Three million new iPads sold in first weekend

Apple announced on Monday that it has sold 3 million new iPads since the device launch on March 16.

The company, which had cited “record” sales earlier in the day, has now backed up that boast. “The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold―the strongest iPad launch yet,” Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of wordwide marketing, said in a press release from the company. “Customers are loving the incredible new features of iPad, including the stunning Retina display, and we can’t wait to get it into the hands of even more customers around the world this Friday.”

Laying out opening weekend results is fairly unusual for Apple, which typically waits until its quarterly meeting with analysts to outline such numbers.

More at Mashable.

Apple announces new iPad

Apple has today announced its new third-generation iPad, which comes packing a new high-resolution Retina display. “Until you see it you can’t understand how amazing it is”, said CEO Tim Cook.

The new iPad is priced at $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. And $629, $729, and $829 for 4G. It will be available on March 16th in the US.

The new high-resolution display runs at 2048×1536 at a pixel density of 264PPI.

The new iPad maintains the current 10 hour battery life with 9 hours on 4G.

There is also a brand new feature in the iPad, an iSight camera on the front and a new rear camera that runs at 5MP. This allows the new iPad to record HD movies at 1080P.

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Apple's stock hits $500 a share

Apple’s stock topped $500 for the first time on Wall Street even as a probe started looking into work conditions at a Chinese factory that cranks out the California company’s coveted gadgets.

Apple shares gained 1.86 percent during the day, powered by reports a new iPad may be unveiled next month, to close at $502.60 and then inched up more in after-hours trading.

Despite the investigation into labor practices, Apple also continued to show its strength with consumers, dethroning Google in the annual Harris Poll RQ study as the company with the most respected image in the eyes of consumers.

The maker of iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macintosh computers got the highest score ever seen in the survey, which asks people to rate the reputations of 60 of the most well-known US companies.