iPad 3 to feature quad-core processor along with LTE support

The latest iPad 3 rumor points to Apple's next-gen iPad being LTE compatible

Despite an onslaught of competitors, Apple's iPad remains the tablet to beat nearly 2 years after its initial release. As is often the case, Apple's rivals seem to be competing with Apple's current incarnation of the iPad, leaving them perpetually playing catchup.

Looking ahead to the iPad 3, we noted just last week that users can expect to see an HD camera on the front coupled with an upgraded camera on the back.

Late last week, Bloomberg offered up some more details about Apple's next-gen iPad while corroborating rumors that have been making the rounds for quite some time now.

Now we've all heard about an iPad 3 with a Retina Display and a new A6 processor. But Bloomberg's sources also relay that the iPad 3 will sport a quad-core processor and will run on LTE networks.

The Cupertino, California-based company has been working on making the iPad compatible with a wireless standard called long- term evolution, or LTE, said one of the people. Carriers such as Verizon Wireless and ATT Inc. are rolling out LTE networks to give users faster access to data.

The report points out that Apple is bringing LTE support to the iPad before the iPhone because the iPad, on account of its much bigger battery, is better suited to handle the power intensive demands of the LTE speeds. Indeed, note that while the iPhone 4S doesn't currently support LTE networks, there are a slew of Android handsets out there that do and they all suffer miserably when it comes to maintaining a charge.

The iPad 3 is expected to hit stores in either late March or in early April. Mass production reportedly began in early January and will ramp up through February.

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