Apple has unveiled a new iPad with a high-resolution screen.
It said the resolution of the display was 2048 by 1536 pixels. The tablet is also powered by a new A5X chip with improved graphics performance.
Chief executive Tim Cook claimed to be "redefining the category that Apple created".
Apple dominates the market but is set to face a fresh challenge when devices running the full Windows 8 system are expected to go on sale later this year.
The new iPad also features a 5-megapixel camera sensor. It will be able to run on 4G networks where the service is available and can act as a wi-fi hotspot for other devices if carriers allow the function.
Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller said the tablet has the same 10-hour estimated battery life as the previous model when using 3G. That limit shortens by an hour when using 4G.
Sales forecasts
The firm also announced an upgraded TV box which can now handle 1080p video.
Films and TV shows will be sold via its iTunes store in the high-definition format.
IMS Research said Apple accounted for 62% of the global tablet market in 2011. Ahead of the press conference it said it expected that share to rise to 70% this year.
Analysts at Gartner said it expects Apple to sell 69 million iPads before the end of 2012. By contrast if forecasts stores will sell 22.8 million tablets running Google's Android system, and 6.3 million Blackberry Playbook devices.
How the competition compares
|
|---|
| Device | Vital information | What the experts say |
|---|
Blackberry Playbook
|
• Released: April 2011 (updated February 2012) • Screen size: 7" Weight: 450g • Operating system: BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.0 • Cost: £250 (64GB, Currys) • Full specification
|
"A tablet that's trying really hard to please the enterprise set but, in doing so, seems to be alienating casual users who might just want a really great seven-inch tablet." - Engadget
|
Asus Transformer Prime
|
• Released: December 2011 • Screen size: 10.1" Weight: 537g • Operating system: Android - Ice Cream Sandwich • Cost: £499 (32GB, John Lewis) • Full specification
|
"This is a corking tablet/laptop hybrid that is more powerful than ever and with Ice Cream Sandwich added into the mix is the best Android tablet yet." - T3
|
Motorola Xoom 2
|
• Released: November 2011 • Screen size: 10.1" Weight: 599g • Operating system: Android - Honeycomb • Cost: £379.99 (16GB, Amazon) • Full specification
|
"We're pleased with Motorola's efforts in slimming down the slate. The Honeycomb experience is a rather nice one. But we don't think it's offering enough to justify the premium price tag." - Cnet
|
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
|
• Released: June 2011 • Screen size: 10.1" Weight: 565g • Operating system: Android - Honeycomb • Cost: £399 (16GB, John Lewis) • Full specification
|
"The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is certainly one of the best Android tablets so far and deserves to be high on the list for anyone who can't stomach Cupertino's controlling neediness." - Pocketlint
|
Reshared from : http://www.bbc.co.uk
Posts
