iPad China release date leaked?

Need to satisfy your Apple fix? Still thinking about buying the aPad, or maybe even the P88? Maybe you might want to rethink that decision. According to a Sina Tech article (for those of you who can read Chinese), the iPad is apparently set to enter Chinese markets in August.

The article says that Pan Shiyi, the CEO and Chairman of SOHO, made a post Saturday on Weibo (a Chinese version of twitter) that leaked the iPad’s upcoming release date. Pan later removed the post from the site, but, still the message attracted the industry’s attention. The reporter tried to confirm the release date with Apple, but the company said that they could not answer questions relating to an unreleased product.

But perhaps don’t count on 3G for your shiny new iPad just yet.

The Sina article also says that the August release date makes sense only for the standard iPad which is only equipped with wifi. The 3G version of the iPad, just like the iPhone, will likely be delayed because it will need certification from the proper authorities.

Grey market prices in China for the iPad currently stand at RMB 4800 for the standard version and RMB 6000 for the 3G version; however, industry insiders say that Apple will likely price the iPad at RMB 6000 and RMB 9000 on its first entry into China.

In other news the Shanghaiist is also reporting that the iPhone 4G already has a knockoff, and like the iPad and the P88, it's also produced by a shanzhai company.