Apple unveils new iPad with sharper screen

Apple CEO Tim Cook introduces the new iPad at Wednesday's unveiling in San Francisco.pple Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller talks about the display on the new iPad during an Apple product launch event at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.The iPad is moving into the next generation of cellular networks. Apple, as expected, rolled out its latest version of the popular tablet device Wednesday, showcasing a greatly improved display screen and the inclusion of 4G compatibility. At the same time, the company rolled out a new, high definition version of its Apple TV product. The new iPad (which is not being called iPad 3 or iPad HD, as rumored) will hit store shelves on March 16 , with no increase in price. (Devices will range from $499-$699 for WiFi only models and $629-$899 for WiFi/4G models). The company also plans to keep the iPad 2 on the market, cutting its retail price by $100 on all models. The new Apple TV, which bumps its resolution from 720p to 1080p, will also go on sale on March 16 , and will also maintain its $99 price point. Like the iPhone 4 and 4S, the new iPad will include the Retina display. That will boost the tablet's resolution to 2048x1536 , a four-fold increase over the current generation. That also means the iPad will have more pixels on screen than most high definition TVs. Beyond the resolution increase, color saturation will be 44 percent higher on the new device. ''It is amazing,'' said Apple CEO Tim Cook at the unveiling in San Francisco. ''We've taken it to a whole new level, and we are redefining the category that Apple created with the original iPad.'' The new iPad will also run on the 4G networks of Verizon, ATandT and other carriers worldwide. That will increase its download speeds for video and other features by as much as 10 fold. The system will also upgrade the iPad's camera to allow 1080p recording with image stabilization and temporal noise reduction. While some have worried the drain of 4G and the retina display might impact the device's battery life, Apple said the new iPad would continue to run for 10-hours. Apple has seen tremendous success with the iPad, selling 15.4 million of the devices during the holiday season. ''We sold more iPads in the fourth quarter of last year than any PC manufacturer sold of their entire PC line worldwide,'' said Cook. ''We think this gives you an indication of the potential for this product.'' The new Apple TV is a continuation of the company's previous efforts in the television space , essentially a set top box - but is seen as a stepping-stone for an eventual jump to a full TV offering. The jump to 1080p was the most notable step along with the addition of movie purchases to iCloud, letting people easily watch their iTunes purchases on their TV. Other additions include PhotoStream, meaning pictures taken with an iPhone or iPad will appear on Apple TV , and the inclusion of the Genius recommendation engine. While Wednesday's announcement lacked any jaw dropping surprises, Cook hinted that the company has robust plans for 2012. ''We have redefined once again, the category that Apple created two years ago,'' he said. ''It's what we love to do. It's what we stand for. And across the year, you're going to see a lot more of this kind of innovation. We are just getting started.'' Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com