Apple this morning introduced updated iPad Pro models with A12Z Bionic chips, dual camera setups, a new LiDAR Scanner for augmented reality, and a new Magic Keyboard accessory that adds a trackpad to the iPad Pro for the first time.
Based on code in iOS 13.4, there are also a couple other iPad Pro features that have remained hidden. According to 9to5Mac, the new iPad Pro models all feature 6GB RAM and include Apple's Ultra Wideband chips.
With the 2018 iPad Pro, the higher-capacity models with 1TB of storage were equipped with 6GB RAM, while the other models with lower storage capacities featured 4GB RAM. This year, the RAM has been upped and all models have the same 6GB of RAM available.
The new iPad Pro models also appear to have Apple's U1 Ultra-Wideband chip, which was first introduced in the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.
There is no mention of the U1 chip in the iPad Pro's feature list, and it's not clear why. 9to5Mac speculates that perhaps the features are not available at this time and will be enabled with a future software update.
The U1 chip is designed for indoor positioning, and Apple has likened it to "GPS at the scale of the living room." In the iPhone, Apple uses the U1 chip for AirDrop, allowing an iPhone with U1 chip to be pointed at another iPhone for directional file sharing.
It's believed that Apple's upcoming AirTag item trackers will also be equipped with U1 chips and will be able to be precisely located by devices that feature Ultra Wideband support.
Given the ongoing situation in the United States and other countries, Apple was not able to hold an official March event to unveil its new iPad Pro, Magic Keyboard, and MacBook Air.
With no event, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi created a little demo video that shows off the capabilities of the new Magic Keyboard and trackpad support on the iPad. The video created by Federighi was shared by The Verge.
In the demo, Federighi walks through the various features available on the trackpad and provides some insight into why Apple added trackpad capabilities.
Our goal with iPad has always been to create a device so capable and so versatile it can become whatever you want it to be. And that versatility is built on the power of touch.
But of course, we give you so many other ways to interact with the iPad, and sometimes you want to type. For typing, nothing beats the Magic Keyboard. It's when typing that you most appreciate the precision and ergo of a trackpad.
In bringing mouse and trackpad support to iPadOS, we deeply considered the way to bring a cursor to a touch-first environment.
The mouse/trackpad cursor is in the shape of a circle on the iPad's display, which Federighi says makes the most sense for the iPad and a touch first experience because it mimics a fingertip. The cursor is not persistent on the display and shows up only when the trackpad or mouse is touched.
As the cursor moves over various elements on the Home screen and in apps, it transforms to highlight what can be selected with a tap.
Federighi says that the trackpad is "amazing" for text, with the cursor transforming into a precise tool for text editing purposes. It's "super easy" to select text, apply formatting, and select whole blocks of text for dragging and dropping.
The trackpad can be used to access all of the capabilities of iPadOS. Moving the cursor to the bottom of the screen brings up the Dock with apps that can be selected, while moving the cursor to the upper corner of the display brings up Control Center.
Accessing Slide Over apps with the trackpad is possible by sliding the cursor to the side of the screen for simple and quick multitasking capabilities.
iPadOS also supports three finger gestures. Swiping up with three fingers accesses the Home screen, swiping left or right with three fingers swaps between open apps, and a swipe up and hold gesture enters the multitasking view. Pinch gestures work for zooming in and out in an app.
Many apps will also be able to take advantage of the cursor. In a spreadsheet app like Numbers, for example, precise selections can be made for easy edits, and resizing cells can be done with pinch gestures.
Federighi's full demo video showing off the new cursor capabilities on the iPad can be watched over on The Verge's site.
Apple's new Magic Keyboard with trackpad for the iPad Pro isn't coming out until May, but recent iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad models will support the Magic Trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2, Magic Mouse, Magic Mouse 2, and third-party mice and trackpad options when iOS 13.4 launches on Tuesday, March 24.
We'll be checking out how the Magic Trackpad works with existing iPads in a video coming later this week, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors for that.
As with iPhone 11 models, the new iPad Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, aka 802.11ax. The newer standard delivers faster speeds, greater network capacity, improved power efficiency, lower latency, and connectivity improvements in areas with several Wi-Fi devices. Wi-Fi 6 devices must support WPA3, a Wi-Fi security protocol with improved cryptographic strength.
While the new MacBook Air has a lower $999 starting price, the notebook is even cheaper for those who qualify for an educational discount, with the base model starting at $899 for students and their parents, faculty, and even homeschool teachers of all grade levels, which is particularly interesting with many schools closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
MacRumors contributor Steve Moser has discovered glyphs in iPadOS 13.4 GM code that suggest users will be able to view the battery life of their Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and other Bluetooth mice in the batteries widget of the Today view on the iPad, accessible by swiping right on the first page of the home screen. Apple announced that iPadOS 13.4 will gain trackpad support, with the software update to be released March 24.
As noted by Parker Ortolani on Twitter, one small change is that the Apple logo on the upcoming Magic Keyboard case for the iPad Pro is now horizontally positioned so that the logo appears upright when the iPad is used in landscape orientation.
Anyone else notice that the Apple logo on the back of the Magic Keyboard cover is horizontal? Been wanting them to add that for years. pic.twitter.com/227WvC1Icz
— Parker Ortolani (@ParkerOrtolani) March 18, 2020
Apple's new iPad Pro models now start with 128GB of storage, up from 64GB, and all higher storage tiers are now $50 cheaper. For example, an 11-inch iPad Pro with 256GB of storage and Wi-Fi only is now $899, whereas the equivalent 2018 model was $949. This price cut applies to all 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage tiers for the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Apple says the new LiDAR Scanner on the latest iPad Pro models improves the Measure app, making it faster and easier to automatically calculate someone's height, while helpful vertical and edge guides automatically appear to let users more quickly and accurately measure objects. The app is also gaining a Ruler View for more granular measurements.
A few tidbits we noted earlier include the upcoming Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro offering pass-through USB-C charging for accessories, and the new MacBook Air supporting up to a 6K external display, including Apple's Pro Display XDR.
Apple reseller Expercom has launched pre-orders for the just-announced MacBook Air and iPad Pro updates, offering up to $104 off these devices, and an average of around $50 off in most cases. Because these models launched this morning, Expercom's prices are the first deals we've seen on the 2020 MacBook Air and iPad Pro.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Expercom. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Expercom's shipping is around $10, depending on the item being shipped. The new MacBook Pros will be shipped within one to two weeks, while the new iPad Pro will be shipped in two to three weeks. If you haven't ordered from Expercom before, the retailer is a trusted Apple Premium Reseller that also sells AppleCare+ with its products, which we've included in the lists below.
Apple's 2020 MacBook Air includes faster processors, a new scissor switch keyboard, and overall 80 percent faster graphics performance than the previous generation. The new MacBook Air features a Magic Keyboard with a redesigned scissor mechanism that delivers 1mm of key travel, plus a new inverted-"T" arrangement for the arrow keys, similar to the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
On the tablet side, the new iPad Pro has a faster A12Z Bionic chip, a new Magic Keyboard accessory with a built-in trackpad, an Ultra Wide camera, a LiDAR Scanner, and more. It also features a square camera bump with a 12MP Wide camera and a 10MP Ultra Wide camera, which can zoom out two times to capture a wider field of view.
Apple today released the golden master version of iOS and iPadOS 13.4, the latest major updates to the iOS 13 operating system that was released in September. The iOS and iPadOS 13.4 GMs come after a little over a month of beta testing.
iOS and iPadOS 13.4 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer center or over the air once the proper developer profile has been installed.
iOS and iPadOS 13.4 are significant updates, bringing several important new features to the iPhone and the iPad. There's a new toolbar available in the Mail app that's available when viewing an email, with the updated design featuring a more logical layout to address complaints about the Mail app in earlier versions of iOS 13.
The revamped design moves the reply icon away from the delete icon, making it harder to accidentally delete an email. It also adds Folder and Compose icons.
iCloud Folder Sharing, which is meant to let users share iCloud Drive folders with other people, is included in iOS 13.4. iCloud Folder Sharing was initially announced at WWDC as an iOS 13 feature last year, but it has taken Apple several months to implement it. The feature shows real-time updates so file changes will sync across the devices of all people with access to a specific folder.
Apple has added nine new Memoji and Animoji stickers in the update, with the new stickers featuring emoji-style poses like shocked face, face with hearts, eyes rolling, and more.
The iPadOS 13.4 updates bring mouse and trackpad support for the iPad Pro, following the announcement of Apple's new iPad Pro keyboard with trackpad.
Apple has also made a subtle but notable change to the way the URL bar works in Safari. In iOS 13.4, you can tap into the URL bar right away even when a URL is highlighted, which is different behavior from iOS 13.3.1. In iOS 13.3.1, an extra tap outside of a URL was required to deselect it before it could be tapped to be edited.
New settings in the TV app allow users to control streaming and downloading over Wi-Fi and cellular, adding new data saving options for those who don't have unlimited streaming plans.
Hints of a new "CarKey" API were found in iOS 13.4, which would allow the iPhone to be used to lock, unlock, and start a car that has NFC capabilities. Sharing features will also be available for assigning keys to friends and family members through the Messages app.
CarKey functionality hasn't been announced by Apple as of yet, and it's not clear if it's coming soon, but when launched, it will iPhone owners to use their devices in lieu of a car key.
Apple on Monday unveiled new $149 Powerbeats with an H1 chip and Powerbeats Pro-like design, with the Powerbeats set to launch on Wednesday. iOS 13.4 includes support for the new Powerbeats.
Though not an iOS specific feature, Apple with iOS 13.4, macOS 10.15.4, tvOS 13.4, and Xcode 11.4 is allowing developers to create apps with universal purchase support, which means Apple device users will be able to purchase one app that works across multiple platforms.
iOS 13.4 includes new controls for calls and third-party navigation apps in CarPlay, along with keyboard shortcuts for the Photos app, and changes to location requests for apps requesting user location.
Apple also added a new Shazam Shortcuts action, options for remapping hardware keys of a keyboard connected to the iPad, and more. Apple included full release notes for the golden master, which are below:
iOS 13.4 introduces new Memoji stickers and iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app. This update also contains bug fixes and improvements.
Memoji - Nine new Memoji stickers, including Smiling Face with Hearts, Hands Pressed Together, and Party Face
Files - iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app - Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link - Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files
- Always-visible controls to delete, move, reply to, or compose a message in conversation view - Responses to encrypted emails are automatically encrypted when you have configured S/MIME
App Store with Apple Arcade - Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - List view for See All Games
CarPlay - Third-party navigation app support for the CarPlay Dashboard - In-call information appears on the CarPlay Dashboard
Augmented Reality - AR Quick Look supports audio playback in USDZ files
Keyboard - Predictive typing support for Arabic
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update: - Adds status bar indicator to display when VPN has disconnected on iPhone models with all-screen displays - Fixes an issue in Camera where the viewfinder may appear as a black screen after launch - Addresses an issue where Photos may appear to use excess storage - Resolves an issue in Photos that may prevent sharing an image to Messages if iMessage is disabled - Fixes an issue in Mail where messages may appear out of order - Addresses an issue in Mail where the conversation list may display empty rows - Resolves an issue where Mail may crash when tapping the Share button in Quick Look - Fixes an issue in Settings where cellular data may incorrectly display as off - Addresses an issue in Safari where webpages may not be inverted when both Dark Mode and Smart Invert are active - Resolves an issue where text copied from web content may appear invisible when pasted when Dark Mode is active - Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly - Addresses an issue where Reminders may not issue new notifications for an overdue recurring reminder until it is marked as completed - Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders - Fixes an issue where iCloud Drive appears to be available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote even when not signed in - Addresses an issue in Apple Music where music videos may not stream in high quality - Resolves an issue where CarPlay may lose its connection in certain vehicles - Fixes an issue in CarPlay where the view in Maps may move away briefly from the current area - Addresses an issue in the Home app where tapping an activity notification from a security camera may open a different recording - Resolves an issue where Shortcuts may not appear when tapping on the Share menu from a screenshot - Improves the Burmese keyboard so punctuation symbols are now accessible from numbers and symbols
There are also separate release notes for iPadOS, focusing on the new trackpad improvements.
iPadOS 13.4 introduces support for mouse and trackpad with iPad for greater precision and navigating the system with Multi-Touch gestures, and adds iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app and new Memoji stickers. This update also contains bug fixes and improvements.
Mouse and Trackpad Support - All-new cursor design highlights app icons on the Home Screen and Dock and buttons and controls in apps - Magic Keyboard for iPad support on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation or later) and iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation or later) - Magic Mouse, Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2, and third-party Bluetooth and USB mouse support - Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Keyboard for iPad and Magic Trackpad 2 enable you to scroll, swipe between app spaces, go Home, access App Switcher, zoom in or out, tap to click, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages - Multi-Touch gestures on Magic Mouse 2 enable you to scroll, secondary click (right-click), and swipe between pages
Files - iCloud Drive folder sharing from the Files app - Controls to limit access only to people you explicitly invite or grant access to anyone with the folder link - Permissions to choose who can make changes and upload files and who can only view and download files
Memoji - Nine new Memoji stickers, including Smiling Face with Hearts, Hands Pressed Together, and Party Face
Mail - Always-visible controls to delete, move, reply to, or compose a message in conversation view - Responses to encrypted emails are automatically encrypted when you have configured S/MIME
App Store with Apple Arcade - Universal Purchase support enables the use of a singular purchase of a participating app across iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - Recently played Arcade games appear in the Arcade tab so you can continue playing on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV - List view for See All Games
Augmented Reality - AR Quick Look supports audio playback in USDZ files
Keyboard - Live Conversion for Zhuyin automatically transforms Zhuyin into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates - Live Conversion for Japanese automatically transforms Hiragana into the correct characters without pressing the space bar to convert text or select candidates - Predictive typing support for Arabic - Swiss German keyboard layout supported on iPad Pro 12.9-inch - On-screen keyboard layout for iPad Pro 12.9-inch now matches Smart Keyboard
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. This update:
- Fixes an issue in Camera where the viewfinder may appear as a black screen after launch - Addresses an issue where Photos may appear to use excess storage - Resolves an issue in Photos that may prevent sharing an image to Messages if iMessage is disabled - Fixes an issue in Mail where messages may appear out of order - Addresses an issue in Mail where the conversation list may display empty rows - Resolves an issue where Mail may crash when tapping the Share button in Quick Look - Fixes an issue in Settings where cellular data may incorrectly display as off - Addresses an issue in Safari where webpages may not be inverted when both Dark Mode and Smart Invert are active - Resolves an issue where text copied from web content in a third-party app may appear invisible when pasted if Dark Mode is active - Fixes an issue in Safari where a CAPTCHA tile may display incorrectly - Addresses an issue where Reminders may not issue new notifications for an overdue recurring reminder until it is marked as completed - Resolves an issue where Reminders may send notifications for completed reminders - Fixes an issue where iCloud Drive appears to be available in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote even when not signed in - Addresses an issue in Apple Music where music videos may not stream in high quality - Addresses an issue in the Home app where tapping an activity notification from a security camera may open a different recording - Resolves an issue where Shortcuts may not appear when tapping on the Share menu from a screenshot - Improves the Burmese keyboard so punctuation symbols are now accessible from numbers and symbols
iOS 13.4 could be one of the last major updates to the iOS 13 operating system as Apple begins to shift focus to iOS 14, which is expected to be previewed in June ahead of a fall release. There have already been quite a few iOS 14 leaks, which can be found in our iOS 14 roundup.
Apple today seeded the golden master version of an upcoming watchOS 6.2 update to developers, one week after seeding the fifth beta and a month after the release of watchOS 6.1.3 with bug fixes.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 6.2 introduces Apple Watch App Store support for in-app purchases, which will allow developers to create and sell Apple Watch apps that offer in-app purchase options and subscriptions. Apple's release notes for the update are below:
watchOS 6.2 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes: - Introduces in-app purchases for Apple Watch apps - Fixes an issue where music playback could pause when switching from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth connectivity - ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Chile, New Zealand, and Turkey - Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Chile, New Zealand, and Turkey Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information visit: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/
For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/HT201222
Code in iOS 13.4, the companion update to watchOS 6.2, suggests that both the iPhone and the Apple Watch will in the future have a "CarKey" feature that will let them be used in lieu of a car key to unlock NFC-capable vehicles. It's not clear if this feature will be available when watchOS 6.2 launches, but it is in the works.
The macOS Catalina beta can be downloaded using the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after installing the proper software from the Developer Center.
macOS Catalina 10.15.4 includes Screen Time Communication Limits, a feature first brought to the iPhone in the iOS 13.3 update, and it brings a new Head Pointer Accessibility option that allows the cursor to be controlled with head movements using the Mac's camera.
Real-time lyrics are included in macOS 10.15.4, bringing an iOS feature introduced in iOS 13 to the Mac. Real-time lyrics allow the lyrics for a song to scroll in real-time to the music so you can follow along with what's being sung.
References to AMD processors have also been discovered in the macOS 10.15.4 beta, leading to speculation that Apple is working on AMD-based Macs, but these references could simply be for internal testing rather than evidence of an AMD Mac.
Though not directly part of macOS Catalina 10.15.4, Apple is adding a new universal purchase option for macOS and iOS apps, which will allow Apple device users to purchase one app that works across multiple platforms.
Apple today seeded the sixth beta of an upcoming tvOS 13.4 update to developers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the fifth beta and over a month after the release of tvOS 13.3.1.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the tvOS 13.4 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV using a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS updates are typically minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than major outward-facing changes.
The tvOS 13.4 update introduces small design changes to streamline the look of the TV app interface, plus it introduces Family Sharing integration so users can access iTunes content purchased by family members without having to leave the app.
Following the launch of brand new models of the MacBook Air and iPad Pro, Apple today refreshed its certified refurbished storefront with new markdowns on previous generation devices.
To start, you can get a 2018 refurbished 13-inch MacBook Air (1.6GHz, 256GB) for $719.00, down from an original price of $1,199.00. Apple's 2020 MacBook Air has a new scissor switch keyboard and enhanced processors and graphics, but this is a solid deal for anyone willing to save money on an older model.
The 11-inch and 12.9-inch 2018 iPad Pro models are also further discounted on Apple's refurbished site. The 11-inch iPad Pro (64GB, Wi-Fi) is available for $549.00, down from $699.00, while the 12.9-inch (64GB, Wi-Fi) is available for $699.00, down from $899.00.
All refurbished iPad models come with a new battery, new outer shell, free delivery and returns, and are backed by a one-year warranty. They've been tested, cleaned, and repackaged in a brand new box with all accessories and cables.
For Macs, Apple promises that each model has been fully tested and cleaned, and they include genuine Apple part replacements if necessary. iMacs and MacBooks also include one-year warranties, and brand new boxes with the necessary accessories and cables.
Apple today announced that its iWork suite of productivity apps, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, will soon be updated to take full advantage of trackpad support coming in iPadOS 13.4, which will be released on March 24.
Writing and editing text is a breeze in Pages, working with multiple objects in Keynote is easier than ever, and added levels of precision make working with even the largest spreadsheets a snap. Additional new features include gorgeous new templates in Pages and Keynote, giving users a head start on creating beautiful documents and, for the first time in iWork, users can add a drop cap to make a paragraph stand out with a large, decorative first letter.
Apple today announced that iPadOS 13.4 will feature trackpad support for all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 and later, the fifth-generation iPad and later, and the iPad mini 4 and later. The software update will be released on March 24.
Logitech's new keyboard with built-in trackpad for 10.5-inch iPad Air
Logitech today introduced new keyboard cases with built-in trackpads for the 10.2-inch iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Air, both priced at $149.95 in the United States. The keyboards have been listed on Apple's online store, although they are not yet available. The keyboards will connect to the Smart Connector on each iPad, with no batteries required.
The full-sized keyboards feature an integrated trackpad with Multi-Touch gesture support, backlit keys, a full row of iPadOS shortcut keys, a kickback stand with 50-degree tilt, and four usage modes for typing, viewing, reading, and sketching. The case adds some protection to the iPad and includes a holder for the original Apple Pencil or Logitech Crayon.
The keyboard case for the 10.5-inch iPad Air is also compatible with the older 10.5-inch iPad Pro.
We'll provide an update when the keyboards are available to order.
Woot's latest flash sale offers older iPhone models in refurbished condition, starting at just $119.99. These Woot sales will last today only, or until the retailer is sold out of stock.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Sales start with the 32GB iPhone 7 for $119.99, with your choice of T-Mobile or AT&T carriers. You can also get the 128GB model for $134.99 or the 256GB model for $159.99.
The iPhone 7 Plus is included in the sale as well, priced at $179.99 for 32GB, $199.99 for 128GB, and $229.99 for 256GB. Only AT&T is available as a carrier option for the iPhone 7 Plus.
Lastly, refurbished models of the iPhone 8 are on sale for $189.99 in 64GB and $229.99 in 256GB, with AT&T as the carrier. All of Woot's refurbished iPhones are expected to have a moderate level of wear and tear, but they have been tested to be in full working condition.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more discounts on Apple products and related accessories.
Apple today made its $2,000 Mac Pro Afterburner Card available as a separate purchase, having previously been offered only as a build-to-order option when configuring a new Mac Pro.
Apple Afterburner is a PCIe accelerator card specifically for the 2019 Mac Pro, created to enhance Apple ProRes and ProRes RAW workflows for creative professionals by accelerating the decoding and playback of multiple streams.
Afterburner supports playback of up to 6 streams of 8K ProRes RAW or up to 23 streams of 4K ProRes RAW. It accelerates ProRes and ProRes RAW video codecs in Final Cut Pro X and QuickTime Player X, as well as supported third-party applications.
The Afterburner can be installed in any full-length slot in the 2019 Mac Pro, but it delivers maximum capability in a PCIe x16 slot. Apple Afterburner Cards ordered today from Apple's online store currently ship in five to seven business days.
Apple's Pro Display XDR is a 32-inch 6K monitor with a P3 wide color gamut and true 10-bit color support, 1,600 nits of peak brightness, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and a super-wide, off-axis viewing angle. It is also compatible with the new Mac Pro, 15-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models released in 2018 or later, and 2019 iMac models.
Apple updated its MacBook Air lineup earlier today with faster processors and graphics, a scissor switch Magic Keyboard, a lower starting price of $999, and more, with online availability beginning today. Read our announcement post for more details.
Alongside big new product releases, Apple today refreshed its online storefront with a wide variety of fresh accessories for the spring. This includes new colors for iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands, and updated versions of Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio for iPad.
Starting with iPhone, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max Silicone Cases now have new colors. This includes Cactus, Grapefruit, and Surf Blue. This is especially good news for iPhone 11 owners, whose previous options for Silicone Cases were just White and Black.
The Leather Folio for iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max is now available in Peacock. There are no new Leather Case colors for the iPhone 11 family this season.
Moving to Apple Watch bands, you can get these same three new colorways in Sport Bands as well, matching your iPhone 11's Cactus, Grapefruit, or Surf Blue accessory.
In Sport Loop there are five new colors: Sunshine, Vitamin C, Surf Blue, Neon Lime, and Neon Pink.
Nike Sport Bands were refreshed with Black/Lime Blast and Midnight Turquoise/Aurora Green. Additionally, Nike Sport Loops now have World Indigo/Lime Blast and Hyper Crimson/Neptune Green. All Sport Bands and Sport Loops cost $49.
You can now get the Modern Buckle in Raspberry and Deep Sea Blue for $149. There's a new Peacock Leather Loop as well, priced at $99.
Lastly for Apple Watch, the high-end Hérmes brand has five new options: Noir/Blanc/Gold Swift Leather Single Tour, Orange Swift Leather Single Tour, Noir Swift Leather Allover Print Double Tour, Blanc Swift Leather Allover Print Double Tour, and Noir Gala Leather Single Tour Rallye.
There is also the Smart Folio for iPad Pro in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, featuring the new Cactus and Surf Blue colors. These cost $79 and $99 respectively.
If you have an iPad (seventh generation) or iPad Air (third generation), you can get a new Smart Cover in Cactus or Surf Blue for $49.
Finally, an iPad mini Smart Cover is also on sale in Cactus and Surf Blue options, priced at $39. None of the iPad cases include Grapefruit as a color option, seen in the iPhone and Apple Watch accessories.
The new Magic Keyboard is backwards compatible with both of Apple's 2018 iPad Pro models, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation), Apple has confirmed.
Announced today along with new iPad Pro models, the Magic Keyboard attaches magnetically to iPad Pro and includes a floating design that works on either a lap or a desk, and an integrated trackpad for controlling an onscreen pointer, which Apple says will allow users to enhance their workflows in multiple ways.
The Magic Keyboard features cantilevered hinges for smooth adjustments of the viewing angle up to 130 degrees, including a full-size keyboard with backlit keys and a scissor mechanism that delivers 1mm travel. It also has USB-C pass-through charging.
The Magic Keyboard won't launch until sometime in May, but next week Apple is releasing iPadOS 13.4, which introduces trackpad support for all iPads, so 2018 iPad Pro owners will need to update their devices to ensure compatibility with the Magic Keyboard when it does arrive.
The Magic Keyboard will cost $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and will include layouts for over 30 languages.
Apple has shared two ads on its YouTube channel highlighting the power of its just-updated 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, including a new Magic Keyboard.
The first video, titled "Your next computer is not a computer," showcases the new features in the updated iPad Pro, including the new A12Z Bionic chip, LiDAR Scanner for AR, triple-lens cameras, and the new Magic Keyboard with integrated trackpad.
The second ad, titled "How to correctly use a computer," features an ironic retro voiceover offering a "beginner's guide to proper computing," which basically goes against everything shown visually in the video as far as using an iPad Pro goes.
When the voiceover says "Start by taking a seat at your desk, sit up straight, and focus on only one task at a time" a girl is shown lounging around in a park while multi-tasking on an iPad Pro, using a new Magic Keyboard, and wearing AirPods Pro.
The ad continues in a similar vein, showcasing the ruggedness of an iPad Pro when dropped into a bag, ("Treat your computer with respect"), the game-playing and AR capabilities ("It is not a toy"), and multi-touch gestures ("Do not touch the screen").
The ad finishes by highlighting the new Magic Keyboard's multi-touch trackpad ("Your computer comes with a standard arrow cursor") and the LTE-equipped iPad Pro model ("Must stay within reach of a Wi-Fi signal").
The new iPad Pro is available to order starting today on apple.com and in the Apple Store app. iPad Pro will be available in stores starting next week. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 for 128GB Wi-Fi, while the 12.9-inch model starts at $999 for 128GB Wi-Fi. More storage capacities include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, and cellular options are available.
The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro will be available to purchase in May in two versions: $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. There are also new Smart Keyboard Folio accessories out today, priced at $179 for 11-inch and $199 for 12.9-inch.
Apple today announced that iPadOS 13.4 will launch next Tuesday, March 24 as a free software update for all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 and later, fifth-generation iPad and later, and iPad mini 4 and later.
iPadOS 13.4 will introduce trackpad support for iPads. While this is mainly aimed at the upcoming Magic Keyboard accessory for iPad Pro, Apple confirmed that any iPad running iPadOS 13.4 will be able to connect a Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2, or third-party mice via Bluetooth or USB.
The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro won't launch until sometime in May. It will be priced at $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and include layouts for over 30 languages.
For more information on the all-new iPad Pro, be sure to visit our post on the refreshed tablet right here. Apple today also announced a new MacBook Air and updated the Mac mini with double the storage capacity.
Apple's first foldable iPhone, with a book-style design featuring a ~5.5-inch outer display and a ~7.8-inch inner display with a minimal crease down the middle.
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