compatibility for the iPad 2.

This is also one that I’m not too sure about. I doubt that Apple would want to design a new tablet and hide it away in the case. When the iPad 2 launched the whole idea of the smart cover was to show off the iPad and not add much bulk to it. We’ll find out in just over 24 hours time! So stay tuned.