" Consumer watchdog warns New iPad too hot to handle"

New iPad reaches temperatures of 46 degrees, particularly during gaming sessions.

A vaunted consumer watchdog organization on Tuesday warned that Apple's new iPad is a bit hot to handle.

US nonprofit product testing group Consumer Reports reported that the new-generation iPad with its more powerful processor hit temperatures as high as 46 degrees, particularly
when running videogames.

"It does run warmer than its predecessor," Consumer Reports spokesman James McQueen said of the third-generation iPad.

"People need to exercise caution," he continued. "We are not saying it is a dangerous product, but 116 degrees can be a little uncomfortable."

Consumer reports said the new iPad got about 12 degrees warmer than the iPad 2 tablet while performing the same intensive tasks, such as videogames or downloading large files.

One rear corner of the new iPad appeared to be a hot spot.

Apple downplayed the New iPad heat complaints, delivering a muted response to the allegations.

"The new iPad delivers a stunning Retina display, A5X chip, support for 4G LTE plus 10 hours of battery life, all while operating well within our thermal specifications. If customers have any concerns they should contact AppleCare," the company said in a statement cited by AllThingsDigital.

Operating temperatures of the latest iPads were hot topics among Apple gadget owners at online forums.

"It does get pretty warm," a person using the screen name ShadowJeff wrote in a public chat at website MacRumors.com. "Hope Apple fixes it or something."

California-based Apple announced that it sold three million of its new iPad tablet computers over the course of its first weekend on the market.

The sales figures were released after the company announced plans to deliver a dividend of $2.65 a share, marking the company's first such payout since 1995. 

"The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold - the strongest iPad launch yet," said Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing Philip Schiller.

The new iPad went on sale on Friday with Apple fans lining up from Sydney to San Francisco to snap up the latest model of the hot-selling tablet computer.

The new iPad is available in Australia, the United States, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Britain and Hong Kong. It will go on sale in another two dozen countries on March 23.