Apple’s 'New iPad' – First Impression; Specs and Exclusive Apps (VIDEO)

It's finally here... and the new iPad, as Tim Cook referred to it (neither an iPad 3 nor a 2S) sports a stunning display and an array of spellbinding features that will silent Android competitors like Samsung and Amazon for quite some time.

Check out all the features and apps...

Size

The new 9.7-inch iPad is 9.4mm thin and weighs 1.4lbs. The iPad 2 is 8.8mm deep and weighs 1.33lbs (Wi-Fi model). The latest model is therefore 0.6mm thicker and 0.07lbs heavier than its predecessor.

Retina Display

Apple's newly unveiled iPad sports the ultra-high resolution display Apple enthusiasts have long clamored for.

Until you see it, you can't understand how amazing it is, said an Apple marketing honcho. The screen packs a 2048x1536 pixel resolution (3.1 million pixels), for the most ever in a mobile device. The new iPad has a million pixels more than any HDTV in the market and its screen resolution is higher than an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. It also has 44 percent greater saturation.

4G LTE

Apple has given users what they wanted. Yes, 4G Long Term Evolution is finally available on the new iPad. The company has confirmed that the high-end model of Apple's latest iPad (the product is priced from $499 upwards) will be capable of operating on a high-speed 4G LTE network.

At the event, it was disclosed the new iPad would support 21Mbps HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA at 42Mbps, as well as LTE at 73Mbps. The Apple device will run on both AT&T and Verizon LTE networks. The international LTE partners will be Canadian carriers Bell, Rogers and TELUS. There will also be a personal hotspot available on support carriers.

Battery

The battery remains the same for the new iPad. Apple, however, claims that even with the A5X chip with quad-core graphics that drives four times the pixels of iPad 2 and all the extra oomph that has been added, the battery will give an amazing 10 hours of service on a single charge and will maintain the same smoothness and fluidity the iPad is known for.

Camera

Gone are the days of the 0.7 megapixel rear-facing camera on the iPad 2. The new iPad features Apple's 5 megapixel iSight camera with CMOS sensor. Designed with advanced optics, it allows for gorgeous photos and 1080p HD video recording. The camera sports features like rear illumination, auto-exposure, auto-focus, face detection in still images, video stabilization, a fifth lens and hybrid IR filter. As for the front-facing videoconferencing camera, it is the same FaceTime camera with VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second, reports 9to5Mac.

Dual-Core Processor with Quad-Core Graphics

The new iPad will run a new dual-core A5X processor with quad-core graphics to drive all those high resolution pixels. As announced by Apple execs, the A5 chip is twice as fast as the Tegra 3 and the new A5X provides four times the performance.

iOS 5.1

Apple CEO Tim Cook, at the event, announced the availability of iOS 5.1 with immediate effect. The new iPad (and the iPhone 4S) will support the latest iOS. However, Apple experts have cautioned that iOS 5.1 is just a minor update, bringing a refreshed camera app, multi-language dictation and a personal hotspot function.

Siri

The fourth highlighted feature is voice dictation - definitely a taste of Siri. It supports English (U.S., UK and Australian), French, German and Japanese.

Apple Care+

The AppleCare+ for iPad extended protection plan provides coverage for accidental damage with each incident, subject to a $49 fee. According to Apple, the new iPad plan covers the device itself, its battery, any Time Capsule or AirPort device purchased two years before or during the plan, as well as the iPad's power adapter and USB cable. The user will have to grab AppleCare+ for the new iPad within 30 days of the purchase, so it will likely become available in time for the new iPad's March 16 launch.

iPhoto

iPhoto is a fun and intuitive app that allows for great viewing of photos. A scrollable thumbnail grid lets the user go through pictures in portrait or landscape mode. The user can also compare multiple pictures, side by side, select favorites and hide the more average shots in one fell swipe. Get iPhoto from the App Store for $4.99.

GarageBand

This app will let your fingers do the rock 'n' roll. GarageBand is available from the App Store for $4.99.

iMovie

iMovie helps you turn the HD video you shoot on your iOS device into a thrilling trailer or masterpiece worthy of the red carpet. $4.99 is all the user needs to shell out for this app from the App Store.