While such a device has long been rumored, as noted above, the timing of the device has been both vague and contradictory. For instance the January 2011 rumor we linked to above said that the iPad 2 would have such a resolution, but the iPad 2 that was released in March of 2011 had the same resolution as the original device (1024 x 768).
More recently, Apple has been rumored to be planning an updated iPad using a similar form factor as the iPad 2 for early 2012 and then augmenting the product line with an “iPad HD” with a Retina Display and a resolution of 2048 x 1536 sometime later in 2012.
Back to the LED suppliers, at issue for Apple is finding a light source that’s high enough quality for the much higher resolution display. According to the report, the light bar used in the current iPad 2 models doesn’t cut it for this new device.
To meet the need, one of the two different new solutions being presented to Apple features dual light bars. The BLU vendors have supposedly been focusing on ways to dissipate heat and reduce power consumption in these brighter light bars.
As with all rumors, take this one with a grain of salt. We’ll point out, however, that leaks about a 2048 x 1536 have been persistent in a way that is similar to other rumors that borne out in recent years.