A New iPad this year?

Could an iPad Pro be launching this year? It seems likely, but the form factor of the device is anyone's guess. A series of reliable sources has pegged the iPad Pro's screen size at 12.9". Would such device be in Apple's best interests? After all, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently dismissed this very idea during a keynote presentation that unveiled the new iPad Air and updated iPad Mini. "They're confused, they chased after netbooks. They tried to make tablets into PCs and PCs into tablets". Without naming names, it was clear that Cook was talking about rival Microsoft and their Surface tablet lineup. The Surface features an HD display with some beefy components inside, like a laptop grade processor and a lot of RAM. The tablet can be used with or without a variety of optional keyboard surfaces.

Whether or not the iPad Pro will feature a keyboard, this device will be marketed to K-12 schools across America and the global learning community. iPad rollouts in schools haven't gone smoothly in the past, but a device that supports an Apple-branded keyboard might end up being infinitely more functional. Essays could be written on the iPad itself and automatically synced to the teacher to critique. Furthermore, class projects could be pushed from the iPad Pro via AirPlay to a projector screen or TV.

What specifications will the iPad Pro likely feature beside its enormous 12.9" display? Two Pro models may be released. The flagship model, if you will, is rumored to feature a bleeding edge 4K display. The other iPad Pro would ship with a 2K panel. 2K displays have a wider pixel array than the current Full HD standard. A speedy A8 chip would power the many millions of pixels the Pro displays.

Cult of Mac rounded up a few interesting rumors including a report suggesting that the new iPad will not feature ultra high-resolution "retina" displays. But, the eye-tracking technology could make its way into Apple's Pro tablet lineup. A fingerprint scanner hasn't come up in any of the rumors mentioned today. Perhaps eye-tracking is the future?

Would you buy an iPad Pro? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments section.