Even though Apple has now announced the iPad 2 event for next Wednesday, March 2, there are still tons of rumors floating around, from the interesting to the absurd.

Japanese iPad blog ilab.cc claims to have a newer mockup of iPad 2 (see above) that shows the speaker grill now all dotted up, and the casing even thinner than ever. 9to5Mac also hears that it may be ready to ship as soon as late March.

iLounge, however, is rumoring that what we’ll see next week is really more of an iPad 1.5. Their sources — which they themselves don’t seem to believe — say there may indeed have been some production problems resulting in a more modest update than Apple originally intended. Even the modest update may be delayed until June, and the iPad 3 (originally iPad 2) following on in September as Daring Fireball previously conjectured.

And yes, it’s all beyond the point of nonsense now. Apple rolls deep. iPhone 4 was a huge update and reportedly there was a more conservative “backup plan” if it didn’t pan out. However, the key feature of an iPad 3 — the Retina Display — doesn’t seem like something any company, even Apple, could have ready by the spring. So what else could cause a “backup plan” fallback?

My guess is that the iPad 2 we’ll see next week is the one Apple intended us to see and it’ll ship in late March early April in the US, with international to roll out thereafter — just like last year. An iPod touch 4-style, not iPone 4 style update, with much better internals and a camera, it’ll make a good thing better. Whether or not iPad 3 follows in September or April 2012 we’ll have to wait and see.

We’re less than a week away, what do you think?

[ilab.cc via 9to5mac, iLounge]

iPad 2: Mockups, delays, and never-ending nonsense is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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iPhone Live! podcast is tonight people and we want you to show up and chat with us!

Time: 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am GMT so you better be there!

Place: http://live.tipb.com/live/

(And yes, you can watch from iPhone via Ustream Viewer app (here’s how) and iPad (we recommend Duet Browser.)

If you have any questions or stuff you want us to make sure we cover tweet them to @TiPb, email them to podcast@tipb.com, or leave them in the comments below!

iPhone Live podcast 9pm ET! Come chat! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Apple has cut the minimum purchase price for advertisers on its mobile iAd network from $1 million to $500,000 in an effort to appeal to smaller companies and help broaden the mobile advertising platform, according to All Things Digital.

The new entry point is $500,000, a significantly smaller commitment, particularly for smaller brands and agencies that are creating and producing their own iAds.

When Apple introduced iAds last year they thought it would be a huge success despite some believing it would be a flop, and although Apple is claiming over 60 successful iAd campaigns so far they’re also seeing low fill rates and other developer complaints.

Cutting the initial asking price in half should allow more eligible parties to participate in the iAd program, but do you think it will be enough to make iAds a full success for Apple? Let us know in the comments!

[Digital Daily]

Apple cuts minimum iAd purchase price in half is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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As rumored, Apple will indeed be holding an iPad 2 event on March 2 with the tag line:

Come see what 2011 will be the year of.

Start your predictions in the comments!

[Engadget]

Apple holding iPad 2 event on March 2 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Specs for the upcoming MacBook Pro update seem to have been leaked online and among them are FaceTime HD and what just might be Apple’s name for the 10Gbps LightPeak port — ThunderBolt I/O.

Apple used to call MacBook cameras iSight, but since FaceTime launched on iPhone and iPod touch they’ve taken that name back to the Mac. If the 2011 MacBooks get 720p HD FaceTime cameras is that something we’ll see on iOS as well?

Intel is set to have a LightPeak event on Thursday, also Steve Jobs’ birthday and the date rumored for the MacBook Pro refresh. If the pictures are to be believed, Apple will be calling their LightPeak implementation ThunderBolt… which is also the name of the about-to-be-released HTC LTE Android phone on Verizon. If this all proves to be true, here’s also hoping iOS gets ThunderBolt this year. Yes, small amounts of data should absolutely go wireless but for those occasions when you need to tether and transfer large amounts of data — a bunch of movies, large navigation apps, big games, etc. — after a restore, doing it in a few seconds would be huge.

Anyone else want FaceTime HD and ThuderBolt on their iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch?

[Fscklog via MacRumors]

Apple set to introduce FaceTime HD, ThunderBolt I/O? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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According to a report from the hit-and-miss Digitimes, Apple has made adjustments to its iPad 2 design at the last minute and it is now facing some issues with production levels for the expected big launch next month. No information on what that design change was on the iPad 2, maybe we will see LightPeak — aka ThunderBolt — afterall, we shall see.

Production problems are apparently caused by low supplies of touch panels for the iPad 2 however, Apple has LG, Samsung and Chimei Innoloux all manufacturing panels, so are not relying on a single supplier.

The sources pointed out that Apple still maintains its plans to mass produce the iPad 2 by the end of February; however, affected by low touch panel yields and an adjustment in specifications, Apple’s production volume forecast for the first quarter is expected to drop from 400,000-600,000 units originally to only 300,000-400,000 units.

The sources pointed out that most upstream component makers still have not yet received notification from Apple to delay shipments; therefore they believe the mass production schedule is still as originally planned.

If this rumor does indeed turn out to be true, iPad 2 will be like gold dust on launch day yet again. We may also see a repeat of the original launch, which was US only with other countries following a month later.

Now how many people want an iPad 2? Will the demand be as great as the first iPad? Let us know what you think in the comments!

[Digitimes]

Apple reduces iPad 2 production target, still no delays expected? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said they will be investigating in-app purchases for applications marketed to children, such as Smurfs’ Village. The argument is that some children do not understand the difference between real and virtual purchases.

In a letter to Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz wrote:

We fully share your concern that consumers, particularly children, are unlikely to understand the ramifications of these types of purchases. Let me assure you we will look closely at the current industry practice with respect to the marketing and delivery of these types of applications.

In order to make an in-app purchase, the user must enter their Apple ID and password to complete the transaction. If you are a parent who shares this password with your child and is concerned about whether your child fully understands the consequences of buying a $99 wagon of Smurfberries, you can edit the parental controls to restrict the ability to make in-app purchases.

What is your opinion on the FTC getting involved?

[The Washington Post]

FTC investigating Smurfberries, other in-app purchases is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Sand Slides: Another app to add to your collection of addictive puzzle games! [Free - iTunes link]

• Photogene for iPad: Get 11 additional frames or GO-PRO mode (extra tools) via in-app purchase. [$2.99, with in-app purchases - iTunes link]

• 2Do: Tasks Done in Style: Update gives recurring tasks the option to have an end date and priority mapping with Toodledo has been revised. [$6.99 - iTunes link]

• myAT&T: Previously myWireless, myAT&T now supports both wireless and AT&T U-verse account management. [Free - iTunes link]

• Doodle Jump: This update brings a super-secret early Easter present! [Free - iTunes link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Wednesday, February 23 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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