There's something you should know about 12.9-inch iPad Pro [seventh in a series]

 

April 3, 2016 marks the first day that I truly could use Apple's over-sized tablet to replace my laptop. But I had to spend another $84, before California tax, to do it. Gadget reviewers who say that iPad Pro cannot be your computer are wrong. The apps, performance, and utility are there. Anyone creating content should consider this device as compliment to, or replacement for, an existing PC. The problem with 12.9-inch iPad Pro isn't what it can do but how much it costs to assemble what you need. This kit is far from budget-friendly, which also can be said of Microsoft's competing Surface Pro 4.
 
I started my iPad Pro sojourn on Groundhog Day, planning to use the device as my primary PC for 30 days. The objective: Apple CEO Tim Cook says the big-ass tablet can replace a personal computer, I want to see if he is right. The experiment isn't my first journey like this. I tried something similar during summer 2011 with one of the first Chromebooks. The path was a dead end. But Spring 2012, when new commercial models released, I started down the path again and never looked back. Google's Chromebook Pixel LS was my main computer before adopting the iPad lifestyle.
 
Money, Honey
 
The tablet's biggest foible as laptop replacement isn't apps, hardware, or operating system but the charging system. The 12-watt brick that Apple ships in the box is inadequate. While battery life is excellent, and enough to last a workday for common tasks, recharging takes a long time. More perplexing, you can't really use iPad Pro and charge simultaneously; there isn't enough juice. An Apple Store specialist recently acknowledged the problem, noting that display models often drain the battery even when plugged in.
 
But there's a fix. Last month, the company released a lightning-to-USB-C adaptor that lets iPad Pro charge using 12-inch MacBook's 29-watt brick, and the changeover makes a huge difference. In my testing, battery recharges in less than half the time—comparable to my experience with MacBook Pro. The tablet also adequately recharges when in use, as you would expect with any laptop. But to get that utility, you pay extra: $49 for the brick, and either $25 or $35 for the cable, depending on length (1 or 2 meters, respectively). Most users will want the longer cord, which is comparable-length to the one they already have.
 
That extra cost leads into the price equation and where the math adds up for some buyers but not for many others. The overall kit is pricey. The value is there, and on this point I disagree with most other reviewers. That said, price-wary shoppers can get as much, or more, computing benefit elsewhere by spending lots less.
 
Last month, Apple released a second, iPad Pro that packs same-size screen as the Air 2—9.7 inches. I am testing one of these, too, and with similar objective as the bigger model; seeing what role it can assume alongside, or instead of, a laptop. Preview reaction: Pretty good kit. With the new model's availability, the Pro line now ranges from $599 to $1,229. It's the high-end models that are more suitable for comparing with a laptop; for price and performance.
 
The 128GB and 256GB WiFi configurations are $949 and $1.099, respectively. Adding cellular radio jumps the prices to $1,079 and $1,229. Pencil and keyboard add $99 and $169 to the kit's cost, and don't forget the 29-watt charger and cable. Add it up and top-of-the-line model runs $1,581, or $1,451 without LTE. For comparison, the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro Retina Display with 256GB storage is $1,499. Display resolution is similar, but there is no touchscreen, cellular radio,  or Pencil (e.g. stylus).
 
Modularity is a benefit, but it comes with a higher price that also applies to Surface Pro 4, which screen is 12.3 inches. From Microsoft Store, 256GB WiFi configuration with i5 processor sells for $1,299 and includes the stylus. Type Cover keyboard adds $129.99 to the price, or $159.99 with fingerprint reader (which is more comparable to iPad Pro). Final cost works out to either $1,428.99 or $1,458.99.
 
None of these devices is exactly low-cost for the utility given. Microsoft Store sells a broad selection of Windows 10 laptops with touchscreens and 256GB SSDs for under $1,000; many go for less than $800. Selection is broader still from Amazon. While Windows users can choose touchscreen models at most major price points, Mac buyers get nothing. For touch in a laptop-class device, iPad Pro is the only option.
 
Apples and Oranges
 
Notice that my comparisons focus on storage, and also screen size and resolution—12.3 inches and 2736 x 1824 resolution for Surface Pro 4; 12.9 inches and 2732 x 2048 for iPad Pro; 13.3 inches and 2560 x 1600 for MBP Retina. Processor and RAM are purposely ignored, because in my testing comparison is meaningless—even using benchmarks. iPad Pro's A9X chip and 4GB RAM deliver subjectively fantastic performance in day-to-day use. There is no perceptible lag compared to my Chromebook LS or MacBook Pro Retina Display, both of which pack i7 processors and 16GB RAM. The larger iPad Pro brings Apple back to the PowerPC era, when comparison to Intel chips quite literally was apples to oranges.
 
Modular design, powerful performance, and bountiful apps put the iPad Pro in PC replacement territory. But you will pay for the luxury. Whom should that be? Pencil pushers will love the fine control drawing or annotating. I am no artist and yet still see the nuances given; pen-to-paper like. Content creation is sometimes frustrating because of the file system, or lack of meaningful direct access to it. Nevertheless, keys, stylus, and touch open lots of control for editing photos or videos and creating documents, for example.
 
The keyboard is delightful. That is for me, I can't say for you. As expressed in previous installments in this series, my fingers find the keys by touch typing more accurately than any other keyboard,  Responsiveness and travel are excellent. There is only one angle for the screen, when using Apple's keyboard cover, and it's perfect for me. I'm a short guy; 1.68 meters tall (5 feet 6 inches). I sit low enough to the screen without slouching while level enough with the keys to accurately type. But I wonder about taller folks. Then again, Tim Cook is 1.9 meters (6 feet 3 inches) tall. If Apple's CEO doesn't tower over the rig such that the angle is bad, then maybe most anyone can comfortably use the branded kit. Still, a cheap laptop or Surface Pro 4 gives greater flexibility adjusting angle of the screen.
 
To my surprise, for typing, iPad Pro comfortably sits on my lap, without tipping off. I expected topsy-turvy, which would be a deal breaker for replacing a notebook. I suspect, and someone can correct me, that Apple's single-angle placement in the keyboard as holder maintains balance when the device is used off the desk and on the lap.
 
In a future installment, I will discuss the app experience and explain why it's surprisingly good enough for most needs, but by no means all. Apple News is a killer content consumption app. Then there is the Pencil and what you do with it.
 
Returning to the topic of cost, and what you get, I'm aghast that Apple ships such a dinky charging brick with iPad Pro. From about 10 percent level, setting the tablet aside, recharging often takes as long as 6 hours. The MacBook 29-watt brick pulls back the time to under 3 hours, which is good enough. Benefit maybe, but buyers investing so much in the kit shouldn't have to spend another $74 to $84 to get what Cook contends is possible: Tablet that replaces a laptop.
 
This post is seventh in a series; Parts One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.
 
Photo Credit: Joe Wilcox 
 
~ Joe Wilcox

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Apple's 9.7-inch iPad Pro is a smaller laptop alternative

 

At Apple's event yesterday, it was the iPhone SE that people were intrigued to find out more about -- but there were plenty of other things to get excited about as well. In addition to the launch of iOS 9.3, it also announced a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
 
The reason for releasing a Pro device with these dimensions is that 9.7-inch remains the most popular size for iPads -- with more than 200 million units sold. It's not just the size of the screen that has changed, however.
 
Apple also says that the new iPad Pro has a display that’s 40 percent less reflective and 25 percent brighter than an iPad Air 2. Importantly, there's also the same A9X processor that's found in the larger iPad Pro.
 
Apple has a great deal to say about the new iPad Pro's screen. It's an adaptive display that automatically changes the color temperature to match the lighting it's being used in. Sound is catered for by no fewer than four speakers and there's the now-expected "Hey, Siri" support. In terms of looks, think of an iPad Air 2, and you're just about there.
 
As this is pitched as a laptop alternative, there's a specially designed Smart Keyboard for the new size of iPad Pro -- this joins the Apple Pencil as a form of input. There's a degree of crossover with the iPhone SE. There's support for 4K video, and a 12MP camera is on hand for photography, complete with Live Photo support. There is a new image signal processor, and this allows for the creation of panoramas up to 63MP.
 
Like the iPhone SE, pre-orders open for the new iPad Pro on March 24, and the device launches March 31. Pricing starts at $599 for the 32GB version, while the 128GB version will cost $749 and the 256GB model is $899.
 
~ Mark Wilson

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Apple, bring on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro!

Not too long ago, we were talking about tablets as PC replacements. Consumers were buying them in droves, losing interest in desktops and laptops. Apple's iPads ruled supreme, dominating this space from afar. Fast forward to today and we are talking about the slate as a has been, as it struggles to command the same levels of attention.
 
For Apple, which was used to posting record numbers every single quarter, it is an especially troublesome trend. The company started the tablet craze, after all, when it showcased the first iPad six years ago, and now sales figures are lower and lower as the quarters go by. However, the productivity-oriented iPad Pro appears to be bucking the trend -- could a smaller version do the same?
 
Yes, iPad Pro Is a Success
 
Sales figures for iPad Pro are not as impressive as for a typical iPad, because Apple only shifted around two million units last quarter out of a total of 16.1 million iPads. But they far exceed the competition, which is what matters considering that iPad Pro is basically a first-generation, niche device. An iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 4 is more mature and appeals to a wider range of consumers.

Microsoft sold only 1.6 million Surface devices in the whole quarter. Its tablets are the obvious rivals for iPad Pro, so it is a bit interesting to see a newcomer outselling more mature options in this space. The biggest iPad was only available for a month and a half in total, so it could have sold in three to four million units easily had Apple introduced it on October 1; from that perspective, it started off well in this segment.
 
Not to mention that all the recent Surface devices are arguably better in the productivity department, as they ship with a stylus and run a full-blown version of Windows. The keyboard is better designed as well. But, the fact that iPad Pro is selling better suggests that perhaps what consumers want is a more beefed up tablet, not a tablet masquerading as a laptop replacement.
 
But, Could a Smaller iPad Pro Work?
 
Because consumers seem to be responding well to a productivity-oriented iPad, Apple could apply the same recipe to make a smaller, 9.7-inch version. If you think about, there is no reason not to do it.

Apple should replace iPad Air 2 at some point this year, and a similar-sized iPad Pro could take its place in the lineup. It would be able to do the same things an iPad Air 3 could, while adding support for a stylus, keyboard and beefier apps. The smaller screen would not even be limiting, because iOS is designed to work well on iPads with screen sizes ranging from 7.9-inches to 12.9-inches.
 
There are no issues with tablet apps either, as developers optimize them well for all iPads. Not to mention that those apps that are now designed specifically to take advantage of iPad Pro's features could just as easily work on a smaller version, if it has the same -- or more powerful -- hardware inside.
 
As it stands now, an iPad Air 3 would likely be just a faster iPad Air 2. As I mentioned earlier, consumers are losing interest in these sort of devices. But, by giving them the extra benefits that iPad Pro has, in a smaller form factor, they could respond better. Many iPad Air owners are already using it with a keyboard, so it would be a natural evolution from this perspective. A stylus is also a popular accessory for content creators. Apple would better cater to prosumers, while empowering the average consumer when the need calls for it.
 
Having the potential to do more with a device is attractive, even though most of the time you will be unlikely to make use of any of its standout features. We do this every day with our phones already, if you think about it: how often do you use the camera at its full potential or how often do you take the processor to its limits? But, it is nice to know that you can do that, if you want. Same thing applies to a smaller iPad Pro.
 
The trick is to offer it at an attractive price point. A smaller iPad Pro can work as long as it costs roughly the same as an iPad Air 2, because consumers already have many options that are more affordable or more powerful for roughly the same money. Apple can afford to do this, to offer Pro features as a bonus, because margins from an iPad are high already.
 
"Pro" Tablets Are Inevitable
 
If Apple wants to remain relevant, it will have to offer a smaller iPad Pro eventually. Gartner predicts that these kind of devices, and high-end ultrabooks, will grow significantly in the coming years, from 45 million units in 2015 to 92 million units in 2018. There is huge potential here that cannot be ignored.
 
Apple's strength in a particular market comes not from one or two devices, but from an entire lineup. In that sense, adding a smaller iPad Pro to the line is an obvious next step for the company. It has nothing to lose, only plenty to gain.
 
Photo Credit: VGstockstudio / Shutterstock

~ Mihăiță Bamburic

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Major university goes all-in on iPad Pro -- shuns Microsoft Surface

The original iPad is one of the most disruptive products in the history of personal computing. Its popularity caused the entire industry to shift -- it made Microsoft go bonkers with Windows 8 (retrofitting a touch UI to a mouse and keyboard OS), while countless manufacturers tried to copy it with Android. Yes, many have tried to duplicate the magic, but ultimately, nothing has ever truly matched it.

The iPad Pro, however, has not seen the same consumer interest, and for good reason -- its not intended for personal use (although it can be). Actually, the "Pro" moniker seems to be quite intentional; it is more appropriate for things such as business and education. Speaking of the latter, today, Lynn University announces that it is giving an iPad Pro to all undergraduate students and some members of faculty. Unfortunately for Microsoft, its Surface line was not chosen.

"iPad Pro also supports Lynn's ongoing efforts to create a more affordable education, eliminating personal computer costs and saving students money through apps and e-books that are more cost-effective, timely and relevant than  traditional textbooks and support materials. iPad Pro provides even greater flexibility, too. Whether studying aviation, design or music, students now can use one device for writing papers, taking notes with Apple Pencil, creating videos that demonstrate learning, completing in-depth projects outside the classroom and much more", says Lynn University.

Chris Boniforti, Chief Information Officer, Lynn University explains, "iPad Pro, its accessories and the next generation of education-focused apps will make learning even more relevant to the world students live in. This immersive, versatile technology also provides access to top-notch content and can replace bulky desktop devices to save space and allow Lynn to convert computer labs into interactive, mobile workspaces -- places that inspire creativity and foster collaboration".

Not only will students and staff get the iPad Pro, but the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard too. This will make the large tablet a great solution for typing notes, making annotations, and creative drawing too.

Quite frankly, this sounds like the perfect college machine. After all, iOS has access to many wonderful productivity apps, such as Microsoft Office, Dropbox, Notability, and more. No to mention, when a student wants to relax, there are tons of quality iOS games.

Could the Surface be a better choice? It depends. While Microsoft's solution can arguably do more as it runs a desktop operating system, it also comes with baggage, such as malware, and potentially higher deployment and maintenance costs. In the Enterprise, yeah, the Surface is probably the better choice. At a university, however, the iPad Pro is a seemingly better fit -- well done, Lynn University.

~ Brian Fagioli

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Modbook Pro: Yes, there is an OS X tablet and it's been available since 2012

As capable as the iPad Pro is for artists, there are those who want Apple to make a tablet that runs OS X. That's not likely to happen, but a third-party company has been making one for a while.

Modbook Pro

A tablet running OS X has been a pipe dream for some and a Los Angeles-based company, Modbook, has been making one since 2012. Since Apple doesn't sell nor license the OS to third parties, the Modbook Pro takes a radical approach.
 
When you buy a Modbook Pro you are essentially buying a 13-inch MacBook Pro that the company cannibalizes to make the tablet. Everything inside the MBP that makes it a Mac is incorporated in a tablet enclosure that is the Modbook Pro.
 
The tablet houses the computer, and has a 13.3-inch display that works with a Wacom pen. The MBP keyboard base unit is ditched in favor of a pure tablet device.
 
The company aims the Modbook Pro at the serious artist who needs a sensitive pen (1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity) for sketching, while also having a need for running OS X apps.
 
According to Modbook, the conversion to the tablet involves placing the MacBook Pro in the tablet housing and connecting it to the ModBook Pro via a USB 3.0 connection. This accounts for a lot of the five pound weight of the tablet.
 
In addition to an OS X installation, it can be ordered with just Windows, or it can be installed on the Modbook Pro in a dual-boot arrangement for those needing access to both OSes. This is Windows 7 according to the specifications.
 
The Modbook Pro tablet is nearly an inch thick, so it's not a slim device. It is configurable to suit the buyer's requirements, with CPU, memory, and SSD storage sizes to suit. It is available in a price range of $2,699 - $2,999 for OS X and $2,799 - $3,099 for Windows only. There is also an entry-level model for $1,899 that is a DIY version which ships with everything in a box for hardy souls willing to take on the daunting task of building the Modbook Pro themselves.

Using the MacBook Pro in this fashion voids Apple's warranty so the Modbook Pro comes with a one-year warranty of its own to cover the tablet.
 
The need for running OS X on a tablet aside, it sounds like it might be time for those considering the Modbook Pro to look at the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil. It's a lot cheaper if nothing else.
 
~ James Kendrick

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Apple could soon allow you to remove unwanted stock apps from iPhone, according to Tim Cook

 

Apple CEO Tim Cook has addressed one of biggest annoyances in the otherwise excellent iPhone. Cook has said that the company is aware that not everybody is a big fan of several stock apps -- more popularly known as junkware, crapware, bloatware -- in the iPhone lineup, and it intends to step back and (almost certainly) give users the ability to remove them.
 
In a wide-ranging interview with BuzzFeed News, the company's chief executive talked about privacy concerns with the new iPhones, the company's claim of iPad Pro being a desktop replacement, and more importantly, why it doesn't allow users to remove stock apps -- for example, Calculator, Stocks, Tips, Watch -- from their iPhones or iPads.
 

Cook said that as of now, there are several technical complications that could arise if a user removed one of the stock apps. You see, these apps talk to each other, have integration with Siri, and also the core system, hence removing them could cause issues. "This is a more complex issue than it first appears. There are some apps that are linked to something else on the iPhone. If they were to be removed they might cause issues elsewhere on the phone", he told BuzzFeed News.
 
But the company realizes that many of these apps could be removed, should a user not want them to stay on their shiny iOS devices. Cook reassured users that the company is looking into it and would likely give users the ability to remove the said apps in future.
 
"There are other apps that aren't like that. So over time, I think with the ones that aren't like that, we'll figure out a way [for you to remove them]. … It's not that we want to suck up your real estate, we're not motivated to do that. We want you to be happy. So I recognize that some people want to do this, and it's something we're looking at", he added.
 
Bloatware isn't a new thing nor exclusively prevalent on Apple devices. It's an industry-wide issue. Most Android smartphones and tablets, for instance, come with dozens of Google apps. And it's not limited to smartphones and tablets. Remember the Superfish fiasco on Lenovo laptops from earlier this year? But on Android devices, users have the ability to disable many such apps. On iPhones and iPads, this issue is more concerning because of the limited storage users get, and the extra price they are supposed to cough up to buy a high-storage variant.
 
Are you looking forward to removing some of these stock apps from your Apple device? Tell us in the comments section below.
 
~ Max Nottingham

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You guys realize the iPad Pro will fail, right?

 

At its media event on September 9, Apple unveiled the iPad Pro, a 12.9-inch tablet. Touted as a productivity device, the company hopes that the iPad Pro will be the future of computing. Need a tablet? Use the iPad Pro. Need a laptop? Plug-in the $169 keyboard accessory and begin typing. The problem, however, is that at its current state, the iPad Pro is an awfully large tablet and iOS mobile operating system, which the device runs, isn't good enough to replace your desktop operating system.
 
After talking to a number of people -- both tech enthusiasts as well as average Joes -- one thing was pretty clear to me: nobody finds the iPad Pro exciting. A couple of people are actually looking forward to the iPad mini 4, which is the successor to the iPad mini 3, and largely carries the same hardware as the last year's iPad Air 2.
 
Plenty of people carry iPad (or iPad mini) to work and use it to watch movies and shows or read magazines during the long commute. Many people use these devices at home for reading and playing games. These are the people who represent the large part of Apple's userbase. The 12.9-inch display is a deal-breaker for many as it is uncomfortably large to hold and watch content on while traveling. Which leaves us to the smaller subset of the market which is looking for a device that could be used to make designs, edit videos and do things that are expected from a laptop.
 
And therein lies the biggest problem. Apple's iOS is among the finest mobile operating systems, but at its current state, it is not in a position to compete against Windows, or even its sibling, OS X. While Apple has laced the new operating system with several features such as Split-Screen, and Pinch-to-Zoom among others that truly make the device capable of performing multitasks, the experience is not so great yet.
 

 

Starting with the homescreen, the company's decision to show just 20 apps on a page is a big design flaw. Just look at the image above and try to appreciate the amount of whitespace that has been thrown your way. Compare that with the Surface Pro 3, the device to which the iPad Pro will be largely competing against. The company seems to have completely missed out on a huge opportunity here.
 
The second issue is apps. The company noted that the iPad Pro comes with a desktop-class processor (which is faster than more than 80 percent of laptops that shipped last year), but what are you going to do with that high-end chipset? Apart from Office suite, which arguably offers sub-par experience to its desktop counterpart, there aren't many apps that could come together to replace the experience that its desktop counterpart offers. The operating system just doesn't seem to be designed for such a large screen.
 
Coupling that to the $799 starting price point, and an additional $169 for the Smart Keyboard, there are plenty of better laptops out there including company's own MacBook Air lineup, and a plethora of laptops running Windows and Linux builds.
 
What's your take on the iPad Pro? Will you be purchasing one?
 
~ Max Nottingham

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Live Blog: Apple's 'Hey, Siri' iPhone 6s, iOS 9, Apple TV and iPad Pro launch

 

Apple knows how to put on a show, and today is no different. Even those with little more than a passing interest in the company are (come on, admit it!) eager to see exactly what will be unveiled. For the most part we know what to expect. There's the iPhone 6s, iOS 9 and Apple TV which are all but guaranteed to make an appearance, and there have been suggestions about the long-rumored iPad Pro. Whatever the event holds, there is sure to be at least one surprise, and there's not long to wait to find out more.
 
There's a live stream if you fancy watching the event live, but if you're not able to for any reason we've got you covered with this live blog. Thing kick off at 10am PDT/6pm BST -- just keep hitting refresh for the latest updates!
 
Live Blog

• And we're done -- time to digest all of this!

 

• New iPhone Upgrade Program means you can get a new iPhone every year -- for a monthly fee, obviously
• Pre-orders start on Saturday 16 September and shipping starts 25th.
• Pricing: iPhone 6S $199, iPhone 6S Plus $299 on a two year contract.
• Spec summary -- covered in a seperate post. Basically, everything is better, bigger and faster.
• Fuck me... this has been going on for two hours!
• haha.... a new app to migrate from Android!

 

• The feature is enabled by default. So every time you take a photo, you are effectively shooting a video. Surely the 16GB model is dead!
• Live Photos... that's just video isn't it? Maybe I'm missing something.... Touch a photo and it animates. Well... it plays a video
• For selfie freaks, there's a 5MP FaceTime camera... and the screen can be used as a flash!
• There's 4K video.... so is the 16GB iPhone now dead?
• A 12MP iSight camera

• Touch ID has been updated to a version that twice as fast, and there's also a new camera.
• Demo of the A9 chip's capabilities are impressive. Warhammer looks incredible. The number of pixels being pushes around here is amazing:

• In many ways, 3D Touch is a simple upgrade, but adding context to more areas of iOS will make a huge difference to how lots of activities are completed.
• Press with your finger to go deeper.... into your inbox...

• There's a new Taptic Engine that gives better feedback than ever before:

• New feature to shout about is 3D touch. Multi-touch taken to a new dimension -- it's Force Touch essentially... or glorified right-clicking 

• There are some nasty new colors. Sorry, but some of those just are not nice!

• OK here's the new stuff. Not just the iPhone 6S, but the iPhone 6S Plus:

• iPhone 6 is the most popular iPhone ever

• iPhone time!

 

• tvOS is available for developers today, and there's news about pricing. Fairly cheap:

• Apple TV remote is meant to replace all of your existing remotes -- this is nice.
• More gaming and apps details. Buy on one device, use on any. You can also start a game on one device, move to another and pick up where you left off.
• Oh he's gone!

 

• Bloody hell.... is he still talking about sport?

  

• Sports. Dull. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
• I mean... how happy am I meant to be about being able to shop from my Apple TV? Why not just use my laptop?

• These ads... I mean demos.... are great platforms for the companies involved -- not particularly exciting for those watching, sadly
• You can have multiple players involved in games as iPhones can be used as controllers too.
• Not content with taking on Microsoft's Surface Pro with the iPad Pro, Apple TV is also borrowing a few ideas from Nintendo's Wii. Whoda thunk it?
• Touch pad on the remote does look great for controlling games, though.
• Good god, these demoes are contrived.

• Crossyroad on your TV? Your wish is Apple's command!
• Apple TV is also a games console. App Store means games and they work in TV OS:

• The operating system is called... brace yourselves!... TV OS! Give yourselves a raise, guys!
• There's also the option of pulling up info from other apps while you watch a show. Pull up the weather while watching a movie, pull up sport scores during a show. You get the idea.
• What Apple TV is really doing is placing content front and center. Apps -- despite their importance -- don't actually matter all that much. Just search for what you want and it'll appear! Voice controls for playback are also nifty.

• Apple seems to think that screensavers are more impressive though. That's what the team is leading with. Screensavers that adapt to the time of day.
• The ability for Siri to search across multiple apps for matching content is rather cool. Could this be the killer feature?
• Siri, show me comedy! Siri, show me porn! The possibilities are endless!
• Siri works with Apple TV. Nice looking remote. Very much what you would expect really. Details please!

• The future of TV is apps? That already happened with Rokua et al, didn't it?
• Apple TV time

 

• Oh... there's an iPad Mini 4
• I'm sorry... but how much like a Surface Pro is the iPad Pro with Smart Keyboard? Even the connection is almost identical!

• Smart Keyboard is a slightly eyewatering $169. It has better be as good as Apple says!
• The Apple Pencil is $99.
• Prices start at $799 -- not bad -- for the 32GB model, $949 for the 128GB model, and $1,079 for 128GB with WiFi and cellular. Available in November.
• We're getting a summary of what the iPad Pro is all about. The tablet everyone said probably wasn't going to make an appearance. Some of us knew better ;)
• Bones and bit. Lovely.

• Apple is really pushing the 'Pro' side of the iPad Pro. Design, medicine -- this is about much more than just pissing about with Angry Birds.
• These demoes are all well and good -- although not outrageously exciting.

 

• ... as Adobe is only too happy to demonstrate...
• Multitasking, the large screen of the iPad Pro, and multi-touch coupled with the Apple Pencil are going to make the new tablet great for design work
• It seems Microsoft was not only watching -- some of the company are there!

• We need something a bit more exciting now. I can only get so excited about a pencil.
• Now Apple has reinvented the pencil. And call it..... Apple Pencil! Exclusively for iPad Pro.

• New physical Smart Keyboard, connecting magnetically via the new Smart Connector, borrows heavily from Surface. You watching this, Microsoft?

• 6.9mm thin / thick. 1.57lbs
• 4 speaker audio this time around. Audio balances automatically as you move around the iPad Pro.
• There's a bit of willy-waving about how much iPad has improved over the years -- now more powerful than many desktop PC... but still offering (allegedly) 10 hours of battery life.

• 64-bit A9X chip is 'so fast'. 1.8 times faster than its predecessor.
• Might have missed a couple of uses of the word, but 'beautiful' just cropped up -- take a drink, people.
• The width of the display is the same as the height of the iPad Air, rounded to a 4:3 ratio. Lots of space, lots of pixels.
• Biggest display ever -- 12.9 inches. Ideal for the multi-tasking feature of iOS 9.
• iPad Pro -- the most powerful iPad ever

• Biggest news in iPad since the iPad... here we go!
• THERE BLOODY WELL IS A NEW IPAD. COME ON! TOLD YOU!

 

• A red band to fight AIDS! Lots and lots of new bands

• Gold and Rose Gold finishes available at the same price as the rest of the Sports range

• Announcement of working with Hermes on a new collection. Double wrap wrist straps. Nice-looking accessories!
• [Jolts awake] Has he finished?
• Live health monitoring. Cool -- but it's not what we're really interested in, is it? Get to the point!

• How many people would have thought that a smart watch would be described as a 'game changer' for healthcare? How many people think it might still be a bit of an exageration?
• 10,000 Watch apps on the App Store -- Facebook Messenger on the way, as is iTranslate, GoPro, and AirStrip for health.
• Jeff Williams ready to talk at us. Lots of Watch excitement.
• 97% customer satisfaction rating. Can't grumble at that. No mention of the metric involved, mind...
• Apple Watch is 'helping users live a better day'? Maybe...
• MONSTER announcements on the way!
• We're live at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Tim Cook's on stage. Brace yourselves!
• [Plumps cushions. Gets settled]

Photo credit: TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock
 
~ Mark Wilson

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