TECHNOLOGY giant Apple has unveiled its latest iPad which the company said will take tablet computers to "a whole new level".

The computer will have higher resolution than ever before, a video recorder and a five megapixel camera with auto focus and auto exposure.

It will also have "voice dictation" which allows people to dictate straight to their computer rather than type.

Apple said the "retina display", which uses 3.1 million pixels on the 9.7 inch screen, would have "the highest resolution ever on a mobile device".

Another feature is a high speed 4G wireless network which will allow users to download pictures and films quicker than before, although experts pointed out this is of limited use in the UK where there is no widespread 4G network.

The company is hoping the new version can safeguard its dominance as rivals from Amazon.com Inc to Samsung Electronics pile into the market. The global tablet user base reached 67 million in 2011, according to researcher Strategy Analytics.

Analysts expect double-digit growth in general of tablet sales in coming years.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook, presiding over his second major product launch since 2011's voice-enabled iPhone 4S, introduced the highly anticipated third version of the iPad, which will hit stores on March 16. Speaking via a video link from California, he said: "It is amazing, we're taking it to a whole new level."

The tablet, which weighs 1.4lbs, will go on sale in the UK for between £399 and £659.

Ernest Doku, technology expert at uSwitch.com, said: "Judged on specs alone, the new iPad truly is streets ahead of the other leading tablets, before factoring in the competitive price point and wealth of software on the App Store. The addition of 4G capability is more relevant for the US market, but it shows how much Apple is future-proofing its new tablet."

Shares of Apple, which had trended upward by as much as 1% in morning trade yesterday on Wall Street, dipped briefly into negative territory as the iPad was unveiled, following a familiar pattern established at previous launches.

Mr Cook also announced that the company's new Apple TV set-top box, a concept that late CEO Steve Jobs had called a "hobby," now supports high-definition 1080p screen technology.