According to Thisismynext, Apple is prepping to launch a brand new iPad — in tandem with the iPhone 5 deployment — this fall. The rumor mirrors a report from FBR Capital markets analyst Craig Berger, who said in a note to investors on Wednesday that Apple will release a higher-end version of the iPad 2 with a display that offers a higher pixel density. The device will reportedly be called the “iPad HD” and will sport a double resolution 2048 x 1536-pixel screen. Apple plans to market the iPad HD as the “pro” model in its tablet family, and like the MacBook Pro family, it might be marketed towards the videographer and photographer crowds, which need need more muscle out of their machines. Those professionals will be happy to hear the second part of the rumor, too: the iPad HD could launch with a new mobile version of Aperture or Final Cut.

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Apple is gearing up to launch an updated version of its popular iPad 2 tablet with a high-resolution display later this year, according to FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger. In a note to investors on Wednesday, the analyst claimed that Apple is currently shopping for quotes from manufacturers in China. The new iPad, which he calls an “iPad 2 Plus,” will not be an entirely new model as earlier reports have stated. Instead, Berger’s sources say the update will be a high-end version of the iPad 2 with a better display; the analyst believes Apple will increase the device’s pixel density from the current iPad 2 display’s 132 pixels per inch to between 250 and 300 pixels per inch. The move would be extremely curious for Apple, but it is possible. Apple could release a new high-end iPad featuring a 2048 x 1536-pixel display, which is double the current model’s resolution, and developers would able to maintain a single version of each application that will accommodate both screens. This would be a similar scenario to what we have now with the iPhone 3GS (480 x 320-pixel display) and iPhone 4 (960 x 640-pixel display). Berger believes Apple may now meet or even exceed his build target of between 40 and 45 million iPad tablets in 2011.

Apple plans to launch its fifth-generation iPhone this September, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. The report contradicts information BGR exclusively reported on Tuesday suggesting that Apple may be aiming to announce and launch its next-generation iPhone in August. Most of the details in Bloomberg’s new piece are in line with countless earlier reports stating the iPhone 5 will launch in September featuring a dual-core A5 processor and an 8-megapixel camera, but one element doesn’t add up. Bloomberg says Apple is currently testing a new version of the iPad with a higher-resolution display. This, of course, is a given. But the report goes on to claim that the resolution on the new iPad Apple is testing is about one-third higher than the current iPad model. At this resolution, Apple would be forcing developers to rebuild the graphics in their apps. The resolution also wouldn’t line up with the Retina Display on Apple’s iPhone 4, which will presumably be used on the iPhone 5 as well.

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A source that has proven reliable in the past outs new components that will allegedly be part of Apple’s upcoming next-generation iPad. GlobalDirectParts, consumer electronics parts supplier and source of the Verizon iPhone parts video that ended up being the real deal, has added two interesting new items to its website. The first is an “OEM Apple iPad 2 LCD screen,” which rings up at $218.19 compared to the current-generation iPad’s display which cost $144.99 from the supplier when it first became available. This further supports rumors that Apple’s next iPad will have a high resolution display. The second component of interest is a $9.99 “OEM Apple iPad vibrating motor,” which would be a completely new addition to the iPad 2 considering the current iPad does not include a vibrate function.

[Via Mac Rumors]

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Following on the heels of a report by the Wall Street Journal, electronics maker Vizio has made its entry into the smartphone and tablet market official. In a press release, the company outlines its VIA Phone and VIA Tablet devices that are set to debut this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Vizio’s VIA Phone will be a 1GHz device with a 4-inch “high-resolution” capacitive touchscreen, Wi-Fi b/g/n, GPS, Bluetooth, micro-SD card slot, front-facing video camera, three external speakers, and an HDMI-out port. The VIA Tablet will also feature a 1GHz processor and will be paired with an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen display, Wi-Fi b/g/n, GPS, Bluetooth, micro-SD card slot, front-facing video camera, three external speakers, and an HDMI-out port. Dèjá vu. Both the tablet and smartphone will have “a built-in IR blaster with universal remote control app for quick access to the entire home theater or nearly any other CE device in the home,” which sounds pretty nifty. Hit the jump to check out the full press release.

VIZIO Unveils New Smartphone and Tablet Featuring VIA Plus for Even More Entertainment Freedom

- Part of the VIA Plus Ecosystem, the VIZIO smartphone and tablet Feature a Unified and Intuitive User Experience to Simplify Today’s Connected Lifestyle

- The VIZIO smartphone features a 4″ high-resolution capacitive touch screen with 5 Megapixel camera for photos and HD video capture, and a front-facing camera for video chat

- The VIZIO tablet boasts an 8″ high resolution capacitive touchscreen with 3 speakers for stereo audio in portrait or landscape mode and a front-facing camera for video chat

- Both devices include HD video playback with HDMI video output, high quality audio processing and built-in universal remote control app that make these the ideal handheld companions to the HD entertainment experience

Irvine, CA-January 3, 2011 – VIZIO, America’s #1 LCD HDTV Company*, announced today it is expanding into the mobility category with the VIZIO smartphone and tablet (referred to as the “VIA Phone” and “VIA Tablet” below) — both part of the VIA Plus ecosystem, the next generation of VIZIO Internet Apps™, that features a unified, sophisticated and intuitive user experience across multiple CE devices including VIZIO HDTVs, Blu-ray players, smartphones and tablets.

“Both the VIA phone and tablet feature the highest performance coupled with innovative features that tie them into the media consumption experience,” said Matthew McRae, Chief Technology Officer at VIZIO. “And by integrating the VIA Plus user experience also found on our next generation TVs and Blu-ray devices, VIZIO is delivering the multi-screen, unified ecosystem others have talked about for years and never delivered.”

The VIZIO VIA Phone features a 1 GHz processor, 4″ high-resolution capacitive touch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a MicroSD card slot for memory expansion and HDMI output with HD video playback. It also features a front-facing camera for video chats and a 5 megapixel rear camera for photos and HD video capture.

The VIZIO VIA Tablet also features a 1 GHz processor, with an 8″ high-resolution capacitive touch screen, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS, a MicroSD card slot for additional memory expansion, HDMI output with HD video playback, and a front-facing camera for video chats. It also boasts a unique three-speaker design for stereo audio in both portrait and landscape modes.

Both devices include a built-in IR blaster with universal remote control app for quick access to the entire home theater or nearly any other CE device in the home. Both run on the Android™ Platform, which will also allow users to access thousands of apps through Android Market™.

“As part of the VIA Plus ecosystem, the VIA phone and tablet are natural extensions of the HD entertainment experience that historically has centered around the TV,” added Mr. McRae. “Whether consumers are looking to enjoy content on the big screen, on their tablet or on a mobile phone, VIA Plus delivers on the promise of Entertainment Freedom for All by creating a rich and consistent user experience across all devices that’s accessible to everyone, from the power user to the casual browser.”

VIZIO will be demonstrating the VIA Phone and VIA Tablet in their private CES showcase at the Wynn Hotel from January 6 to 9, 2011.

Today, at VidCon 2010, YouTube announced support for what it is calling 4K videos; meaning videos shot in their original aspect ratio “all the way up to 4096p.” Here is what YouTube had to say:

Today at the VidCon 2010 conference, we announced support for videos shot in 4K (a reference resolution of 4096 x 3072), meaning that now we support original video resolution from 360p all the way up to 4096p. To give some perspective on the size of 4K, the ideal screen size for a 4K video is 25 feet; IMAX movies are projected through two 2k resolution projectors. [...] We always want videos on YouTube to be available in the highest quality possible, as creators intend. [...] Because 4K represents the highest quality of video available, there are a few limitations that you should be aware of. First off, video cameras that shoot in 4K aren’t cheap, and projectors that show videos in 4K are typically the size of a small refrigerator. And, as we mentioned, watching these videos on YouTube will require super-fast broadband.

You can check out several videos shot in “4K” here…let us know if your decrening eye can notice the difference.

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Back in September, Geoeye and Google launched Geoeye-1, the world’s highest resolution, commercial Earth-imaging satellite that will provide images for Google Maps and Google Earth. After a month of calibration and testing, the satellite delivered its first color half-meter ground resolution image – taken of Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. With the satellite successfully delivering picture perfect images, all you exhibitionists better start strutting your stuff and you privacy advocates better take cover as Google has its (Geo)eye on you now.

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