Apple had its annual iPhone and iPad blowout this year, and there was a lot put out there. Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s upcoming products.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
- It runs iOS 9.
- It’s now available in rose gold (pink), as well as white, grey, and gold.
- It incorporates a host of subtle improvements, like 3D Touch, an adaptation of the Apple Watch’s Force Touch, using your phone’s screen as a flash for selfies, and “Live Photos,” which are basically just Vines that Apple will let you use as your home screen.
- It uses the A9 chipset, which yields a 70 percent faster experience and gives the GPU a 90 percent boost.
- The 6S starts at $199 on contract, while the Plus starts at $299 on contract. Alternately, you can send Apple $32 a month and be upgraded automatically every year.
- Preorders start September 12; iOS 9 arrives September 16.
iPad Pro
- It’s a 12.9-inch iPad. Yes, really.
- Apple has designed it as a workhorse; it demonstrated Adobe and Microsoft professional software on the Pro, and more importantly, it was clear both companies had spent a lot of time with it to develop features.
- You can add the Apple Pencil and a keyboard cover as accessories to get even more functionality out of it.
- It’s more or less transparently designed to replace the MacBook Air, right down to the pricing; the base unit with just WiFi starts at $899, and an LTE and space upgrade. The keyboard will be $169 and Apple Pencil will be $99.
iPad Mini
- The iPad Mini 4 is an iPad Air 2 shrunken down; it has the same chipset, just a smaller screen. It starts at $400.
- The iPad Mini 2 has survived, and is now $269.
Apple Watch
- Apple is adding a host of new apps: Facebook Messenger, a universal translator, and a GoPro app were just three examples offered.
- They’re also bumping up the Apple Watch’s health monitoring features. They claim their new software is so sensitive it can detect a pregnant woman’s heartbeat and her baby’s independently. They’ve also upgraded authentication so you can securely send data directly to your doctor.
- It too is also pink. There will also be traditional watch bands for it, and of course a range of high fashion watchbands including a line from Hermes.
Apple TV
- Apple has incorporated some truly impressive vocal search that allows you to get specific; you can ask for just the Connery Bonds, for example, and it will pull up options across all platforms.
- Your iDevices can now serve as remotes.
- Apple is broadening the apps available; now, any app you buy on your iPhone or iPad that’s compatible with the Apple TV can be uploaded to both platforms.
- Apple showed a lot of games, including the upcoming Guitar Hero Live, but stopped short of positioning the Apple TV as a gaming console.
And of course, if you want more in-depth analysis of all of today’s presentation, we’ve got that covered with all you need to know about the iPhone, iPad Pro, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.
And for more you may have missed…