A few days ago, I wrote about Apple’s rumored “event” on Apps and Media that was supposed to take place this afternoon, wondering what it would look like. It turns out this wasn’t a public-facing event at all, which actually makes more sense. Instead, this was a small gathering of press and developers at a New York apartment that Apple keeps for more intimate events and demonstrations.
So we all thought there would be an Apple event back in October. It fit the pattern of recent years. There was hardware that we all thought would be released before the Holiday shopping season. The AirPods Pro and 16″ MacBook Pro seemed event-worthy when paired. Add in a rumored iPad Pro refresh, AirTiles and an Apple TV update, and it all seemed to make sense. But then October came and went with no event.
First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. If you are celebrating here in the US today, I hope you are having a wonderful day filled with family, fun and lots of good food. I am looking forward to heading next door (yes, my Holiday travel is absolutely BRUTAL) and partaking in our family’s traditional feast in about an hour. I can’t wait. For our fairly large crew, turkey is the sideshow. My Mom’s Chicken and Dumplings and Dressing are the stars of the show. I skipped breakfast to make room, so now I’m really hungry.
Ok, back to business…
According to Korea’s ETNews, Apple will be shaking up the sizes of the iPhone 12 next year. The follow-ups to the Pro models will be going in different directions, with the current 6.5″ Max model growing to 6.7″ and the smaller 5.8″ version shrinking to 5.4″. Considering that the only direction for the iPhone lately has been up, this would be a notable shift.
If you charge your iPhone in the car, then you are likely already aware that the elements are NOT kind. They will break down even the sturdiest of charging cables over time, rendering them useless. Apple’s ok, but far less durable, stock Lightning Cables don’t even stand a chance in the extreme heat, cold and humidity that come with the changing seasons.
I’ve been a big fan of my Brydge Bluetooth Keyboard for the 12.9″ iPad Pro since I got one back in July. So much so that my Pro rarely gets used without it now. I gave it a brief overview this Summer right after getting it and came away very impressed. My opinion hasn’t changed over the months since.
The keys are close to the same size, spacing and quality that you get with a good laptop keyboard. The key action is responsive and has a pleasing feedback. The backlight is bright. The docking clips allow you to position the iPad at almost any angle you choose. Their Silver, Space Gray and Gold are a perfect match for each iPad color. It’s just a great product, all the way around. The magnetic cover that protects the back of the iPad is a nice touch, as well.
I’m a huge fan of the iPad Pro, but I’ve been critical of one aspect of the device: the available first-party keyboard. Even though I found Apple’s Smart Keyboard Folio to be better than the original Smart Keyboard, that isn’t saying much. I know these keyboards have a lot of fans, but I not among them. I just really do not like the key action AT ALL.
Since Apple swung and missed with the AirPower, it’s up to iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPod owners to find their own wireless charging solutions. If you want to save some money, you can get a 3-in-1 charging pad that will take care of all of the above, as well as other devices.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple’s new AirPods Pro have already exceeded projected demand so far since their launch a month ago. So much so, in fact, that production lines have been strained and stock has been low since launch. Debby Wu of Bloomberg goes as far as saying that demand has been “much higher” than originally estimated.
If you are looking for a really good wireless keyboard that is portable and durable, but won’t set you back too much, then the previous-gen Apple Wireless Keyboard is a great option.
Apple released their AirPods Pro to plenty of fanfare and rave reviews a few weeks ago. The common assumption at the time was that they would continue releasing additional devices and accessories that week, well ahead of Black Friday and the Holiday shopping season. However, the rest of said week came and went with nothing but silence from Apple.
Because of this, I wondered if maybe Apple was done releasing hardware for the year fifteen days ago. They had passed the point of any new releases getting prime placement during Black Friday sales, so it just seemed like maybe they were done, at least on the consumer products side. Shows what I know.