SAN FRANCISCO: Apple on Wednesday (Sep 9) unveiled its iPad Pro, saying the large-screen tablet has the power and capabilities to replace a laptop computer.
Chief executive Tim Cook, speaking at a San Francisco media event, called the device "the biggest news in iPad since the iPad."
The new tablet with a 12.9-inch (32.7-centimetre) display, also includes a detachable keyboard and stylus.
Apple CEO Tim Cook presents the iPad Pro during an Apple media event in San Francisco, California. (Reuters/Beck Diefenbach)
The device features "desktop-class performance" and operates faster than 80 per cent of portable PCs that shipped in the last 12 months, said Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller. "It is thin and light enough to work all day and be taken everywhere," he added.
The new iPad will be available in November starting at US$799, with a keyboard option at US$169.
The iPad Pro includes a stylus called Apple Pencil - despite comments from late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs that consumers did not want such an accessory.
Cook said he expects the new tablet to offer new possibilities for computing as the original iPad did.
"The iPad is the clearest expression of our vision of the future of personal computing," Cook said. "In just five years, iPad has transformed the way we create, the way we learn and the way we work."
The new tablet has 10-hour battery life, and a "forcetouch" screen which responds to the amount of pressure applied.
Bob O'Donnell at the research firm Technalysis said on Twitter that the new iPad "sure looks a lot like a Windows 2-in-1 (computer) ... in fact, kind of similar to @surface," referring to the Microsoft tablet computer.
Apple also unveiled two updated iPhones, aiming to build on the success of its large-screen handsets introduced late last year. The new smartphones are the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, keeping the same overall dimensions of the last version.
Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller announces new colours for the new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. (Stephen Lam/ Getty Images/AFP)
"They look familiar, but we have changed everything about these iPhones," Cook said.
One of the key new features is called "3D touch" which responds to pressure exerted on the screen to allow users to look inside messages and applications.
The new iPhones will use the upcoming iOS 9 operating system, which supports new features such as 3D touch.
The 6S will include the 4.7-inch (about 12-centimetre) display of its predecessor and the 6S Plus - one of the more popular handsets in the "phablet category" - has a 5.5-inch screen.
But the devices have more powerful processors that allow for improved graphics, and a new aluminium body.
Also unveiled was Apple's new streaming television device with voice search, touchscreen remote control and an app store in a challenge to Google, Amazon, and video game console titans.
Apple TV was overhauled as people increasingly stream films and television shows on-demand online and turn to mobile applications for entertainment.
"Our vision for TV is simple, and perhaps a little provocative," Cook said. "We believe the future of television is apps."
Apple released a software kit for outside developers, and showed off early versions of Apple TV applications already being crafted by show streaming services Netflix, Hulu, and HBO.
Game makers are already working on applications, as are home-sharing service Airbnb and real estate-focused service Zillow, according to Apple executive Eddie Cue.
Siri virtual assistant software built in Apple TV allowed for natural language searches for shows, say by asking for something funny or a certain actor by name.
The new Apple TV will launch in late October at a starting price of $149.
Apple TV has lagged rivals with similar devices. According to the research firm Parks Associates, Roku leads the US market with a 37 per cent market share, to 19 per cent for Google Chromecast and 17 per cent for Apple TV. Amazon's Fire TV devices have 14 per cent.
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