SAN FRANCISCO: Apple unveiled its large-screen tablet range iPad Pro and improved iPhones, claiming the new tablet has the power and capabilities to replace a laptop computer. Apple Watch and Apple TV also saw upgrades.
Chief executive Tim Cook, speaking at a San Francisco media event, called the device “the biggest news in iPad since the iPad.”
The new tablet with a 12.9-inch display, also includes a detachable keyboard and stylus.
The device features “desktop-class performance” and operates faster than 80 per cent of portable PCs that shipped in the last 12 months, said Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller of the device.
The new iPad will be available in November starting at $799, with a keyboard option at $169.
“It is thin and light enough to work all day and be taken everywhere,” Schiller said.
The iPad Pro also includes a stylus called Apple Pencil – despite comments from late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs that consumers did not want such an accessory.
3D Touch
The electronics giant's new top of the range phones are called, predictably, IPhone 6S and 6s Plus and boast of a new feature called 3D Touch.
iPhone 6S and 6SPlus both sport a 12-megapixel iSight cameras and will be able to shoot 4K videos. The front-facing camera has been upgraded to 5 megapixels.
Pre-orders are starting from September 12th and the phones will be available from September 25th in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, China, France and Germany and a few others, with more to come.
Prices will drop for the 6 and 6 Plus making them $100 less expensive. ($99 and $199 now - in the US). The 5s is now the entry-level phone.
New IPhone specs at a glance
#AppleEvent: New #iPhones - 6S and 6S Plus announced pic.twitter.com/BZP38zXUwQ— Gulf News (@gulf_news) September 9, 2015
iPad Pro
Apple announced a bigger iPad with a new keyboard and stylus aimed at business customers.
Chief Executive Tim Cook promised a day of "monster" news on Wednesday, but shares of the company remained nearly flat as executives showed off the iPad, which will be priced starting at $799.
Cook began by talking up the Apple Watch, saying customer satisfaction for the new product was 97 percent. Apple is working with French luxury goods maker Hermes on a new watch collection, and Facebook Messenger is coming to the device, he added.
#AppleEvent: Cook unveils a bigger 12.9“ #iPad pro with “chock-full of amazing technologies” pic.twitter.com/dGe7r4ulMu— Gulf News (@gulf_news) September 9, 2015
He then rolled out the "iPad Pro" with a 12.9 inch screen and said it had performance similar to a desktop computer. Apple showed off a "smart" keyboard and a stylus called "Pencil".
Apple said it had partnered with Cisco Systems Inc/sand IBM to help power the iPad pro, which it said is up to 1.8 times faster and has a 10-hour battery life. Many people on Twitter seemed unimpressed by the new iPad and lamented its large size, however.
Apple Pencil
An Apple Pencil is displayed on the screen during a Special Event at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (AFP)
#AppleEvent: #WatchOS 2 will arrive on September 16th pic.twitter.com/Yrk4vKdKQH— Gulf News (@gulf_news) September 9, 2015
Watch OS2
With the update, outside developers can make apps specifically for the watch and interact directly with its sensors and controls. That will enable apps that analyze golf swings or record audio. Before, third-party apps have been limited to being extensions of apps that run on the iPhone.
The new software will be available as a free download starting next Wednesday.
At an event in San Francisco Wednesday, Apple said there are now 10,000 apps designed for the watch, including ones from Facebook and GoPro - the later using the watch's screen as a viewfinder for the video camera. Apple says the new capabilities will also allow additional health-related apps.
The upcoming Samsung Gear S2 will also allow outside parties to write apps that run directly on the watch. Google is also hoping programmers create apps that can work independently on watches running on its Android Wear software.
