It’s always good to see some solid concept images for an Apple product, especially when they’re fueled by leaks from manufacturers like Foxconn. The upcoming iPad 3 tablet has had fans and the media reporting the rumors even before the iPad 2 was officially launched and went on sale. While some concept images are really funny and won’t even come close to the actual product, surprisingly, some mockups line up almost perfectly with the actual design, specs, and functionality.

MacMagazine recently offered their take on Apple’s iPad 3 and it’s not over the top like some people always expect, but it looks plausible and offers a sleek new concept that reminds me of the iPhone 4 but modified, thinner and better. . Also noteworthy is the fact that this is not the first attempt by Macmagazines with prototype photos and they have quite a bit of luck or skill, so to speak. MacMagazine was the source of a very close iPhone 4 prototype that they designed before it was released, which means their latest iPad 3 prototypes could once again be perfect.

Not questioning his skill, but someone “accidentally” left a prototype iPhone 4 in a bar last year, which could have been the source of information for the prototype. Regardless, Apple’s latest tablet mockups could be what its iPad 3 will look like, but we won’t know for sure until Apple proves it. Apple is notoriously tight-lipped and very cautious about their devices only telling fans about them and giving demos basically a month or less from their actual release date. Perhaps this is the source of the rampant rumors that are constantly circulating on the web, but it works very well from a marketing perspective to cause a buzz and a loyal fan base. With hype it brings great early adoption rates of newer devices and quickly turns investment costs into excellent ROI.

The latest images have that fresh new look and feel, although obviously it will still have to resemble the overall structure of an iPad. Think of what the iPhone 4 looked like once it was upgraded from the 3GS. After analyzing the photos, it offers a look at the specifications that fans should also expect to see. The iPad 3 features a curved glass back, a 5MP 1080P camera, and an LED flash that sits next to the rear camera to make images a breeze. Yes, the iPad 2 has two cameras, but its quality has been seriously questioned. Many fans were very disappointed with the cameras they have on their iPad 2 and think they should have been much better considering what Apple is capable of.

Closer inspection shows the coveted retina display and a FaceTime HD camera up front; and a new antenna and stereo speakers on the bottom. No doubt you are in for a big overhaul with the iPad 3 and that is why so many rumors continue to circulate and will not die. Some are speculation, but others also come from highly reputable sources who may have credible insider information. Apple has always suffered product and photo losses, and is beginning to implement some measures to limit these types of crimes, which are, in fact, punishable by law. As a last description of the photos, they also show the iPad 3 with a thickness of 0.29 inches and I am very excited to see what comes out of these photos.