MacRumors

Several tech blogs have posted their hands-on impressions of the new iPad, announced earlier today.

Slashgear:

“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.

The Verge:

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.

Engadget:

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.

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.

Netflix's iOS app is also available free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]

Just half an hour after the end of the event, Apple has already posted video of its third-generation iPad media event to its site.

Among the products announced at the event:

- Apple Introduces 'The New iPad' with Retina Display, A5X Chip, LTE, 5MP Rear Camera
- Apple Introduces New Apple TV Set-Top Box with 1080p Video and Updated Interface
- Apple Launches iPhoto for iPad with Photo Editing and Organization Features
- Apple Launching iOS 5.1 Today with Japanese Support for Siri Coming Soon

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.

As expected, Apple today introduced an updated Apple TV offering support for 1080p video, which is now also available through the iTunes Store. The company is also rolling out an updated interface for the set-top box, with icon-based category buttons and large billboard-style artwork for content.

The new Apple TV maintains the same $99 price tag as its predecessor and is available for pre-order today. It launches on March 16th.

“People are going to love streaming movies and TV shows in 1080p with the new Apple TV, and photos look beautiful displayed at the maximum resolution of your TV,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Apple TV is easier than ever to use with its new icon-based interface and the ability to access your purchased movies, TV shows and music right from iCloud.”

Apple's iCloud services have also been updated to support 1080p video, allowing users to stream their content to any linked device including the new Apple TV. AllThingsD notes, however, that not all studios are participating in the iCloud video streaming, with Fox and Universal having to hold out due to agreements with HBO.

Apple is holding a media event today at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, where it is widely expected to introduce the iPad 3 and an updated Apple TV set-top box. The event is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time.

Apple will apparently not be providing live video coverage of the event to the public, but a number of news sites will be on hand to provide text and photo updates, and we're including links to several of them here. We will also be updating this article with coverage as the media event unfolds and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account. Separate news stories regarding the event announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.

- Engadget
- Ars Technica
- The Verge
- gdgt
- Macworld
- AllThingsD
- CNET
- SlashGear
- The Loop

Apple's online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event.

Liveblog

- The media, Apple executives and other "special guests" have been seated and are waiting for the event to begin.
- Lights are dimming, Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken the stage.
- Cook: "Good morning! Thank you very much for joining us. We have a great morning planned, and I’m very excited to be here. I’d like to get started by talking about the post-PC revolution, and Apple is at the forefront of leading this revolution."
- "We're talking about a world where the PC is no longer the center of your digital world. A world where the devices you use the most need to be more personal and more portable than any PC has ever been."
- Apple has three post-PC devices: iPod, iPhone, iPad.
- "The iPad 'defined a whole new category. In many ways, the iPad is reinventing portable computing and it's out-stripping the wildest of predictions.'"
- Sold 172 million Post-PC devices, making up 76% of Apple's revenue in 2011. "Apple has its feet firmly planted in the Post-PC future."
- "The post-PC world plays to our strengths." Talks up Apple Retail Stores. "These devices are new to many people. There needs to be a place to discover​ them."
- Apple sold 315 million iOS devices -- iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone -- through last year, 62 million in Q4 2011.
- Talking about Siri. "Siri is your best friend... who gets things done just by asking." Demoing what Siri sounds like in other parts of the world.
- Siri coming to Japan as part of iOS 5.1. 5.1 launches today, with siri rolling out in Japan over next few weeks.
- 585,000 apps on the App store. 25 billion apps downloaded, 25 billionth app downloaded in China.
- 100 million iCloud customers.
- iCloud now supports movies, in 1080p, re-download movies you've purchased on any device.
- New AppleTV announced, supports 1080p, new "streamlined" user interface. UI is full-1080p resolution.
- iCloud now supports iTunes playlists, better implementation of third party apps like MLB.tv.
- Eddy Cue demonstrates Apple TV, including National Geographic screen savers, Photo Stream, and more.
- Recommends movies based on what you've watched previously.
- "That's the new Apple TV and we think you're gonna love it."
- $99, available for preorder today, ships March 16th.

- Now the iPad. Sold 15.4 million in Q4 2011. "iPad is the poster child for the post-PC world."
- Apple sold more iPads than any individual PC-maker sold PC's.
- "When we set out to create the iPad, we set out to create not just a new product, but a new category. In order to do that, the iPad had to be the best device for doing some of the things that you do most often."
- "When we asked iPad users who had a notebook a desktop and a smartphone about their favorite device ​for email, they responded 'iPad.'" Same for web browsing, reading, and gaming (even versus home consoles).
- Remarkable for a device that has only been out two years.
- More than 200,000 apps designed specifically for iPad. "They can help you create or learn or do almost anything."
- 100+ tablets came out last year, none have same user experience as iPad.
- Comparing Twitter on Android (looks like a blown up smartphone app) to Twitter on iPad. "Clearly designed to take advantage of the large canvas."
- Compares Yelp apps. "Lots of white space. Tiny text, hard to read. Compare that to the iPad. This is a reason momentum on the iPad that continues to build."
- New iPad. "We’ve taken it to a whole new level, and we are redefining the category that Apple created with the original iPad."
- It has a home button. And Retina Display. "Until you see it you can’t understand how amazing it is."
- "This presents a problem for us in presenting it to you. For the first time, an iPad has a higher resolution than this entire display behind you... that's a fun challenge."
- "Photos are just going to look amazing on that gorgeous high-resolution display."
- 2048 x 1536 resolution. Higher than a 1080p display. 3.1 million pixels, 264 pixels per inch, "enough to call it a retina display". iPhone 4 was held at 10 inches, iPad held at 15".
- 44% greater color saturation.
- A5X Processor, quad-core graphics.
- New iSight Camera. 5MP rear camera, backside illuminated sensor on the back, 5-element lens, IR filter, and ISP built into A5X chip. Same design as iPhone 4S. Auto-exposure, auto-focus.
- HD video recording in 1080p.
- Siri-like voice dictation. Microphone button on keyboard. Supports US English, British, Australian, French, German and Japanese.
- Supports 4G LTE. Supports HSPA+ up to 21MBps, DC-HSDPA at 42 Mbps, and LTE at 73 Mbps.
- Supports AT&T and Verizon LTE in the US. Telus, Rogers, Bell in Canada.
- Two different models of iPads for AT&T and Verizon because they use different bands. Same as CDMA/GSM iPad 2's.
- All are 3G world-ready, can roam world-wide.
- iPad can be a personal Wi-Fi hotspot, if carrier supports it.
- New iPad supports most bands ever.
- Running down features.
- Battery life on iPad 2 was 10 hours, 9 hours on 3G.
- New iPad has 10 hours of battery life, with 9 hours on 4G.
- 9.4mm thin, weights 1.4 lbs. iPad 2 was 1.33 lbs. and 8.8mm thick.
- $499 for 16GB model. $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. Same pricing as iPad 2.
- 4G is $629/$729/$829.
- Available March 16th, preorders start today.
- US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan. Apple's biggest rollout ever.
- All the stock apps have been updated and optimized for the new display.
- Existing apps will be scaled up and text automatically rendered for higher-resolution display.
- Developer demo time.
- First is James Shelton, Game Design Director from Namco.
- New flight sim game, "Sky Gamblers"
- Planes dogfighting. Shake the iPad to eject the pilot from the plane. Clever.
- Sky Gamblers exclusive to iOS, launches later this month.
- Chris Cheung from Autodesk, demoing Sketchbook.
- 10 million customers for Autodesk on desktop, "tens of millions" of new users on iOS.
- New app: SketchBook Ink "A new drawing app that focuses on line art."
- Can export images greater than 100 megapixels.
- MIke Capps from Epic Games. "An amazing new project."
- Infinity Blade Dungeons. "We're excited to raise the bar for gaming with the new iPad."
- Player is on a quest to craft "the ultimate weapon": The Infinity Blade.
- HDR Graphics and tone-mapping.
- More memory or screen resolution than Xbox 360 or PS3.
- "Coming soon"
- New versions of Pages, Keynote, Numbers updated for Retina Display. Free update if already purchased, same $9.99 price otherwise.
- Updated GarageBand. Smart Strings, Note editor, iCloud integration. $4.99 or free update for previous owners. "Jam Sessions" allow multiple iPads to be used to create a band"
- iMovie updated as well. Adds Movie Trailer creation, with visual storyboards like iMovie for OS X.
- iMovie is $4.99, free update for current owners. Available today.
- iPhoto for iPad. "It is amazing."
- For those who love the photos they take with family and friends and want to do even more with them.
- Same photo library, new browsing, new ways to edit with multi-touch, professional-quality effects, brushes, and Photo Beaming let's users move photos between devices.
- Randy Ubillos, Chief Architect for Photo and Video Applications on stage.
- By double-tapping a photo, iPhoto finds all pictures that look similar. Swipe down to remove them, double-tap to go full-screen.
- App supports up to 19 megapixel photos.
- Share photos through email, Flickr, Twitter and more.
- Built-in horizon finding tool. Locates horizon and rotates image as appropriate.
- All non-destructive editing.
- Tilt-shift and watercolor effects.
- New "Journal" feature, allows users to highlight photos with captions, like a scrapbook. Add notes and text, calendars, geotags, weather, and more.
- Very easy sharing, publish to iCloud, viewable in any browser.
- $4.99, available today on iPad and iPhone.
- Demo video, recapping all the new features.
- iPad 2, $399 for 16GB Wi-FI model, $529 for 16GB 3G model.
- Says education is big reason for keeping iPad 2 around. "So many more schools can afford this."
- The new iPad is apparently called "The new iPad."
- Showing new iPad television commercial.
- Cook says it is the privilege of a lifetime to work with Apple employees, "the most innovative" on earth.
- Lots to look forward to in 2012, "we are just getting started."

A series of last-minute rumors and speculation are suggesting that the iPad 3 might include haptic technology that would give on-screen objects texture. The rumors have linked Finnish company Senseg with Apple and have been fueled by Apple's media event invitations carrying the tagline "We have something you really have to see. And touch."

While speculation about Senseg and Apple has been floating under the radar for some time and a rationale for it was posted in our forums last week, The Guardian was the first major source to put forward the specific claim yesterday, noting that conversations with Senseg executives earlier this year left The Guardian with the impression that the company was indeed working with Apple.

When the Guardian met Senseg's chiefs in their Helsinki offices in January, its directors declined to say whether they had spoken to Apple about the use of the technology in the iPad – but said they were talking to tablet manufacturers. [...]

But asked this week whether Apple is a customer for the E-Sense technology, Petri Jehkonen, Senseg's technical marketing manager, declined to comment. Asked whether Apple is not a customer, he replied: "That would be for Apple to say. My comment is no comment."

The Next Web has also put together a speculative piece suggesting that haptic feedback could indeed be making an appearance on the iPad 3.

The bits and pieces that I’ve managed to uncover are tantalizing and have led me to believe that at least one major new feature that we have not seen before on an Apple device before will make an appearance on the new tablet.

I’ll be honest up front: I have been unable to nail down exactly what it is. [...]

The most tantalizing and attractive possibility I could come up with was the introduction of a touch-feedback technology for the iPad’s display.

The report continues with a reasoned analysis of how Apple may have been able to quietly include the technology in the iPad 3 and the unobtrusive nature of the haptic technology itself that could have been kept behind the scenes.

And now Pocket-lint is weighing in with its own claims, once again pointing to quotes from Senseg executives as hints that the company may be working with Apple.

"We won't be making any statements until after Apple's announcement," a company spokesman told Pocket-lint with a timing that's just too obvious to be anything else after we asked them the direct question of whether Senseg is involved in the iPad 3 launch.

The report also links back to a Trusted Reviews report from June 2011 in which Senseg claimed it was working with "a certain tablet maker based in Cupertino."

Apple has certainly expressed interest in haptic technology in the past, as evidenced by patent applications on the company's ideas. But specific rumors about incorporating the technology into iOS devices have been essentially non-existent until now. With just a few hours to go until Apple's media event, observers don't have long to wait to find out if the last-minute claims are true.

9to5Mac reports that it has now received pricing information from reliable source "Mr. X" on the part number for the updated Apple TV revealed last week, with the new model coming in at the same $99 price as the current model.

The Apple TV J33 model, MD199LL/A – J33 BEST -USA, which we’ve covered before will come in at the same $99 price point (and similar prices globally). We know from previous reports that it will have updated hardware internally including Bluetooth 4.0 Broadcom chip as well as a higher powered processor capable of 1080P video.

It will likely look the same with similar ports otherwise, though that hasn’t been confirmed.

The report also offers a price for the unknown product carrying a code name of "B82" that surfaced last week, with the item coming in at $39. It is likely to be an accessory of some sort for one of the major product launches coming tomorrow, but its identity remains unknown.