NEW YORK (Reuters) – Apple Inc will stick to plans to roll out its newest iPad on Friday to 25 more markets, including France and the United Kingdom, even as it fails to meet the high demand for the gadget in the United States.

Apple, in affirming its international plans, did not provide any hard figures for U.S. sales since the newest iPad, a thinner and faster version that features two cameras for video chat, was introduced on March 11. Prices start at $499.

A week and a half after the iPad 2 went on sale, hundreds of customers continue to line up outside retail stores with many being turned away due to low supply. Some would-be buyers have expressed frustration at how difficult it has been to secure one of the wildly popular tablet computers. Some analysts have speculated that Apple misjudged demand, given the widespread sellouts.

The wait time for an iPad ordered online is now 4-5 weeks.

"We're experiencing amazing demand for iPad 2 in the U.S., and customers around the world have told us they can't wait to get their hands on it," Chief Executive Steve Jobs said in a statement on Tuesday. "We appreciate everyone's patience and we are working hard to build enough iPads for everyone."

Apple's Tim Cook, who is overseeing day-to-day business while Jobs is on a medical leave of absence, has long been responsible for sales and operations, while being lauded for managing the company's complex and far-flung supply chain.

The first iPad -- which went on sale a year ago -- sold 300,000 units on the first day, 500,000 in the first week, and crossed the 1 million unit mark in 28 days.

Apple plans to roll out the new iPad on Friday to countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, and Spain.

Considering the sellouts in the United States, analysts including Ticonderoga's Brian White had raised the question of whether Apple would possibly delay the rollout in other markets.

In addition to Friday's rollout, however, Apple said that all models of iPad 2 will be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April.

Analysts are also concerned that Apple will face shortages of key components for the iPad 2 because of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan earlier this month.

Several key components in the new version of Apple's popular iPad tablet PC come from Japan, including the battery and the flash memory used to store music and video on the device, according to research firm IHS iSuppli [ID:nN17232882].

Apple delayed sales of the iPad 2 in Japan, but has said that had nothing to do with any component shortages.

Shares of Apple were up $.71 at $340 on Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Paul Thomasch; Editing by Derek Caney and Gunna Dickson)

Singles:

1. "E.T. (feat. Kanye West)," Katy Perry

2. "Loser Like Me (Glee Cast Version)," Glee Cast

3. "Just Can't Get Enough," Black Eyed Peas

4. "S&M," Rihanna

5. "Get It Right (Glee Cast Version)," Glee Cast

6. "Born This Way," Lady GaGa

7. "Look At Me Now (feat. Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)," Chris Brown

8. "On the Floor (feat. Pitbull)," Jennifer Lopez

9. "Forget You," Cee Lo Green

10. "Blow," Ke$ha

Albums:

1. "Endgame," Rise Against

2. "21," Adele

3. "Lasers," Lupe Fiasco

4. "Sigh No More," Mumford & Sons

5. "Glee: The Music, Vol. 5," Glee Cast

6. "Give the Drummer Some," Travis Barker

7. "Loud," Rihanna

8. "My World 2.0," Justin Bieber

9. "Goodbye Lullaby," Avril Lavigne

10. "Late Nights & Early Mornings," Marsha Ambrosius

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iTunes is owned by Apple Inc.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Rapper Ja Rule pleaded guilty on Tuesday to failing to file tax returns and promised to pay more than $1 million in back taxes and penalties, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey said.

Ja Rule, whose original name is Jeffrey Atkins, 35, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to three counts of failing to file a tax return, from 2004 through 2008, even though he was making money from royalties and live tours.

The Grammy-nominated rapper and New Jersey resident agreed to pay the government more than $1.1 million in tax debts, plus penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, according to federal prosecutors.

"Each of us must pay our fair share to keep this country going," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement.

U.S. federal judge Patty Shwartz set bail at $500,000 and permitted Atkins' release pending sentencing scheduled for June 13. He faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison on each count.

In December, Atkins was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to a weapons possession charge stemming from a 2007 incident in which he was pulled over by police who discovered a semi-automatic handgun hidden in his luxury car.

He has appeared in several films, most notably "The Fast and the Furious" and "Scary Movie 3".

(Reporting by Bernd Debusmann Jr., editing by Christine Kearney)

Singer may have his appearance on 'Dancing With the Stars' canceled

Ray Tamarra/Getty

ABC has decided not to press charges against Chris Brown for smashing his dressing room window at the Good Morning America studio in Manhattan yesterday, TMZ is reporting. The singer reportedly had a violent outburst following an interview in which he was asked questions about his domestic violence incident with his ex-girlfriend Rihanna two years ago. This is fortunate for Brown, as he could end up in prison for violating his parole if he was prosecuted for vandalism and harrassing GMA staffers.

Rihanna and Chris Brown's Grammy Weekend: The Days and Hours Before the Assault

It seems that at least publicly, there are no hard feelings toward Brown at Good Morning America.  In this clip from today's episode, host Robin Roberts said that she wished the singer "the absolute best" and has extended an invitation for him to return as a guest in the future.



Brown may face other consequences for his tantrum yesterday. Pop Eater's sources say that ABC may cancel the singer's appearance on next week's episode of Dancing With the Stars. An unnamed insider told the site that the show's staff should be concerned about their safety around the temperamental singer.

Britney Spears has to be the only person on the planet who test drives a Maserati by sitting in the passenger seat while someone else gets to have all the fun.


Britney and her bodyguard visited the Maserati dealership earlier today in Calabasas, CA -- where she was spotted riding shotgun in the car, which is worth well over $100,000.

Britney is such a driven person.

BTW: Britney is on a $500 a week allowance and can't buy the car without a judge's approval ... and we're pretty sure that's not how the judge rolls.