Apple has unveiled the latest version of its popular iPad tablet device at an event in San Francisco.

After weeks of speculation about the “iPad 3”, Apple revealed details of the third generation of its device, which comes with an improved display and is compatible with next generation wireless connectivity.

However, instead of the iPad 3, attendees were show what chief executive Tim Cook referred to simply as “the new iPad”, a device he said was the “ultimate poster child of post-PC world”.

“Apple has its feet firmly planted in the post-PC future,” Mr Cook said. “The momentum behind the iPad has been incredible, it surprised virtually everyone.”

Apple executives claimed the new device will redefine a category the company created two years ago with the launch of the iPad.

The Retina display included in the iPad has 3.1 million pixels. That’s four times more than the previous version of the iPad and about one million pixels more than the average high definition TV.

Apple has also bumped up the graphics power, replacing the dual core A5 chip with a new A5x chip that has quad core graphics.

The device’s rear-facing camera has been improved to a 5 megapixel iSight camera, and added 1080p high definition video capture, compared with 720p on the iPad 2.

The new iPad will also support 4G long term evolution (LTE) mobile connectivity, which provides faster data speeds than current 3G networks. A new software update will allow users to turn the device into a personal hotspot to share its internet connection – a feature that is already included on the iPhone.

However, operators in Ireland currently do not offer LTE networks.

The device is also 3G “world ready”, allowing it to be used on different network bands around the world.

The new iPad will also feature voice dictation for messages, notes, web searches and third-party apps, in English, French, German and Japanese.

Due to launch next week in the US, the iPad will come to Ireland on March 23rd.