It's full steam ahead for Apple's next-generation iPad, the iPad 3. We've talked about it before, reporting that it would sport a 9.7-inch 2048x1536 display, but it seems that CNET's Richard Shim is claiming that the iPad 3 panels are going into production.

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The new screens are said to be QXGA displays and will be manufactured by no less than three separate display suppliers which is set to ensure Apple have enough devices at launch, which is said to be in April, with an announcement the month before, in March. From CNET:

It's happening-QXGA, 2048×1536. Panel production has started [for the next-generation iPad]. There's three suppliers," Richard Shim, an analyst at DisplaySearch, said in an interview today. Shim confirmed other reports that cite three companies, Samsung, Sharp, and LGD.

Currently, the iPad and iPad 2 sport 1024x768 resolutions, jumping to 2048x1536 is going to be quite the revolutionary jump. Something Apple require to keep up in the constant battle against the onslaught of tablets from Google, ASUS, Samsung, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. It should be nearly the same jump we saw from the iPhone 3G or 3GS to the Retina Display-sporting iPhone 4. There's also some more confirmation from 9to5Mac, where they've noticed in iOS 5 where it hints toward the iPad 3 having a Retina Display.

The code string [pictured below] in question mentions an iOS device condenamed J2 which, is what DigiTimes claimed to one of the two iPad 3 prototypes being internally tested at Apple. Time will tell! Excitement is building, though!