Apple is planning to begin selling the upcoming iPad Air 3 and the 4-inch iPhone 5se starting on March 18, reports 9to5Mac. The two devices will be offered in stores and online starting on Friday following their introduction at an event to be held on Tuesday, March 15.
Apple is not expected to accept pre-orders for the two devices, and the short period between announcement and launch suggests Apple expects supplies of the iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se to be plentiful. It is unusual for Apple to offer an iPhone directly after an announcement, but this is the first time the company has launched a standalone non-flagship device.
Launching the new iPhone and iPad models so soon after introduction and not offering pre-orders would be a new strategy for Apple. Apple typically releases new iPhone models one or two weeks following the introduction events and an online pre-order period.
Rumors have suggested the iPhone 5se will be similar in appearance to the iPhone 5s, but with the curved cover glass used in the iPhone 6s. It is also expected to include an upgraded A9 processor and an 8-megapixel camera similar to the camera used in the iPhone 6.
The iPad Air 3 is rumored to take on design elements from the iPad Pro, offering a four-speaker layout and a Smart Connector that would work with iPad Air accessories. Size wise, it is expected to be nearly identical to the iPad Air 2, and i may also include a rear-facing flash.
Apple's March event is also expected to see the debut of new bands for the Apple Watch, including a Black Milanese Loop that was spotted on the Czech Republic Apple Store website in January. Software currently in testing, including iOS 9.3, watchOS 2.2, OS X 10.11.4, and tvOS 9.2 could be unveiled shortly after the event.
Top Rated Comments
And then the 5th Gen in 2005 had video.
"It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore." - Steve Jobs, 2008
And then we see iBooks in 2009.
"There are no plans to make a tablet. It turns out people want keyboards…. We look at the tablet, and we think it is going to fail." - Steve Jobs, 2003
Again, 2009 with the iPad.
"Given that all tablet users will already have a smartphone in their pockets, giving up precious display area to fit a tablet in our pockets is clearly the wrong tradeoff. The seven-inch tablets are tweeners, too big to compete with a smartphone and too small to compete with an iPad." - Steve Jobs, 2010
And then the iPad Mini in 2012.
Never treat Jobs' words as gospel. Especially in the 2000s and later, he seemed perfectly willing to change his tune if there was a reason compelling enough to do so. Those of us clamoring for the Pencil on the Air are doing so for the precise reason that fingers suck as writing input devices. And the iPad's size makes it ideal for many for writing input, and all the existing styluses on the market for writing input are compromises at best. The demand has been there for quite a while.
[doublepost=1455310338][/doublepost]Clearly, based on the replies here hoping for Pencil support on the Air 3, you're wrong.
If it doesn't, I'm not really sure what I'm going to do.