New images of Apple retail promotion materials have confirmed that the company will be officially launching the third-generation iPad on Friday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m. local time. 9to5Mac, which posted the image, claims it came from a “friend in retail” and will be used out front of an Apple retail store prior to the launch. As noted in the report, a prior rumor claiming that Apple’s new store in Houston would open at 8:00 a.m. on…