New iPad launches in US, UK, other countries 16 March

The new iPad is arriving this Friday, says a press release from Apple.

According to the Cupertino-based tech giant the “resolutionary” device will arrive in “Apple’s retail stores and the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) on Friday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m. local time in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK; along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.”

Apple promises new customers purchasing the iPad a “Personal Setup Service” or, loosely translated, a “how to stream porn service”.

For US customers only, Apple is offering “Personal Pickup”, this lets users purchase the iPad from anywhere in the states and then simply walk into an Apple store to pickup their shiny new toy. Prices start at $499 for the 16GB model, and climb to US$829 for the 64GB model with Wi-Fi and LTE.

From 23 March, iPads will ship to the rest of the world, including: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. Not in these countries? Look forward to paying outrageous import fees.