苹果公司（Apple）于3月6日在美国加里福尼亚州的旧金山市发布了人们期盼已久的第三代iPad。虽然这款设备仅被简单地唤作新一代iPad，但却具备了大量的升级特性，苹果认为，借助这款新品，它依然可以远远甩开其他竞争对手。

    迄今为止，苹果已经销售了1,500万部iPad。而且据目前的反响来看，该公司很可能可以凭借新一代iPad继续保持这种强劲的销售势头。在下文中，我们来细看一下新一代iPad到底如何不同凡响之处。

    新一代iPad的外观与目前市面上的老款iPad非常相近。苹果全球市场高级副总裁菲尔•席勒在被问及为什么新一代iPad外表缺乏新意时说：“iPad的外观堪称完美，我们为什么要画蛇添足呢？”

    在发布会上，苹果着重介绍了新一代iPad的屏幕。新品搭载了所谓的Retina显示屏（Retina Display），分辨率高达2048 x 1536，即点阵密度为264点/英寸（DPI）。

    此外，苹果还宣布，新一代iPad搭载的诸多应用也都升级了版本。比如，新的iPhoto功能就更为强大，甚至可以与Photoshop比肩。

    利用新的iPhoto应用程序，iPad用户可以选择多种方式展示自己拍摄的照片。想让你的坎昆（墨西哥著名旅游城市）之旅呈现方式更活泼有趣吗？你不仅能对照片进行裁剪或处理，还能用多种新型相册格式展现这些照片，这些相册格式还可以提供地图和天气等功能。

    Apple unveiled its long-awaited third generation iPad on March 6 in San Francisco, California. Dubbed simply the new iPad, the device offers a number of upgrades the company thinks will keep it far ahead of the competition.

    Apple has sold some 15 million iPads and, judging by the reaction in the room, is likely to keep up the pace with this new model. Here, take a closer look at the new iPad.

    The new iPad doesn't look much different than the old iPad on the outside. Asked about the lack of cosmetic changes, senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller said, "It was perfect, so why change it."

    Apple gave the new iPad's screen top billing at the event. It sports a so-called Retina Display with an uber high-resolution of 2048 x 1536. That's a pixel density of 264ppi.

    Apple also announced enhanced versions of its many apps. The new iPhoto, for example, is more powerful, bordering on Photoshop territory.

    With the new iPhoto, iPad users have more options for presenting shots they've taken. Want a fun way to remember that trip to Cancun? Not only can you crop and retouch snaps, you can present them in new album formats that include map and weather widgets.

    新一代iPad与前两代产品一样，也内置有两个相机。其中一个为相当于VGA质量的FaceTime相机；另一个为分辨率为500万像素的相机，具备诸多特性：能够捕捉1080点的视频（这很可能是当前最高的视频分辨率），防抖功能，人脸识别功能等等。新一代iPad的背部设有照明传感器，可以提高在昏暗环境下拍摄的照片的质量。

    新一代iPad中，苹果的音乐创作应用“车库乐队”（Garage Band）提供了一种新模式，允许多名iPad用户实现无线同步并同时演奏。

    游戏是iPad的另一大魅力所在。新一代iPad搭载的A5X处理器中置有四核图片处理器。苹果宣称，该处理器的速度比Tegra 3快4倍。

    Like its predecessors, the new iPad packs two cameras, including one identical VGA-quality FaceTime camera. The other is a 5-megapixel iSight camera with features like the ability to capture video in 1080p -- currently the highest-resolution possible -- image stabilization, and face detection in photos. A backside illumination sensor allows better photos in darker environments

    Apple's music-creation app Garage Band now comes with a mode that allows multiple iPad users to sync up wirelessly and jam together.

    Games are a growing part of the iPad's appeal. So the new version packs an A5X processor with a new quad-core graphics processor, which Apple claims is four times faster than the Tegra 3.

    新一代iPad的定价与其前两代产品完全相同，也就是说，16GB WiFi版的价格为499美元，而4G版定价为629美元。但是，iPad 2并不会就此退出历史舞台，至少目前还不会。苹果将会继续销售16GB WiFi版和4G版的iPad 2，但价格将分别降低100美元。

    译者：大海

    The new iPad is priced exactly like its predecessors, starting at $499 for the 16 gigabyte WiFi version and $629 for the 4G version. The iPad 2 won't go the way of the dinosaur, however -- at least not yet. Apple will still sell the 16 gigabyte WiFi and 4G versions, but for $100 less.