DHAKA: Apple announced a new version of its tablet, the iPad Air 2, which it said was the thinnest device of its kind on the market. It is 6.1mm (0.24in) thick, and also gains a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

It has an anti-reflective coating on the screen for the first time, and the A8X - a faster version of the processor featured in the firm's latest iPhones.

However, some analysts have questioned whether the upgrade will be enough to turn around iPad sales.

An upgraded version of the firm's smaller tablet - called the iPad Mini 3 - was also announced.

Like its bigger sibling, it gets the company's fingerprint recognition component. But it uses the older A7 processor and has a lower-resolution rear camera.

Some of the details were published by Apple, reportedly by mistake, on Wednesday.

Pic: Sales

At the start of the event, Cook had described the iPad as a “simple and magical device,” explaining that the company has sold more than 225 million iPads since launching the tablet in 2010. “We have sold more iPads in the first four years than any other product in our history,” he added.

Apple's last earnings release revealed that it had sold 13.3 million iPads in the April-to-June quarter. That marked a 9% fall on its tally for the same period in 2013, despite the fact the company saw sales of iPhones and Mac computers rise.

It also contrasted with an 11% rise in the number of tablet shipments across the market as a whole - with Lenovo and Asus making some of the biggest gains - according to data from IDC.

The market research firm said that the iPad remained the bestselling tablet brand, but that its market share had dropped over the year from 33% to 26.9%.

** Apple leaks new iPad details


Source: BBC, Fox News

BDST: 0345 HRS, OCT 17, 2014