As it always does when it releases a new product, Apple has produced an elegant television commercial for the new iPad. Unsurprisingly, the ad focuses solely on the retina display, something that Apple feels sets the iPad apart from the other tablets on the market.
The ad doesn't talk about specifications or price. Instead, it shows the iPad being used to edit a photograph, read a book, watch a movie, and draw a picture.
When a screen becomes this good, colors are more vibrant. Words are pin sharp. Everything is more brilliant. Because when a screen becomes this good, it's simply you and the things you care about. The stunning Retina Display on the new iPad.
Apple has purchased two companies with mapping technology, Placebase and C3, in the past few years. However, it's not at all clear where Apple got the map tiles, whether this is an internal technology or if they were licensed from some other source.
Additionally, updates to iMovie and GarageBand are now live as well.
With iPhoto for iOS, Apple brings Multi-Touch to photography in a breakthrough way. Browse, edit, and share your photos from your iPad or iPhone, like never before – all the powerful tools you need are at your fingertips. And with iCloud, you can share your experiences as stunning photo journals.
Use simple gestures to quickly sort through photos and find your best shots. A powerful set of Multi-Touch tools helps you perfect color and exposure, crop, straighten, and retouch images. Enhance pictures by adding beautiful, Apple-designed effects with just a tap. Or use fingertip brushes to apply adjustments exactly where you want them. In addition to posting photos to Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter, you can beam photos between your iPhone and iPad, stream photos and slideshows to your Apple TV with AirPlay, and use iCloud to publish photo journals to the web to share your stories with friends and family in a whole new way.
Apple has released a new tool called Apple Configurator which allows anyone to mass configure and deploy iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch in a school, business, or institution.
Apple Configurator can be used by larger organizations and businesses to set up new devices, install enterprise apps, and enroll each device with a Mobile Device Management solution for remote management by an IT administrator. It is perfect for the classroom or student lab where devices need to be quickly refreshed and kept up to date with the correct settings, approved policies, apps and data. Apple Configurator can also be used to personalize devices with data and documents for specific users.
The app was released today in the Mac App Store and is available for free. [Direct Link]
Following today's introduction of the new 1080p Apple TV with an updated user interface, Apple has now pushed the 5.0 software update to existing Apple TV set-top boxes.
While the update obviously doesn't add 1080p support to the older boxes, it does bring the new icon-based user interface and other enhancements such as support for direct Netflix billing to their iTunes Store accounts.
The original 3G iPad came with an unlimited data plan from AT&T -- it was only available for a couple of months, before AT&T implemented its current capped data plans.
We're told that the handful of customers who still have unlimited iPad data plans from the first iPad will get to keep those plans if they get a new iPad with 4G. Additionally, their data won't be throttled for the time being -- AT&T's throttling policies only apply to smartphones, not tablets.
That said, AT&T's contracts -- including those for iPad data plans -- do allow for the throttling of unlimited plans, but we're told that AT&T has no current plans to do so.
On its iPhoto for iPad webpage, Apple includes an ad for iPhoto for the Mac. Oddly, as seen in the picture above, the system requirements listed for iPhoto for Mac includes the as-yet unreleased OS X 10.7.4. It could be a simple typo, or it could be a hint that a new version of OS X is forthcoming.
Last October, an internal AT&T talking point claimed that the carrier was working with Apple to have the iPhone 4S status bar display a "4G" indicator when the device is connected to an HSPA+ network.
With today's release of iOS 5.1, that change now appears to have gone into effect as shown in a photo posted to Twitter by @ichadman.
While short of the data speeds seen with LTE networks now rolling out, AT&T and other carriers have also referred to their HSPA+ networks using 4G as a marketing terms to distinguish the standard's faster performance relative to older 3G standards.
“It’s Resolutionary” Apple says of the new iPad, and we have to agree. We’ve just grabbed some hands-on time with the new Retina Display iOS 5.1 tablet, and the difference from the iPad 2 – which, remember, stays on sale alongside it – is vast. The pixels in the 2048 x 1536 display are, at regular arm’s length, completely indistinguishable: it’s only when you get up close that you can make them out.
Physically, the device feels nearly the same in hand as the previous model. Though it does have a slight bump in thickness, the difference is nearly unnoticeable. Since the design hasn't dramatically changed, there's not much to note in the casing department, and though there are improved cameras present, the general seating and size of the sensors seems unchanged.
There's no doubt that this here tablet feels every bit like a $500 product, oozing quality from edge to edge and being as delightful as ever to use. Is it the second coming of the tablet? Of course not, but if we've learned anything from the iPhone 4S, it doesn't need to be. Apple just put an insane amount of real estate in the hands of crafty developers, and frankly, we can't wait to see what they cook up.
In line with our report from late yesterday about a new AppleCare+ extended warranty program for iPad, Apple has indeed introduced the new program with accidental damage coverage today. Availability is listed as "coming soon".
Every iPad comes with one year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary support. AppleCare+ for iPad extends your coverage to two years from the original purchase date of your iPad and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage, each subject to a $49 service fee. Whether you use your iPad with a Mac or a PC, just one phone call can help resolve most issues.
Priced at $99 in the United States, AppleCare+ for iPad must be purchased within 30 days of the date of purchase for the covered iPad. AppleCare+ purchases made separate from the iPad purchase must be made at an Apple retail store in order to verify the device purchase date and condition of the device.
Following Apple's announcement that iOS 5.1 would debut today, the software update is now available for existing iOS devices. Among the notable additions are Japanese language support for Siri, camera enhancements, and the ability to delete photos from users' Photo Streams.
This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:
- Japanese language support for Siri (availability may be limited during initial rollout) - Photos can now be deleted from Photo Stream - Camera shortcut now always visible on Lock Screen for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation) - Camera face detection now highlights all detected faces - Redesigned Camera app for iPad - Genius Mixes and Genius playlists for iTunes Match subscribers - Audio for TV programs and films on iPad optimized to sound louder and clearer - Podcast controls for playback speed and a 30-second rewind for iPad - Addresses bugs affecting battery life - Fixes and issue that occasionally caused audio to drop for outgoing calls
Apple's battery issues under iOS 5 were well-documented, and it appears that the 5.1 release takes additional steps to address that issue, while the update also seems to address audio issues that had been plaguing a number of users.
With the launch of the 3rd Generation iPad, Apple has increased the over-the-air download limit for the App Store to 50MB, up from 20MB.
As noted by AppAdvice, the change is presumably to accommodate larger app sizes due to the new iPad's Retina display and faster cellular data available with 4G LTE. The download limit is now 50MB across all devices, as shown in the above screenshot. This limit affects the maximum size of an App that can be downloaded over 3G or 4G networks.
Developers frequently work hard to keep their apps under the over-the-air download limit, as they believe going over that limit reduces the likelihood of spontaneous purchases.
Following the announcement today of a new 1080p-capable Apple TV, Netflix has announced that it will support 1080p streaming on the new Apple TV. In addition, users will be able to sign up and pay for Netflix service on both the second and third-generation Apple TV models, using their iTunes Store account.
Starting today, you can sign-up for Netflix directly on your Apple TV and pay via your iTunes account. Plus, with the new third generation Apple TV, you’ll also be able to watch thousands of hours of great movies and television streaming on Netflix in 1080p high definition and with room-filling Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.
Now, with a software update on your Apple TV, this seamless sign up and billing experience extends to the second generation Apple TV. The new sign up and payment experience on Apple TV is available wherever Netflix is, including in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Apple's online store has slowed to a crawl with the traffic after the announcement of the 3rd generation iPad. Here are the data plan prices for AT&T and Verizon iPads on the 4G LTE network:
Both AT&T and Verizon's data plans overlap in the 2GB an 5GB allotments and cost $30/mo and $50/mo respectively. Meanwhile, AT&T offers a lower end 250MB tier at $14.99/mo, while Verizon offers 10GB tier for $80/month. These are month-to-month no-contract plans like on the iPad 2.
Update: Though these plans were taken from Apple's Online Store, AT&T has gotten in touch with us and pointed out that their $30 data plan actually offers 3GB/month of data, making AT&T's $30 plan a better deal than Verizon's.
Update 2: Verizon has also reached out to remind us that the carrier offers a 1 GB plan priced at $20. It seems that Apple's site was offering some outdated or incorrect information on data plans when the store was first coming online. Apple's site is now showing the proper options, although Verizon also offers one additional plan not shown on Apple's site: 10 GB for $80.
Apple today introduced "the next iPad", the latest generation of the company's popular tablet device. Offering a Retina display measuring in at 2048 x 1536 pixels, Apple claims that it is "redefining the category Apple created" with the original iPad. At 264 pixels per inch, the new display is considered Retina quality with indistinguishable pixels when held at the typical viewing distance of 15 inches.
Featuring an A5X system-on-chip with quad-core graphics, the Retina display offer 44% greater color saturation than its predecessor. All of Apple's stock apps have been optimized for the new ultra-high resolution display and existing apps from third-party developers will be automatically scaled up with text rendered for the new resolution. With additional work, developers can also optimize their entire apps for the new display.
On the camera front, the updated iPad features a 5-megapixel rear camera with advanced optics very similar to those found in the 8-megapixel camera on the iPhone 4S. 1080p video recording is also supported. Voice dictation as found on the iPhone 4S is also included.
Cellular-capable models of the new iPad also support 4G LTE as had been rumored by multiple sources. Supporting data speeds of up to 21 Mbps on HSPA+, 42 Mbps on dual-carrier HSPA+, and 73 Mbps on LTE, the new iPad offers a significant improvement in cellular data capabilities. LTE partners include AT&T and Verizon in the United States and Rogers, Telus, and Bell in Canada. Due to differences in frequency bands, AT&T and Verizon support will require separate models.
On the battery life front, the new iPad offers the same levels as before: 10 hours on Wi-Fi or 9 hours on 4G LTE. As for the device's size, it comes it a scant 0.6 mm thicker than the iPad 2 at 9.4 mm thick, and weighs 1.4 pounds versus the 1.33-pound iPad 2.
Pricing remains as before at $499/$599/$699 for Wi-Fi models and $629/$729/$829 for 4G LTE models, with capacities coming in at 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB. The new iPad launches on March 16 in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.
Apple will also continue to offer the 16 GB iPad 2 in both Wi-Fi ($399) and Wi-Fi + 3G ($529) models.
With the introduction of a Retina display on the new iPad, Apple has updated all of its stock applications to support the higher resolution, also adding updates to several of its applications including GarageBand and iMovie. But the company has also filled out the remainder of its iPad versions of its iLife suite with the launch of iPhoto for iPad, a new application offering photo editing capabilities right on the device.
iPhoto for iPad offers a broad array of photo editing and comparison features, including auto-enhancements such as straightening photos and fixing contrast. Brush palettes offer a number of editing tools including red-eye removal, lighten, sharpen, soften, and darken. iPhoto can handle images up to 19 megapixels.
iPhoto, Apple’s popular photography app, has been completely reimagined for iOS to take full advantage of the Retina display and intuitive Multi-Touch gestures on iPad and iPhone. Simple gestures can be used to select and compare photos side by side and flag your best shots. iPhoto gives you full control over color, exposure and contrast, and you simply touch the parts of the image you want to change. You can enhance pictures by adding beautiful Apple-designed effects with just a tap, or apply adjustments exactly where you want them with fingertip brushes. In addition to posting photos to Facebook, Flickr and Twitter, you can beam photos between your iPhone and iPad; stream photos and slideshows to your Apple TV with AirPlay; and use iCloud to publish photo journals to the web and share your stories with friends and family in a whole new way.
iPhoto for iPad launches today and is priced at $4.99.
Earlier today, Apple 
The original 3G iPad came with an unlimited data plan from AT&T -- it was only 
Apple has released iTunes 10.6 
In line with our 
Following the announcement today of a new 
