Apple to unveil iPad 2 on 2 March? (confirmed)

Update: Apple has confirmed the event by issuing press pass today.

According to unnamed sources cited by all things digital, Apple will unveil its second generation iPad at a media event on Wednesday, March 2. That is next week, so that if the report is accurate you can expect Apple to confirm the meeting and issue invitations soon. As usual, Cupertino has been quiet about the new device, but the rumor mill has evoked by a handful of possible technical specifications.

According to titles of Concord, iPad 2 display is 30-35% thinner with a better quality anti-glare, but has the same resolution. Because of reduced thickness of the screen and other evolutionary improvements, you can expect the device to be thinner and lighter. Analysts expect even rear and front camera, which will be accompanied by Apple software FaceTime video called.

A mockup of iPad 2

Inside, the new iPad is believed to bring a faster processor and graphics core, RAM, as well as Qualcomm chip multimode WWAN support for GSM and CDMA networks. Overall, the second generation iPad shouldn't be a radical leap forward, instead of bringing a minor update is similar to the iPhone 3GS. However, should be able to hold its own against the competition in the short term.

Motorola Xoom pre-sale ' confirmed ' for the 20 February, Atrix 4 G on February 22,

Yesterday Motorola, come clean with the $ 799 price tag for 3 G/4 G Xoom tablet. Today, we might have a pre-sale date.

There were a lot of rumours about when the Xoom, unveiled at CES 2011 to January, it would actually go on sale-up to the point where this is just getting plain annoying.

First, a Facebook page for the Best Buy in South of Grand Rapids, Michigan listed the date in the shop as the 24th February. Last week, reports came in that would actually 17 February (which now is today). Since the price has been fixed with the last entry, you would think that would be valid.

Unless Verizon and Motorola are going to a real surprise and Xoom suddenly opens on their respective shops online later today, it is not true. But according to the Droid-life, today was to be the day of launch of presale, which has now been postponed to February 20, after "to comply with a sort of Motorola request." This seems pretty fair and Droid-life claims that this statement was "confirmed." We'll see for sure pretty soon.

In other news, Motorola, Engadget reports (based on an alleged leaked internal memo) that Atrix 4 G smartphone may show up at least a week ahead of schedule on 6 March. The note says that will now be 22 February. This seems a bit strange, since AT&T made an official announcement, so maybe that refers to a launch date pre-order.

In both cases, it is shaping up to be a great couple of weeks for Motorola!

[Image via Droid-life]

Rachel King is a freelance journalist based in New York and San Francisco.