Apple held its Spring Loaded event yesterday and, in the event, it announced several new items and services, the biggest of them being the iMacs and iPads. Apple showcased a new iPad Pro, newly redesigned iMacs, a new Apple TV 4K with a refreshed remote, and a location-broadcasting iPhone accessory called AirTags.
New iMacs
Coming to the iMacs first, Apple has completely redesigned the iMacs and has ditched the bulky thermal system in earlier iMacs, and finally give the desktop PC a proper makeover. The company revealed completely redesigned hardware today, a super-slim all-in-one machine that has about 50 percent of the volume of previous models.
Image Credit: Apple
This was possible due to Apple’s new M1 chip which does not require beefy cooling like the previous chips. The new iMac has a 24-inch, 4.5K display. It has an updated, 1080p front-facing camera with a new sensor, new microphones, and six speakers that support spatial audio and Dolby Atmos.
The new iMac supports TouchID and has a smaller charging block that includes an Ethernet port. Apple is claiming it wakes instantly, and it’s expected to be a whopping 85 percent faster overall than the previous iMac.
The new iMac comes in seven colors: green, yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, and silver. The new 2021 iMac starts at $1,299 for the base specifications and bumping up the specs will take the price up to $1,499.
New iPad Pro
In the Spring Loaded event, Apple also announced two new iPad Pro models. The 2021 iPad Pro comes in a refreshed 11-inch model and a more feature-rich 12.9-inch model. The new iPad Pros now also utilize the Apple M1 chip which is 50% faster than the last year’s iPad Pro and also provides a 40% boost in graphical performance.
Other major changes to the 12.9 model include the use of Mini-LED technology on the LCD display for backlighting. Apple calls this Liquid Retina XDR as it attempts to match the quality out of its Pro Display XDR monitor.
Image Credit: Apple
Both 2021 iPad Pro models now feature thunderbolt through the USB-C port, which will allow users to connect their iPad to monitors and other devices. Apple also allows users to add 5G connectivity to their iPad Pros. The new iPad Pro’s selfie camera has such a wide field of view that it can zoom in and follow you around during video calls, ensuring you never leave the frame.
Coming to the price, the 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 starts at $799, and the 12.9-inch model starts at $1,099. Preorders start from April 30 and the tablets will start shipping in May.
Apple TV 4K with refreshed remote
The new Apple TV 4K is powered by the latest A12 bionic chip which allows for high frame rate HDR playback. The Apple TV’s casing that connects to your TV now comes with a 100-percent-recycled-aluminum remote that’s been fully redesigned. A clickable, touch-sensitive pad sits in the middle of the silver clicker, with all-new power and mute buttons, and an iPhone-mirroring Siri button on the side.
Image Credit: Apple
The new Apple TV 4K also has a new feature that uses your iPhone to pair with the TV for color calibration using the camera of the phone. The new Apple 4K 2021 will cost $179 for 32 gigabytes of internal storage and $199 for 64 GB. The remote will be available separately for $59. It will be available for preorder on April 30. Products are expected to ship in the second half of May.
AirTags
Apple has finally unveiled the AirTags which were first rumored quite a while ago. AirTags can clip onto a suitcase, keychain, backpack, or any personal item. Then, if that item ever gets lost or stolen, its location can be detected with Apple’s Find My app.
The Find My app hunts down the errant AirTags with a feature Apple calls Precision Finding. To prevent your AirTagged items from being swiped by nefarious Find My users, Apple says it is including additional security measures in the AirTags which will be revealed at a later date.
Image Credit: Apple
AirTags work by using geolocation, input from the camera, audible signals, and haptic feedback. The most interesting technological mechanism in the AirTags is the ultra-wideband signal tech used to pinpoint a location. It’s a technology that allows fast wireless data transfer and location tracking down to a matter of centimeters.
Apple AirTags cost $29; $99 for a four-pack and they will be available from April 30th.
Purple iPhone 12
Apple also unveiled a new color for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini. It a light purple color which will surely attract a younger audience. Everything about this iPhone is identical to the iPhone 12 that’s been on sale since October. This purple color will be available for preorder this Friday.
Image Credit: Apple
Apple Podcast Discovery revamp
The podcast discovery feature on Apple devices is getting a revamp and the new design includes more suggestion options, including some new curated channels to make finding good shows a little easier. It is also rumored that Apple will launch a podcast subscription service that will allow listeners access to exclusive episodes, early access to regular episodes, and an ad-free listening experience. Subscription podcasts will become available in most of the world next month.
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Podcast creators will need to join a creator’s program for $20 a year in order to charge listeners a subscription fee, and Apple will take its standard 30 percent off the top of any earnings.
