iPad 2 will ship from Foxconn in February

The latest buzz on the iPad sequel is that units are expected to start shipping from manufacturer Foxconn next February.

In fact, according to DigiTimes, Foxconn has been given an order to the tune of 500,000 iPad 2s to be readied for shipping before the end of February 2011.

This makes the April 2011 launch date more of a likelihood, especially as it’s the one year anniversary of the launch of the original iPad. Or potentially, the launch could come slightly sooner than April, and we might only have a couple of months to wait before it all kicks off. In the US, that is, we’ll doubtless have to wait the usual month or so longer.

The iPad 2 is likely to bring with it a pair of cameras (one for video chatting, one for snapping), a thinner and lighter build, and possibly a better quality display.