Just in case you really weren't sure that Apple was readying a new iPad, the WSJ's sources have tipped them off about an early 2012 launch for the high-res 9.7-inch iPad 3, which will allegedly have a 2048x1536 display.

Oh God. Why would they do such horrific things to a beautiful iPad 2? It's like a child to me. And here they are, subjecting it to unforgivably brutal impact tests, just to see how well the Smart Cover protects.

So remember that time we saw that Apple had been dreaming up carbon fiber iPads in a patent? Looks like the idea's got some legs, if the recent hiring of Senior Composites Engineer Kevin Kenny is any indication.

Apple loves those big-sales stories, where they can announce they sold X million units over the first weekend. But if one of their biggest retail partners, Best Buy, withheld iPad 2s as they'd already reached their internal sales quota for that day, how would Apple react?

In this heroically coordinated prank by a local news crew, an unsuspecting anchor is tricked into first sniffing, then licking her iPad. You say "piezo-electrics," I say brilliant use of technojumble. Please take note, and hope your less tech-savvy friends haven't seen this clip by the time next April Fool's rolls…

I've got nothing against silly marriage proposals—as long as they suit the personalities of the individuals getting engaged—but I still can't help but chuckle over how a 9to5Mac reader proposed to his Apple-loving sweetheart.

Almost a year ago, I fell in love with the Alice for iPad app. I declared it the cleverest iPad book yet and happily recommended to friends. Now I get to recommend its silly sequel, Alice in New York.

With some charter pilots now using iPad apps in lieu of paper maps, could the larger commercial airlines start relying on iOS to guide the way? Delta could start using the Boeing app before summer, according to their spokesperson.

The iPad 2 is here. It's crazy thin, rocks a dual core processor and has 2 cameras. Apple is even promising that both black and white versions will be available come March 11th for the same starting price as last year, $499. Clearly, it's the next generation of iPad. But! Some stuff hasn't changed: the screen isn't…

This is weird. On Apple's iOS 4.3 website, it makes no mention of the Verizon iPhone. In fact, it lists iOS 4.3 as compatible with only these devices:

Not only does the iPad have FaceTime, it's getting Photo Booth too (just like your Mac). Interestingly, Photo Booth will be a built in app only available on the iPad and not the iPhone 4 (for the time being, at least). The iPad 2 rocking Apple's new dual core A5 chip is probably why. [Apple]

Apple is bringing iMovie to the iPad, which takes full advantage of the iPad 2's new A5 dual-core processor, promising precision video editing, multitrack audio recording, Airplay compatibility and the ability to export movies in HD. Oh, and it's also coming as an update for iPhone and iPod touch devices. It will cost…

Forget the lost dream of a white iPhone 4; Apple has announced that iPad 2 will ship in both black and white on March 11th. Hopefully this also bodes well for a white iPhone 5 this summer!

Just how thick is iPad 2? For anyone who needs some perspective on what 8.8mm means, that's a third thinner than the current iPad and a half a millimeter thinner than iPhone 4. Sounds like you could almost cut yourself on it.

The iPad 2 is coming. We told you what's likely to happen when Tim Cook takes the stage to show off the next-generation iPad. Tomorrow you can see it unveiled live, right here on live.gizmodo.com, as we provide meta liveblog coverage of the ceremonies. [Gizmodo Live]

We know that the iPad 2 is coming soon—it's why we keep telling you that you shouldn't buy the current model at this point. But now there's suddenly talk of the iPad 3 already. What's going on?