Tomorrow we’ll almost certainly be hearing Apple announce the next entry in its iPad line of tablets. Over the past weeks and months, there’s been no shortage of rumors about the iPad’s planned hardware; some components like the new higher-resolution screen seem like a lock, while we continue to here arguments on both sides of the dual-core vs. quad-core argument right up to the end. In addition to the capabilities of the tablet itself, there’s one other relevant piece of unknown info we haven’t heard discussed as much: when might this next iPad actually go up for sale following Apple’s announcement? It look like there’s a good case to be made for next Friday, March 16.

Evidence supporting the idea of a March 16 release has everything to do with Apple stores. Apple has a couple new retail stores opening up at the end of next week, with one in Texas and one in London. While we can see Apple making an effort to make sure opening day coincides with a product launch, that news by itself isn’t so convincing. It gets a whole lot more compelling, though, when you factor in the next part of the rumor.

According to an Apple retail source, the company is getting employees ready for something big that’s scheduled to happen on March 16. Of course, with the company’s notorious record for secrecy, it hasn’t been revealed just what’s supposed to go down, but the proximity to the expected iPad announcement makes it hard to argue in favor of anything else.

Apple’s event begins tomorrow at 1PM Eastern; check-in with us for coverage of what’s revealed.

Source: 9 to 5 Mac