The internet loves Apple and it loves ill-founded speculation, so it's hardly surprising that iPad 2 rumours were flying before the first iPad even reached the UK.

With only weeks to go before its expected unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn't mean there aren't some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider.
Reports suggest Apple is also expecting massive demand for the new device and has ordered six million units per month.

Here's our pick of the top 5 iPad 2G rumours.
iPad 2 specs: a seven-inch screen?
All of Apple's rivals have plumped for 7-inch displays, which means their tablets are lighter than the iPad. Will Apple follow them into seven-inch territory?

iLounge says prototypes exist, while earlier this year DigiTimes predicted not just a seven-inch iPad 2, but a 5.6-inch iPad 2. Apparently the smaller iPads would target ebooks while the current iPad would target multimedia entertainment, "sources stated". We're doubtful. Apple already does a mini-iPad with a retina display. It's the iPod touch.

The idea of a smaller iPad 2 took another knock in November, when 9to5Mac reported that the iPad 2 adverts have already been shot - with current-generation iPads playing the role of iPad 2s. The iPad 2s will be digitally added nearer the time, and of course that's much harder to do if the iPad 2 is smaller than the iPads the actors are actually holding.

The iPad 2 release date is probably in the Spring
Rumours suggested that the iPad 2 would be rushed out in time for Christmas, but if that's Apple's plan they're being awfully last-minute about it. Early 2011 seems like a much better bet, and it fits with Apple's annual product cycle: the first iPad was announced in January and shipped in the spring.

On 7 December we reported on rumours that Apple would be shipping iPad 2 units out to warehouses in February 2011. If that date is correct, it suggests an iPad 2 release date of some time around April.

iPad 2 specs: a faster processor
KitGuru "has been hearing rumours from the Far East" that the iPad 2 will be a seven-inch job with a 2GHz processor and an HD video camera. It reckons the processor will be based on ARM's Cortex A9, the 1GHz dual-core processor that you'll find in the BlackBerry PlayBook.

iPad 2 specs: more memory
This is a no-brainer: the iPhone 4 has twice the memory of the iPad (512MB compared to 256MB), largely because the iPhone does multitasking. Since the iOS 4.2 release, iPads do multitasking too. 256MB already seems a little bit stingy.

iPad 2 specs: retina display
Will the gorgeous screen from the iPhone 4 make its way to the iPad? The Apple Blog thinks so: "You can be sure that Apple's Retina Display, or something very close, will make its way to iPad".
Then again, such a screen would massively increase the number of pixels, increasing the demands on both the iPad's processor and its battery, so a nine-inch Retina Display is a challenge. If Apple's solved it we'll see you down the Apple Store the second it goes on sale.

Now it's obvious that the iPad has established an identity of its own, so 2011 might be the most opportune time to introduce an addition to the line. The popularity of small e-readers like the Kindle and the mini-sized Samsung Galaxy Tab prove there is a market for a smaller device. Now there are more reports from supply chain sources claiming that Apple is developing a device that is "about half the size of the current tablet computer, and will include front- and back-mounted cameras."

So there are a bunch of rumors pointing towards Apple unveiling a pair of new iPads for 2011-but none of them are from Apple. Steve Jobs has scoffed at the idea of a mini-iPad, claiming the screen would be "too small to express the software." Of course, he's changed his mind before. And he's also lied to throw us off the track of new products before they're released.

About author

Telford, the writer of digital multimedia software from dvd to itunes software, makes it easy to find what software, including dvd to ipod touch, drm remover, etc, are the best for you. Any suggestions to my writing please leave your precious message.

There are far too many new products introduced at CES for any one person to sort through in a reasonable amount of time…but I'm capable of the unreasonable. That's why I've done all of the work for you by painstakingly reading press releases, walking the show floor, and talking to developers all to find the best and most interesting product coming this year. Here are my Top 5 Apple-related products of CES 2011.

Sleek Audio's Sleek by 50 Cent Headphones

Imagine you're holding a great set of high end headphones.  Now imagine that these were filled with stops.  Now, if you pulled out all of those stops, you'd end up with the Sleek by 50 Cent headphones.  They have one 50mm, pro-tuned dynamic drivers in each ear cup that can be driven by an internal amplifier or unamplified for reference sound quality.  Why both?  Because these guys work wirelessly with Sleek's incredible Kleer technology.  Kleer delivers 16-bit, lossless, uncompressed sound.

Thanks to the built in rechargeable battery, you can listen sans wires for up to 10 hours.  And I know you're thinking you're screwed if the batteries die, but not so.  Just plug in the included audio cable and you're good to go until your iPod dies.

The Sleek by 50 Cent headphones don't even know what the word compromise means.  They work with and without wires to deliver amazing sound quality.  Thanks to these amazing headphones and the partnership with "Fitty," the world may finally recognize the name Sleek Audio along side Monster where they belong.

Joby's GorillaMobile Ori.

Easily my favorite iPad case and stand of the show. Why?  Because it's truly different.  There are flimsy folio cases all over the show floor; they're all the same.  Sure, they come in different colors, but they all struggle to hold the iPad at a handful of angles.  The Ori is a masterpiece of metal.  It folds and twists like no other.

Not only does it give you angle options, it gives you a range of heights to work with as well.  That means the Ori will be the perfect stand for everything from typing to browsing to watching a movie.  And when you're all done using your iPad, it's one of the most protective cases available as well.  I think the Ori is really going to be a home run for Joby.

Ion Audio's iCADE

Thanks to an April Fool's Day joke from the guys at ThinkGeek.com and the engineers at Ion Audio, you'll soon be able to have a mini arcade experience right on your desktop. The iCADE is a Bluetooth arcade style controller with a slot for iPad.

Developers have to support the controller, but doing so is simple.  Atari plans to allow all of their iOS games to work with the iCADE.  Just imagine playing Pac Man on this thing (just don't imagine it in real time, otherwise you'll waste the rest of your day just thinking about it).  What an awesome product, am I right?

Contour's Contour GPS
This one took me by surprise.  I hadn't previously heard of Contour's hands-free HD video camera, but it seems now that I should have.  The newest version of their camera adds GPS and an iOS app into the mix.  The app allows you to change common camera settings on the fly from your iDevice.  Previously, you'd have to be at your computer to change settings that have everything to do with the environment that you're shooting in.  So, it only makes sense to be able to change these settings when you get there.

The app also allows you to see exactly what the camera sees live.  Since it's intended to be strapped to your head (or basically anywhere other than your hand), that'll really come in handy for lining up the camera perfectly.

And then there's the GPS.  What in the world would you need a GPS in your camera for?  Don't be silly.  It's so you can track exactly where you were at every frame of the resulting HD video.  You can even watch the video on your computer and have a separate frame animate exactly where in the world you were.  While this is mainly targeted at extreme athletes, the possibilities are endless.

Blue Microphones' Yeti Pro

The original Yeti was and still is an awesome microphone for nearly every application.  The Yeti Pro takes that and turns it way past 11.  With four times the audio resolution of the original (CD quality), you'll be hard pressed to find a higher quality USB microphone largely thanks to the fact that one does not exist.

But the Yeti Pro isn't satisfied to just be the best at USB audio. No, it brings its great self to XLR, too.  So now you can use the same great mic on stage and in the studio as you do on your computer.

Extra Credit - Griffin's Crayola ColorStudio HD

Here's another one I didn't expect to fall in love with.  Griffin and Crayola have collaborated to create the coolest coloring book the world has ever seen. In order to use the coloring book, you first need the stylus, which looks exactly how I'd imagine an electric crayon looking.  In fact, that's what I'm going to call it, the electric crayon.  It lights up and changes colors.

But wait, it's actually useful too!  With the Crayola coloring book app that will be available at product launch, you can color in or outside of the lines on a number of moving pages.  And yes, you really do need the electric crayon, because the app doesn't respond to fingers.  I'm still trying to figure out how it works exactly.  I'm going with Magic for now.

The first thing you'll want to try is coloring one of the many pages (or scenes).  Each page is fully interactive.  It's not just some static page; no, the animals and objects move, reacting to gravity, changes and shaking.  You can choose to color with crayons, markers, pencils and more.  There's even a setting to limit your coloring inside of the lines.  Or don't.

And when you're feeling extra creative, you can create your own pages or just draw freehand on a blank page.

About Author
Telford, the writer of digital multimedia software from ipad video converter, makes it easy to find what software, including iPad converter for Mac, etc, are the best for you. Any suggestions to my writing please leave your precious message.