Is iPad 3 the Only Focus of Apple’s March 7 Media Event?

The image you see is the official invite for Apple’s next media event, slated for Wed., March 7, 2012. No surprises here: the focus undoubtedly will be the iPad 3. But will the iPad be Apple’s only focus? Here’s why Apple’s iPad 3 event could also be about a few new products, too …

Quick, some food for thought. Is Apple getting a little more edgy? We know Siri has a slightly sarcastic attitude with a dash of dry humor. Now, Apple’s invite seems less about “magic” and more about showing off. There’s a personal tone to Apple’s pitch, but it’s also a bit smug. Everyone knows what the event will be about, but Apple plays coy, almost underselling it.

But I digress. Unless I’m mistaken, Apple’s iPad 3 event will showcase the iPad 3 with a retina display, and perhaps like the original iPad, it will run a special version of iOS 5, potentially with a few extra features that take advantage of the new screen and new CPU. But Apple’s announcement could fall flat if the company was to showcase just a new screen and some updated guts.

But whispers on the Internet suggest that Apple could be unveiling a new A5-powered unit of the popular $99 AppleTV. Apple may even hint at a smaller iPad (though this is highly unlikely). But it’s all worth thinking about, because depending on how powerful the new iPad 3 chip is, Apple could be making its first baby steps to a completely vertical solution set, reshaping the direction of the company with the A5 or A6 CPU powering some advanced products beyond the iOS ecosystem. Will Apple eventually drop Intel altogether? No. The Mac will always be a cornerstone of Apple’s business, but as it becomes less and less “relevant,” Apple will seek new ways to innovate on the mobile computing landscape.

Currently, the iPad 2 runs the fastest and most current A5 CPU, which is nearly a year old now. Apple also uses the very same chip in the iPhone 4S, which means it’s high time for some updates to Apple’s brand of ARM chips. As a final thought: don’t underestimate Apple: Whatever ARM-based CPU innovations Apple unveils March 7 could change the way we think about mobility.