Previous rumors have set that mark at a 2048×1536 resolution.

According to sources quoted at CNET, Apple is aiming high and shooting for that resolution for the iPad 3. The problem is that the display manufacturers aren’t sure if they can produce that type of display at such a high volume required by Apple.

For Apple, a “retina display” is a display with a pixel density high enough to overcome the human eye’s ability to see individual pixels. That’s 326 pixels per inch (PPI) on the iPhone 4S, whose 3.5 inch screen packs a 960×640 resolution.

You won’t get that type of density on the iPad 3, even if you get the 2048×1536 resolution. But you’ll get a PPI of 264, which is double the amount you currently find on the iPad 2. It will still meet the “retina display ” requirements.

That is, if it can be done.

Here’s what the source had to say:

They have production plans for 2,048×1,536 displays. Starting in November. But those are only plans at this point.

It’s not a question of making just one. That, of course, can be done. The challenge is making lots of them. This is a quantum leap in pixel density. This hasn’t been done before.

Those November production plans fall in line with other rumors we’ve heard about Apple starting an early run before the end of 2011. This timeframe suggests that the iPad 3 could be hitting the shelves as early as Q1 of 2012.

In the statement, TripAdvisor is quick to reassure people that no passwords were stolen, and since they do not take members’ credit card numbers, this breach doesn’t involve financial information.  They do warn, however, that some members might be getting some spam in the coming weeks.  They don’t go into any specific details about the attack, as they are still investigating.

From the statement:

What is TripAdvisor doing about this?
While we’re still investigating the details, we’ve identified the vulnerability, shut it down and are vigorously pursuing the matter with law enforcement. We are also are implementing additional security precautions to help prevent another incident in the future.

If you belong to TripAdvisor and are concerned your inbox might be getting a little spammy soon, they provide basic tips for avoiding spam such as activating your spam filter and deleting odd emails with misspellings and “alarmist messages.”

So if you believe you might be affected, be sure not to open
“zOMG FREE TriP 2 SPAIN BEZT EVER!!!!#@@!” when you get it.

In the email sent to registered members, CEO Steve Kaufer writes,

“The reason we are going directly to you with this news is that we think it’s the right thing to do.  As a TripAdvisor member, I would want to know.  Unfortunately, this sort of data theft is becoming more common across many industries, and we take it extremely seriously.”

The new feature allows users to take a virtual tour to travel destinations with local places superimposed over Google’s Street View. Users can view hotels, restaurants and other attractions.

"With virtual tours on the TripAdvisor iPad app, we’ve made the experience even more engaging and helpful for travelers," said Mike Putnam, Director of Mobile Product for TripAdvisor.

"For travelers who have ever booked a hotel or restaurant and arrived only to be disappointed by the neighborhood, this feature brings a whole new way to gain insights into their destination. Now travelers can get the full picture in advance.”

The TripAdvisor iPad app is available for free in the Apple App Store in 18 languages and 26 countries.

The new feature allows users to view feedback on airline experiences from other fliers and offer their own airline ratings.

When users do a flight search on TripAdvisor Flights, they can view and compare ratings for different airlines by clicking on the carrier name and seeing what percentage of fliers would recommend the airline to others.

TripAdvisor has also introduced a Fees Estimator that helps people know the complete cost of a flight, including fees for checked bags, in-flight entertainment and onboard meals and drinks, in their flight search results.

“With the launch of airline ratings, the millions of travelers who use TripAdvisor Flights every month will now be able to get useful feedback on how airlines stack up against each other in terms of fees, value for the money, service, punctuality, baggage handling and a number of other factors to help ensure they have the best flight possible,”said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of TripAdvisor Flights.

If a user is logged into Facebook, they can see friends’ reviews and access a map showing places where friends have visited, as well as a list of their most popular destinations. 

"For example, when you’re researching a location, hotel or restaurant, you’ll see friends’ reviews first, so you can make better vacation decisions," explains Facebook’s Tiffany Chang Black. "And if you need some inspiration, the new personalized TripAdvisor home page will now show a world map with all the places friends have said they’ve been using TripAdvisor’s Cities I’ve Visited app. Don’t just look through your friends’ vacation photos on Facebook; get tips from them and go on your own adventure."

"TripAdvisor is a new instant personalization partner and becomes customized for you by using your public information and list of friends from Facebook to show you friends’ reviews and other content you might find interesting," she adds.

Back in June, TripAdvisor introduced a "Trip Friends" feature, which allowed users to get advice from their Facebook friends when planning their vacations. The new instant personalization would appear to be an extension of this existing integration. 

When researching a destination, hotel, attraction or restaurant on TripAdvisor, users who have logged in using Facebook will now see a list of friends who have been to that location, via TripAdvisor Cities I’ve Visited (CIV) application on Facebook.

Users will be able to directly message their friends, or post a message to group of friends, to get travel information. TripAdvisor says CIV has been one of the most popular applications on Facebook for almost three years, and it has more than five million monthly users.

"Facebook has always provided people with an easy way to connect with friends around the world, whether from Internet cafes or through sharing photos," said Ethan Beard, director of Facebook Developer Network.

"By integrating with Facebook, TripAdvisor is enhancing the exchange of trusted referrals, travel do’s and don’ts, and good stories from abroad, and making the travel experience more relevant and social to each person who interacts with the site."
 

The free applications allow users to search for popular hotels, restaurants, attractions and cheap airfares. The application is available in 13 languages, giving users a localized experience on TripAdvisor.

"Our iPhone app gives people in 20 countries and 13 languages a new way to access the more than 35 million traveler reviews and opinions available on TripAdvisor," said Steve Kaufer, founder and CEO of TripAdvisor.

"Now, travelers can find a great hotel, restaurant or attraction and book a cheap flight whether they’re at home or on the go."

The new TripAdvisor iPhone application replaces Local Picks in the App Store. The app uses the iPhone’s GPS technology to allow users to search for nearby hotels, restaurants and attractions. Users can search by rating, distance and price. Users can also send in reviews while they are traveling.

Additionally, travelers can use TripAdvisor Flights, the sites flight search engine, to find cheap airfares using their iPhone.
 

The TripAdvisor mobile website is now available in 17 countries and 11 different languages. The beta version of the mobile site attracted more than one million unique monthly visitors.

On TripAdvisor’s mobile site, users can find nearby restaurants, hotels, attractions and directions to them via smartphones with GPS capabilities. Users can also post reviews and opinions while traveling.

The mobile site is compatible with all major cell phones and smartphones with access to more than 30 million reviews of hotels, restaurants and attractions.

"Our mobile website offering underscores TripAdvisor’s strategy to revolutionize how consumers get travel advice," said Steve Kaufer, founder and CEO of TripAdvisor.

"We are continually investigating additional options for users to access our millions of reviews and opinions from fellow travelers."

TripAdvisor’s mobile website is currently available in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, India, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. The company says it plans to add other countries and languages soon.
 

TripAdvisor says its search engine provides more flight choices in its search results along with direct booking links to major travel companies including Expedia, Travelocity, Hotwire, and nearly every U.S. airline.

"TripAdvisor is the most popular travel community today because we’ve always believed that travelers are smart-they just need honest, unbiased information in order to make the right decisions for themselves," said Steve Kaufer, CEO of TripAdvisor.

"We’ve provided this model for years for hotels, attractions and restaurants-now it’s time to bring this same philosophy to revolutionize flight search."

TripAdvisors entry into the meta-search category puts it in competition with Microsoft’s Farecast, Yahoo’s FareChase and Kayak.com.

Hoping to set itself apart from the rest of the pack TripAdvisor has introduced a Fees Estimator tool. By clicking on the Fees Estimator button travelers will be able to view the true cost of  a domestic flight, providing details on ticket prices, fees for checked luggage and any other fees.

"It’s easy to rack up hundreds of dollars in extra charges for a single trip. said Bryan Saltzburg, general manager of new initiatives at TripAdvisor and head of the new flight search engine.

"TripAdvisor’s Fees Estimator reveals the differences during the planning process, so there are no surprises at check-in."

The mapping application was originally created for Facebook and allows users to highlight the countries they have visited, lived in or want to go to by clicking on them and changing the color. The personalized maps can be shared with friends.

Chief strategic officer Brian Harniman said, "We’re encouraged by the fast adoption of our application as it serves a need for community building and travel exploration and is attractive to partners who are targeting the wide universe of travel customers."

Where I’ve Been has the number one ranking for travel applications on Facebook. Of the more than 3,400 total Facebook applications Where I’ve Been is ranked No.22 on its most popular download list.

In August there were rumors that TripAdvisor was going to buy the Where I’ve Been application for $3 million. Craig Ulliot developer of (WIB) shot down the rumors saying, "There have been some rumors in the market that we have sold our business. These rumors are not true."

"Our future development plans, combined with our robust community of users, current growth rates, and the attractiveness of the travel vertical, have led to a number of strategic discussions with potential partners/acquirers, but we have not agreed to any deals and we are committed to building Where I’ve Been into a sustainable and profitable standalone business."

MySpace users can get the application from WhereIveBeen.com.