New iMac and Magic Accessories Tidbits: 'Then and Now', Automatic Pairing, Fast Charging and More

Apple has updated its website with a wealth of new information following its announcement of new 4K and 5K iMacs and a new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2. Here are some of the more interesting tidbits that have been overshadowed by the larger announcements.

New iMacs

Then and Now — Apple has published a new "Then and Now" page that compares the 1998 iMac G3 with the 2015 iMac, showing the progress that has been made over the past 17 years. The new iMac has 14 million more pixels, 62,000 times faster graphics, 366 times more processing power, 1,000 times more RAM and 750 times more storage.

iMac-G3-vs-2015
5,400 RPM 1TB Hard Drive on 4K iMac — The new 21.5-inch 4K iMac's standard configuration for $1,499 includes a 5,400 RPM 1TB Serial ATA hard drive, which is considered long obsolete for a 2015 desktop computer. Upgrades to a 1TB or 2TB Fusion Drive are available for $100 and $300 respectively.

Fusion Drive Changes — To allow for lower prices, Apple's 1TB Fusion Drive is now a 1TB hard drive paired with a 24GB SSD. Previously, a 1TB Fusion Drive was a 1TB hard drive with a 128GB SSD. Mac users looking for 128GB of flash storage will need to upgrade to a 2TB or larger Fusion Drive. 256GB and 512GB all-flash storage options can also be ordered.

Magic Accessories

Automatic Pairing — The new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 have a new automatic pairing process with Mac using a Lightning to USB cable. Each accessory is also charged via Lightning to USB.

Magic-Keyboard-Mouse-Trackpad
2-Minute Fast Charging — The new Magic accessories each take about 2 hours to reach a full one-month charge via Lightning to USB, but early reviews found the Magic Mouse 2 can fast charge for nine hours of battery life in just two minutes.

Magic Mouse 2's fast charging is useful, since its bottom-facing Lightning port renders it unusable while charging. Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2 both have Lightning ports on the rear, meaning both accessories can still be used while charging.

Magic-Keyboard
Magic Trackpad 2 Requires Bluetooth 4.0 — Magic accessories connect wirelessly with a Mac via Bluetooth for a secure connection up to 30 feet away. For the Magic Trackpad 2, Apple requires a Bluetooth 4.0-enabled Mac. Magic accessories are also only compatible with Macs running OS X 10.11 or later.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iMac

Top Rated Comments

H2SO4 Avatar
104 months ago
Same speed hard drive?

EDIT: Apparently so ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_G3'). Jeez what a bunch of cheapskates.
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
morcutt11 Avatar
104 months ago
Why, on earth, would these machines come standard with a 5,400 RPM hard drive? That essentially mandates an upgrade to a Fusion drive, which now is limited to only 24GB SSD unless you go up to the 2TB Fusion Drive. It seems like a lot of upgrading just to get some decent speed performance.
Score: 39 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OneZweiThree Avatar
104 months ago
The hard drive and fusion drive situation really is a bad joke...
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacFather Avatar
104 months ago
Deleted.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DTphonehome Avatar
104 months ago
Apple really deserves to be hammered relentlessly over the 5400 rpm HD. It's insanity.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mattopotamus Avatar
104 months ago
... and in 2015, a mouse that doesn't make you want to just smash your fingers with a hammer and be done with it.
I have no idea how people use the magic mouse. It is the least ergonomic thing I have held.
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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