Apple is to unveil the iPad 2 next week at a launch event in San Francisco, according to reports.

Invites to the event, which will also be screened at BBC Television Centre in London, have been sent to media outlets with the tagline ’Come see what 2011 will be the year of’.

The invites also contain imagery hinting at the device being an iPad, although it remains unclear when any UK commercial launch date will be.

Reports have also indicated the next generation of the iPad will be slimmer than the existing model and have both front and rear cameras.

Apple hasn’t commented on the reports.

Meanwhile, the company has reportedly halved the minimum spend for its iAd platform from $1m to $500,000.

The news comes despite Apple claiming to have launched more than 60 iAd campaigns with a number of brands from Unilever and Renault (nma.co.uk 1 December 2010).

Last year, new media age reported that UK media agencies had expressed caution over the heady price tag demanded by Apple for the campaigns (nma 25 November 2010).

Apple was unavailable for comment.