Who got the first new iPad? This man

Apple's new iPad has begun its march around the globe. The tablet is arriving in stores in nine countries today, starting with Australia and moving on to Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, the U.K. and the U.S.

The buyer of the very first new iPad was David Tarasenko, who got his hands on a white 64GB iPad Wi-Fi + 4G model at a midnight launch at the flagship Telstra store on George Street in Sydney, Australia.

Credit: CNET Australia

A man and his new iPad

Tarasenko hoists his iPad, still in the box. The device, unveiled just last week, sports a higher-resolution Retina Display similar to that of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S and an updated processor (Apple's A5X chip) as well as a 4G connection.

Credit: CNET Australia

Lining up in Singapore

Singapore shoppers line up to become some of the first in the world to get their hands on Apple's new iPad.

Credit: Reuben Lee/CNET Asia

The family iPad

A family in Singapore checks out their brand new iPad.

Credit: CNET Asia

Apple's Tokyo store

It's a calm scene at the Apple store in Tokyo's Ginza district. Regarding the new iPad: "It felt like a much larger tablet then its predecessor, and far heavier too," said ZDNet's Hana Stewart-Smith. "What surprised me most was the heat emanating from the device."

Credit: ZDNet

In line at Wal-Mart

Shoppers wait for their chance to buy an iPad at a Wal-Mart in Union City, Calif. Wal-Mart stores got the jump on Apple by releasing the third-generation iPad a full eight hours before Apple stores were to open their doors.

Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET

Parisian thoroughfare

Joseph Pinkasfeld, an iOS programmer, carries a new third-generation iPad out of the Apple store across the street from the Paris opera house, visible in the background.

Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET

Paris opera house

The flamboyant Paris opera house offers something interesting to look at while waiting in line for a third-generation iPad.

Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET

Blue balloons

Balloon-toting women advertised LeKiosque, a company that sells digital magazines and newspapers, to French iPad customers.

Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET

Amazon Kindle ad

This advertisement for an Amazon Kindle stood on a bus stop a few feet away from the Apple store in Paris where hundreds had queued to buy a third-generation iPad tablet instead.

Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET

Damp but undeterred

Damp, dreary weather envelops shoppers lined up outside Apple's landmark Cube in New York.

Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET

Representatives from Change.org were at the Apple store on Fifth Ave. in New York for the third-generation iPad launch to deliver a petition with 250,000 signatures calling for Apple to make sure its workers overseas are treated properly.

Credit: Marguerite Reardon/CNET

The wait continues

Biding time in line in Manhattan. So what will this man do with his old iPad?

Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET

Go Brazil!

Eric Ladd traveled to New York City from Brazil to buy his third-generation iPad. He was one of the first people to emerge with his iPad from the store on Fifth Ave.

Credit: CNET/Marguerite Reardon