Apple plans to make a new product announcement on March 7, 2012.  Speculation is this will be the iPad 3, the first product offered since the passing of CEO Steve Jobs.  As Apples hits the $500B market capitalization, this could be the turning point for Apple who's greatest challenge will be to fend off lower cost products like Kindle or new Samsung Android tablets that offer more robust, broader functionality like a USB and consumer appeal.  Meanwhile our shiny Canadian Research In Motion continues to fumble along with more lipstick than substance as the Playbook latest vdersion finally has email functionality..  a novel idea since that was how RIM got started in the first place. Their form size is marginal as the market is accustomed to the larger 10" + tablets offering great real estate.  Let's wait and see...  here is a Bloomberg video highlighting the pending announcement from Apple.