Apple rumors are a dime a dozen, and an overwhelming majority never materialize. So, when the rumors of an almost-13-inch iPad made the rounds earlier this year, it was easy to dismiss it as just another whisper in the endless hum of Apple conjecture. But then Phil Schiller took the stage in San Francisco and showed off the iPad Air for the first time and the mega-iPad rumors suddenly make a bit more sense.
An odd lineup
Right now, Apple is selling four tablets: iPad 2, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina, and iPad Air. The iPad 2 and standard iPad mini are arguably the "budget" options, while the Retina iPad mini and iPad Air are t