Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) doesn't plan to -- and never did -- tout prototypes of future devices at the Mobile World Congress or at any other electronics exhibition; it doesn't provide teasers; and it doesn't intentionally misplace prototypes at a San Francisco, California-area bar.

Hence, watch out for those iPad 3 and iPhone 5 release date and specs from rumor mill that are being disguised as news reports.

Leaked Specs

There have been reports about the upcoming iPad 3 and iPhone 5 from Web sites that cite as sources "people familiar with the matter", "people close to Apple", or a "supplier who refuses to identify himself", etc. Because many have been salivating over every hint of a new iPhone or iPad, many sites have been built up to address this demand.

Reports, which Apple will never confirm, say that a manifest from Apple.pro indicates that supplier Foxconn will begin shipping the iPad 3 to the U.S. not later than March 9. Website YourDailyMac says iOS 5.1 carrier profiles carry the possible iPad 3 release date of March 9, 2012 in their names. Apple news site iMore, citing "reliable sources" says Apple will announce the iPad 3 on March 7.

Sites also report about a quad-core processor, a retina display, an NFC chip, and two models (a 10 inch model plus a smaller model that would compete with Amazon's Kindle Fire) for the third generation iPad.

Gag Order

But Apple generates hype and publicity by, ironically, valuing its secrecy and privacy.

Even Apple's own employees are kept in the dark about new projects. Adam Lashinsky's explains so in his book "Inside Apple: How America's Most Admired--and Secretive--Company Really Works".

"Apple employees know something big is afoot when the carpenters appear in their office building. New walls are quickly erected. Doors are added and new security protocols put into place. Windows that once were transparent are now frosted. Other rooms have no windows at all. They are called lockdown rooms: No information goes in or out without a reason," says Mr. Lashinksy, an editor at large at Fortune.

Apple employees are subject to non-disclosure agreements, and employees who share Apple's secrets are instantly terminated.

Apple requires employees to "[p]rotect the confidentiality of Apple's information and the information of our customers, suppliers, and employees," a breach of which can result to termination of employment.

Apple's suppliers are not exempted. Apple goes to extreme lengths to protect even the minutest details of products under development or currently in production. Apple's contracts with suppliers each include a confidentiality clause, and the contracts can be terminated if breaches occur.

Predictions

Predictions in the months and days before the iPhone 4S was launched in October show that the Apple sites could not win many accuracy contests.

After Apple defied history by not launching a new iPhone at a developers' conference in June, rumor and news sites reported about the iPhone 5 release date being delayed until between August and September. DigiTimes reported about an upcoming iPhone 5 with a curved glass screen. AppleInsider said that Apple was evaluationg a new iPhone with a slideout keyboard. BGR and This is my Next reported in June about an overhauled design for the iPhone 5. The New York Times, citing an unnamed Apple employee, said that the new iPhone would be "fairly different" from the previous generation iPhone. MacRumors reported about an elongated home button while BGR reported about an iPhone without the home button. In September, Reuters, Bloomberg and other reputable sites reported about two models being prepared by Apple -- the iPhone 5 and a budget-priced, 8-GB model of the iPhone 4.

So what did Apple's Tim Cook show in the Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event?

Steve Jobs' successor touted a new iPhone that is not aesthetically different from Apple's best selling smartphone, the iPhone 4. Inside it was all new -- the new phone, called iPhone 4S, features, among others, a faster processor, an 8 megapixel camera, and a built-in digital assistant, called Siri. Apple newest iPhone did not have a new design, retained the 3.5-inch display (didn't take the 4-inch-plus screens of the Galaxy S 2 and the Droid), had no NFC chips and didn't use 4G LTE technology.

Of course many sites got it right with certain features. But even a broken clock is right twice a day. The so called experts didn't need Nostradamus' forecasting skills or any complex calculations to get them right.

The iPhone 4S was expected to have the A5 processor because the processor was already made available for the iPad 2 that was released in April 2011. The iOS 5 and its 200 new features was a give-away as Steve Jobs unveiled the new operating system for mobile devices at the June developers' conference.

And so what will we expect from the upcoming iPhone 5 and iPad 3? Probably the iPad 3 would have a better resolution, an A6 quad-core processor, a more advanced camera, and a longer lasting battery.

Nah. The easiest way to predict the future is to invent it. We'll only know the specs and features of the iPad 3 and iPhone 5 when the devices' creator, Apple, unveils them.

"A good forecaster is not smarter than everyone else, he merely has his ignorance better organised. " -- Anonymous.