February 28, 2011
RFB&D Releases their RFB&D Audio App for iOS devices. For details, please see, RFB&D Audio App for iOS devices
March 2, 2011
Apple announced that the release of iOS 4.3, the next version of their software for their iDevices, is scheduled for March 11. This upgrade will include improvements to Safari web browsing, the addition of iTunes home sharing, AirPLay enhancements, the inclusion of the personal hotspot feature for iPhone 4, and several other features. For complete details, see here
March 2, 2011
Apple also announced that the iPad 2 will also be released on March 11 as well. This version of the original iPad will be thinner, faster, lighter and will include two cameras and their FaceTime application for video chat, as well as 10 hour battery life. For complete details, see here
March 9, 2011
Apple released iOS version 4.3 today. For details about the upgrade, See Here
March 11, 2011
Apple released the iPad2 today. The faster, lighter and thinner newest model of the iPad features a Dual-core A5 chip and two cameras. Also, like with the original model, the iPad2 comes with VoiceOver onboard to give the blind user full access to the device. For details on the new iPad2, see here To learn about VoiceOver on the iPad, see here
April 19, 2011
A new, accessible puzzle game for iOS devices was released by Ananse Productions. This game uses a combination of music and audio cues, and is completely accessible with VoiceOver. It involves a garden scenario in which you play a vine seeking fertilizer and having to navigate and remove various obstacles in the garden to find and eat the fertilizer. For specific details on the game, see here
April 28, 2011
Serotek Corporation, makers of the System Access screen reader program for Windows, , and creators of the System Access Network, released a Mac version of their DocuScan Plus OCR application. This is a cloud-based application that utilizes a Mac compatible scanner or a Hovercam external camera that can be purchased separately. Actual OCR is done online, and, thus, one must have an internet connection to use it. There is a free trial available from the Mac App store, which gives you 7 days of full use before one can decide to purchase it. For complete details, see here
May 3, 2011
Apple updated their iMac line of desktop computers today. The new iMacs feature a quad-core processor, up to 3x faster graphics , Thunderbolt high-speed i/o, and a Facetime HD camera. These new, all-in-one systems start at $1199. For complete details, see here
May 31, 2011
The highly anticipated “Vizwiz” app from ROCHCI was released to day. This is an application for the iPhone in which a blind person can get information about an object or item in their environment by taking a picture of it, recording a question and sending it where a response is returned within a couple of minutes from a human volunteer. For information on this app from the iTunes store, please see here For a very informative blog post written by Martin Courcelles, see here
July 20, 2011
Mac OS X Lion is now available for download from the Mac App store. Apple made it official today, and for $29, you can get your copy of Lion. There are some additions to VoiceOver, including new voices, An “Activities” feature, and a new Quicknav Commander, among other improvements and additions. For details about 10.7 Lion, go here. Also, Apple announced the new line of Mac Mini and Mac Book Airs, which feature Thunderbolt and faster processors, as well as other improvements. It was also announced the the white Mac Book model has been discontinued. For information about the new Mac Book Airs, see here. For information about the new Mac Minis, see here.
August 10, 2011
Accessibility meets the “mainstream” as Josh de Lioncourt of the Maccessibility network talks about VoiceOver in OS X Lion, as well as the state of accessibility of the iOS devices in a Mac World Podcast done by Christopher Breen. You can find the article here which has download files of the podcast.
August 24, 2011
Steve Jobs Resigns As CEO of Apple After dealing with medical issues, including a liver transplant, Steve Jobs announced his resignation as CEO of Apple. He will remain as part of the Board of Directors and, I’m sure, will still have a major hand in product development, but Tim Cook has taken over as CEO. Mr. Jobs’s letter to the Apple board of directors was as follows; “To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community: I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come. I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee. As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple. I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role. I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you. Steve It is amazing how much his presence with Apple effected the technology world, and how far Apple has come with him at the helm over the last decade plus. I can recall Michael Dell once commenting when Apple was at its lowest point that they should “lock the doors” and “give the money back to the shareholders”. It’s ironic that Apple is now worth 13 times more than Dell. Additionally, they have the largest market cap of any company in the world, including, Microsoft …. I guess no one will by that $500 phone without a keyboard, right Mr. Balmer? Words cannot describe what kind of visionary Steve Jobs is, and how much his guidance meant to the resurgence of Apple. I don’t foresee his departure effecting the accessibility strides Apple has made in its products nor the do I believe the innovations will stop coming. Mr. Jobs will continue to have his hands in things, so I still feel that the best is still yet to come for Apple. Finally, I Thank him for all he has done for the world of technology and for accessibility to the best products in the world. What roll he played in the development of VoiceOver is not known, but it all came under his watch, and I’ll never forget him talking about VoiceOver during one of his keynote addresses a few years ago at, I believe, a WWDc.
September 27, 2011
Looktel releases version 2.0 of their Money Reader applications for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPod Touch (4th generation). Besides being able to identify US currency, Money Reader also now can identify Euros, British Pounds and the Australian and Canadian dollars. This product has worked extremely well with American money, and it is great to see it expand to other countries. Visit them here for more information on the Money Reader product.
October 4, 2011
Apple announced at their “Talk iPhone” event today that the iPhone 4S will be released next week. The new iPhone 4S features a dual-core A5 processor, an 8 MP camera and over 200 new features, including the Siri Assistant. The phone will come in 16, 32 and 64 GB models, and will be available for preorder on the Apple Online Store on October 7, and in retail stores on October 14. For complete details, go here. Besides the iPhone, it was also announced that iOS 5 will be released October 12, and will be available for the iPhone 4 and 3GS models, though older ones will not work with all the features. Apple’s online cloud service, iCloud, is also going to officially be launched on October 12 as well. Finally, new features and pricing for the iPod Touch and iPod Nano were also announced today as well. The new Nanos now start at $129, while the iPod Touch starts at $199. See here for information on the iPods and iCloud announcements.
October 11, 2011
Via software update for Mac and Windows, iTunes 10.5 is now available. This update is needed for the iOS 5 update coming tomorrow. Also, iTunes 10.5 brings iCloud support as well. Apple’s cloud-based online service will enable wireless syncing between multiple computers and iOS devices, as well as free 5 GB storage. Additional space can be purchased, if needed. At the moment, the iTunes Match service is not available though.
October 12, 2011
Apple released iOS 5 and Mac OS 10.7.2. Today, iOS 5 has been released for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, as well as the iPod and 3rd and 4th generation iPod Touch models. With over 200 new features, including iMessage and Notifications, it is the best version of the software yet. For complete details, see here. Additionally, the update for the Mac OS, OS 10.7.2, is also available. This will enable support for iCloud, Apple’s online cloud storage service.
October 14, 2011
The iPhone 4S is now available! With huge lines all over the world at their retail stores and some 2 to 3 million devices already preordered, the iPhone 4S was officially released today by Apple. You can now try to buy them at your local Apple retail store or AT&T store, as well as in Best Buy and a few other places. As mentioned above, the phone comes in 16, 32 and 64 GB models, and features a dual-core A5 processor, a new 8 MP camera and the Siri Assistant voice recognition software, as well as several additions and improvements to VoiceOver.
November 10, 2011
Apple released their first update to iOS 5.0 today. The iOS 5.01 update is meant to address the battery bug some users have been experiencing. You can now upgrade your device directly from the device itself now. Just look in Settings under General and SoftwareUpdate. Note that you will be prompted to plug in the phone to AC power for the actual update. This, of course, is to prevent the device losing charge during the process. Details for other bugs addressed can be found when you first initiate the update.
January 19, 2012
Apple’s Education Event Apple held an event that specifically focused on education. This included news about a new update to the iBooks app, as well as an iBooks authoring tool and exciting iTunes-U announcements for college students and teachers. Since the Maccessibility Network, as usual, did a great job of summarizing the news, please read about it here.
February 16, 2012
The Mountain Lion is Coming Today, it was announced that a preview version of the next major update, the 9th, to the Mac operating system, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, was made available to developers. From what is being written, a summer release is expected for the update. Mountain Lion will, from all reports, continue to move the Mac OS to a much more iOS feel. This will include apps and features familiar to those of you using an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, such as the Reminders app, Game Center and Notification Center, as well as the iMessage capability, which is called, Messages. In fact, there is a public beta of the, Messages, App for the Mac that you can download and try. This will replace iChat, though all of the iChat services will still be available. If you’d like to try the beta, go here. To read about some detailed information about what to expect in Mountain Lion, See here.
March 7, 2012
The iPad 3 is Coming! Today, Apple announced the release of their 3rd tablet device, the iPad 3. This is the 3rd generation of the iPad, which features a breakthrough retina display, a Dual-core Apple A5X custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip with quad-core graphic, a 5 MP iSight camera and 4G LTE. There is also updates to the iLife and iWork seets for the iPad as well, which includes some great new features for the popular Garage Band application. Additionally, iOS 5.1 was also released today with bug fixes and added languages to the Siri Assistant. For all of the details on the iPad 3, which includes links to the iPad video and keynote speech for today’s event, go here. The iPad 3 pricing remains in line with the previous models, starting at $499 for the 16 GB version without 4G LTE. Preordering is now available, while the official shipping date will be March 16. It must also be noted that there have been price reductions to the iPad 2, which now starts at $399 for the 16 GB model.
June 11, 2012
What a WWDC! Apple is holding their World Wide Developer Conference for 2012 this week, and the always anticipated keynote address came earlier today. There was news a plenty, including new Mac models, information about Mountain Lion and iOS6. Some of the high points included:
- Mountain Lion, the next update to Apples operating system for Mac computers, will be released in July. New features, include a Notes and Reminders apps like are currently available on the iDevices, a new version of Safari and improved dictation.
- iOS 6, the next update to Apples operating system for their mobile devices, will be coming in September. New features include a new Maps application, improvements to Siri, Facebook integration, shared Photo Streams and a new Passbook application .
- A refresh to the Mac Book Air and Mac Book Pro lines of portable computers. All of the models received a bump to their specs, which are highlighted by use of the new Intel Ivy Bridge processor technology.
- A new, “next generation” Mac Book Pro model with a 15.4 inch screen and the same thickness as the Mac Book Air. This is a high end laptop model that has some of the most powerful features available on any laptop, including Apple’s retina display technology.
- A new Airport Express model. The portable router now will have the same dual-band Wi-Fi capabilities as the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule models of Apple’s airport equipment, while maintaining its $99 price tag.
- Although it was not announced in the keynote, the Mac Pro desktop line also received an upgrade as well. They now use th Intel Xeon E5 CPU.
It is best to visit Apple’s website. for all of the details on what was announced, such as pricing for the Mac computers. Additionally, there is a link to the keynote address that can be listened to as well.
July 25, 2012
Apple Releases OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion! Mountain Lion, the latest operating system for the Mac platform, was made available by Apple today. Note that it can only be purchased through the Mac App store, which means that you have to be running either Snow Leopard or Lion. The cost is only $19.99, and one will find some VoiceOver improvements and some new features as well. For general information, please visit Apple’s Mountain Lion page here.
September 12, 2012
Apple held its long anticipated iPhone 5 event today. There were several announcements that I will briefly sum up here. • The new iPhone 5 was the featured device that was shown. This includes a new thinner and lighter design and an A6 chip that give it twice the speed as the 4S, but, at the same time, it features a longer battery life than the 4S. Graphics are improved with a 4 inch Retina display , and its wireless capabilities are fast in now supports Dual-band 802.11n wireless connectivity and LTE. The iPhone 5 also includes an 8MP iSight camera and improved audio capabilities. You can go here to read about the iPhone 5 in detail. Preorders for the iPhone 5 start on September 14, while the device will begin to ship on September 21. • iOS 6 will be available on September 19. All of the features presented in the keynote today were discussed at the WWDC event. ONce again, notable features include, a new Maps application, improvements to Siri, Facebook integration, shared Photo Streams and a new Passbook application, among may others. See here for all of the details on iOS 6 • New iPod Touch models and a new iPod Nano were also announced. This includes upgrades to capabilities and color selections as well. The new iPod Touch 5th generation basically are equivalent to the iPhone 4S in tech specs, and has been designed to be lighter and thinner than the 4th generation models. . You can visit here to learn about the new iPod Touch 5th generation. Information on the iPod Nano 7th Generation model can be found here. • There will be changes to simplify iTunes in iTunes 11, as well as a new look to the App store and iTunes store, which are all coming in October. • Apple has released a new universal connector to replace the traditional one for the iDevices they call, Lightning. • Finally, Apple also redesigned their earphones and will be including what they call, EarPods, with the iPhone 5 and iPod models. They also are available for separate purchase as well.
September 19, 2012
Today, Apple made iOS 6 available for supported iDevices. Users can now download the update either through iTunes or, if running iOS 5.x, as an over the air update on the device. For information on specific accessibility and VoiceOver improvements or additions, I recommend reading this post by the Maccessibility people. Also today, OS X 10.8.2 for Mountain Lion became available. You can download that through the Mac App store. There, as far as is known, no changes to VoiceOver, but, instead, bug fixes and other improvements. Facebook integration is one new feature.
October 23, 2012
Apple held its October event today. There were, of course, rumors a plenty as to what would be announced by them. Most of it was no surprise to those who have been following all of the buzz, but there were a couple of unexpected items. Most of this does not relate to VoiceOver, so I am going to list the relevant links one can access to read details about each product that was introduced by Tim Cook and staff.
iBooks 3.0
Note that according to the
Maccessibility folks,
there are some VoiceOver improvements in iBooks 3.0.
the Mac Book Pro 13 with Retina display
The new faster and thinner iMac
November 29, 2012
Apple Releases iTunes 11!
It was talked about in the previous events, but iTunes 11 is finally here. It has received a complete overhaul in its interface. In many ways, it seems simplified and easier to use.
If you are running Lion or Mountain Lion, you can use either the Mac App store’s update facility or just launch Software update from the Apple menu. For Snow Leopard users, just launch Software Update.
June 10, 2013
Apple is holding there 2013 World Wide Developer conference this week and also presented its traditional keynote address today. There were a number of announcements made. I will not go into specific details, but will just touch on the major information. Within the next few days, there will be plenty of places where one can find extensive details, including the
the Apple website
The next version of the Mac OS, 10.9 Maverick was announced, and some of its major features were demonstrated. This included:
- Finder tabs.
- A tagging feature for files in Finder.
- True multiple display support.
- A Maps app for the Mac.
- iBooks for the Mac.
- iCloud keychain that will sync across all devices and give the user access to web passwords and even credit card info to easily fill in form fields.
A new Mac Book Air model with all day battery life and starting with 128 GB SSD was also announced. These new models will also support 802.11 AC WiFi. The 11 inch models are $999, while the 13 inch models start at $1099.
On the note of WiFi, the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule, Apple’s airport equipment, have now been upgraded with 802.11 AC WiFi support.
There will be a new Mac Pro model coming later in the year with significantly improved and increased features and specs. These new models will be assembled right in the USA, and will feature Thunderbolt 2, faster RAM and top-of-the-line SSD Flash options.
The iWork suite, Apple’s productivity package, is coming to iCloud with browser based document support. This includes using Windows to access your documents and spreadsheets and presentations.
iOS 7 will be coming in the fall. As with Maverick, some of the new features and improvements were discussed and demonstrated. This included:
- A new Control Center feature.
- An overhaul to the interface and visual attractiveness.
- Improvements to SIRI, including a male voice option and system controls.
- iTunes Radio added to the Music Player. This will also be available in iTunes on the Mac and PC.
So, quite a bit of news was released in the two hour address. One can hear the presentation in its entirety from the Apple website as of the time of this post.
September 10, 2013
Apple held another special event, this time at their Coopatino, California head quarters. A few announcements were made of great interest.
There will be, for the first time, two new iPhone models released. Apple has normally only released one iPhone model each year, so this is a significant departure for them.
The “lower end” model will be called the iPhone 5C, which will be a $99 unit for 16 GB of storage. The iPhone 5C features the Apple A6 processor, which is currently being used in the iPhone 5. It is constructed of a very hard plastic with a steal frame, and will come in 5 different colors, green, blue, yellow, pink and white. There will also be colorful cases available for the iPhone 5C as well. Preordering will start on September 13, and the device will be available on September 20. You can read the complete details about the iPhone 5C
here.
In addition, Apple will also be releasing the iPhone 5S on September 20. This is the more “traditional” iPhone we have come to expect, which starts at $199 for the 16 GB model. It will feature a new A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, which is twice as fast as the A6 chip. An M7 co-processor, which is designed specifically to measure motion data from the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass, will also be part of its technology, as well as what Apple is calling, Touch ID, a fingerprint identity sensor to provide the most ultimate of security for the user. The iPhone 5S will come in 3 different colors, silver, gold and space gray.
Go here to read about all of the details on the iPhone 5S.
Finally, the long-awaited announcement for the release of iOS 7 was also made. Users will be able to download iOS 7 on September 18. Also, of course, all new iPhone models will include iOS 7.
You can read all about iOS 7’s features here.
October 22, 2013
Once again, Apple held a special event. In this case, several new products were announced. Most were not surprising, but there were a few things not expected.
Mavericks
The next version of the Mac operating system, Mac OS X 10.9, was officially released today. This upgrade includes features like improved memory management, longer battery life, interactive notifications, and Mac versions of iBooks and the Maps app. Additionally, unlike previous upgrades of the OS, Mavericks is free. Anyone can upgrade from Snow Leopard on, provided that their system specifications will support Mavericks.
Go here to read all about Mavericks.
New Macs
There were also new Mac computer refreshes to their product lines.
The new 13 and 1 5 inch Mac Book Pros with Retina displays have been given an upgrade to the latest Intel processors and faster flashed based memory. They also have improved graphics capabilities’ and support WiFi 802.11 AC for wireless connectivity. They are even lighter and thinner, and Apple claims you can get up to 9 hours of battery life. Best yet, the starting price for the 13 inch model is now $1299.00, while the 15 inch model starts at $1999.00.
Details can be found here.
The new Mac Pro desktop models, which were announced back at WWDC, are supposed to be available by the end of the year. These models feature the Intel Xeon E5 processor, and can be ordered with 4, 6, 8 or 12 Core processors. They are jam-packed with all kinds of features and goodies. For the professional, Apple asserts that the Mac Pro is the most powerful desktop in the world. The Mac Pro starts at $2999.00.
Read all about the Mac Pro here.
New iPads
There are two new iPad models that Apple announced.
Firstly, the new iPad Air will be available on November 1 with a starting price of $499 for the 16 GB model with WiFi only. These models are even thinner and lighter than the previous generation iPads, weighing just a pound and being 20 percent thinner than the 4th generation models. They also received a serious upgrade to their processors, as they are using the Apple A7 chip with 64 bit architecture. The iPad 2 will still be sold and will start at $399.00.
Details about the iPad Air can be found here.
The iPad Mini received an upgrade as well. Like the iPad Air, it has the Apple A7 chip and is a 64-bit device as well. As many expected, the new iPad Mini also includes a retina display. For the 16 GB model without WiFi, the starting price is $399, but Apple is still selling the original Mini for $299.00.
You can read about the iPad Mini here.
Other software
Lastly, there are upgrades to the Apple iLife and iWork products as well. Some would say these are long overdue, especially with the iWork suite. Again, like with Mavericks, these packages are free with the purchase of new Macs.
You can get the details here.
June 1, 2014
Apple held their annual World Wide Developer Conference today. The focus was truly on developers and their major announcements focused specifically on software.
Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite
The first major announcement by Apple is the upcoming next release of the Macintosh OS, Yosemite. It is going to be an overhaul of the user interface, but will also include several new features. This included changes to the Notification Center and Spotlight search feature, as well as additions to the Mail app, Safari and enhancements to iCloud integration via iCloud Drive.
For details,
iOS 8
Besides an update to the Mac OS, Apple also announced a fall release for the next version of the iOS platform. iOS 8 will also have its share of new features and enhancements. This includes updates to the Notification Center with “widgets”, Safari, Mail and the app switcher. In the case of the app switcher, for example, besides your recently running apps, you will also be shown the most recent contacts you have accessed as well. The integration of third party keyboards was also announced, as well as improvements and additions to SIRI. In the area of accessibility, it appears the iDevices will be getting Alex as a voice.
You can
go here
for all of the details.
September 9, 2014
Apple held another event today. There was quite a bit of information that was discussed. This included:
- The Apple Watch, Apple’s most personal device ever.
- iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the biggest advancements in iPhone history.
- Apple Pay.
- iOS 8 will be available September 17 for download
- Apple and U2 release an albume exclusively for iTunes customers
Apple Watch
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has unveiled Apple Watch — its most personal device ever — featuring revolutionary new technologies and a pioneering user interface with a beautiful design that honors the rich tradition of precision watchmaking. Apple Watch introduces a specially designed and engineered Digital Crown that provides an innovative way to scroll, zoom, and navigate. Apple Watch will enable you to communicate in new ways right from your wrist and will include comprehensive health and fitness apps. The watch comes in three distinct collections — Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition — available in two different sizes. “Apple introduced the world to several category-defining products, the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “And once again Apple is poised to captivate the world with a revolutionary product that can enrich people’s lives. It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made.” Apple Watch will be available in early 2015.”
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has announced iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the biggest advancements in iPhone history, featuring two new models with stunning 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch Retina HD displays, and packed with innovative technologies in an all-new dramatically thin and seamless design. Both phones include the Apple-designed A8 chip with second generation 64-bit desktop-class architecture, advanced iSight and FaceTime HD cameras, ultrafast wireless technologies, iOS 8, and Apple Pay. “iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the biggest advancements in iPhone history,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The iPhone is the most loved smartphone in the world with the highest customer satisfaction in the industry and we are making it much better in every way. Only Apple can combine the best hardware, software, and services at this unprecedented level and we think customers are going to love it.” The new iPhones will be available September 19, and customers can pre-order them beginning September 12.”
Apple Pay
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has announced Apple Pay, a new category of service that will transform mobile payments with an easy, secure, and private way to pay. Apple Pay works with iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus through a groundbreaking NFC antenna design, a dedicated chip called the Secure Element, and the security and convenience of Touch ID. Apple Pay is easy to set up, so hundreds of millions of users can simply add their credit or debit card on file from their iTunes Store account. Apple Pay will also work with the newly announced Apple Watch, extending Apple Pay to over 200 million owners of iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5s worldwide. “Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. When you’re using Apple Pay in a store, restaurant or other merchant, cashiers will no longer see your name, credit card number, or security code, helping to reduce the potential for fraud,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Apple doesn’t collect your purchase history, so we don’t know what you bought, where you bought it, or how much you paid for it. And if your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can use Find My iPhone to quickly suspend payments from that device.” Apple Pay will be available in the U.S. for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as a free update to iOS 8 starting in October.:
iOS 8 Coming September 17
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has announced that iOS 8, the biggest release since the launch of the App Store, will be available starting September 17 to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users as a free software update. iOS 8 delivers a simpler, faster, and more intuitive user experience with new Messages and Photos features, predictive typing for Apple’s QuickType keyboard, and Family Sharing. iOS 8 also includes the new Health app, giving you a clear overview of your health and fitness data and iCloud Drive, so you can store files and access them from anywhere. “We’re excited for hundreds of millions of users to begin experiencing iOS 8, with incredible features that offer new ways to use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “iOS 8 also creates an extraordinary environment for developers, providing them the ability to create amazing new apps like never before.”
Read here for more details
Apple and U2
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple, Universal Music Group, and legendary rock band U2 have announced the release of the album “Songs of Innocence,” which Apple is gifting to iTunes Store customers around the world, making it the largest album release ever with over half a billion copies distributed. The album features 11 new songs from the band and charts their earliest influences from ’70s rock and punk rock to early ’80s electronica and soul. The album is free for iTunes Store account holders in 119 countries and is available exclusively on iTunes until October 13.”
October 16, 2014
Apple held yet another event to announce the release of new products. This included:
- iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3, the latest additions to the iPad product line.
- Apple Pay, their new mobile pay system.
- iMac 27 inch with Retina 5K Display, the latest addition to the iMac product line and Retina display computers.
- Updated Mac Mini, the long overdo upgrade to the Mac Mini product line.
OS X Yosemite, the latest release for the Mac operating system.
iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini3
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has introduced iPad Air 2, the thinnest and most powerful iPad ever. The new iPad features an improved Retina display for enhanced contrast and richer, more vibrant colors, and better cameras for taking stunning photos and videos. Available in gold, silver, and space gray, iPad Air 2 and the new iPad mini 3 offer Touch ID and — in the U.S. — Apple Pay. “iPad is a magical piece of glass that runs more than 675,000 apps specifically designed for it, and is thin and light enough that you can comfortably hold it all day; the new iPad Air 2 is packed with amazing new innovations, weighs less than a pound, and at just 6.1 mm is the thinnest tablet in the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPad Air 2 has a new Retina display with anti-reflective coating, second generation 64-bit A8X chip, all-new iSight and FaceTime HD cameras, faster Wi-Fi and LTE wireless, and includes the revolutionary Touch ID fingerprint identity sensor.”
Read here for more details
Apple Pay
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has announced that customers can start making payments with the touch of a finger on October 20, when Apple Pay becomes available in the U.S. Apple Pay offers an easy, secure, and private way to pay using Touch ID on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in stores and within apps. Users of the just-announced iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 will be able to use Touch ID on their devices for Apple Pay within apps. The new service will be enabled by a free software update to iOS 8. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to make Apple Pay private and secure, with the simplicity of a single touch of your finger,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “The reaction to Apple Pay has been amazing. We continue to add more Apple Pay-ready banks, credit card companies, and merchants, and think our users will love paying with Apple Pay.”
Read all about Apple Pay here.
OS X Yosemite
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has announced that OS X Yosemite, the latest major release of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, is now available as a free upgrade for Mac users from the Mac App Store. Yosemite delivers a fresh, modern look and introduces Continuity features that make it easy to hand off activities between Mac and iOS devices and even make and receive iPhone calls from your Mac. Yosemite also includes a new Today view, a redesigned Spotlight, and updated versions of Safari, Mail, Messages, and iTunes. “OS X Yosemite is the most advanced version of OS X we’ve ever built, with a brand new design, amazing Continuity features, and powerful versions of the apps you use every day,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “OS X Yosemite ushers in the future of computing, where your Apple devices all work together seamlessly and magically. It’s something only Apple can do, and it’s available today.”
Read all about Yosemite here.
iMac with 5K Retina Display
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has unveiled the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display, featuring the world’s highest-resolution display — with 14.7 million pixels. At this resolution, text appears sharper than ever, videos are more lifelike, and you can see new levels of detail in photos. “Thirty years after the first Mac changed the world, the new iMac with Retina 5K display running OS X Yosemite is the most insanely great Mac we have ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With a breathtaking 14.7-million-pixel display, faster CPU and graphics, Fusion Drive, and Thunderbolt 2, it’s the most beautiful and powerful iMac ever.”
All of the details about the new iMac can be found here.
Updated Mac Mini
According to the Apple
Hot news Page
“Apple has updated Mac mini with the latest technologies and a new lower starting price, making Apple’s most affordable Mac an even better value. Mac mini now features fourth-generation Intel Core processors, faster integrated graphics, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Thunderbolt 2. “People love Mac mini. It’s a great first Mac or addition to your home network, and the new Mac mini is a nice upgrade packed into an incredibly compact design,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With the latest CPU and graphics, faster Wi-Fi, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, OS X Yosemite, and starting at just $499, the new Mac mini is the best value ever.”
Read about the new Mac mini here.
March 9, 2015
It was another event held by Apple and San francisco, and they announced some new products and some product updates. Most notably,
- New decreased price on the Apple TV and a new service exclusively for Apple customers from HBO available on the Apple TV called, HBO Now
- A new Mac Book model, which features a 12.1 inch screen and a new USB-C port
- A refresh on the Mac Book Air and Mac Book Pro lines
- The release of the Apple Watch on April 24
Apple Watch
Let’s start with the product that has been discussed all over the place for seemingly years. Finally, the eminent release of the Apple Watch and some specific demonstrations of features was part of the presentation.
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple today announced that Apple Watch will be available April 24 to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK, and the U.S. Apple Watch brings an entirely new way to receive information at a glance and interact with the world through third-party apps designed specifically for the wrist. “Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before.”
You can find all of the details about the Apple Watch and the three collections,
here.
Mac Book
Another of the products there has been speculation about, the new Mac Book model was shown as well at the event.
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple today unveiled the all-new MacBook, a thinner and lighter line of notebooks available in gold, silver, and space gray aluminum finishes. MacBook features a 12-inch Retina display; a full-size keyboard; the all-new Force Touch trackpad; a compact USB-C port for data transfer, video out, and charging in a single connector; and a new battery designed to deliver all-day life. “Apple has reinvented the notebook with the new MacBook, and at just 2 pounds and 13.1 millimeters, it’s the thinnest and lightest Mac ever,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “Every component of the MacBook reveals a new innovation. From its fanless design, ultrathin Retina display, and full-size keyboard that’s 34 percent thinner, to its all-new Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port, and breakthrough terraced battery design, the new MacBook is the future of the notebook.”
Read More
here.
New Mac Book Air and Mac Book Pros
According to the Apple Hot news Page
” Apple has updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. “Today, the popular 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, 11-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Air all received significant upgrades,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The 13-inch MacBook Pro has been updated with the latest processors, more powerful graphics, faster flash, longer battery life, and the all-new Force Touch trackpad. We’re also bringing the latest processors and graphics and faster Thunderbolt 2 to the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air, as well as up to two times faster flash to the 13-inch MacBook Air.”
For information on the Mac Book Pro,
go here
and for the Mac Book Air,
go here.
Apple TV and HBO Now
Finally, the Apple TV is now $69 down from its original $99 price, and the HBO Now service will be available in April.
According to the Apple Hot news Page
Apple and HBO today announced HBO NOW is premiering next month, making an HBO subscription available directly to Apple customers for the first time ever. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple TV users can purchase HBO NOW directly in-app as a standalone service to watch HBO’s original programming, Hollywood hit movies, documentaries, sports, and comedy specials for $14.99 a month. “HBO NOW offers a new generation of HBO fans many of the best TV programs in the world without a cable or satellite subscription,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Now, with the same simplicity as buying an app, customers can subscribe to HBO NOW and instantly start viewing their favorite HBO programs as they air — this is huge.”
June 8, 2015
It was the World Wide Developer Conference for 2015, and Apple, as usual, had plenty of announcements that were made at the keynote address. The major items of interest were:
- The next version of the Mac OS, 10.11, El Capitan, was announced and some features were demonstrated.
- The next version of iOS, iOS 9, was announced and features were demonstrated.
- The next version of the operating system for the Apple Watch, WatchOS 2, was announced and some features were demonstrated.
- Apple announced a new music service, Apple Music
Expansion to Apple Pay and a new news app were also part of the keynote, which you can listen to on the
Apple main page.
Mac OS X El Capitan
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple today announced OS X El Capitan, a new version of OS X that refines the Mac experience and improves system performance. Building on last year’s release of OS X Yosemite, El Capitan introduces enhancements to window management, built-in apps, and Spotlight search, and makes everyday activities faster and more responsive. Metal, Apple’s breakthrough graphics technology, is integrated into El Capitan, delivering systemwide performance gains and enabling games and pro apps to tap into the full power of Mac graphics processors. “OS X delivers unparalleled integration between Mac hardware, iOS devices, apps, and online services, and has helped Mac sales outpace the PC industry every year for the last decade,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “Customers loved last year’s landmark OS X Yosemite release and made it the fastest-adopted PC operating system ever. With El Capitan, we’re further refining the Mac experience with enhancements to window management, Spotlight, and built-in apps, and improving performance so everyday activities — from launching apps to accessing email — are faster and more responsive.”
You can learn more by going
here.
iOS 9
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple today unveiled iOS 9, giving a preview of new iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch software that will be available this fall. In this upcoming release, iOS devices become more intelligent and proactive with powerful search and improved Siri features — all without compromising users’ privacy. New multitasking features designed specifically for iPad allow you to work with two apps simultaneously, side-by-side, or with the new Picture-in-Picture feature, to keep watching a video while browsing the web, composing email, or using any other app. “iOS 9 is packed with more intelligence throughout, and delivers big updates to the apps customers use most — Maps supports public transit, a redesigned Notes app provides great new ways to capture ideas, and a beautiful News app delivers content that’s personalized to your interests,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “With our new iPad features, users can take advantage of the power of iPad, working in two apps at the same time with Split View, Slide Over, or Picture-in-Picture.”
You can read all about iOS 9
by going here.
WatchOS 2
According to the Apple Hot news Page
Apple today previewed watchOS 2, the first major software update for Apple Watch, giving developers the tools to build faster and more powerful apps running natively on Apple Watch. Starting today, developers can take advantage of innovative hardware features of Apple Watch including the Digital Crown, Taptic Engine, and heart rate sensor, along with software APIs to build new app experiences. Available to Apple Watch users this fall, watchOS 2 also includes new watch faces, third-party app information as watch face complications, and new communication capabilities in Mail, Friends, and Digital Touch. “We are thrilled with the feedback we’re getting from Apple Watch customers, and after just a few weeks of availability we’re excited for developers to start building native apps for watchOS 2,” said Kevin Lynch, Apple’s vice president of Technology. “We think Apple Watch users will love being able to see information from their favorite apps right on the watch face, and enjoy the many new experiences developers will dream up now that they have access to even more innovative features of Apple Watch.”
All of the details can be found
here.
Apple Music
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple today unveiled Apple Music, a single, intuitive app that combines the best ways to enjoy music — all in one place. Apple Music is a streaming music service, a worldwide live radio station broadcasting 24 hours a day, and a new way for music fans to connect with their favorite artists. Apple Music combines the largest and most diverse collection of music with the expertise of world-class experts who have programmed playlists for your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC, Apple TV, and Android phones. Apple Music will be available starting June 30 in over 100 countries. “We love music, and the new Apple Music service puts an incredible experience at every fan’s fingertips,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “All the ways people love enjoying music come together in one app — a revolutionary streaming service, live worldwide radio, and an exciting way for fans to connect with artists.”
Please go
here for all of the details.
September 9, 2015
Apple held another event in California again. As usual, there were some great new product announcements. This included:
- iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
- All new Apple TV<
- iPad pro
- Watch OS 2 and new Sport models
- iOS 9’s availability on September 16
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple has announced iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, adding a powerful new dimension to iPhone’s revolutionary Multi-Touch interface. The new iPhones introduce 3D Touch, which enables intuitive new ways to access features and interact with content. iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus feature Retina HD displays made from the strongest glass on any smartphone and 7000 series aluminum, the same alloy used in the aerospace industry, in metallic finishes that now include rose gold. The new iPhones also introduce a transformative new approach to photography called Live Photos, bringing still images to life by capturing a moment in motion. “The only thing that has changed with iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus is everything — 3D Touch lets users interact with iPhone in entirely new and fun ways, and the innovative Live Photos brings your pictures to life,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “These are the most advanced iPhones ever, with 7000 series aluminum, ion-strengthened glass, the new 64-bit A9 chip, 12-megapixel iSight and 5-megapixel FaceTime HD cameras, faster Touch ID, LTE, and Wi-Fi. Customers are going to love them.”
For more details
go here.
New Apple TV
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple has announced the all-new Apple TV, bringing a revolutionary experience to the living room based on apps built for the television. Apps on Apple TV let you choose what to watch and when you watch it. And with the new Siri Remote, you can search with your voice for TV shows and movies across multiple content providers simultaneously. Apple TV runs the all-new tvOS operating system, based on Apple’s iOS, enabling iOS developers to create new apps and games specifically for Apple TV and deliver them directly to users through the new Apple TV App Store. “There has been so much innovation in entertainment and programming through iOS apps, we want to bring that same excitement to the television,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Apps make the TV experience even more compelling for viewers and we think apps represent the future of TV.”
Please see here for all of the details
iPad Pro
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple has introduced the all-new iPad Pro, featuring a 12.9-inch Retina display with 5.6 million pixels and the new 64-bit A9X chip. The new larger iPad Pro is thin and light and provides all-day battery life. Apple also introduced Apple Pencil for iPad Pro and the new Smart Keyboard, available for purchase separately. “iPad Pro is the most advanced and powerful iPad we have ever made. Its beautiful and large 12.9-inch Retina display has 5.6 million pixels and provides an immersive experience for content and apps. The iPad Pro is far and away the fastest iOS device we have ever made — its A9X chip beats most portable PCs in both CPU and graphics tasks, but is thin and light enough to hold all day,” said Apple’s Philip Schiller. “The innovative Apple Pencil and new Smart Keyboard enable users to customize their iPad Pro experience to the particular apps they use and the work they do, making iPad Pro ideal for everything from professional productivity to advanced 3D design.”
Read all about the new iPad Pro here.
Watch OS 2
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple has introduced new Apple Watch cases and bands, available starting today, including new gold and rose gold aluminum Apple Watch Sport models. watchOS 2 — which arrives as a free update on September 16 — makes apps faster and more fluid by running natively on Apple Watch, and introduces new watch faces, the ability for third-party apps to display information on the watch face as complications, and an innovative way to see future events, past headlines, and more with Time Travel. Apple Watch collections are expanding with new case colors and fresh new bands. With new standalone Sport Bands that range from rich vibrant colors to more neutral tones, Apple Watch is now more customizable than ever.
All of the information can be found here.
iOS 9 Update
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple announced that iOS 9 will be available on September 16 as a free update for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users. iOS 9 makes iOS devices more intelligent and proactive with powerful search and improved Siri features, all while protecting users’ privacy. The way you interact with iPad gets even better with iOS 9, thanks to new multitasking features that let users view and interact with two apps at once, side by side. “iOS 9 is packed with intelligence that makes every experience with iPhone and iPad even more powerful — Siri can do more than ever and new proactive assistance helps you get more done before you ask, all while protecting users’ privacy,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.”
You can read all about iOS 9 here
March 21, 2016
Yet another Apple event was held by the company to announce some new products. It, perhaps, was a bit less in the major news area, but the notable items were:
- The 9.7 inch iPad Pro.
- The iPhone SE.
- The announcement of CareKit.
- The announcement of ResearchKit
9.7 inch iPad Pro
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple today introduced the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which at just under one pound features a new pro Retina display with greater brightness, wider color gamut, lower reflectivity, Night Shift mode, and new True Tone display technology. The new iPad Pro also has a 64-bit A9X chip that rivals most portable PCs. “iPad Pro is a new generation of iPad that is indispensable and immersive, enabling people to be more productive and more creative. It’s incredibly fast, extremely portable, and completely natural to use with your fingers, Apple Pencil, and Smart Keyboard. And now it comes in two sizes,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.”
You can read about the new iPad Pro here.
iPhone SE
According to the Apple Hot news Page
“Apple today introduced iPhone SE, the most powerful phone with a 4-inch display, in a compact aluminum design that has been updated with matte-chamfered edges, a color-matched stainless steel Apple logo, and four metallic finishes. iPhone SE offers the same 64-bit A9 chip offered in iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s. “iPhone SE is packed with a stunning 4-inch Retina display, advanced 64-bit A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor, longer battery life, 12-megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash, Live Photos, 4K video, faster LTE and Wi-Fi, and Touch ID with Apple Pay. Everyone who wants a smaller phone is going to love iPhone SE,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.”
You can find all the details about the iPhone SE here.
Other Items
You can read about CareKit here,
and the details for ResearchKit can be found here.
In addition, also note that there were updates to all of the Apple operating systems, including iOS 9.3, Mac OS X 10.11.4, Watch OS 2.2 and tvOS 9.2 as well.
September 7, 2016
Yet another event was held by Apple, and as been the case, the announcements of new products came with this fall event. Among some of the products spoken about,
- The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- The Apple Watch Series 2
- The AirPods wireless headphones
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
According to the
Apple press release, which also contained details on the products,
San Francisco — Apple today introduced iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the best, most advanced iPhone ever, packed with unique innovations that improve all the ways iPhone is used every day. The new iPhone features new advanced camera systems that take pictures like never before, more power and performance with the best battery life ever in an iPhone, immersive stereo speakers, wide color system from camera to display, two new beautiful finishes, and is the first water and dust resistant iPhone. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in more than 25 countries beginning Friday, September 16.
“iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus dramatically improve every aspect of the iPhone experience, reaching a new level of innovation and precision to make this the best iPhone we have ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The completely redesigned cameras shoot incredible photos and videos day or night, the A10 Fusion chip is the most powerful chip on any smartphone while delivering the best battery life ever in an iPhone, and an entirely new stereo speaker system provides twice the sound, all within the first water and dust resistant iPhone.”
Apple Watch Series 2
The details and the press release for the Apple Watch Series 2
can be found here.
“San Francisco — Today, Apple introduced Apple Watch Series 2, the next generation of the world’s most popular smartwatch. Apple Watch Series 2 is packed with incredible fitness and health capabilities including a water resistance 50 meter rating for swimming,* and built-in GPS so users can now run without an iPhone. Apple Watch Series 2 also features a dramatically brighter display and a powerful dual-core processor. Combined with the performance enhancements of watchOS 3, Apple Watch Series 2 makes it even easier to access third-party apps, receive and respond to notifications and conveniently use Apple Pay. Apple Watch Series 2 will be available in more than 25 countries beginning Friday, September 16.”
Apple AirPods
Apple’s press release discusses all of the details
here.
“San Francisco — Apple today introduced AirPods, innovative new wireless headphones that use advanced technology to reinvent how we listen to music, make phone calls, enjoy TV shows and movies, play games and interact with Siri, providing a wireless audio experience not possible before. AirPods eliminate the hassles of wireless headphones, by just flipping open the lid of its innovative charging case and with one tap, they are instantly set up and ready to work with your iPhone and Apple Watch. Advanced sensors know when you are listening and automatically play and pause your music. Using Siri, AirPods allow you to access your favorite personal assistant with just a double tap. This revolutionary experience is enabled by the new ultra-low power Apple W1 chip, which enables AirPods to deliver high-quality audio and industry-leading battery life in a completely wireless design. AirPods will be available starting in late October.”
Other Items
In addition, one can also read details about
iOS 10, which was released on September 13.
Also, on September 20, Mac OS Sierra 10.12 was released officially.
There are details that can be found here.
June 5, 2017
In its yearly tradition, Apple held its annual World Wide Developer Conference today. Additionally, as has become part of these events, the company announced new products that will be available either right away or will be released in the fall or in December of this year. To say the least, Tim Cook had a lot to say during his keynote address in regard to the products. Here is a summary of what was announced.
- WatchOS 4
- MacOS High Sierra
- iOS 11
- A refresh to the iMac line, including the iMac Pro
- A refresh to the Mac Book and Mac Book Pro lines
- A new iPad Pro
- The HomePod
WatchOS 4
Watch OS 4 is planned to be released in September with a variety of new features. You can reference the Apple Newsroom page
here.
San Jose, California — Apple today previewed watchOS 4, featuring a proactive Siri watch face that displays the information users need most throughout the day, personalized Activity coaching and an entirely new music experience. The update features an enhanced Workout app and introduces GymKit, a groundbreaking technology platform that will offer customers connected workouts with cardio equipment.”
MacOS High Sierra
According to Apples
Newsroom,
San Jose, California — Apple today previewed macOS High Sierra, the latest version of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, delivering new core storage, video and graphics technologies that pave the way for future innovation on the Mac. macOS High Sierra offers an all-new file system, support for High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) and an update to Metal, Apple’s advanced graphics technology that powers everything from machine learning to virtual reality content creation. macOS High Sierra also includes a number of refinements to the apps Mac users enjoy every day, including Photos, Safari and Mail.
iOS11
More information can be referenced
in the Apple Newsroom.
San Jose, California — Apple today previewed iOS 11, a major update to the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, bringing new experiences and hundreds of features to iPhone and iPad this fall. iOS 11 is the biggest software release ever for iPad, with powerful multitasking features, the Files app and more ways to use Apple Pencil. Augmented reality is coming to hundreds of millions of iOS devices with a new platform for developers to build apps that let users place virtual content on top of real-world scenes. Core ML gives developers on-device machine learning capabilities so they can easily make apps that will predict, learn and become more intelligent. Additional features include the ability to pay friends using Apple Pay, Do Not Disturb while driving to help users stay more focused on the road, even more intelligence and a new voice for Siri and new professional capabilities to Photos and Camera. iOS 11 is available as a developer preview today and will be a free software update for iPhone and iPad this fall.
iMac, Mac Book, and Mac Book Pro Refresh
An overview of the iMac refresh can be found
here.
San Jose, California — Apple today updated its iMac line with up to three times more powerful graphics, faster processors, Thunderbolt 3, faster storage options and brighter Retina displays, and added a Retina 4K display and discrete graphics to the $1,299 (US) 21.5-inch iMac. With its incredibly thin and seamless enclosure, fast processors and storage and stunning Retina display, iMac sets the gold standard for desktops. iMac delivers powerful performance for 3D graphics, video editing and gaming, and with macOS High Sierra coming this fall, iMac becomes a great platform for virtual reality content creation.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro now comes with more powerful discrete graphics in its standard configuration.
“With major updates to iMac, and a refresh of our MacBook and MacBook Pro lines, the Mac is stronger than ever,” said John Ternus, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering. “Today iMac gets a huge graphics performance increase, faster CPU performance, Thunderbolt 3 and a brighter Retina display with support for 1 billion colors. We’re also increasing CPU and SSD speed on MacBook, adding faster processors and making faster graphics standard on our 15-inch MacBook Pro and introducing a new $1,299 (US) 13-inch MacBook Pro.”
iMac Pro
Here is the Apple press release on the iMac Pro available in December
San Jose, California — Apple today gave a sneak peek of iMac Pro, an entirely new workstation-class product line designed for pro users with the most demanding workflows. The all-new iMac Pro, with its gorgeous 27-inch Retina 5K display, up to 18-core Xeon processors and up to 22 Teraflops of graphics computation, is the most powerful Mac ever made. Featuring a stunning new space gray enclosure, iMac Pro packs incredible performance for advanced graphics editing, virtual reality content creation and real-time 3D rendering. iMac Pro is scheduled to ship in December starting at $4,999 (US).
iPad Pro Refresh
According to the Apple Newsroom,
here is the information on the new 10.5 inch iPad Pro and the refresh to the 12.9 inch model.
San Jose, California — Apple today introduced an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, featuring the world’s most advanced display with ProMotion technology and incredible performance with the new A10X Fusion chip. The new 10.5-inch model reduces the borders by nearly 40 percent to fit into an incredibly compact package that still weighs just one pound. Combined with powerful new iPad features in iOS 11 coming this fall, like the all-new Files app, customizable Dock, improved multitasking and deeper integration of Apple Pencil, iPad Pro gives users the ability to be even more productive and creative.
HomePod
Last, but certainly not least,
here is the press release on the HomePod
San Jose, California — Apple today announced HomePod, a breakthrough wireless speaker for the home that delivers amazing audio quality and uses spatial awareness to sense its location in a room and automatically adjust the audio. Designed to work with an Apple Music subscription for access to over 40 million songs, HomePod provides deep knowledge of personal music preferences and tastes and helps users discover new music. HomePod features a large, Apple-designed woofer for deep, clean bass, a custom array of seven beam-forming tweeters that provide pure high frequency acoustics with incredible directional control and powerful technologies built right in to preserve the richness and intent of the original recordings. HomePod will be available starting in December, initially in Australia, the UK and the US.
Overall
So, overall, Apple had a lot to talk about. Information on a new App Store for iOS11 and demonstrations of Augmentative Reality for the Mac and iPad Pro were also given. For complete details for all of the new products and upgrades,
you can always check out the Apple homepage.
October 30, 2018
Apple held what they called there, “There’s More in the Making”, event today. Where as the previous event focused on the software, this event brought news of hardware releases as the main events. The major products announced were:
- New Mac mini
- New Mac Book Air with Retina display
- New iPad Pro with Apple Pencil 2
Mac mini
The Mac mini, which hadn’t been updated since 2014, received a serious bump. According to Apple’s Newsroom,
New York — Apple today gave Mac mini a massive increase in performance. Now with quad- and 6-core processors, up to 64GB of faster memory and blazing fast all-flash storage, the new Mac mini delivers an insane five times faster performance, making it the most powerful Mac mini ever made.1 And with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the Apple T2 Security Chip and a 10Gb Ethernet option, the new Mac mini is a faster and more capable desktop that can do so much more.”
You can
learn more about Mac mini, go here.
Mac Book Air
The Mac Book Air finally gets a Retina display option. According to Apple’s Newsroom:
“New York — Apple today introduced an all-new MacBook Air, bringing a stunning 13-inch Retina display, Touch ID, the latest processors and an even more portable design to the world’s most loved notebook. Delivering the all-day battery life it’s known for, the new MacBook Air is available in three gorgeous finishes — gold, space gray and silver. The most affordable Retina-display Mac ever also includes an Apple-designed keyboard, a spacious Force Touch trackpad, faster SSDs, wide stereo sound, the Apple T2 Security Chip and Thunderbolt 3, making the new MacBook Air the perfect notebook to take with you everywhere you go.”
The details for the new Mac Book Air
go here.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro also received a bump as well to its overall specifications. In the Apple Newsroom release:
“New York — Apple today introduced the new iPad Pro with all-screen design and next-generation performance, marking the biggest change to iPad ever. The all-new design pushes 11-inch and 12.9-inch Liquid Retina displays to the edges of iPad Pro and integrates Face ID to securely unlock iPad with just a glance.1 The A12X Bionic chip with next-generation Neural Engine in iPad Pro outperforms most PC laptops and offers a new USB-C connector, Gigabit-class LTE, and up to 1TB of storage to enable powerful new mobile workflows.2 With over a million apps designed to take advantage of the large Multi-Touch display, including next-generation apps like Photoshop CC on iPad (coming 2019), the new iPad Pro will push what users can do on a computer further than ever before.”
You can find the details here for the iPad Pro.
June 22, 2020
The Apple World Wide Developer Conference was a “virtual” event this time around. As usual, they presented information on what they have in the making for the near future. Also as is typical, the emphasis was mainly on software releases. Here are some of the topics discussed:
- iOS 14
- iPad OS 14
- MacOS Big Sur
- Watch OS 7
- The Mac transition to Apple silicon
iOS 14
– , Some of the new features in iOS 14 were illustrated and demonstrated. Here is a summary from
the Apple News Room
iPad OS 14
Similarly, information about iPad OS 14 was also shown and displayed.
Here is Apple’s announcement
MacOS Big Sur
The Mac operating system will be leaving the OS X designation in the fall with MacOS Big Sur or MacOS 11.
You can read all about it here
Watch OS 7
Finally, the next operating system for the Apple Watch was also talked about as well.
Here is the Apple News Room take on the announcement.
April 20, 2021
Apple hosted what they called their “Spring Loaded” event. I’m going to post below the email that summarizes everything that was presented. Links to the specifics are included in the email announcement that was sent out.
Spring loaded.
Introducing the new iMac, iPad Pro,
iPhone 12 in purple, AirTag, and Apple TV 4K.
Watch the event
iMac
All-new inside and out. Impossibly thin.
24‑inch 4.5K Retina display. The best speakers,
mics, and camera in a Mac. Supercharged
by the M1 chip.
View pricing
Learn more
iPad Pro
M1 chip. 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display.
5G capabilities. New Ultra Wide front-facing camera
with Center Stage.
View pricing
Learn more
iPhone 12
Fastest chip in a smartphone. 5G. A brighter, more
colorful OLED display. Ceramic Shield with 4x better
drop performance.* Now. In. Purple.
View pricing
Learn more
AirTag
Attach one to your keys, slip another in your backpack.
Just like that, they’re on your radar in the Find My app.
View pricing
Learn more
Apple TV 4K
A12 Bionic chip. All-new Siri Remote.
4K High Frame Rate HDR.** And experience your
favorite Apple services on the big screen.
View pricing
Learn more
June 5, 2023
Apple held there World Wide Developer Conference keynote address for 2023. As usual, new products and previews of upcoming software releases were all showcased. For the sake of ease, I will post links to the News Room info for the highlights here.
Highlights
The Apple Vision Pro, Mac Book Air 15, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro, were among the products Apple announced, as well as previews for iOS17, MacOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, iPadOS 17, and tvOS 17 were also introduced.