Yes! You read it right! iPad 3 is round the corner ! Assembling of iPad 3 will be starting in two months, says Taiwan’s Digitimes. It reports that part suppliers of iPad 3 have started shipping components for its assembling process, which is scheduled to begin in January. These parts are being received by manufacturers (on Apple’s contract) based in Asia (Foxconn).

According to Digitimes, shipmant of iPad 3 display panels by Samsung and Sharp has already begun in October, while touch panel manufacturers like TPK Holding and Wintek (both companies are based in Taiwan) will begin to send iPad 3 touch panels in November-December. You will be pleased to know that one million high resolution flat panel units for iPad 3 have already been shipped by LG Display, Samsung Electronics and Sharp last month, and two million of these units are to be shipped this month (as reported by Digitimes 2 days back).

What else?

Several other rumors are going around. Here’s a quick roundup: Apple has started cutting short iPad 2 productions (by 25%) and is busy in developing a 7.85 inched display panel (reported by Korea Times first, confirmed by Digitimes). According to sources, Apple is verifying samples of these displays (delivered by LG Display and AU Optronics).

Tablet PC Market to be Abandoned by PC Hardware Makers:

Several Hardware vendors like, Dell, Asustek, Acer and Hewlett-Packard are deciding to chicken out from the Tablet PC market next year, says Digitimes.  Brands like Apple, Amazon and Barnes and Noble have strong content support and compete in the market by cutting down hardware prices. Amazon Kindle Fire is available for $199 only and Barnes and Noble will be offering Nook Simple Touch at $99 only. So, how on earth would anyone compete with such low prices! It seems logical though!