After selling 55 million iPads worldwide, Apple unveiled the next version of its tablet late on Wednesday.
The new device is widely believed to be the most significant overhaul since the first iPad was launched in 2010. If the pre-launch buzz is to be believed then the new iPad will sport a high-definition display, run on a faster processor and work with 4G wireless networks.
Apple has also introduced the iPhoto app that enables sorting through hundreds of photos, enhancing and retouching images with fingertip brushes.
With four times the number of pixels of iPad 2, the new iPad’s Retina display has 3.1 million megapixels to provide detailed, clear images.
The new version comes with a 5 megapixel camera that features advanced optics for images and HD video recording. It also supports iCloud service whereby an user can access the company's remote storage facility to store and retrieve content. The feature enables seamless integration of content across Apple devices.
The device also has a voice dictation feature, using which one can write messages, take notes or search the Web.
The next version of iPad from the Apple stable is already generating sustained interest from Indian retailers. Retail chains and premium Apple resellers say that Apple is finally taking note of the Indian consumer's purchasing power.
According to market rumours, it is supposed to go on sale from March 16 in the US. Sources indicate that the new tablet may hit Indian shores sooner compared to the earlier launches by Apple. A Frost & Sullivan report said that Indians bought three lakh units of tablets in 2011 compared with around 60,000 tablets in 2010.
The device will go on sale in Australia, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Japan on March 16. By month-end, it will go on sale in 25 more countries.
In the US, the prices start at $499.