SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is revealing a new iPad model. New features include a sharper screen and a faster processor.
It will go on sale March 16.
Prices aren't changing from previous models. They will start at $499. Versions capable of accessing cellular networks will cost $629 to $829. For the first time, the iPad will be able to access the faster 4G cellular networks.
Apple says the new display will be even sharper than the high-definition television set in the living room. The company says it will show more saturated colors than previous models.
Apple says the new model also will be four times faster.
Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook says, "We are taking it to a whole new level and are redefining the category that Apple created with the original iPad."
New iPad thicker, heavier than old model
Apple's new iPad will be thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 because it features a bigger, more powerful battery.
Even with a bigger battery, the battery life of the device stays the same: about 10 hours. That's because Apple has quadrupled the screen resolution, which in turn requires more computing power.
Apple revealed the device Wednesday at an event in San Francisco.
The new iPad will be 9.4 millimeters thick, or 0.37 inches. That compares with 8.8 millimeters, or 0.34 inches, for the iPad 2.
The weight of the Wi-Fi-only model is going up from 1.33 pounds to 1.44 pounds. Models equipped with modems for cellular data access are slightly heavier.
The new iPad will go on sale on March 16 in the U.S. and selected markets.
Apple lets movies into iCloud, upgrades Apple TV
Apple is going to start letting users store movies on its iCloud remote storage service, allowing them to access their movies from PCs, iPhones and other Apple devices through the Internet.
The company is also upgrading its Apple TV set-top box so that it can play movies in "1080p" format, the highest-resolution commonly used video standard.
The small box, which comes with a remote, will still cost $99. The upgraded version will go on sale next week.
The announcements were among the first at an Apple event in San Francisco on Wednesday, where CEO Tim Cook is revealing a new iPad model.