Apple is expected to announce updated versions of its iPad Air and iPad mini lineup later this month, but it looks like the company may be saving its most exciting tablet news for another event. According to a new report from DigiTimes and its “upstream supply chain” sources Apple is also hard at work on a 12.9-inch iPad that integrates iOS with OS X, though exactly what that means remains unclear.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors that Apple may be set to bridge the gap between mobile and desktop with a larger iPad. Concept images like the ones above have been circulating for months, and earlier reports have even claimed the 12.9-inch slate could go by the name iPad Pro when it hits the market. DigiTimes adds that Cupertino will also release a second 12.9-inch iPad that only runs iOS, though at this point both devices are allegedly still in development.
The iPad Pro is an interesting idea, and Apple may not be the only company experimenting with the concept. We’ve been hearing rumors that Google could merge Android and Chrome OS for a while now. Meanwhile, Microsoft just announced that Windows 10 will run across all its devices, though it’s unclear how the software will vary across different screens.
Then again, there’s no guarantee the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is anything more than another rumor. DigiTimes doesn’t exactly have the best record when it comes to breaking Apple news, and even if Cupertino is testing a device similar to the one described that still doesn’t mean it will ever see the light of day.
