All of Apples new Announcements from Big Event

     There were four announcements that caught attention at Apple's event yesterday. These consist of two new iPads both mini and air, a new 5k iMac and the two new software offerings in OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.1. This event was not as large as the massive media event that Apple held for the announcement of the new iPhones, but still had information that many Apple fans can appreciate.

Josh Valacrel / Wired

The software news regarding OS X Yosemite is already available for a free download and the mobile operating system in iOS 8.1 will be available for download on Monday. The 8.1 system will add Apple Pay and a beta of iCloud photo libraries. It will also include Camera Roll, for those who have been missing the feature. The company has also re-worked it iWork suite in an update which is available for download today. Finally, for developers the company announced WatchKit which is an SDK which will allow apps to start being created for the AppleWatch before it is released.
     Now lets cover the new thinner, lighter more golden iPads. Apple has cut off 18% of the thickness from the iPad air (which already was brought down 20% in thickness from the its previous counterpart). Measuring in at 6.1mm thick, makes it the thinnest tablet on the market currently. In order to accomplish this Apple had to eliminate all of the micro thin layers of air between the layers of display, this was accomplished by optically bonding them together. In addition they also reduced the internal reflection and added and anti-reflective coating that supposedly will reduce reflections by up to 56%. As for the inside, the iPad air comes with a 64-bit A8x processor which offers 40% faster CPU performance and 2.5% faster GPU performance which makes it up to 180 times faster than the original iPad. It also gets 10 hours of battery life per charge.

Josh Valcarcel / Wired

     As cameras have become one of the most important features in mobile devices today, the iPad has updated its camera which is now 8 megapixels, with f/2.4 aperture. Enabling it to shoot 1080p video, take panoramas, burst mode, slo-mo and time lapse. The front camera also has been improved for FaceTime HD with a f/2.2 aperture. They also improved connectivity for the iPad with faster LTE bands and a new faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Finally the iPads also come with TouchID which will make it easy for users to take advantage of ApplePay and TouchID app extensions.
     The iPad Air 2 is available for pre-order now starting at $499 for a 16GB, $599 for the 32GB and $699 for the 128GB. They have also added Gold to the colors of Silver and Space Gray.

Josh Valarcel / Wired

     The iPad Mini 3 is also available and has been upgraded to a Touch ID. It starts at $399 for 16GB, $499 for 64GB and $599 for 128GB. In addition Apple also dropped the price of the iPad Air and iPad mini 2 by $100, so you can now grab them at an all-time low price.

     Now that we have covered the iPads and new software lets talk about the new iMac which has gotten a huge resolution boost. Apple introduced the iMac with Retina Display, having a 27-inch display with a 5120 x 2880 pixel resolution (14.7 million pixels). Apple is calling it a "Retina 5k" display. This iMac will sport a 3.5Ghz i5 processor which is available to be upgraded to 4Ghz, Radeon graphics, 8GB of memory (not impressive) and a 1 TB fusion drive. This iMac will start at $2,499 but is customizeable up to $5,000.

Their final announcement in the Mac Mini has a 4th-generation Intel processor, Iris and HD graphics 5000 and a 802.11ac WiFi. Complete with 2 Thunderbolt USB ports. The small Mac Mini is energy efficient and starts at $499.
Although Apple has continued to give us new product with upgraded software/hardware there were no real jaw droppers at this unveiling, but improvements are improvements and it will keep the competition on their toes for the rest of the year for sure.

Sources: Wired

Apple Unveils 3 Big Devices

     Today in CUPERTINO, California Apple announced a trifecta of devices, which are certainly grabbing their competitors attention and showing their dominance in the tech world.
     In Flint Center for Performing Arts, Apple announced a new mobile payment platform, advanced touchscreen smartwatch and 2 large-screen iPhones. The audience was very impressed with standing ovations and many outbreaks of applause. The press, VIPs from the technology, fashion, entertainment industries and Apple employees all in attendance showing support.
   

The New iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

    Photographer: Alex Washburn/Wired
     
     After an always gripping introductory video, Phil Schiller Apple's senior vice president announce two new iPhone models today, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Both getting a beautiful re-style with smooth, brushed aluminum rear curving gently into the front screen almost, resembling small iPads.
     The iPhone 6 includes a 1334x750 pixel resolution on a 4.7-inch display. iPhone6 Plus brings a 1920x1080 display on a 5.5-inch screen. The phones however are exactly the same except for the size.

 On the back side they placed an 8-megapixel shooter with an f/2.2 aperture 8-megapixel camera. Including a new sensor with speedier autofocus. The iPhone 6 comes with digital image stabilization, but the 6 Plus makes use of its gyroscope and the M8 coprocessor to cancel out any extra shakiness providing optical image stabilization.
     The new A8 processor is promised to be 87% more efficient than its predecessor, while offering 25% more power to the CPU and up to 50% faster GPU speeds than the iPhone 5s' A7 chip. With the M8 motion coprocessor working in addition to aiding image stabilization, you can now tell when you're walking, cycling or running and can track if you're traversing up and down stairs with a new barometer that detects changes in air pressure.
     These devices each feature Touch ID home buttons and NFC. The iPhone 6 will go on sale Friday, September 19th. The starting contract at $200 for 16GB, $300 for 64GB, and $400 for 128GB. The 6 Plus starts at $100 more.

The Apple Watch, Apple's Wearable Technology

    Photographer: Alex Washburn/Wired

      The must unknown topic of the day was if Apple was in fact going to unveil the long-rumored wearable tech product. The company did more than just unveil but amazed. The Apple Watch has arrived!
     Cook stated "Apple watch is the most personal device we've ever created," followed by a standing ovation and round of wild applause. Apple's CEO calls it "a new intimate way to connect and communicate direction from your wrist."
     This smartwatch which is accurate within 50 milliseconds is not only technologically impressive but also is quite styling. You have a fair amount of choices in both hardware and faces allowing you to customize and stylize your watch to meet you personal groove.

     Apple watch is offered in three editions: Apple Watch, Watch Sport, and Watch Edition. Apple Watch being the most basic, Watch Sport with increased durability and Watch Edition has a more exotic look and made of gold. You can then change the straps with a choice of 6 different bands allowing you to mix and match. The bands include a quilted leather strap with a magnetic clasping band, a stainless steel link bracelet with magnetic clasping band, a mesh chain loop and traditional leather buckle. The bands and watch faces come in two different sizes to suit not only all wrists but all body types.
     Cook stated "With every breakthrough, Apple has also had to have a breakthrough in user interface,". What they made sure we knew however was that they didn't simply take the iPhone interface and shrink it to a watch size, and believe that their new interface will make for a fantastic experience.
     With a menu composed of small bubble shaped app icons you can arrange wherever you like and may even group them together with other related apps. By twisting the crown you zoom in and out on the group of apps and then to open up an app you would simply tap it. They have a new feature called Glances which lets you swipe upwards from the bottom of the screen to cycle through customizable screens. Apple even decided to include Siri in the advice so now we will in fact see people talking with their smart watches, we are all the new James Bond.
      The Apple Watch will launch with a apps such as Maps, customizable watch faces and third-party apps. Third party apps from businesses like W Hotels and American Airlines. It also includes several health and fitness apps which use information gathered by both your iPhone and Apple Watch. The Apple sensors will even give you a view of your daily activities, essentially being both a smartwatch and fitness tracker in one.
     The Apple Watch certainly impressed but lets hope it can deliver. It will start at $350 and go on sale in early 2015.

Apple's Mobile Payment System: ApplePay

                                Photographer: Alex Washburn/Wired
   
     "Payments is a huge business. Every day between credit and debit, we spend $12 billion, and that's just in the United States," cook stated in his introduction to what a huge business payments is and a space that have yet to be digitally cracked.
     Apple has been working with MasterCard, American Express and Visa to design their new ApplePay system which is already working with over 220,000 merchants at launch. These merchants include Whole Foods, Macy's, Target and Walgreens. Using your NFC you simply tap your phone to the pay terminal and the security code is given. You start by adding a snapshot of the your card which then must receive verification from your bank. After that it's simply swipe your phone payments. Apple has stated that Apple will not collect your purchasing data in other words what you purchase is between you and the merchant.
      Another new technology that Apple is trying out and only time will tell whether it is user accepted or not. ApplePay will launch in the U.S. in October with an update to iOS8.

     Apple has yet again proven their ability to not only create new technologies but also shown that they are one of the best at doing it. With these three new products we will certainly see more Apple products on a daily basis and that's saying something.