Now that the new iPads have launched, it's time to begin the next rumor cycle. And already there are increasing rumors Apple will introduce a larger-screened iPad in 2014. According to a post on AppleInsider, drawing on a Chinese website, the new iPad is in a late stage of testing and will have either a 11.4- or 12.9-inch display. The rumor has been around for several months, and even the Wall Street Journal has reported that Apple was working on an iPad with a display slightly less than 13 inches. Of course, when Apple announced the iPad Air, many speculated that the name change was part of a plan to introduce an "iPad Pro," following the naming conventions of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
The speculation is that the larger iPad would be geared toward business, and would compete with Microsoft's Surface tablet, possibly even having a keyboard/cover option similar to that of the Surface. One thing's for sure. The new 64-bit A7 processor certainly gives the iPad the oomph to run powerful business-related apps.
According to a website I've never heard of, KpopStarz, Apple is targeting a March 2014 launch date, and Foxconn is now putting the final touches on the device.
Competition is starting to heat up among the larger tablets. Microsoft's new Surface 2 Pro tablet has a 10.6-inch display. Sony's newly launched VAIO Tap 11 has an 11.6-inch display and is only .39 inches thick. And the just-announced Dell Venue 11 Pro has a 10-6-inch display. All run Windows 8, and all have add-on keyboards.
It will be interesting to see how this area of the market develops.