Source: Youtube/CNETTV

Apple Inc has launched the new thinner and lighter iPad Air and MacBook Pro with sharper retina display. The company also announced free upgrades on business software and operating system in a competitive move in preparation for the holiday shopping season.

Apple Inc's iPad Air will be available in Australia on Nov 1. The revamped iPad Mini with retina display is also scheduled to arrive later on during the same month. For Australians who are looking to upgrade their devices, the latest iPads from Apple will be reportedly tax-free.

However, for the Mac Pro, Australians will have to pay an additional $600 tax aside from the retail price. The price of Mac Pro in the U.S. starts at US$2,999 or AU$3,090. If the 10 per cent GST is applied, the price will go up to $3,400. Reports have said the starting price of the Mac Pro in Australia is $3,999. The Mac Pro will be available in the country in December.

The 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Air will cost $598 in Australia, while the 32GB version is $699, 64GB $799 and the 128GB at $899. Australian pricing for an iPad Air with SIM-card feature starts at $749 for 16GB, $849 for 32GB, $949 for 64GB and $1,049 for 128GB.

Australian buyers looking to buy their first iPad but have limited budget can consider buying the iPad 2 at a reduced price. A 16GB Wi-Fi model for iPad 2 is priced at $449, while the 16GB 3G model is at $598.

For the iPad Mini with Retina display, price starts at $479 for the 16GB model, $598 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB and $799 for 127GB. The original iPad mini has dropped to $349 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and $499 for 16GB 3G model.

With Apple refreshing its iPad line-up in a market filled with cheaper tablets running on Android software, the company may be focusing on protecting its tablet market share.

Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said Apple Inc might be thinking of Microsoft as a bigger threat than Google's Android. Ms Milanesi said that Apple's iPad will go against the Surface Pro and not "some rinky-dink Android tablet."

Source: YouTube/CNETTV

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