On October 16, Apple unveiled its new product lineup just in time for the holiday season. What they unveiled was a shock to everyone that keeps up with news from tech world. For everyone else, it might just be the next thing you don’t really need but if you have some extra cash lying around, you might be interested in some of the things that are now available. Last month saw the release of iOS 8, their latest mobile operating system available for iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches, as well as an update to their iPhone hardware dubbed the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. If you missed that article, read about it here. This month saw updates of the new iPad line, the 27” iMac, and the Mac mini.
The iPad Air and iPad Mini both received updates this year. The iPad Air 2 is now thinner than the iPad Air released last year (7.5 mm vs. 6.1 mm). It has a better processor and an updated coprocessor as well which means that speed has improved 40% compared to the Air and has 2.5X faster graphics processing. What this means for you is that games will run and look better and you can also switch between multiple open apps nearly instantly. The screen on the Air 2 also has an anti-glare coating so using it in sunlight is easier than ever due to this. Other updates include the Touch ID to both the Air 2 and Mini 3, and both models are now available in three colors (Space Gray, Gold, and Silver). The Mini 3 also has a retina display similar to the iPhone, iPod Touch, and MacBook Pro lines. Basically this means when viewing the screen from a normal viewing distance (about 18”), the human eye cannot see individual pixels.
The next product to receive an (much needed) update was the iMac. Their all-in-one line received a “retina” display of its own, like the Mini 3. The reason I put the retina in quotes is because this new model has an unbelievable amount of pixels packed into its enormous 27” screen. Apple introduced it as the Retina 5K iMac and touted that it had 7X as many pixels as an HD screen. At its thinnest point, it’s just 5 mm thin. It starts at $2499, a $300 drop from the previous model. Mac Mini also received some speed boosts and a price decrease that now starts at $499.
Apple’s latest operating system, Yosemite (OSX 10.10), which was debuted over the summer at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference was also made available to the public. With it comes a flatter design, which is more aesthetically pleasing; according to Apple. Also most native app icons received updates. Among these are iTunes, Photos, Safari, Mail, Contacts, iBooks, System Preferences, and Preview. Continuity, a new feature, allows your mobile device to communicate with your laptop or desktop in many new ways. As long as all your devices are connected to the same WiFi network, you can start an email on your iPhone and continue on your iPad then finish on your MacBook. Or you can take a picture and have it instantly available on your other devices. One of the most exciting features allows you to get text messages or calls from anyone (iPhone users and non iPhone users) on any Apple device you may own as long as your phone and that device are connected to the same WiFi network. So if your mom calls you and you’re typing a paper but your phone is across the room, you can answer directly from your computer without having to move to get your phone. All that is required is iOS 8.1 on mobile devices, and OSX 10.10 on your laptop or desktop.
Basically it is a great time to be a part of the Apple consumer base. In previous years if you had an iPad, an iPhone, and a MacBook, then you had three separate devices. Now you can have three devices that function pretty seamlessly as one.