This was supposed to be the year of the tablets. However, if anything, it is turning out to be the year of the iPad. Baring Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, others failed to even make their presence felt. At this point, the tablet I have the most expectations from is Notion Ink’s Adam. However, it remains to be seen if the heavily delayed tablet from an inexperienced startup can truly deliver on its promises.

In the meanwhile, Apple is working to increase its lead with the iPad 2. According to the information plucked by Digitimes from a Chinese newspaper called Economy Daily News, the iPad 2 will feature a significantly improved hardware specification. Unsurprisingly, it will support Apple’s Facetime video calling technology. The 3-axis gyroscope introduced in iPhone 4 will also make an appearance, as will the iPhone’s famous Retina display. The newspaper also believes that the next generation tablet from Apple will have better mobility and USB ports.

Of course, we still have a good few months to go before iPad’s successor is announced. At the moment, it’s probably best to treat any leaked news about the iPad 2 with a generous dose of skepticism.