Rumors have been circulating among serious Apple fans that the iPad 3 would debut the first week of March, and the company's now confirmed it'll be making some kind of iPad-related announcement on March 7. 

Naturally, tech writers expect that event to be the debut of the new iPad, which The Loop says is predicted to have a "faster processor, improved graphics processor and a Retina Display." The Apple invitation, which sounds somewhat unappealing, said, "We have something you really have to see. And touch,” according to The New York Times Bits Blog." The event's set for San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts a week from Thursday.

Update (12:45 p.m. EST): The Loop shared a photo of the invitation, with what Gizmodo is suggesting may be a photo of the iPad 3 itself:

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Adam Martin