Apple will hold an iPad 3 launch event in early February, according to new rumors, where the third-gen tablet expected to debut a 9.7-inch Retina Display will be shown off for the first time. The press event next month, so Macotakara Asian supply chain sources and "a source in the United States" claim, will precede the commercial launch of the new iPad in early March. Meanwhile, there are also indications that Apple will keep the existing iPad 2 on sale alongside its new model.

Speculation around Apple events is rife, of course, while given the company track record in iPad announcements it would not be hard to guesstimate a debut date. The original iPad was revealed in January 2010, while the iPad 2 was first shown off officially at an event on March 2 2011, and previous rumors have indicated a Q1 launch for the third-gen model.