In the past few hours we’ve seen some significant changes happening at the App Store on iPad which seem to coincide nicely with the launch event tomorrow.

A few hours ago, a few 9to5Mac readers noticed a new top charts that scroll sideways instead of vertically without having to reload every 25.  The movement is much more fluid as well. (btw, notice how many kids apps are at the top of the list?)

Additionally, Joaquin Ruiz the CEO of Catalog Spree, a catalog app for the iPad, noticed that today Apple added the Catalogs category to the App Store for the iPad – and added his app to the category (right).  ’Catalogs’ is listed under Lifestyle and is currently empty but with a Retina display on show for tomorrow, it would be surprising not to see a few more catalogs show up.

Update: Chronicwire says 1GB of RAM

Besides reiterating a call for an updated Apple TV tomorrow, The Verge has some new information on the upcoming iPad processors and configurations:

we’re also told that along with the A5X, the device will have more RAM than its predecessor, and come in a variety of LTE flavors. There have been rumors flying that the iPad 3 would be LTE capable, and we’re told that it will definitely be announced for both the Verizon and AT&T networks tomorrow. To be clear, that would mean two distinct, separate versions of the LTE tablet (one for each network). In addition, there’s a third international model which does double duty on 3G; a CDMA / GSM model using a similar radio chipset to the iPhone 4S (a Qualcomm Gobi chip).

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We’ve been told by an Apple Store source who has been reliable in the past that preparations are being made for a big Apple Store event which will culminate on Friday, March 16th.  Naturally, this points to an iPad 3 launch on the Friday just nine days after tomorrow’s announcement.  We’ve previously noted that an Apple Store in London at the world famous Harrod’s will open on that date as well as a new Store in Houston, Texas.

Backing up rumors that Apple’s next-generation iPad—set to be unveiled tomorrow, March 7—would be LTE-capable, Reuters reports “a source familiar with the product” confirmed it “will be capable of operating on a high-speed 4G LTE” network:

The newest iPad will be capable of operating on a high-speed 4G “LTE,” or Long-Term Evolution network, according to a source familiar with the product. At speeds roughly 10 times faster than current 3G technology, that may go a long way toward banishing the sometimes shaky video quality of older devices.

Another rumor has surfaced claiming Apple will step away from the numerical naming convention with the next iPad and introduce the iPad HD this Wednesday.

CNET cites a source who has previously provided “reliable information” about unreleased Apple products. The source claims Apple will not use the much-anticipated “iPad 3” namesake and name the latest release the “iPad HD.”

VentureBeat published a similar report claiming Apple will veer away from the traditional naming scheme in an effort to emphasize the new high-resolution “Retina Display.” The “iPad HD” rumors compliment the pictures of an “A5X” processor that surfaced last week. The pictures of the non-A6 processor have fueled speculation about Apple introducing an incremental upgrade instead of a true successor. 

iLounge editor Jeremy Horwitz, who has proved to be reliable in Apple related leaks in the past,published a report today claiming “a reliable source” has provided details on two products the company currently has in development. According to Horwitz, Apple is working on a new iPad “Smart Case”, and “another glass iPhone”.

As for the “smart case”, below the report describes the new case as being inspired by the existing smart covers but more like Incase’s Magazine Jacket (pictured above) in that it will also have a back cover. Our inventory checks show no shortage of the current iPad smart covers ahead of the iPad 3 launch:

Ahead of Wednesday’s anticipated iPad 3 announcement from Apple, reports are surfacing this morning that iPad 3 cases are already inbound to Best Buy retail locations around the country. Although it isn’t a surprise that one of Apple’s largest retail partners will be carrying the device and its accessories, the bigger news is the timing of it all.

For several days now we’ve been hearing chatter about Apple possibly making the iPad 3 available for purchase within 24 hours of the announcement, if not the same day. With iPad 3 case shipments allegedly arriving already, it would seem most unusual that a lengthy lag time will exist between Wednesday’s announcement and the market availability of the third-generation tablet.

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The Internet is abuzz with stats about iPad trade-ins going through the roof as the March 7 iPad 3 unveiling in San Francisco looms closer, and while percentages and graphs are vaguely interesting, the real meat to the story concerns where and how people can get the most bang for their buck.

Look no further as iPhoneNerd compiled a list of places to trade in an ole’ dusty iPad for cash or credit to buy Apple’s upcoming toy. Before perusing the options, identify the condition, features, and model of the swappable iPad. This knowledge will help decide its maximum value, because most of these online programs use a survey to determine the slate’s estimate. Moreover, it is prudent to act now as some reports indicate retailers are steadily dropping prices with Apple’s event drawing nearer.

Trade-in websites and their prices are available below.

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The Verge just reported (and The Loop concurred) that Apple sent invites for that iPad 3 introduction you have waited for, likely with tingling anticipation. The presser is March 7 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco at 10 a.m. PST. The three app icons featured on the shot hold subtle clues: The Maps icon shows an infinite loop (it is the “who,” as Apple’s address is 1 Infinite Loop); the Calendar displays Wednesday, March 7 (the “when”); and, the “what” is conveyed through the self-explanatory Keynote app icon.

This news officially exposed CNBC’s report calling for a March unveiling in New York City as grossly inaccurate. True to Apple’s form, the invite teases with an iPad close-up shot featuring a finger touching upon the Calendar icon. The tagline reads: