Live Coverage of Apple's iPad 3 Media Event

Apple is holding a media event today at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, where it is widely expected to introduce the iPad 3 and an updated Apple TV set-top box. The event is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time.


Apple will apparently not be providing live video coverage of the event to the public, but a number of news sites will be on hand to provide text and photo updates, and we're including links to several of them here. We will also be updating this article with coverage as the media event unfolds and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account. Separate news stories regarding the event announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.

- Engadget
- Ars Technica
- The Verge
- gdgt
- Macworld
- AllThingsD
- CNET
- SlashGear
- The Loop

Apple's online stores around the world are currently down in advance of the event.

Liveblog

yerba buena ipad 3 event line
Media event line forming at Yerba Buena

- The media, Apple executives and other "special guests" have been seated and are waiting for the event to begin.
- Lights are dimming, Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken the stage.
- Cook: "Good morning! Thank you very much for joining us. We have a great morning planned, and I’m very excited to be here. I’d like to get started by talking about the post-PC revolution, and Apple is at the forefront of leading this revolution."
- "We're talking about a world where the PC is no longer the center of your digital world. A world where the devices you use the most need to be more personal and more portable than any PC has ever been."
- Apple has three post-PC devices: iPod, iPhone, iPad.
- "The iPad 'defined a whole new category. In many ways, the iPad is reinventing portable computing and it's out-stripping the wildest of predictions.'"
- Sold 172 million Post-PC devices, making up 76% of Apple's revenue in 2011. "Apple has its feet firmly planted in the Post-PC future."
- "The post-PC world plays to our strengths." Talks up Apple Retail Stores. "These devices are new to many people. There needs to be a place to discover​ them."
- Apple sold 315 million iOS devices -- iPod Touch, iPad, iPhone -- through last year, 62 million in Q4 2011.
- Talking about Siri. "Siri is your best friend... who gets things done just by asking." Demoing what Siri sounds like in other parts of the world.
- Siri coming to Japan as part of iOS 5.1. 5.1 launches today, with siri rolling out in Japan over next few weeks.
- 585,000 apps on the App store. 25 billion apps downloaded, 25 billionth app downloaded in China.
- 100 million iCloud customers.
- iCloud now supports movies, in 1080p, re-download movies you've purchased on any device.
- New AppleTV announced, supports 1080p, new "streamlined" user interface. UI is full-1080p resolution.
- iCloud now supports iTunes playlists, better implementation of third party apps like MLB.tv.
- Eddy Cue demonstrates Apple TV, including National Geographic screen savers, Photo Stream, and more.
- Recommends movies based on what you've watched previously.
- "That's the new Apple TV and we think you're gonna love it."
- $99, available for preorder today, ships March 16th.

ipad 3
- Now the iPad. Sold 15.4 million in Q4 2011. "iPad is the poster child for the post-PC world."
- Apple sold more iPads than any individual PC-maker sold PC's.
- "When we set out to create the iPad, we set out to create not just a new product, but a new category. In order to do that, the iPad had to be the best device for doing some of the things that you do most often."
- "When we asked iPad users who had a notebook a desktop and a smartphone about their favorite device ​for email, they responded 'iPad.'" Same for web browsing, reading, and gaming (even versus home consoles).
- Remarkable for a device that has only been out two years.
- More than 200,000 apps designed specifically for iPad. "They can help you create or learn or do almost anything."
- 100+ tablets came out last year, none have same user experience as iPad.
- Comparing Twitter on Android (looks like a blown up smartphone app) to Twitter on iPad. "Clearly designed to take advantage of the large canvas."
- Compares Yelp apps. "Lots of white space. Tiny text, hard to read. Compare that to the iPad. This is a reason momentum on the iPad that continues to build."
- New iPad. "We’ve taken it to a whole new level, and we are redefining the category that Apple created with the original iPad."
- It has a home button. And Retina Display. "Until you see it you can’t understand how amazing it is."
- "This presents a problem for us in presenting it to you. For the first time, an iPad has a higher resolution than this entire display behind you... that's a fun challenge."
- "Photos are just going to look amazing on that gorgeous high-resolution display."
- 2048 x 1536 resolution. Higher than a 1080p display. 3.1 million pixels, 264 pixels per inch, "enough to call it a retina display". iPhone 4 was held at 10 inches, iPad held at 15".
- 44% greater color saturation.
- A5X Processor, quad-core graphics.
- New iSight Camera. 5MP rear camera, backside illuminated sensor on the back, 5-element lens, IR filter, and ISP built into A5X chip. Same design as iPhone 4S. Auto-exposure, auto-focus.
- HD video recording in 1080p.
- Siri-like voice dictation. Microphone button on keyboard. Supports US English, British, Australian, French, German and Japanese.
- Supports 4G LTE. Supports HSPA+ up to 21MBps, DC-HSDPA at 42 Mbps, and LTE at 73 Mbps.
- Supports AT&T and Verizon LTE in the US. Telus, Rogers, Bell in Canada.
- Two different models of iPads for AT&T and Verizon because they use different bands. Same as CDMA/GSM iPad 2's.
- All are 3G world-ready, can roam world-wide.
- iPad can be a personal Wi-Fi hotspot, if carrier supports it.
- New iPad supports most bands ever.
- Running down features.
- Battery life on iPad 2 was 10 hours, 9 hours on 3G.
- New iPad has 10 hours of battery life, with 9 hours on 4G.
- 9.4mm thin, weights 1.4 lbs. iPad 2 was 1.33 lbs. and 8.8mm thick.
- $499 for 16GB model. $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. Same pricing as iPad 2.
- 4G is $629/$729/$829.
- Available March 16th, preorders start today.
- US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan. Apple's biggest rollout ever.
- All the stock apps have been updated and optimized for the new display.
- Existing apps will be scaled up and text automatically rendered for higher-resolution display.
- Developer demo time.
- First is James Shelton, Game Design Director from Namco.
- New flight sim game, "Sky Gamblers"
- Planes dogfighting. Shake the iPad to eject the pilot from the plane. Clever.
- Sky Gamblers exclusive to iOS, launches later this month.
- Chris Cheung from Autodesk, demoing Sketchbook.
- 10 million customers for Autodesk on desktop, "tens of millions" of new users on iOS.
- New app: SketchBook Ink "A new drawing app that focuses on line art."
- Can export images greater than 100 megapixels.
- MIke Capps from Epic Games. "An amazing new project."
- Infinity Blade Dungeons. "We're excited to raise the bar for gaming with the new iPad."
- Player is on a quest to craft "the ultimate weapon": The Infinity Blade.
- HDR Graphics and tone-mapping.
- More memory or screen resolution than Xbox 360 or PS3.
- "Coming soon"
- New versions of Pages, Keynote, Numbers updated for Retina Display. Free update if already purchased, same $9.99 price otherwise.
- Updated GarageBand. Smart Strings, Note editor, iCloud integration. $4.99 or free update for previous owners. "Jam Sessions" allow multiple iPads to be used to create a band"
- iMovie updated as well. Adds Movie Trailer creation, with visual storyboards like iMovie for OS X.
- iMovie is $4.99, free update for current owners. Available today.
- iPhoto for iPad. "It is amazing."
- For those who love the photos they take with family and friends and want to do even more with them.
- Same photo library, new browsing, new ways to edit with multi-touch, professional-quality effects, brushes, and Photo Beaming let's users move photos between devices.
- Randy Ubillos, Chief Architect for Photo and Video Applications on stage.
- By double-tapping a photo, iPhoto finds all pictures that look similar. Swipe down to remove them, double-tap to go full-screen.
- App supports up to 19 megapixel photos.
- Share photos through email, Flickr, Twitter and more.
- Built-in horizon finding tool. Locates horizon and rotates image as appropriate.
- All non-destructive editing.
- Tilt-shift and watercolor effects.
- New "Journal" feature, allows users to highlight photos with captions, like a scrapbook. Add notes and text, calendars, geotags, weather, and more.
- Very easy sharing, publish to iCloud, viewable in any browser.
- $4.99, available today on iPad and iPhone.
- Demo video, recapping all the new features.
- iPad 2, $399 for 16GB Wi-FI model, $529 for 16GB 3G model.
- Says education is big reason for keeping iPad 2 around. "So many more schools can afford this."
- The new iPad is apparently called "The new iPad."
- Showing new iPad television commercial.
- Cook says it is the privilege of a lifetime to work with Apple employees, "the most innovative" on earth.
- Lots to look forward to in 2012, "we are just getting started."

Popular Stories

A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...

Top Rated Comments

QuiteSure Avatar
174 months ago
Somewhere out there an oblivious buyer is cussing Apple out because the Online store is down.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Flood123 Avatar
174 months ago
Q: "What iPad do you have? "
A: "The new iPad."

one year later after the next iPad is released

Q: "What iPad do you have?"
A: "The new iPad."
Q: "Which new iPad?"
A: "The older new iPad I guess?"
Q: SO,... it's not the new iPad?"
A: No,... It is the new iPad. Just not the new iPad"
Q: " OK well then,... Who's on first?"
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
edtorious Avatar
174 months ago
No video?

For all the billions they have, I don't understand why they cannot provide live video coverage of their event when they know a lot of us are going to watch it? :rolleyes:
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WoodNUFC Avatar
174 months ago
What time will that be in the UK please?

6pm.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RalfTheDog Avatar
174 months ago
I am so disappointed. I was planning to get one until I found out, it is not nuclear powered. Now I guess, I will just buy two cans and a nuclear powered string.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MRU Avatar
174 months ago
Seriously, is it called the new iPad?
Let's just hope it's better than New Coke or we'll be back to iPad Classic next year ;)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)