Apple has begun production on an incremental upgrade for the iPad 2, presenting the possibility of the first instance of mainstream and high-end iPad models, according to Rodman & Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar. Maybe, but I'm dubious.

A "professional" iPad would have incremental improvements and possibly appeal to segments such as publishing, Kumar says in a note to clients -- as reported by "CNET News" (http://macte.ch/53YCJ).

"Apple is ... expected to roll out a premium version of iPad 2--a higher resolution screen, front/rear- facing HD cameras -- in the current quarter," he says. Because Apple won't "sunset" the current iPad 2, it will be a model that "probably appeals to the publishing vertical and some other select segments," Kumar adds.

I don't see this happening. Apple isn't going to confuse the market with a pro iPad in addition to the iPad 2. If a new iPad is introduced this year, it will be the iPad 3, though I suspect the third gen Apple tablet won't see the light of day until early 2012.

Whenever it arrives, look for it to sport an A6 processor, a Retina Display with a major resolution boost, better cameras and a 128GB model.

-- Dennis Sellers