Apple’s Mac and iPad Event in Brooklyn just ended, so now it’s time to unpack a little of what we got to see. There are plenty of places you can turn to for specs, speeds, and feeds, so I’m not going to bother getting into any of that. There are just my initial impressions of what was announced.
Last Summer at Apple’s annual WWDC Keynote, the company threw us a curveball. An announcement of updated iPad Pros, including a new 10.5″ model, was expected leading up to the event. However, preorders for the new iPads starting immediately after the event was definitely not. I know this took me by surprise.
Photo Source: Ben Geskin on Twitter
I’ve got to hand it to Ben Geskin. The man waited until the last minute to play his card and ruin a big reveal. Apple had a solid surprise still left in the bag until today and company execs may have thought they were home free…until they weren’t. The Apple Pencil 2 has been rumored off and on, but no real details have come out up until Mr Geskin’s big scoop. Now it looks like we know everything.
This question is based more on conjecture about how the coming iPad Pro may work than any hard evidence or major confirmed rumors. Despite that, I think a discussion of mouse support on the iPad Pro is a good thought exercise about how we want to use the device, and where we want Apple to take the platform in the future.
Apple finally sent out the invites today, and Tuesday, October 30 is the day. The event is being held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn New York. While this announcement has been the worst kept secret in tech since the iPhone event wrapped with no iPad news, the date is probably the least interesting part of this announcement and invite. Here are a few things that stand out to me:
Photo Source: Slashleaks
Several new leaked images of the coming iPad Pros have showed up over the past 24 hours courtesy of Slashleaks and mysmartprice. Not only do they look really good, but they also look dead-on similar to each other and to other recent leaks. The closer we get to an announcement, the more credible these leaks become, so I have very high confidence that these images are the real deal.
After another round of leaks and software data mining, it looks like the iPad Pro’s rumored switch from a Lightning Port to USB-C is all but confirmed. This shift is a big deal, as it moves the iPad Pro lineup more in line with Apple’s notebook computers than its smartphones. When you consider that the lower-cost iPad still has Lightning, this becomes an even more notable distinction between devices.
No one but the cool kids have gotten their hands on the new iPhones and Apple Watches yet, and we are already getting fresh reports on what’s coming next. Considering that the news is about the now all but official iPad Pros, I’m all for it.
The iPhones XS, XS Max, and XR and the Apple Watch Series 4 weren’t all that was announced today. There were just a few other morsels that Tim Cook briefly covered at the end of the event. Continue reading
If are an Apple fan, then you know there are two primary events per year that we all look forward to. The first is WWDC. The second is the announcement of the new iPhones. Well, now it’s time for big day number two. Apple’s livestream on their site and via Twitter will break news of their latest new smartphones, as well as a few other items in real time. Tune in at 10 AM Pacific to catch all the action live.
We have a few 11th hour reports on what we will get tomorrow, and some things we might not.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I picked up the higher end of the two Surface Go models right after release, along with a Type Cover and a Surface Pen. I’ve taken my time with the device, and used it in different situations to try to get a feel for it. Being that I am already a Windows user at work who’s had a Lenovo Yoga (original), Yoga 2, and Yoga 720 spanning the last five years, the experience certainly isn’t unfamiliar. The Yoga has been a very good touchscreen ultrabook line since the original, and I have no complaints with it as a laptop.
The Yogas can also be used as tablets, although that experience certainly leaves something to be desired. Frankly, a LOT to be desired. Ultimately, my ambivalence toward touch on Windows based on my experience with what is a good, high-end touchscreen convertible device kept my interest in Microsoft’s Surface products low over the years.