Apple rides high on another record quarter

Apple touted record finaincial resutls with strong sales of its iPhone and Macintosh computer lines in its latest financial reports.

Apple reported a massive 131 percent jump in iPhone sales over the same quarter last year, an increase credited in large part to an increase in international sales, particularly in Asia and Europe.

The company's flagship Macintosh computer line also did well, posting a 33 percent increase over last year's quarter with a total of 2.94 million units sold.

The company said that the success of the smartphones combined with solid personal computer numbers helped Apple log its best quarter ever recorded outside of the holiday season.

Apple's quarterly reports come on the same day that company provided an update on its new 3G iPad models. The company said that US owners who pre-ordered the device will begin receiving their iPads on 30 April.

Users who have not yet pre-ordered will need to wait until May, while international customers might not see the device until late next month.

When asked about the recent delays in iPad availability, Apple said that the delays were due to its own misestimates of the market rather than any problems on the manufacturing side.

"The big issue is the demand in the US is much stronger than we predicted," said chief financial officer Tim Cook.

"The level of demand has shocked us, at least initially."