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As the iPad 3 release date nears, Apple fanatics prepare to camp outside Apple stores nationwide as part of a perennial ritual that accompanies the release of every major product the company has introduced in recent years.

March 7 can't get here fast enough for Apple iPad fans, and it will be the best one yet because of new features like 4G and a vastly improved camera. While many consumers still haven't been convinced why they should buy a tablet computer at all, millions have bought iPads for work and for play. Many come for the apps, but most stay for the intuitive touchscreen and lightweight design for ease of mobility.

Apple loves big surprises, and there's a great chance that the iPad 3 unveiling will also showcase some new, unexpected products and services to launch in the near future. Here's what Apple might have in store for fans come Wednesday.

Stocks extended losses on Monday as data showing a decline in European private sector activity last month and a reduced target for China growth renewed concerns about the global economy, while a drop in Apple shares hit the Nasdaq.

iPad 3 should get a full release March 7, but will people want the iPad 3 or iPhone 5 more? Both will be must-have devices for millions of people, and we can expect thousands of people to camp out in a couple weeks when the iPad goes on sale. But, can any device build up as much hype as the iPhone?

Apple announced on Monday that its iOS App Store, which is available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, has sold more than 25 billion apps, and the winner of the App Store Countdown to 25 Billion Apps is Chunli Fu of Qingdao, China.

The tech giant Apple celebrated a major milestone this weekend - 25 billion apps downloads for all the iDevices.

Wednesday is drawing near. It is the day Apple is expected to officially announce the iPad 3, the one tablet to rule them all. While we await the big announcement, M.I.C. Gadget, a Chinese blog got their hands on what is supposed to be iPad 3 parts. If it is the real deal, the iPad 3 could be a huge upgrade over the iPad 2.

Let' assume that iPad 3 does come with all these new features, but you have already been using an iPad 2. Will you put another $500 on a second iPad? If you will, don't you think your iPad 2 is still a really excellent product?

A U.S. senator has called on the Federal Trade Commission to initiate an investigation subsequent to reports that applications on the Apple and Google mobile systems are violating privacy of users, according to a report.

As Apple's special media event on March 7 approaches--where many expect the company to reveal the iPad 3--techies around the world are speculating what a new Apple tablet device might look like. One Chinese tech blog, M.I.C. Gadget, claims to have specific details about the design of a new Apple device just days before the company's special event. The blog has partially constructed what it purports to be the iPad 3 using what it claims to be authentic supplier parts.

Apple may deviate from its pattern of giving a number to each new product and instead call its new tablet the iPad HD to draw attention to the expected high-resolution Retina Display, according to the latest rumors.

Apple Inc. announced that its App Store reached 25 billion application downloads Saturday. A billion thanks. 25 times over, said an announcement on the company's Web site. The App Store has reached 25 billion downloads. Thanks for getting us there.

It has long been rumored that the next Apple iPad will have a high resolution display to rock your world. But will the tech giant break the tradition and promote the high resolution display in iPad 3 by naming the new tablet iPad HD?

Apple plans to unveil something it wants us to see and touch, according to the press invites it sent out at the end of February. It could be an all new iPad 3, of course, but Apple could opt to debut a new iOS version 6 as well. Other rumors include a new Apple TV 2, iPad Mini announcement or an iPod Touch.

With rumors about the upcoming flagship smartphones of both Apple and Samsung getting momentum day by day, the two rivals are gearing up for the release of their best weapons - iPhone 5 (or whatever Apple will name it) and Galaxy S3 respectively.

Apple's iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S3 are two of the most anticipated phones for 2012, but with no official word on specs and features; How do the rumors for each phone measure up?

Apple and Samsung, two leading electronics manufacturers, have both taken out patent lawsuits against each other. A German court has thrown out these disputes today, according to a report from BBC News. Although the two companies have argued over the “slide-to-unlock” feature and other patents, their future smartphone releases may not overlap.

Apple is currently auditing the Foxconn factories in China which manufacture many of its products like the iPhone, following a spate of bad publicity over working conditions there. As demand for higher wages and increased safety regulations at the factories goes up, so will the price of Apple's products, some industry analysts are saying.

Despite facing difficulties with the media conglomerates that broadcast a large majority of television content, Apple may be pushing ahead with its plans to release a streaming television service by Christmas. Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of internet software and services, has been leading talks with content providers for months reports the NY Post. The paper describes Apple's negotiating stance as this: We decide the price, we decide what content.

Apple's March 7 release date for the iPad 3 is one day closer, and the rumors are flying with such abandon, it's not hard to see how the event could easily be a let down.

Things are getting ugly as Apple’s March 7 event draws closer. The event is highly expected to display, for the first time, the Apple iPad 3, but with a lawsuit between Apple and Proview looming, there could be a problem getting the iPad 3 on the store shelves. Proview first sued Apple in China over the iPad trademark, which saw the device being pulled from store shelves temporarily, but now the fight is spilling over onto Apple’s backyard, a fight that could hamper sales of the iPad 3.

As Apple gearing up for the release of its next generation iPhone, presumably named the iPhone 5, amazing hype surrounds the smartphone with rumors confounding customers about when the device will finally be launched and what the features will be on board.

Shares of Apple (NYSE: AAPL) spent all of Friday above the $500 billion market capitalization mark as they also set a new record of $545.18.

With just one week to go until the Apple event that is expected to unveil the highly anticipated iPad 3, SkyBet has launched a novelty bet for rumors, specs and features surrounding the next generation tablet.

Once Apple unveils the new iPad March 7, we'll know for sure if it's an iPad 3 or and iPad 2S, but what's the difference in how they name their devices? An iPad 3 would mean a new body design like when the iPhone 4 came out. It was a different shape than the iPhone 3GS, with less curved edges and with an all new glass back panel.

We all know that Apple will unveil the iPad 3 at an event in San Francisco on March 7. We even know about its release date, features, specs, price and more thanks to the Internet - well speculation at least, as Apple has not confirmed rumors nor the name of the newest tablet. But the latest rumor surrounding the next generation iPad is that the iPad Mini is being manufactured for 2012, as well.

It is no secret anymore - Apple has sent out invitations to its March 7 event where the company is expected to announce the iPad 3. But could Apple go one-step further and announce the new Apple TV too? Possibly. In our previous article where we decoded the Apple invitation letter (http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/307398/20120301/ipad-3-media-invite-decoding-expect.htm), we mentioned that the touchscreen device seen could also be that of the new Apple TV, and we are sticking to our guns on this o...

Apple will release the iPad 3 March 7, so here's what to expect and what not to expect. Once Apple unveils the new iPad, it should go on sale in a week, so get your backpack ready if you plan on camping out at the Apple store. With all the new features,