Mainelli, however, believed the 2048-by-1536 pixels prediction was premature: "Our sources say Apple has requested that manufacturers begin work on displays with that resolution for the iPad 3," said Mainelli, who didn't predict when Apple's third-gen tablet might ship.

So if the iPad 3 is the tablet to watch, what can we expect from the less-magical iPad 2? Apple will reveal all tomorrow, of course, but the expected upgrades include a thinner and lighter design; front- and rear-facing cameras; a larger speaker; a faster processor; more RAM; and possibly a dual-mode wireless chip for CDMA and GSM networks.

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