Alleged iPad 3 Retina Display surfaces in photograph

With an early March launch of the iPad 3 looking more and more feasible, parts suppliers and third-party resellers are adding rumors on a daily basis to possibly help shape the look and feel of Apple's next-generation tablet.

Today's rumor involves an alleged photo of Sharp's Retina Display, widely believed to be included on the iPad 3. The story was picked up by Japanese blog Macotakara (via 9to5Mac), claiming the photos came from a third-party parts manufacturer called iLab Factory.

As with any rumor that has so many steps to get public, and especially with ones originating from a reseller, there's no telling how valid this photograph is. The gang at Macotakara claims that the flat cable in the picture looks similar to the motherboard connector that resides in the iPad 2, but coming from a company that appears to fix iDevices, I wouldn't doubt if the part was doctored a bit.

The iPad 3's display has been a hot topic for rumors, most of which point to a Retina Display to match the clarity of the iPhone 4 and 4S. DigiTimes and the Wall Street Journal both cited sources that Sharp would be the producer of such a display, giving the iPad 3 a ridiculously appealing 2,048x1,536-pixel resolution. A Korean news outlet challenged reports that Sharp would be manufacturing the iPad 3 display, though, claiming that Sharp did not meet Apple's standards.

As the official launch date for the iPad 3 gets closer, expect to see more of these sorts of stories. Leaks of parts, cases claiming to fit the new design, and mock-ups claiming to have inside knowledge of Apple's design plans for the iPad 3 will no doubt be a big part of the prelaunch rumor mill.

What's at the top of your must-haves list for the iPad 3? Let me know in the comments!