'Strange' event may precede iPad 3, iPhone 5 seen at WWDC
updated 08:15 am EST, Thu February 2, 2012
Rumors talk iPad 3 and iPhone 5 scheduling
Two tentative rumors on Thursday claimed to be outlining Apple's schedule for its 2012 iPad and iPhone updates. One claimed that Apple would have an actual third-generation iPad unveiling in March and ship that same month, but that it wouldn't be the only event in the near future. A "strange" event would arrive in February, Macotakara heard, but what that was wouldn't be clear.
Separately, investment firm Daiwa Securities has stated the belief that Apple would unveil its next iPhone at WWDC, which it anticipated for June. It didn't have any hardware details other than to claim that the phone would use the same glass-on-glass touchscreen technology from TPK and Wintek as it has before.
Both rumors have significant room for doubt. Apple doesn't have any known incentives to have a February event that isn't directly attached to a product release, especially if it precedes an iPad refresh just weeks later. Likewise, the WWDC gathering isn't official, and Daiwa's information could as much be logical deduction as insider source and also doesn't address questions of how Apple would tackle an unusually short release cycle for the iPhone 4S.
Most next-generation iPad rumors have pinpointed March as the release window. The iPhone update is less clear, but Apple may not want to wait until the fall.
