App developer, Marco Arment found evidence of two new iPads: iPad2,5 and iPad2,6. The Instapaper developer thinks that these might be references to the much awaited and rumored iPad Mini. He also says these might be fake-out by hackers but he believes otherwise.
"It's a textbook Tim Cook supply-chain move: selling the last generation's hardware at a lower price point to expand market share," Arment said. "But this time, it's more dramatic. Rather than just sell the original iPad 2 with a price cut, they've made a new product designed to be far less expensive from day one by combining old and new parts: the 32nm iPad 2's guts, larger-cut iPhone 3GS screens, a smaller case and battery, and the new iPhone's low-power LTE chip for $100 more."
Arment also said that iPad 2,5 and iPad 2,6 may be model references for iPad Mini Wi-Fi and GSM suggesting that iPad Mini is based on the second-generation iPad. It has "an A5 with 512 MB of RAM and enough GPU power to drive the Gruber Display, but not a Retina Display."
Bloomberg reported that Apple chose AU Optronics and LG Display for display in the Mini, while for lamination coating it would be TPK Holding.
These developments are exciting and with Apple's event coming up on Sept. 12 we will wait and see if Arment's speculation were right.
