iPad 3 will have a retina display and Samsung wants to see it first

The iPad 3 will have an eye-melting high-resolution retina display screen, but rival Samsung wants to be the first to see it. Details of the next Apple iPad's screen have been spotted in new software, and Samsung's lawyers want to get their grubby mitts on the new hardware in an ongoing legal battle.

Samsung is being sued over similarities between its Galaxy range of smart phone and tablets and Apple's iPhone and iPad. Both companies are seeking access to each others' prototypes in the legal scrap, although Apple reckons Samsung's claims are merely "harassment". We don't blame Samsung: we'd love to get a look at the iPhone 5 and iPad 3, especially if the latter does boast a souped-up screen.

Our business-minded buddies at ZDNet report the iPad 3 will have a screen resolution of 1,536x2,048 pixels. That's a massive improvement over the iPad 2, and would make up for the massive disappointment that the second iPad had the same display as the original version.

The eye-blistering resolution was revealed in the code for iOS 5, the forthcoming new version of Apple's software for its mobile devices. iOS 5 is currently being played with by developers, and will be available to the public in the autumn -- right around the time of the rumoured release dates for the new iPad and iPhone.

This isn't the first rumour about the iPad 3's screen: a Hollywood insider claims it will sport a 3D display, putting it one up over the Nintendo 3DS as it would also be able to show 3D films such as Avatar. We're taking that with a pinch of salt, but we are excited about the potential for brain-scorchingly high-res gaming and video on your slate. Just imagine watching high-definition films on the go, or playing games like Infinity Blade with graphics crisper than a burned-down Walkers factory.

As for when the third generation of the all-conquering tablet will actually arrive, rumours are growing that it will land late this year -- despite some industry sources in Taiwan claiming it'll be in early 2012.

Autumn is also likely to fit in the now-overdue iPhone 5; we reckon we'll see an iPhone 5 release on 7 September. In the meantime, take a look at our five favourite iPhone 5 fantasy designs, and keep it Crave for all the latest Apple rumours, gossip, tittle-tattle and bare-faced poppycock. Speaking of which, Reuters reports that a new MacBook Air will launch this month.