Apple's setting the stage for iPad 3 event

Although Apple's usually very hush-hush about their events and the rumours float around anyway, certain behaviour may give away what their events will be. For example, Apple's started setting up the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for next week's event already. Most rumours suggest that next week's event will be the unveiling of the iPad 3. What makes those rumours even more convincing is that Apple has, in the past, used this venue for their iPad events as well as their events to unveil new iPods. According to CNET, Apple has covered the front of the building in its usual Apple logo. The design is multi-coloured and uses a splatter design, which is very similar to the design they used on the building when they first unveiled the iPad in 2010. The event will take place next Wednesday, the 7th of March at 10 am Pacific Time (which means 11:30 pm Indian Standard Time).

The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is getting decked out for the iPad 3

Although the event points all fingers at the iPad 3, there have already been hiccups in the unveiling. A report states that Apple may not be able to ramp up enough of a supply of iPad 3 devices in time for the launch, because of the short supply of high resolution displays. The iPad 3 is rumoured to come with features, like 4G LTE capabilities, an 8 megapixel camera, Siri and the highly anticipated Retina Display. The report went on to state, "Although Apple has chosen Sharp to replace Chimei Innolux (CMI) as one of its three suppliers for the high resolution (QXGA) panels - in addition to LG Display and Samsung Electronics, the whole supply chain has failed to substantially ramp up the supply of QXGA panels. As a result, iPad 2 will remain the mainstream in shipments in the most part of the first quarter before shipments of iPad 3 start gaining momentum in the second quarter.”

The first wave of iPad 3 devices is expected to hit shelves on the 16th of March. The hiccups of the short supply, though, do come at an interesting time when Apple is in a lot of hot water in terms of labour issues in China. While the company has been continuously criticized for contracting factories, like Foxconn where multiple human rights violations take place, Apple retains their contracts because of the speed and efficiency at which they can deliver to Apple their products with short notice.