Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) releases on March 16 its next generation iPad, which features a higher-resolution display, a new processor, and support for high-speed 4G LTE data networks. Apple correctly says in an ad that the new iPad is "resolutionary," as it boasts of a retina display -- a 2,048-by-1,536-pixel display that has four times the number of pixels of the previous models. However, the device is far from being revolutionary. The third generation iPad doesn't have the Siri personal assistant and still runs on a dual-core processor.

However, the new iPad is still poised to have a record launch, helping Apple widen its lead over Amazon Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Google Inc. in the tablet space.

ZDNet's James Kendrick correctly points out that following the successful business model with the iPhone and iPod, it is not surprising that Apple put simple -- rather than radical -- improvements to the iPad. "Not making it radically different or better, but better in simple ways," he says, referring to changes in the new iPad.

Nonetheless, the iPad is still expected to defeat rival tablets in the marketplace, notwithstanding the latter's more superior features and specs. Apple has confirmed that customer response to the new iPad has been "off the charts", and some customers who submitted pre-orders won't be receiving the new device on the promised March 16 release date because supply has run-out.

Click on the slide-show for a list of soon to be released tablets (already released and soon to be released) that will be swept by the new iPad.

Nokia's Windows Tablet. Note that despite its transition from Symbian to Microsoft, Nokia still was the largest vendor of mobile phones in 2011 (27% market share, according to the IDC) and the number three seller of smartphones (12.4%), due to Nokia's large distribution network and continued popularity in emerging markets. Nokia has said last year that it will release a tablet running on the Windows 8 software in 2012. The Nokia Lumia 800 and 710, the first Windows phones from the Finnish handset maker, showed that Nokia continues to make products with precision and attention to detail. Nokia last month made headlines last month with the unveiling of the 808 PureView, a Symbian phone that packs a whopping 41-megapixel camera. While Microsoft Corp. has failed to gain any ground against Apple Inc. in the smartphone and tablet market, Nokia should do no worse. DigiTimes reports word from supplier sources that Nokia will be releasing a with a 10-inch Windows 8 tablet running on a dual-core Qualcomm SoC near the end of this year. Will Nokia's Windows tablet in six months be an iPad killer? Nokia and Microsoft still don't have the apps portfolio and digital content that would help the tablet gain mass appeal.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. Last year, Samsung Electronics saw a ban of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the Netherlands, Australia and Germany due to its patent disputes with Apple. But with a long line of tablets, Samsung continues to gain ground against its rival. Samsung is set to release in weeks the 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2, the first tablet to feature Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. It has decent specs -- a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 7-inch WSVGA (1024x600p) display, a 3MP rear camera and a VGA front-facing camera. Blogging site Sammy Hub though claims that the entry level version of the device will be priced at $419 and WI-Fi + 3G models will start at $523. Isn't the device a bit overpriced for a non-iPad?

Kindle Fire 2. The Kindle Fire did not kill the iPad but proved that there is a market for a non-iPad tablet. Amazon released a tablet that has no camera, has a 7-inch screen, and mere 8 GB of storage. But the device was available for $199 (less than half the price of the iPad) and has access to the Amazon Appstore, streaming movies and TV shows, and Kindle's e-books. The success of the Kindle Fire has prompted reports that Apple is preparing to release an iPad MINI in order to fend off the growing popularity of the Kindle Fire and other cheap tablets. But Apple did not unveil a 7-inch device in its iPad event early this month.

Third-Generation ASUS Transformer. ASUS has unveiled the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime, an ultra-thin tablet with a powerful quad-core processor. Asus made the iPad 2 (and even the newly unveiled new iPad) look outdated with the revolutionary features of the second-generation Transformer. With the quad-core CPU, 12-core GeForce GPU and vSMP technology, the Android-based Transformer Prime provides extreme multitasking capabilities, lightning fast app loading, a rich and fluid web experience, full 1080P HD video playback or recording without compromising battery life, and of course, console-quality gaming. A the CES 2012, Asus unveiled the Asus Memo 370T, which has a quad-core processor, 8MP camera, 16GB of storage, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. If ASUS keeps the momentum going, the third generation Transformer that would be released this year would have more amazing specs. With the quad-core processor, will we see Asustek surpass Apple as the top tablet seller this year? Not for now.

Google Nexus Tablet. Unconfirmed reports (more aptly termed as "rumors") say that Google Inc. will be releasing a new 7-inch tablet that's priced between $199 or $249. ASUS will reportedly manufacture the tablet and will launch the tablet in May. The tablet will supposedly be the first to feature the new Google Play Store. The device will likely kill the Kindle Fire, but not the iPad.