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Apple quietly releases new, less expensive iPad

Apple unveiled an updated version of its iPad tablet with a brighter screen on Tuesday, available to order from Friday and with a CAD$449 starting price that is the lowest ever for a full-sized tablet from Apple. Handout/Apple

Apple unveiled an updated version of its iPad tablet with a brighter screen on Tuesday, available to order from Friday and with a CAD$449 starting price that is the lowest ever for a full-sized tablet from Apple.

The new iPad model starts at 32 GB of storage and replaces the iPad Air 2. It will be slightly less expensive than the smaller iPad Mini 4, which starts at $549 for a 128 GB model. The new, less expensive iPad will start at $449 for the 32GB with Wi-Fi model and $619 for the 32GB Wi-Fi/Cellular model.

READ MORE: iPhone at 10 – What Apple’s flagship device needs to stay competitive

Apple also said its smaller iPhone SE model will be available in 32 and 128 gigabyte (GB) versions, replacing the 16 GB and 64 GB models.

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WATCH: Since the iPhone’s first release in 2007, there have been 15 variations, and to date more than 2.2 million apps. Alan Carter reports on the extraordinary history of the smartphone.

Click to play video: 'Apple’s iPhone turns 10'
Apple’s iPhone turns 10

The hardware updates are incremental improvements that were announced without a major media event. Apple is widely expected to unveil an update to its flagship iPhone this fall that might have new features such as wireless charging, 3-D facial recognition and a curved display.

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READ MORE: Is Apple guilty of using ‘planned obsolescence’ to force iPhone users into upgrading?

Apple also announced a new app for creating videos and sharing them with friends on its iOS devices. The new feature, along with extra iMessage features released in recent years, pushes Apple closer to competing with the features in social networking apps like Snap Inc.

The new app, called Clips, lets users add captions and speech bubbles to videos and share them on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram or Apple’s own messaging app, where videos can be sent to contacts with a single tap. But unlike Snap or other messaging apps, users can add captions to videos using their voice.

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