System reboot New life for Apple range
Upgrades to Apple products come at a price, writes Blayne Slabbert.
Apple has released a new range of iPads that have no home button or headphone port. The new iPad Pro mimics the style and interface of the iPhone X models.
The company also announced updates to two of its computers at a launch event in New York. The MacBook Air and Mac Mini were both refreshed after being ignored for several years.
Every device announced will go on sale in New Zealand on Wedenesday.
All the new models come with higher prices than previous versions, a business tactic used by iPhones which means that affordable products within the Apple range are getting harder to find.
iPads
The new iPad Pro model looks different and works a lot differently from previous models.
It has a flatter edge and sharper corners, resulting in a more square design, similar to an iPhone 4.
While the new 11-inch model is the same physical size as the older 10.5-inch version, it has a larger screen as the bezel has been reduced.
The new 12.9 iPad Pro has the same size display as the old model but is now physically much smaller.
However, the biggest change for most users is the loss of the home button.
Instead of pushing the home button to close apps, you swipe up from the bottom to get to the home screen. The fingerprint scanner on the home button has been replaced by using your face and the front camera to unlock your iPad.
Both these features were rolled out on the iPhone X last year and will eventually be the default system on all Apple’s portable devices.
The iPad Pro also loses the 3.5mm headphone port and the lightning port, which is Apple’s charging connector.
It’s been replaced by USB-C, which is used on its laptops and could indicate that it may end up on iPhones sometime soon.
Both devices get big price increases. The 11-inch model starts at $1399 (up from $1099) and the 12.9-inch model starts at $1769 (up from $1299).
For the extra money you get a newer, slimmer design as well as a new processor and other improved components, including a new stylus.
Tablets such as iPads have always fallen somewhere between smartphones and laptops.
While a lot of people use them for watching movies or browsing online, Apple keeps pushing them, especially the iPad Pros, as creativity tools or as replacements for laptops.
Apple still sells older iPad models including the Mini ($659) and the standard 9.7-inch iPad Pro ($539).
New computers
The MacBook Air was the world’s thinnest laptop when it was first released 10 years ago. It began a trend of shiny, slim laptops and its design was copied by most other manufacturers.
However, Apple hadn’t updated the Air for several years and it had been overtaken by its rivals.
But the new MacBook Air has had a significant overhaul with a new screen (Apple’s retina display), new keyboard, increased security features, faster processors and a smaller design.
Technology has changed a lot in three years and that’s clearly demonstrated with the new MacBook Air.
But tech has also become a lot more expensive, too.
When it was first released, the Air was sold as an affordable laptop and they were popular with students.
But the new Air has had a significant price increase. The base model with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage costs $2149, whereas the previous model with those same basic specifications cost $1649.
So while the Air is no longer a reasonably priced Apple laptop, it does have significant upgrades, including Apple’s high-resolution screen and new keyboard found on its high-end laptops. There’s also a
Technology has changed a lot in three years and that’s clearly demonstrated with the new MacBook Air.
fingerprint scanner that adds an extra layer of security.
Nearly everything else has been upgraded too but that now puts it at a similar level and price to its MacBook Pro range (prices start at $2199) which makes choosing an Apple laptop tricky for consumers.
Apple also announced a new Mac Mini, a fan favourite that got its first update in four years. The desktop computer unit starts at $1449.
All these new products show Apple is making its new products significantly better than older models while charging a much higher price. It’s a move away from incremental improvements and slight price rises.
The upside of this approach is that devices should last longer but the downside is that there’ll be more of a financial sting when it comes time to replace them.