Associated Press writer Jonathan Fahey reports the results of an Electric Power Research Institute study to determine how much energy an iPad consumes in a year. “The answer: not much,” writes Fahey, noting that “the annual cost to charge an iPad is just $1.36.” He adds: “…if people are using iPads instead of televisions to play video games, or ditching their desktop computers for iPads, the shift to tablets could mean lower overall power consumption.”

PC Magazine rates the new MacBook Pro with Retina display 4.5 out of 5 and makes it an Editors’ Choice, noting that it “outperforms, outclasses, and outlasts” competing notebooks. Reviewer Joel Santo Domingo writes that with its fast performance, super-thin profile, impressive battery life, and “glorious” new display, the MacBook Pro with Retina display is “the high-end choice for media professionals, enthusiasts, and general Mac fans alike.”

Apple today unveiled an all-new 15-inch MacBook Pro, featuring a stunning Retina display with over 5 million pixels, all-flash storage architecture, and quad-core processors in a radically thin and light design. Measuring a mere 0.71 inch high and weighing only 4.46 pounds, the completely redesigned MacBook Pro is the lightest MacBook Pro ever and nearly as thin as a MacBook Air. The 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is available through the Apple Online Store and Apple Retail Stores, starting at $2,199 (US).

Apple today updated MacBook Air with the latest Intel Core processors, faster graphics, and flash storage that is up to twice as fast as the previous generation. MacBook Air is the ultimate everyday notebook, and with new lower prices it is more affordable than ever. The current generation 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro have also been updated with the latest Intel Core processors and powerful discrete graphics from NVIDIA. The updated MacBook Air, starting at $999 (US), and MacBook Pro, starting at $1,199 (US), are available through the Apple Online Store and Apple Retail Stores.

Apple today announced that OS X Mountain Lion, the ninth major release of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, will be available in July. Mountain Lion introduces more than 200 innovative features, including the new Messages app, Notification Center, system-wide sharing, Facebook integration, Dictation, Power Nap, AirPlay Mirroring, Game Center, and the enhanced security of Gatekeeper. With iCloud built into the foundation of OS X, Mountain Lion makes it easier than ever to keep your content up to date across all your devices. OS X Mountain Lion will be available in July from the Mac App Store for $19.99 (US). The OS X Mountain Lion Up-to-Date upgrade is available at no additional charge via the Mac App Store to all customers who purchased a qualifying new Mac system from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller on or after June 11, 2012.

Apple today previewed iOS 6, which adds over 200 new features to the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. New iOS 6 features include: an all-new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation, and an amazing new Flyover view; new Siri features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations, and movie listings; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center, Siri, and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari, and Maps; shared Photo Streams via iCloud; and Passbook, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place. Apple also released a beta version of the new software to iOS Developer Program members. iOS 6 will be available to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users this fall as a free software update.

Apple products have become an essential part of how students learn at Flitch Green Academy, a public elementary/middle school located just outside of London. Flitch Green’s unique approach is taught through open-ended “experiences” where students use iPad, Mac, and iPod touch, alongside more traditional media, to work on cross-curricular learning projects. “This allows children to use all the resources they have available to them to represent what we’ve asked them to do,” says principal Helen Johnson. “And normally they come back with things that we won’t have even dreamt of.”

New York Times writer Brian X. Chen reports that Amtrak is replacing its old manual ticketing system with iPhone, noting that the company is among the “growing number of businesses” to use iOS devices to improve operations. Chen reports that the system will allow conductors to keep track of passengers in real time and also provide updates to railway staff, such as if a disabled person is getting on at a particular stop or if equipment fails. Amtrak’s Matt Hardison says, “We’ve made a number of important improvements for both our customers and Amtrak, all in one fell swoop.”

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2012 second quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $39.2 billion and quarterly net profit of $11.6 billion, or $12.30 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $24.7 billion and net profit of $6.0 billion, or $6.40 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. “We’re thrilled with sales of over 35 million iPhones and almost 12 million iPads in the March quarter,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The new iPad is off to a great start, and across the year you’re going to see a lot more of the kind of innovation that only Apple can deliver.”

Professional video editors around the world have moved to Final Cut Pro X to create faster and more flexible workflows. New York-based production house @radical.media is flipping its entire facility to Final Cut Pro X to tackle high-profile client projects. Hollywood’s Electric Entertainment is using Final Cut Pro X to cut episodes for the new season of its hit TV show “Leverage.” And accomplished editor Knut Hake used the software to edit new episodes of “Danni Lowinski,” one of Germany’s most popular and critically acclaimed TV shows.

FileMaker, Inc. today announced the release of the FileMaker 12 database software line — including FileMaker Pro 12, FileMaker Go 12, and FileMaker Server 12 — which offers powerful new ways to create custom database apps for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, and the web. New professionally designed themes and the ability to customize every detail make it easy to create databases for managing contacts, projects, digital content, and more. All FileMaker 12 products are available starting today.

At Lowe’s stores around the country, iPhone is changing customer service for the better. Using custom iPhone apps, store employees have key product information on hand, so they can check pricing, inventory, and location of items within the store, anytime, from their iPhones. And the free consumer app features how-to videos, prices and reviews, store locations, and gift card balances. “iPhone, iPad, and the iOS platform are enterprise solutions that we can build on for the future,” says Lowe’s Executive Vice President and CIO Mike Brown.

National Geographic magazine reports that ski-mountaineer Hilaree O’Neill — a member of its 2012 Everest expedition — will follow the same route Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay did in 1953, but with an iPad and iPhone in her backpack. iPad gives O’Neill a journaling device with a solid-state data storage drive usable at altitudes where spinning hard disk drives have been known to fail. And with cell service available even on Everest’s summit, she’ll use an iPhone 4S to stay in touch instead of a cumbersome walkie-talkie.

Apple today announced it has sold three million new iPad devices since its launch on Friday, March 16. “The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold ― the strongest iPad launch yet,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, and Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO, will host a conference call Monday, March 19, 2012 at 6:00 a.m. PDT/9:00 a.m. EDT to announce the outcome of the company’s discussions concerning its cash balance. Apple will not be providing an update on the current quarter, nor on any other topics. Apple will provide live audio streaming of its conference call using Apple’s industry-leading QuickTime multimedia software, and the webcast will be available as a continuous rebroadcast for two weeks thereafter.

The new iPad — the third generation of the category-defining mobile device — arrived at Apple’s Retail Stores and the Apple Online Store 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. Beginning at a suggested retail price of $499 (US), the new iPad features a stunning Retina display, Apple’s A5X chip with quad-core graphics, and a 5-megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video. And iPad 2 is now available at a more affordable price, starting at just $399.

In his review of the new iPad, AllThingsD’s Walt Mossberg describes viewing the Retina display as “like getting a new eyeglasses prescription — you suddenly realize what you thought looked sharp before wasn’t nearly as sharp as it could be.” He praises the performance of the iPad as “buttery smooth,” and he writes that he “loves” the photos he took with the new 5-megapixel camera. Mossberg concludes, “Since it launched in 2010, the iPad has been the best tablet on the planet. With the new, third-generation model, it still holds that crown.”

Ed Baig of USA Today reviews the new iPad and declares that it “snatches the crown from its predecessor as the finest tablet you can buy. Period.” Baig calls the new Retina display “spectacular” and points out that the screen is “sharper than your high-definition television.” He also lauds the built-in battery, which allowed him to use it for an entire day without recharging. And he points out that Apple “continues to claim a huge advantage over Android and other tablet rivals” with its apps ecosystem.