Super light carbon-fibre iPad incoming?

Apple could be clearing the decks for a featherweight iPad that makes the current-gen slate look positively leaden, speculation suggests.

According to 9 to Mac, the appointment of Kevin Kenny as Senior Composites Engineer, whose particular expertise is in carbon fibre, hints that the gadget maker is ramping up experiments with new, composite materials.

A move away from the aluminium, glass and stainless steel that has characterised iKit so far would mean much, much lighter and way more portable devices.

Kenny has long-standing form with Apple, having worked on a free-ranging consultant role for them in the past. In 2009, Apple went so far as to register a patent in his name.

News of his move comes after Apple also announced it has prised PR types Rob Saunders and Nick Grange away from Nintendo and Activision respectively. Saunders and Grange’s remit will focus on promoting apps and future iterations of the iPad.