SonyaThe Apple Spring Event (streamed virtually) was dreamy with the bright backdrop of Apple Park in Cupertino, California. The blue skies, the lush greens, and that colourful optimism is what I really needed to see. The event was full of newsworthy announcements and I’m here to unpack a few of the most interesting highlights that caught my attention.
AirTag is a new category for Apple that I’m excited to see come to light. As an extension of Apple’s highly successful “Find My” tools they are launching a new device that will help users locate misplaced items like keys, backpacks, luggage. This small lightweight device is IP67 water and dust resistant. Makes it great for the cottage and campers too! What makes this tracking device of great interest is the precision finding technology that will enable users (through the use of their iPhone) to be able to locate the missing item with accuracy. Its accessibility features will also enable users to locate things in the dark and even for those who are visually challenged through voice commands. Also, with privacy in mind, the global Find My network1 can help locate a lost item while keeping location data private and anonymous with end-to-end encryption. I’m also thinking this will be great to attach to my dog’s collar. Hmmmm. Will also have a variety of accessories including leather tag holders with Hermes. Available beginning April 30.
The newest iPad Pro features their powerful and breakthrough M1 chip that makes it super fast and offer a richer and vibrant experience. But what caught my attention was the all-new Ultra-Wide front camera with a new “Center Stage” feature. This is exciting for video pros (and the rest of us) as it will now keep the people in the frame automatically IN THE FRAME. What that means is it will adjust itself to ensure that the main subjects will stay within the frame range and smoothly from what we can see in the demonstration. So much is packed into this device making it the most powerful and advanced iPad Pro to date. Preorders open on April 30 and the device will be available mid-May.
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini will now include a stunning new purple colour offering in the line up. Both models feature an advanced dual-camera system. I am currently using the iPhone 12 and super impressed with the details and quality of its video and photo ability. What I also love about this particular phone is the edge-to-edge display taking up maximum screen space. It runs on the A14 Bionic chip – the fastest available in a smartphone with an amazing hold on battery life. The purple version will be available for preorder beginning April 23 and will be available April 30.
The all-new iMac is stunning in design and the slimmest yet at 11.5 millimetres. And it’s a thing of beauty for those of us who love our technology to work seamlessly and integrate into our living spaces. The new iMac features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display with 11.3 million pixels. It also includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, studio-quality pics as well as a six speaker sound system. If there was ever a time to upgrade home or office computer for all the video conferencing, schooling and family FaceTimes now would be it. The new iMac is available in delicious candy colours. I’m eyeing the orange, yellow and of course, red! Preorders begin April 30 and the iMac will be available second half of May.
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions will soon launch offering listeners a premium experience along side the millions of free shows on Apple Podcasts. Starting in May, listeners in more than 170 countries and regions can sign up. What is included –access to additional content, early or exclusive access to new series by some of their favourite creators as well as new ones to discover as well as ad-free listening. This also helps support the creators by taking the podcast experience to the next level by offering a deeper content for their fans.
The next generation of Apple TV 4K will also be introduced to an all-new Siri Remote with simple and intuitive controls making it even easier to watch shows and movies. The remote also has a power button that controls a TV’s power, and another to mute. With Siri, users can easily search for shows or movies as well. The new Apple TV 4K is a welcome addition to the home entertainment system delivering the highest quality in your favourite content and seamless integration with other Apple devices and services including Apple Music, Apple Arcade and Fitness+. The new Apple TV 4K is available for preorder beginning April 30 and will be available mid-May.
Speaking of Apple TV, Ted Lasso fans will be thrilled to hear that Season 2 will soon be here!
Details and specs for all the launches can be found on Apple’s site.