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2015 Apple Rollout Recap
As you recall from our annual eTech Parts 2015 Apple Rumor Roundup… there was a lot of speculation about what Apple has been up to. We waited patiently for this day to come. Just in case you didn't spend the two hours watching the event streaming live, as I did last week, here is quick summary of what we learned. Apple’s opening remarks warned about “monster announcements” for various product lines. So, what did we learn?Apple Watch
- Reported 97% customer satisfaction with the device.
- Confirmed iOS2 for Apple Watch devices will be available by September 16. Unfortunately, a bug in the software postponed the launch today.
- Apple released more models and bands, giving more choice and opportunities to customize the Apple Watch. And yes, the Apple Watch will come in “rose gold” and you can get a Hermes band for it in select stores starting next month.
iPad Pro
- “The biggest news in iPad since… the iPad!”
- Capability and power are the flagship principles of this device.
- Measuring 12.9 inches diagonal, the iPad Pro is able to manage slide-over and split-view to accommodate your multi-tasking needs.
- Indicated 5.6 million pixels (2732 by 2048 pixels) as well as a custom timing controller, photo alignment, oxide TFT to give more uniform color and brightness, and a variable refresh rate to keep you from draining your battery when the display isn’t needing to work too hard.
- Overall, a beautiful display is anticipated.
- Powered by the new A9X, which is reported to be 1.8x faster than the A8X when doing CPU/desktop work and 2x faster at graphic/GPU functions.
- Accessories include a smart keyboard (retail around $169) and a new Apple Pencil (retail around $99). Smart Keyboard attaches to the IPad Pro using a smart connector that allows charge to flow between the devices.
- The Apple Pencil can be charged using a lightning port.
- There will be 4 speakers sealed into the device housing with one in each corner.
- The iPad Pro will come in 3 colors and will be priced between $799-1079 depending on the size of memory.
- Expected release of the iPad Pro is in November.
Apple TV
- The new Apple TV will provide users a remote with a touch surface at the top and a button to talk with Siri. The remote and TV are connected via Bluetooth so it works even if you aren’t pointing it just so, and controls volume right from the remote.
- Remote battery should last up to 3 months per charge with normal usage patterns.
- Allows access to things like current sports scores and weather without leaving the viewing experience.
- Chad Evans with MLB showed the possibilities for interactive sports viewing and announced that a NHL version will be coming in 2016.
- Shopping applications allow users to search for anything from a new house, a pair of sneakers, or a great hotel for their next vacation.
- Multiplayer games have also expanded so you can use either the remote or an iPhone or iPod Touch as a controller.
- The Apple TV will be powered by an A8 chip.
- The new Apple TV will be available starting in October.
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
- Cited as most popular and loved iPhone, and billed as one of the “most advanced smartphones in the world.”
- Will be available in 4 finishes (silver, gold, rose gold, and space gray).
- The highly talked-about rose gold uses 7000 series aluminum alloy.
- The new iPhone will be available in 2 sizes: the 6s (4.7 inch retina display) and 6s Plus (5.5 inch retina display).
- The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will use new glass that uses a dual ion exchange and is reportedly the strongest in the industry.
- Introduced 3D Touch which uses the taptic engine inside to give feedback.
- Apple demonstrated how the phone recognizes different types of force and interprets them to peek into and pop into features while staying in your current app.
- Powered by the “most advanced chip ever in a smartphone” A9 that is 70% faster than the A8 at CPU tasks and 90% faster at GPU tasks.
- Explained the new 12MP iSight camera and new features like Live Photos where the camera collects images for the second before and after your photo to create a moving photo.
- Discussed 4K video capabilities and what that means for users.
- Resolved front camera issues with a MP camera and a front flash feature that triples the retina display to give you a more true flash even in low light.
- Pre-order was September 12 and they will become available September 25.
Other Lessons Learned:
- Apple notes that more people are moving away from contracts and discussed installment plans as well as a plan available through Apple Retail.
- The Apple Retail iPhone Upgrade program is a monthly fee that makes you eligible to get a new unlocked phone each year, chooser your carrier, and it includes AppleCare+ for around $32 a month.
- iOS 9 is available September 16 - today!
- iCloud account 5G will continue to be free but there is new pricing on more data all the way up to 1TB is $10 a month which was noted as about half the previous cost.
- Apple says that “The only thing that has changed is everything.”