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from the another-bite-at-the-tablet dept.
Though it has been rumored to be in the works for a few years now, the big Apple announcement on Sept. 9 was the iPad Pro, a 12.9" tablet with a screen resolution of 2732×2048. The price starts at $799 for the 32 GB Wi-Fi version, increases to $949 for 128 GB of storage, and $1079 for 128 GB and LTE cellular connectivity. Two accessories are available: a $99 Apple Pencil with a 240 Hz input scanning rate, and a $169 Smart Keyboard, a form and price which may be familiar to you if you have seen Microsoft's Surface. Battery life of the iPad Pro should reach 10 hours, comparable to previous iPads. The iPad Mini 4 is a 7.85" tablet. Mini 4 weighs up to 304g (0.670 lbs) while the Pro weighs up to 723g (1.594 lbs).
The A9X chip in the iPad Pro will be built on either Samsung's 14nm or TSMC's 16nm FinFet process. Apple claims the CPU is 80% faster and the GPU is twice as fast compared to the A8X SoC. This would make the CPU 22 times more powerful than the one in the original iPad, and the GPU 360 times more powerful.
The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus replace the previous iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models. The new versions use the Apple A9 SoC with 70% faster CPU and 90% faster GPU performance than the A8. The M9 motion coprocessor is built onto the SoC, and Apple has added always-on Siri activation, similar to the Moto X. The display adds a "precise force sensing layer" called "3D Touch," similar to the "Force Touch" on Apple Watch. The front-facing camera has been increased from 1.2 to 5 megapixels, and can use the display as a flash to enable... low light selfies! The rear camera can now record 4K resolution (presumably Ultra HD) video.
The new Apple TV will cost a minimum of $149, more than double the $69 price of previous versions. The SoC inside has jumped from Apple A5 to Apple A8, and RAM has been quadrupled to 2 GB, which should allow it to act as a console, running a broader selection of more powerful games and apps. The tvOS UI can be controlled using voice recognition (Siri) or by remote. The remote comes with a "touch surface" and dedicated Siri button to initiate voice input.
iOS 9 and watchOS 2 will launch on Sept. 16. OS X El Capitan will launch on Sept. 30 with unchanged system requirements from the previous version, Yosemite.
(Score: 1) by WillAdams on Thursday September 10 2015, @11:35AM
The tablet is interesting to me, and as a dyed-in-the-wool pen computing afficionado (yes, I had a Newton, and an NCR-3125 running PenPoint, and more Tablet PCs and Windows pen computers than I'd care to count), I should be the target market. Things which keep me from buying one:
- iOS --- it would appeal far more if it were running full Mac OS X
- no daylight viewable display (still missing my Fujitsu Stylistic ST-4121 --- really wish I could manage to get Mac OS X running on it)
- no pen silo (not wild about bulking up the machine w/ a case, but guess I'd have to)
- no eraser
- no selection of sizes --- guess that'll be an announcement for the future --- if it were possible to use the Apple Pencil stylus on an iPhone as well as a tablet running Mac OS X, I might be tempted
(Score: 2) by cosurgi on Thursday September 10 2015, @12:05PM
The hardware is very interesting, especially since it has keyboard too. Problem is that I would like to dual-boot this tablet with debian.
#
#\ @ ? [adom.de] Colonize Mars [kozicki.pl]
#
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday September 10 2015, @12:56PM
Surface Pro? [techradar.com]
It took me a while to realize that Apple even copied the "Pro" name.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @04:16PM
Um, MacBook "Pro"?
(Score: 1) by WillAdams on Wednesday September 16 2015, @02:33PM
Considered getting a Surface --- wound up w/ a Toshiba Encore 2 Write 10:
- smaller and lighter
- includes GPS (only available on the cell-enabled Surface)
- fond memories of a Toshiba T1200XE from way back when
The only issues I have w/ it are:
- screen isn't especially bright, nor is it daylight viewable
- somewhat fragile (screen is plastic w/ no oleophobic coating and easily scratched, case is plastic, ditto)
- satin gold, and the matching keyboard case has a brown pleather exterior
- Windows 8.1 is a weird tablet / desktop hybrid --- I was far more comfortable and productive w/ Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
(Score: 1) by rob_on_earth on Thursday September 10 2015, @02:26PM
Keyboard and pen are not included and cost $149 and $99 extra respectively
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday September 10 2015, @03:56PM
For $149, those keyboard keys had better click really loud when used in the train.
(Score: 3, Funny) by frojack on Thursday September 10 2015, @04:24PM
If you see a stylus, they blew it.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @01:40PM
The only use for Apple products is recreation. It is an expensive hobby though. Wow.
I'm just having fun watching Apple nuts rationalize this thing vs. the clearly superior Surface.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by isostatic on Thursday September 10 2015, @03:40PM
The only use for Apple products is recreation. It is an expensive hobby though. Wow.
That's exactly right. Certainly can't edit tonights news on one. Certainly can't. Certainly can't do all those very important spreadsheets and stuff that people on the train seem to do. Certainly can't run up eclipse or vim.
What can you do on an IT related "non-apple-product" than you can't do on an "apple product".
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @04:47PM
I suppose you are right if tonight's news is your shitty blog or twitter account or if those very important spreadsheets are your shitty grocery list.
I can honestly say I've never seen a Apple user with eclipse or vim open. Ever.
And the IT people using Macs that I have seen are usually doing nothing but viewing websites or they are remoting into a real machine to do real work[Linux/Unix/Windows].
Real computers are joined to a domain managed by Active Directory.
They work remotely via Cisco VPN clients.
They use MS Office, because Apple's shit replacements suck as much as the others do.
Then there is Visual Studio, SSMS, and on and on and on.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by isostatic on Friday September 11 2015, @09:06AM
Tonight's news I was referring to had 6 million viewers and the package was edited in a field in Syria on FCP X. There's a built in Cisco VPN client but we use f5. The package is fed back by a Java program which controls ffmpeg and fires stuff via http.
But sure, edit your "shitty blog" on windows if you want. A lot of work nowadays is web related and doesn't matter what you use.
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Thursday September 10 2015, @12:22PM
LoL, we had 4:3 12" displays in 1985. And keyboards. Looks like desktop PCs are slowly creeping back into fashion. Good.
But not really going full circle, more like a spiral, there being differences and improvements in detail, not principle, like memory and resolution. But a camera?! Who TF would hold up one of these things as a camera?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @01:13PM
Koala Pad, Light Pen...same old same old.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by takyon on Thursday September 10 2015, @01:15PM
The weight of the very first iPad was 680g (Wi-Fi) to 730g (Wi-Fi + 3G), despite the display being 3.2 inches smaller. The iPad Pro weighs 713 - 723 grams.
The original iPad didn't have a front or rear camera, but standalone digital cameras can easily weigh as much as the iPad Pro (or a lot less). It might still be awkward to hold up the Pro and take a picture, but it's not impossible. You could also put it on a tripod and record images/video that way... but using the iPhone 6s would be far better.
As for the front-facing camera, if you add the keyboard/stand, it is the equivalent of a laptop webcam. I think Apple made a mistake by making the front-facing camera much worse than the rear camera... wouldn't Pro-fessionals want to use it for video conferencing?
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(Score: 2) by kadal on Thursday September 10 2015, @01:28PM
I think Apple made a mistake by making the front-facing camera much worse than the rear camera... wouldn't Pro-fessionals want to use it for video conferencing?
Good point! I think they've been designing 2 camera devices for so long, they haven't rethought why the back camera is better than the front.
(Score: 2) by urza9814 on Thursday September 10 2015, @03:50PM
Who is their right mind is streaming 4k resolution for video conferencing?
(Score: 4, Touché) by takyon on Thursday September 10 2015, @04:02PM
How about 1080p? As far as I can tell, the iPad Pro has a front-facing cam only capable of 720p, and a rear-facing cam that isn't useful when you are using it with a keyboard. Unless you want to sit in the corner of the coffee shop and film everybody.
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(Score: 2, Insightful) by h2oliu on Thursday September 10 2015, @01:34PM
Another use for the camera is for someone doing a site visit, or similar. Take a picture, write some notes. For example an inspection being done where you could get a picture, and a comment straight on the item to show where the issue is.
(Score: 1) by Pax on Thursday September 10 2015, @06:54PM
SPOT ON! we get a choice of Samsung slabs or Apple ipads.
it's funny seeing all the older techs use android devices (bar one ) and the younger guys love their ipads.
The company we contract to supplies most of the IT Equipment to promoters offices for the Edinburgh festivals(for there are many all at the same time)
Equipment borks and goes tits up frequently (PEBKAC is the usual issue) but when they are damaged or a faulty occurs...
.... whip out the tablet, take a pic, scribble notes, submit report.. jobs a good un.
They can also help with "WTF?" moments.. a quick pic of things for a alternative POV can be helpful too.
Also handy for service manuals too.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @03:47PM
That jerk in front of me at the concert.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @02:05PM
What's with you people? Have we finally punched through the wall and now we're just in "apathy mode?"
Seems like there are a lot of opportunities here.
I'll start: Actual quote from the video yesterday:
"The keyboard is bigger so you can type with this great big keyboard."
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Thursday September 10 2015, @02:22PM
I find that on a tablet, using Swype, I reduce the size of the keyboard to make it faster and easier to type, especially when carrying it. (Perhaps Apple doesn't allow this yet?)
(Score: 3, Funny) by dyingtolive on Thursday September 10 2015, @02:41PM
That's the thing, when Apple starts copying MS's moves, it's officially kind of gotten sad enough that any mockery on our parts would detract from the trainwreck already happening.
I do kind of want a picture of one of these right next to the Surface Pro, along with a "Think Different?" caption.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Bill on Thursday September 10 2015, @02:26PM
...and overpriced. Broke mine awhile back, I guess I won't replace it yet.
(Score: 2, Disagree) by PizzaRollPlinkett on Thursday September 10 2015, @02:58PM
Apple can't be interested in a big tablet, because large-screen tablets have not caught on. App developers ignore them. The iPad Mini was a big success because it was smaller. People can't hold or manipulate big tablets (especially elderly), and they cost too much. Amazon just announced a $50 cheap tablet for the holiday season. People want cheaper tablets, not bigger ones. Apple can't be going after the nonexistent big-tablet market, and even they don't have the hubris to think they could create a demand for them.
If you look at the MacBooPro line, it's been shrinking. Features have been taken out (ethernet ports, optical drive, etc) and the 17" model was discontinued.
Is Apple going to replace their laptop line with tablets? Add a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and you have a really thin MBP with even less features than it has now.
Is Apple going to discontinue the 15" MBP line next? It's the only reliable professional laptop left. Will we all be using HP laptops in a few years? Lenovo? Does anyone make a reliable laptop any longer besides Apple?
I guess professionals who want a reliable, solid laptop are vanishing, and it's not worth Apple to support them. Not like anyone else is rushing into this space to fill the void.
Can't wait to see what the rumor sites come up with next. Is Apple trying to get rid of the laptop and replace it with a tablet and a bag of accessories?
(E-mail me if you want a pizza roll!)
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Celestial on Thursday September 10 2015, @03:44PM
Replacing Apple laptops with tablets is exactly what they're doing. Word on the street is that the MacBook Air is in its last days.
(Score: 1) by Pino P on Thursday September 10 2015, @06:14PM
Unlike an iPad, the MacBook Air can run Xcode. What will Apple replace it with for that purpose?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @06:35PM
The 12" MacBook.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @03:49PM
Is Apple going to discontinue the 15" MBP line next? It's the only reliable professional laptop left. Will we all be using HP laptops in a few years? Lenovo? Does anyone make a reliable laptop any longer besides Apple?
The Dell Precision I have been using for four years now. The only thing that has failed on it was the power supply and I have wore the battery out. 17 inch, i7, 8gb ram, slot loading dvd burner, auto back-lit keyboard, ssd are all working fine. It can easily be called a reliable business laptop. Now is it as pretty as an Apple? No. Is it as thin? No. Is it a powerful reliable business laptop? Yes.
I am not a big Dell or HP fan in the consumer market, but in the business market they both make respectable computers.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Thursday September 10 2015, @03:58PM
They launched a smartwatch before those caught on too. Now they are the dominant [pcmag.com] vendor [strategyanalytics.com] of smartwatches.
The hint is in the name, Pro. By making it gigantic, allegedly capable of multitasking, and copying the Surface Pro, they want to pitch it to businesses. By adding a stylus they want to pitch it to artists and other creative professionals.
Optical discs are dying and the Ethernet port is much less necessary for most compared to a decade ago. The thin slab with less ports than a laptop and no disc drive might be toxic for some, but others will buy it up.
Is Apple really the only "professional laptop" maker left? You can find laptops with mobile Xeons (a growing segment [theregister.co.uk]), gaming laptops with much higher specs, and 4K resolution laptops. Even the bargain laptop manufacturers like Asus/Acer/Toshiba/etc. make a solid product if you spend $700+ on it instead of $300.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 10 2015, @10:12PM
Poor Steve. [youtube.com]