Apple's iPad 3 may well adopt a smaller form factor offering a device that sits between the iTouch/iPhone and iPad2.
Although very portable, the iPad, can seem a little self conscious compared to Kindle carriers who tend to hold the ebook reader a little more casually. Other competitors are also enjoying mobile media success with 6-7 inch screen devices. With Rumours of struggles with a large retina display, a mid-size screen may also provide a natural hiatus in the development of the platform.
Another reason might be that an iPad3 at the current iPad size, and with Retina, may require an update to all of the apps currently in the marketplace. A process the original iPad had to endure. By having a midsize device, but at a higher resolution, this may not be an issue as image dimensions can remain the same for all devices.
The iPhone and iTouch have been a huge success with their crisp displays; reading on them is more comfortable and Safari is also extremely usable as stats concur. With a new release of the iTouch on the cards and rumours of an iPad3, Apple could be looking to bolster it's leading position in the Market once again, a mid-size iPad may become the new device with the wow factor.
