APPLE ANNOUNCES A NEW iPAD WITH A 12.9 INCH SCREEN

APPLE CEO TIM COOK

Apple’s new “bigger is better” mantra may soon apply to the iPad.

The gadget maker is working on a new iPad with a 12.9-inch screen that is expected to begin production next year, Bloomberg News reported, citing Apple suppliers.

That’s three inches beyond its full-size 9.7-inch iPad and almost an inch larger than Microsoft’s Surface 3 tablet, which comes with a keyboard and is marketed to corporate clients that rely on Microsoft Office software.

The report comes as Apple pushes for a bigger slice of the corporate sales pie.

Last month, Apple unveiled a partnership with IBM to target business customers. At the time, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the collaboration was a “catalyst for future iPad growth.”

Sales of the gadget could use a boost. Apple sold 9 percent fewer iPads in the quarter ended June 30 compared to the same period a year ago — and 19 percent less than the previous quarter.

The decline is expected to worsen due to cannibalization if Apple makes good on rumors of introducing a 5.5-inch iPhone next month to compete with bigger-screen phones from Samsung.

A “super tablet” that more closely resembles a full-fledged computer also jibes with a rise in Mac sales. Despite the tablet slowdown, Apple’s Mac sales for the June quarter soared 18 percent.

The surge was driven by sales of the lightweight, portable Macbook Air, which got a $100 price cut earlier this year that pushed the cheapest model to under $1,000 for the first time.