There is a raging war going on in the blogosphere about the iPad 2 screen resolution. Some believe that next generation iPad will come with ultra-high resolution (2048 x 1535) screen, while others believe that iPad 2 will have the same screen resolution as the current model. Even though these people might not agree on iPad 2 screen resolution rumors they have started agreeing on some of the features iPad to will have.

More and more evidence is indicating that iPad two will have two cameras, one front facing and one back facing. MacRumors posted a photo showing the default homescreen in iOS 4.3 beta 2 that was released to the developers earlier this week. The homescreen showed three new camera related icons for FaceTime, Camera and PhotoBooth. Also some websites are pointing out code in the new iOS 4.3 beta for VGA front camera and 1-megpixel back camera similar to iPod touch. But our sources say iPad will have a higher megapixel camera for sure, mostly 5-megapixel camera on the back. iPod touch has a 1-megapixel camera because of its thinner profile. iPad 2 will be thinner than current generation, but not iPod touch thin.

The iOS 4.3 beta also hints at addition of proximity sensor to the next generation iPad. The iOS 4.3 code contains two strings “PAD_CASE_LOCK” and “PAD_CASE_LOCK_FOOTER”, which are described in the code as “Automatically lock and unlock your iPad when you close and open the iPad cover.” For this feature the iPad 2 will need a proximity sensor that will switch off the screen when the cover is closed, as it happens on the iPhone when you bring it near your ear.

Lastly, rumors are that Apple will announce the iPad 2 on 9th February and ship it by end of March or early April. This rumor is again based on homescreen image that shows 9 on the calendar app, the original iPad’s calendar app shows 27 and iPad was launch on January 27, 2010. Our sources say that iPad 2 will be announced within 2-4 weeks and will start shipping soon after the announcement. They also added “Apple has already started production of the next generation iPad”.

Along with the next generation iPad features, iOS 4.3 beta also revealed new features like multitouch gestures and “Media Stream” that would come to all iOS devices. Four and five finger multitouch gestures in iOS 4.3 can be used to switch between homescreen and applications or switch between applications (check out the video below).

9to5mac has discovered hidden deep in iOS file system a new folder titled “Media Stream”. With in the Media Stream folder there is “Photo Streaming” that will allow users to set up photo streams that friends could subscribe to. 9to5mac believes that:

From all the above information it looks like Apple is preparing for a big iOS and iPad event that will bring many new features to iOS devices along with iPad 2 featuring dual cameras.