Will the iPad 3 really get the same camera module as the iPhone 4S as recent rumours suggest? Though we can't deny that we would love to see the iPad 3 turn out videos and photos that are of the same extremely high standard set by the iPhone 4S, it would seem like an odd move for Apple as they tend to favour slimness over utility in this area.

However, there are 2 good reasons why the next iPad just might get the full 8MP unit.

Retina class display

Almost exactly 1 year ago we looked in detail at why an iPad with a Retina class display would be a game changer:

"Bumping the iPad display up to Retina Display quality will make all laptop and netbook displays appear like they have been constructed from Lego blocks. Using a laptop again, even one as nice as a MacBook Air, will seem like a huge step backwards in screen quality. Full HD movies (1080p) will look sharper than on any other display available. Photos will be almost indistinguishable from high quality prints. Viewing web pages, especially in portrait mode, will be the best web experience available."

What better way to show off the Retina display on your lovely new iPad 3 than to capture, edit and display glorious photos and videos all on the same device?

We have iWork, GarageBand and iMovie, but where is iPhoto for iPad

Back in March we discussed at length the reason for the missing iLife app, iPhoto:

"We think iPhoto will arrive at the same time as the long rumoured iPad with Retina Display (iPad 3?). What better first party app to promote the eye-popping clarity of a Retina Display than iPhoto?

Out of the box photo management and editing on the iPad is non existent. To be honest, it's simply not acceptable. We are certain that Apple realise this and that they are working on fixing this problem, and probably using an iPad specific version of iPhoto.

We expect iPhoto for iPad by April 2012 at the very latest. It really can't come soon enough!"

We still believe that iPhoto is only a few months away at most, in fact, we think it will be launched alongside the iPad 3. Much of the iPad launch event with be focused on the gorgeous display and how it makes photos look just like high quality prints, Having an extremely high quality camera to complement the Retina display and the all new iPhoto for iPad might be just enough of an incentive for Apple to have added another 1mm to the thickness of the iPad 3 casing.

Our hunch is that the camera module will get a significant upgrade but that it will not be the same module as the iPhone 4S. An autofocus capable 5MP unit with 720p stabilised video capture (similar to the iPhone 4) seems the mostly likely, but we feel that there is an outside chance of the full iPhone 4S 8MP unit.

Of course, the discussion of if it's even practical to take photos and videos with an iPad will run and run, but as the quality of the camera unit, display and software increases it will certainly become a option that some will seriously consider. And if the rumours of a smaller iPad pan out, the proposition will seem even less strange.