Business News

Apple stokes iPad rumours with media invitation

Feb 28, 2012, 18:33 GMT

San Francisco - Apple stoked rumours Tuesday about the imminent launch of a new iPad, issuing invitations to a media event on March 7 for a new product announcement.

'We have something you really need to see. And touch,' read the emailed invitation, which dropped in people's inboxes just a day after US electronics retailer Best Buy dropped the price of current iPad 2s by 50 dollars, a traditional sign that an updated version is on the way to stores.

Apple pioneered the adoption of tablet computers with the launch of the original iPad in 2010, and in the last quarter of 2011 sold 15.4 million of the devices.

However its share of the market is being challenged by a plethora of tablets powered by Google's Android operating system, which Apple is trying to thwart with a global patent war against companies making the devices.

The new iPad is expected to feature a higher resolution display than the current model, and also sport a faster processor, better camera and access to fourth generation wireless networks. Some media reports have predicted that Apple may also offer a separate device with a smaller screen.

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