Apple debuts 'new iPad,' Apple TV update


 

If you’ve been waiting to buy an iPad, Apple had some good news for you today: their new model – which now simply goes by the handle “new iPad” (think New Beetle) – packs a bunch of upgrades over the previous two models without any bump in price. Yes, it looks like the iPad’s reign as king of the tablets will continue for the foreseeable future, even if there is nothing bleeding edge on offer. It’s – wait for it – “resolutionary” according to the Apple.com website homepage.

Here’s what was announced:

iPad 3rd generation ($519/$619/$719 CAD for 16/32/64GB WiFi only – add $120 per model for 3G/4G) Available March 16

  • Retina display
  • A5X quad-core GPU
  • iSight Camera in the Rear: 5MP, backside illuminated, 1080p video recording, Image stabilization
  • Voice dictation, but no Siri
  • 4G LTE, backward compatible with dual-band HSPA+
  • Personal Hotspot feature added
  • 10 hours of battery life, 9 if on a 4G LTE connection
  •  9.4mm thin, weighing 1.4lbs

From an exterior point of view, the new iPad is nearly indistinguishable from the iPad 2.

The New iPad (yup, that’s the official name) will be supported by all three major carriers (Bell, TELUS, Rogers) for those who want to grab the 4G LTE version.

We’re a little surprised that Apple chose not to give the new iPad the same photo capabilities as the iPhone 4S, which has an 8MP rear camera, and that the front-facing FaceTime camera remains the same as the previous model instead of being upgraded to the FaceTime HD standard that adorns all new iMacs.

In case you’re wondering, yes you can now pick up older iPad 2’s for $100 less than they were selling for yesterday. Apple will continue to make these.

Apple also treated us to an unexpected surprise: A version of the company’s extremely popular photo software for the iMac, iPhoto – built for the iPad. It has a suite of touch-based editing tools but perhaps the coolest feature is the ability to ‘beam’ photos between devices – presumably between iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches and iMacs. $4.99 is the price in the App store and you can download it today. GarageBand, iMovie and iWork apps have all been updated for the new iPad.

Also announced was an update to the Apple TV set-top box:

Apple TV (3rd Generation) $99 USD, $109 CAD, available March 16

  • 1080p streaming
  • new UI with cleaner look and feel

The new user interface for Apple TV. Available today as a free download for existing Apple TV 2nd Gen. owners.

Finally, today marks the release iOS 5.1, which mostly sports some minor enhancements such as Siri support for Japanese consumers. Also, iTunes in the cloud now has movie support.

 

 

 

 

60 comments

    • Andre

      Wow, it’s amazing how fast Jim Balsillie got everyone at RIM to make comments about how great the playbook is versus the new iPad. The reality is that the playbook is vastly inferior ( I hate to say that because it’s a Canadian company, and I want them to do well). Hopefully they will catch up if they can get their game together. But Apple has them beat hands down….for now, probably forever.

      Like

  1. ed

    not really much here as a reason to go out and buy this…looks exactly the same, something new should stand out….so lets call it Ipad 2.5

    Like

  2. arnya

    this doesnt look all that special to me. IS this what all the hype was about again, I’ll pass!

    Like

  3. IPadCracker

    Wow a brand new name….pfft. It’s shit like this that pisses me off. You get a new apple product, and BAM! Apple makes a newer version a year later. Bastards, you should let people enjoy their shit for a while longer and really upgrade to something people will want to buy.

    Like

    • el guille

      they should have called it: “super new and improved, legal-formula, green, holistic, homeopathic, home-style, south beach, HD, 3D, limited edition, redesigned from the ground up, imported, european, platinum edition, hybrid, minimum carbon footprint, vegan, gluten-free, retro iPAD”

      Like

      • MikeB

        That my friend is absolutely hilarious . I have to copy that and use it for something else. You sir could be a marketing genius… gluten free of course.

        Like

      • Chuck

        If you are suggesting that gluten free is optional fad for people you are showing your total disrespect and lack of any compassion for the thousands of people with Celiac disease. They have no choice. they must eat gluten free. You obviously, in your small world where beating up on a product is worth getting steamed over, have no idea how isolating not being able to eat out or even at friends can be. Have some disease, any disease, and you would soon realize that getting out of bed healthy and being able to see the new day makes beating up on a product, any product, seem irrelevant.

        Like

  4. Alex

    I rather have a Asus Transformer Prime (TF201) for $499 (32GB version).
    – Quad core
    – WLAN b/g/n
    – Bluetooth
    – 10.1″ 1280×800 LED screen
    – 1080p video
    – 8MP rear 1.2MP front cameras
    – 1.3 pounds (537 grams)
    – 8.3 mm thick
    – 12hrs battery life
    – SD card slot
    – HDMI output
    – USB 2.0 port

    Asus is also coming out with an improved version, the TF700T.

    Like

  5. Davi

    Looks good to me, I didn’t get the iPad 2 so it’s now a nice upgrade for me. As for Jeff who might go out to buy the playbook, don’t, I have friends that have it and has nothing but issues

    Like

    • Stephen

      Issues?

      What issues? I have had my playbook since it was released (ya I paid too much). Get a playbook just as good as the IPAD3. It does everything the IPAD3 does pretty much and is a third of the cost. I hear people talking that it does not have 3G well guess what folks most of the ones sold are only WiFi. If you want to use it on the go then tether it. The Calendar is second to none the email is very solid and if you have a blackberry now you can use BBM. The apps are fine by me. I don’t have to sift through the tons of crap apps you see on the istore. By the way side loading apps is easy peasy too. I have kindle and a bunch other android apps and they work fine.

      Like

  6. MikeB

    New screen and faster chip plus some iLife functionality. All in all very expensive. Just too big for a tablet and too small for a laptop. Did I mention expensive. The problem will all these touch pads is that the screen gets gummy and smudgy and that is kinda disgusting . The ads make this thing look sleek and shiny but if you are cleaning it every 10 seconds it kinda defeats the purpose of what this is all about. If you need mobility and power just bite the bullet and buy a real laptop with a decent lcd screen and quad processors . If you are just checking email and doing some business apps on the flight to Boston then buy the Blackberry playbook for 300 bucks . At least you can carry it around discretely without looking like a total dork.
    Typical slick apple hype but with a price around 800 bucks for the LTE version I will pass. I need to get my monthly costs down not up. At this price it is no wonder why Apple has 100 billion in the bank . Nice but too costly and besides I hate white.

    Like

    • Stephen

      Screen protector?

      I have an IPAD2 and a playbook. Love the playbook IPAD is a pain but a screen protector helps very nicely. BTW i have a couple laptops too and ya you don’t clean the screen you are cleaning the keyboard. You don’t think you are leaving oil on the keys?

      Like

  7. jeff

    I HAVE TWO OF THEM AND ONE FOR MY WIFE AND ME
    GOING TO BUY ONE FOR MY KIDS.
    WORKS FLAWLESS AND EVEN MY TWO YEAR OLD CAN USE IT.
    DONT BE BRAIN WASHED THERE ARE BETTER SYSTEM OUT THERE.
    IT THE SAME PRICE AS A TOUCH WITH HALF THE HARD DRIVE AND
    AT LEASE I CAN TYPE ON IT.

    Like

    • Davi

      Jeff why are you yelling or don’t be upset. For one I’m not brain washed, I know what I like. If you purchased two playbooks and had no issues, great, good for you, count yourself fortunate. I know what I’ve seen from my friends playbooks and understand the issues they have with them. I hope your next playbook works flawlessly.

      Like

      • MikeB

        You should talk to people who own apple authorized computer stores… prior to the apple store… they will tell you horror stories about the ipod and iphones …. the apple store guys will never make a peep about these issues. The ipods were so cheap to make with such huge margin that they would just give you another one and that would be that. Imagine apple giving something away for free… it happened but not so much these days.
        So the RIM playbook may have its detractors but it does have a cult following and it is only the first generation. Suites my meagre needs. I have two Mac Pros and a macbook pro … that more than does what I need . The ipad is a consumer device SPECIFICALLY designed for you to use the iCloud which makes Apple gizillions every month . Once you put all your stuff there they got you by the you know whats and they will charge you royally for it.

        Like

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  9. xorbitman

    Who said RIM Playbook….not enough apps and the Android apps don’t work properly. Just an expensive toy. I would recommend the Asus also. However all this for an expensive toy. And I agree with the above comments about the disgusting smudges on the screen from the sticky and oily fingers…for a lot more functionality go out an buy a small laptop with a built in BD player…a quad core processor, an HD screen and a real keyboard built in. 1 GB hard drive…a flash drive and voila….for a bit more money and tons more versatility! You’re going to carry it anyway…plus all the stupid accessories like the folding keyboard…so go out and buy a laptop. Even a Macbook Air with a built in Nand flash drive is better!

    Like

    • MikeB

      Totally correct… my playbook was great for emails and fun games but thats about it. I used it on a trip to the caribbean . worked flawlessly but even at 300 it is still an expensive toy. Buy the laptop if you need real work to be done plus the screen stays clean always.

      Like

    • Stephen

      Android apps work fine. The Playbook has an HD screen ergo the HDMI out? If you have a media server then stream to it. Who the heck wants to haul around DVD’s and Blue rays too. I agree it does not do as much as a laptop which I use for work but when I am on the go it is great. I can even edit and view Office files with Documents on the go if I have to. If you really want to get fancy get one on the segate wireless hard drives and you can stream movies to it (and three separate devices all at once). I have a Twonky media server and I can watch an HD movie by the fire in the back yard or listen to Sirius via the android app.
      If you get too small of a lap top they are useless. I got my son a net book and the screen is way to small to use windows effectively. You end up having to get an external monitor.

      Like

    • buddy

      no i think that is his last name, his first name is Ho. i think he lives in a cave with the rest of the trolls.

      Like

  10. jeff

    THIS APPS IS BULLSHIT I HAVE NEVER NOT GOT A APP FOR MY PLAYBOOK THAT APPLE DOESNT HAVE.
    I WILL SAY ANDROID ARE GOOD BUT GIVE ME A BREAK PLAYBOOKS ARE AT LEASE BRIDGING THE GAP WITH APPS FOR ANDROID UNLIKE THE APPLE ALL FOR ONE PROGRAM THEY HAVE.
    DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR PLAYBOOK IS THE BEST BUY.

    Like

  11. Jon

    Like I have said before move over Apple the Android Sunami is about to wash you away. Just another over priced over hyped product that will have the Apple faithful up all night waiting to get one.
    Too expensive too little offered that isn’t already offered in some form on a lot of phones!!!!!!!!!!

    Like

  12. Hunadora

    For the love of cheese whiz can they add a fraking SD slot already!!!!!
    only thing stopping me from buying one.

    Like

  13. jeff

    Andre
    Can u tell us all why it is so inferior to Apple.
    You seems so smart I think Jim and I would love to hear from you.
    The only thing that is more inferior then your mind is the lack of information on why the playbook is so Inferior.

    Like

  14. John

    LOVE IT (NOT), way to FAIL apple!!! i mean really just to have a 1080 reso you release “new ipad”. Your biggest selling point was Siri for the 4S, and you didnt put it on the “NEW IPAD”, but will definitely be on the “NEW IPAD2”. Please ppl i know apple makes great products as i own almost all apple products but dont buy this as this is such a money grab. Let this company take a stock hit like RIM has and maybe they will start appreciating the consumer rather than be like the oil companies.

    Like

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  16. DB

    If only that new ipad was a lot whiter, shinier,and more expensive I would buy several of them in a flash. I really enjoy wasting my money.

    Like

  17. DonnyB

    It needs to be thinner, whiter and more expensive. I think I’ll wait for the next generation….should be out by mid summer.

    Like

  18. Rob

    I agree with almost all of you, over priced, over hyped, STILL not worth it, and my biggest pet peeve, apple STILL won’t do flash for websites. Apps are no longer an issue, at all. With regard to the apple guy stating problem with playbooks, I personlly know 10 people with playbooks, no problems, so I don’t buy those comments. I’m not saying, I’m just saying :-)
    To sum up: Ipad3, not for me!
    Besides, wait 6 months when apple realizes that they screwed up and the ipad 4 will be out!

    Like

  19. T-Bone

    More Apple marketing bull shit. The new iPad sucks compared to some other tablets out there like the Asus eee Pad Transformer Prime. I can’t believe how blind hard core Apple fans are.
    I’m waiting for the new Asuus T701.

    Like

  20. tallula

    I’m confused .. I want to:

    email
    internet surf
    read books
    have music
    watch movies
    photos
    good mobility/easy carry

    laptop or Ipad or other ??

    not interested in games/business apps

    Like

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