Apple unveils iPad3 and new iLife Apps for iOS
As expected, Apple has introduced the third generation of the iPad. The mobile device features a new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for photos and 1080p HD video. iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G connects to fast networks worldwide (including AT&T’s and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks in the USA), and delivers a 10 hour battery life while remaining thin and light. Also beginning today, iPad 2 will be offered at a lower price, starting at £329 inc VAT.
“The new iPad redefines the category Apple created less than two years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new iPad now has the highest resolution display ever seen on a mobile device with 3.1 million pixels, delivering razor sharp text and unbelievable detail in photos and videos.”
The new iPad’s Retina display delivers four times the number of pixels of iPad 2, so dense, says Apple, that the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels when held at a normal distance. The 3.1 million pixels in the Retina display are more than one million more pixels than a HD TV, and with 44 percent increased colour saturation, the new iPad displays colours that are richer, deeper and more vivid. Movies are now capable of playing at full 1080p HD-resolution.
The new A5X chip with quad-core graphics was specifically designed by Apple to deliver a fast, responsive user experience while supporting the Retina display. With double the graphics performance of the A5 chip, users can enjoy all the benefits of the new display while experiencing a smooth Multi-Touch interface, immersive gameplay, high visual depth and all-day battery life.
Backside illumination allows you to take photos in low-light conditions and a new video image stabilisation feature removes the bumps and shakes typically seen when filming with a hand-held device. Images can be enjoyed on the large Retina display, then edited, enhanced and easily shared with friends and family using the built-in Photos app on iPad.
iPad Wi-Fi + 4G with built-in next generation 4G LTE has the most comprehensive support for fast networks worldwide including HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA, and now both CDMA and GSM iPad users have the ability to easily roam internationally. Personal Hotspot can be used to share the fast network connection on the iPad with up to 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB.
With iOS 5.1, the latest update to Apple’s mobile operating system, the new iPad has a number of new features and enhancements including: a redesigned Camera app with video stabilisation technology; the ability to delete photos from Photo Stream; support for dictation in English, French, German and Japanese; and Personal Hotspot. iOS 5.1 also works seamlessly with iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services including iTunes in the Cloud, Photo Stream and Documents in the Cloud, that works seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content and push it to your devices. When content changes on one of your devices, your other devices are updated automatically.
The new iPad also supports dictation - instead of typing, tap the microphone icon on the keyboard, then say what you want to say and the new iPad listens. Tap done, and iPad converts your words into text. You can use dictation to write messages, take notes, search the web and more. Dictation also works with third-party apps, so you can update your Facebook status, tweet, or write Instagram captions.
Apple also introduced the iPhoto app, along with major updates to iMovie and GarageBand, completing its suite of iLife apps for iOS. iLife and the iWork apps, Pages, Keynote and Numbers, have all been updated to take advantage of the new iPad Retina display. iPhoto includes Multi-Touch features so you can use simple gestures to sort through hundreds of photos and find your best shots, enhance and retouch your images using fingertip brushes and share photo journals with iCloud. iMovie now gives you the ability to create ‘Hollywood-style’ trailers as you record HD video, and GarageBand introduces Jam Session, a new feature that allows a group of friends to wirelessly connect to play instruments and record music together live on their iOS devices.
The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white on Friday, March 16 for a suggested retail price of £399 inc VAT (£332.50 ex VAT) for the 16GB model, £479 inc VAT (£399.17 ex VAT) for the 32GB model and £559 inc VAT (£465.83 ex VAT) for the 64GB model. iPad Wi-Fi + 4G will be available for a suggested retail price of £499 inc VAT (£415.83 ex VAT) for the 16GB model, £579 inc VAT (£482.50 ex VAT) for the 32GB model and £659 inc VAT (£549.17 ex VAT) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the UK through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores, and select Apple Authorised Resellers.
iPad will also be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Switzerland and the US Virgin Islands on Friday, March 16. Customers can begin pre-ordering their new iPad today, while the iPad 2 is now offered at a lower price of £329 inc VAT (£274.17 ex VAT) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just £429 inc VAT (£357.50 ex VAT) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model.
iOS 5.1 and iTunes 10.6 are available today as free software updates. iPhoto, iMovie 1.3 and GarageBand 1.2 are available today for £2.99 each from the App Store. Keynote 1.6, Pages 1.6 and Numbers 1.6 are available today for £6.99 each from the App Store. Updates are available for free to existing customers.
By the end of March iPad will be available in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Visit Apple for more details
