With the iPad 2 tablet supposed to launch soon, rumor mills literally are in overdrive. Unknown Apple sources close to the iPad 2 project and Chinese part manufacturers are reported as evidence for ceaseless speculation and scrutiny, as is the wont of Apple's hype machine close to the launch of a new product. We've covered Apple iPad 2 rumors in the past, from dual cameras to SD Card support. Here's the latest online buzz surrounding the iPad 2.

1) iPad 2 with NFC?
NFC (Near Field Communications) is all the rage these days; if smarpthones like the Nexus S can have it and Android 2.3 Gingerbread supports NFC inherently, why shouldn't the iPad 2 and iOS be left behind? Seeing how Apple devices are known for their simplicity and ease of use, there's no reason why the future iPad 2 won't have an electronic payment chip embedded inside of it. Maybe Apple will do more with NFC on the iPad 2 than just use it while out shopping for groceries.

2) iPad 2 with carbon fiber body?
There's speculation claiming the iPad 2 tablet will shed its all-aluminum design for something more lightweight, like carbon fiber. We don't mind this development one bit, since we did feel the iPad to be a bit too heavy even for a 10-inch tablet, and that was largely down to its metal body. Somehow a plastic-encased iPad 2 is unimaginable, so yeah carbon fiber makes sense.

3) A 7-inch iPad?
This rumor, by far, seems the most far-fetched of the lot, advocating a 7-inch iPad 2 or later versions of the Apple tablet. Why? Because Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, has categorically denounced the 7-inch form factor, going on record to state the 10-inch iPad dimensions to be the smallest acceptable size for a tablet. However, there are persistent rumors that Apple continues to work on a 7-inch tablet.