Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) introduced on Tuesday a fourth- generation version of the iPad with a so-called retina display and 128 gigabytes of memory, twice the storage capacity of models already on the market.
The new iPad will be available starting Feb. 5 at a starting price of $799 for a Wi-Fi version and $929 for a device that also offers a cellular connection, Cupertino, California- based Apple said today in a statement.
“With more than 120 million iPads sold, it’s clear that customers around the world love their iPads, and everyday they are finding more great reasons to work, learn and play on their iPads rather than their old PCs,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing. “With twice the storage capacity and an unparalleled selection of over 300,000 native iPad apps, enterprises, educators and artists have even more reasons to use iPad for all their business and personal needs.”
Added memory will enable consumers to store more photos, books, movies, television shows, music and applications on the iPad, Apple said. Earlier this month, the company posted the slowest profit growth since 2003 and the weakest sales increase in 14 quarters, fueling concern about Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook’s ability to keep producing hit products more than a year after the death of co-founder Steve Jobs.
Apple also released a software update for iPhones and iPads that speeds up data downloads on some major overseas telecom networks and a handful of small U.S. carriers.
Apple says iOS version 6.1 adds the ability to access the “LTE” networks of 36 additional iPhone carriers. Those include Alaska Communications, Bluegrass Cellular of Kentucky and C Spire of Mississippi. Internationally, they include major carriers in Italy, Denmark, Finland, Croatia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
The update also includes the ability buy U.S. movie tickets through the “Siri” voice-controlled assistant feature. Also, subscribers to “iTunes Match” will now be able to download individual songs from their online lockers to their phones.
The update is compatible with the iPod Touch as well.
More details about the new iPad are available at Apple’s website.
