t's the most eagerly awaited technology product of the year.Apple is expected to launch its new iPad next week, contrary to speculation of a delay of the latest version of the popular tablet computer.It is thought the California-based company will unveil the iPad2 at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center For The Arts, its preferred venue, on March 2.
Must-have gadget: Apple boss Steve Jobs unveils the iPad in January 2010. The iPad2 is expected to be launched in San Francisco next Wednesday
Recent speculation about a delay until June was 'simply not true', an Apple insider said, as the firm wants a launch at the same time of year as the first iPad, which went on sale in April 2010.
No release date or price has been set yet.
Talk of the timing of the iPad unveiling comes as reports detailing the faltering health of its iconic chief executive, Steve Jobs, emerged.
Tim Cook, chief operating officer of Apple, is expected to take the stage at the annual shareholders meeting later today in the 55-year-old's place.
Mr Jobs, who underwent a liver transplant in 2009, took his third medical leave in seven years last month.
The iPad was the hottest technology device of 2010, selling nearly 15million units and sparking a slew of copycat devices from rivals.
More than 50million tablets are expected to be sold this year, with Apple capturing the bulk of the demand.
With Steve Jobs on medical leave, Apple's Tim Cook is expected to make next week's iPad2 presentation
Shares of Apple fell 3 per cent after a Taiwanese brokerage firm said the iPad2 will be delayed as maker Hon Hai faces production bottlenecks due to the device's new design.
But analysts quickly downplayed the report, noting that Apple has been reliable when it comes to its release schedule.
'Apple has a very consistent track record,' said Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst.
Yuanta Securities had said in a note the iPad2 would come out two months later in the seasonal schedule this year than the first version, which launched in April last year.
According to the note, component makers had to change their production processes after Apple made design changes to the iPad2 before the Lunar New Year at the beginning of February.
Hon Hai declined to comment.
Morgan Keegan analyst Tavis McCourt said investors were overreacting to Yuanta's note, adding that even if a late launch hurts second-quarter sales, he is not changing his expectation for full year sales of 27million iPads.
Manufacturing sources have previously said the new model would have cameras on the front and back of the device and would be slimmer, lighter and have a better resolution display than the first iPad.
The March 2 unveiling was originally reported in an All Things Digital blog report.
Apple declined to comment.