Preorder new iPad today, in stores March 16

The wait is over. Today Apple officially unveiled the third-generation iPad, which is available for preorder today and will be in stores March 16, along with the new Apple TV. The company unveiled the new tablet during a highly-anticipated media event in San Francisco.

Prices are unchanged, ranging from $499 to $829, depending on storage capacity and wireless radios: 16GB WiFi, $499; 32GB WiFi, $599; 16GB WiFi and 4G, $629; 64GB WiFi, $699; 32GB WiFi and 4G, $729; 64GB WiFi and 4G, $829.

First countries to get the new iPad: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

The new iPad, as rumored, packs 2048 x 1536 pixels. Yesterday, I explained why the new iPad needs an HD display. This one has a pixel density of 264 dots per inch.

The new tablet also adds 4G LTE support for AT&T and Verizon networks here in the United States. Verizon offers LTE to 200 million Americans in 196 cities. AT&T: 74 million Americans in 28 metropolitan areas.