Apple unveils new iPad with high-definition screen

Apple's first product launch since the death of Steve Jobs

It said the resolution of the display was 2,048 by 1,536 pixels. The tablet is also powered by a new A5X chip with improved graphics performance.

Chief executive Tim Cook claimed to have "redefined once again the category Apple created". Apple dominates the market but should face a fresh challenge later this year when tablets running the full Windows 8 system are expected to go on sale.

The new iPad - which is simply called by that name - also features a 5-megapixel camera sensor. It will be able to run on 4G LTE networks where the service is available and can act as a wi-fi hotspot for other devices if carriers allow the function.

It is 9.4mm deep, slightly thicker than the 8.8mm profile of the iPad 2. The basic 16GB model with only wi-fi will cost £399 and the top of the range 64GB model with wi-fi and 4G will cost £659.

Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller said the tablet has the same 10-hour estimated battery life as the previous model using only wi-fi. That limit shortens by an hour when using 4G.

It is due to go on sale on 16 March in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Japan. The previous model will stay on sale at a reduced price, starting at £329. Mr Schiller said that would make it more affordable for schools to buy the machine. The firm also announced an upgraded TV box which can now handle 1080p video.

Films and TV shows will be sold via its iTunes store in the high-definition format.

Mixed reactions

IMS Research said Apple accounted for 62% of the global tablet market in 2011. Ahead of the press conference it said it expected that share to rise to 70% this year. Analysts at Gartner said they expected Apple to maintain its lead and increase the volume of tablets sold - but added that the launch did not contain any news to cause them to increase their "bullish" forecasts.

"I'd call the new iPad an evolutionary device with some revolutionary experiences," said research director Michael Gartenberg.

Others expressed disappointment following the news noting that the new device's display did not include haptic touch-feedback technology or access to the iPhone 4S' voice-controlled Siri "intelligent assistant" as rumoured.

"As tablets are increasingly being used for personal media consumption, it is promising to see a better screen resolution," said Fred Huet, managing director of Greenwich Consulting.

"But will this be enough to ensure Apple's competitive lead in the marketplace? No." However, the new iPad won praise from journalists at Engadget who were among the first to try out the tablet. They noted that the improved screen resolution should lead to improved apps. "Apple just put an insane amount of real estate in the hands of crafty developers, and frankly, we can't wait to see what they cook up.

Vodafone announces 'secure SIM' at CeBIT

A British mobile giant has teamed up with BMW to provide automated emergency calls during an accident. The move is designed to comply with an upcoming EU initiative.

Vodafone secure SIM at CeBIT

On Monday, the day before the official opening of the CeBIT consumer technology show in Hannover, Vodafone announced a new type of SIM card. The company says this provides an encryption to allow users to make secure phone calls and text messages to other Vodafone users with another secure SIM.

Currently, there are few consumer-grade end-to-end encryption tools available for smartphones. This product will likely be targeting professionals who want to keep their communications secret, but it will no doubt be used by tech activists as well.

Emergency calls

Meanwhile, the British mobile telecom giant also announced a partnership with German automaker BMW. That deal will allow for Vodafone users with secure SIMs to communicate via voice commands in new German-made BMWs, and would automatically dial the emergency services in the event of an accident. This feature is designed to comply with the European Union's new eCall initiative to require such features in all new cars by 2015.

"There will be no Google or Vodafone cars," said Gerlach Paus, a spokesman for Vodafone, in an interview with DW. "There will be just be BMWs that can completely integrate new services over broadband." Industry analysts expect the value of this "machine-to-machine communication" in the automotive sector to reach 9 billion euros by the end of the year.

But, it's not just car companies partnering with the tech world. At IBM, for example, researchers have developed a new battery technology that extends the range of electric cars by a factor of five, to about 800 kilometers.

Author: Rolf Wenkel

Mobile phone show opens in Barcelona

Mobile Show In Barcelona

The German tech industry estimates a record year for smartphones and mobile revenues. Meanwhile, Chinese companies are set to release $100 smartphones, which could significantly broaden the market for the devices.

Tech industry representatives and gadget watchers from around the globe have begun converging on Barcelona for the annual Mobile World Congress.

This major international tech convention showcases the latest in mobile phones and other portable computing devices.

"We are seeing many new smartphones, some new tablets and very many apps," said Lutz Labs, editor of computer magazine c't, in an interview

This year, in Germany, total sales of smartphones have overtaken conventional phones for the first time - a total of 16 million units, according to the tech industry trade group, BITKOM.

One technology that the mobile industry is banking on is the rise of Near-Field Communication, or NFC. This wireless technology allows small amounts of data to be exchanged at short range, which has already begun to be use in some electronic payment systems, or "digital wallet" applications.

There are also signs that smartphones are set to break into the entry-level market for mobiles. With Chinese companies, including ZTE and Huawei, producing smartphones at a retail price of about $100 (74 euros), many more consumers are expected to take advantage of apps and portable Internet access.

This rise is certain to be a boon for the mobile industry. In Germany alone, BITKOM estimates that revenue from mobile data services will rise by the end of the year to 8.2 billion euros.

Pakistan’s military is working on the latest addition to its sprawling commercial empire: a homegrown version of the iPad.

Pakistan’s military  a home-grown version of the iPad.

Rawalpindi – Inside a high-security air force complex that builds jet fighters and weapons systems, Pakistan’s military is working on the latest addition to its sprawling commercial empire: a homegrown version of the iPad.