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Apple quietly announces 10.5-inch iPad Air and refreshed iPad mini
Apple's online store went dark earlier this morning, and now it's clear why: The company decided to quietly roll out not one, but two new iPads ahead of its big event next week. The new, larger, 10.5-inch iPad Air will arrive with a 70 percent performance boost compared to its predecessor, thanks to the company's A12 Bionic chip with Apple's Neural Engine. That'll be useful alongside the now 20-percent larger display -- which is compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil too.
Apple's new Pencil charges wirelessly
At its Mac event on Tuesday, Apple revealed a redesigned Pencil. It attaches magnetically to the iPad Pro and can charge wirelessly, which is far better (at least aesthetically) than the old method of inserting it into the iPad's Lightning port. Tapping the screen with Pencil unlocks the iPad and launches the Notes app. Double tapping while you're in certain apps lets you switch to the tool or brush you need.
New iPad Pros will reportedly get Face ID and lose the home button
Apple's iOS 12.1 release back in September hinted at a new iPad launch before the year is out, and now new details have emerged on exactly what the device might look like. According to 9to5mac, sources familiar with the development of the new 2018 iPad Pro have revealed there will be two WiFi and two LTE models in both size options.
Apple: Proposed China tariffs will make Watch, AirPods more expensive
Apple claims that proposed US tariffs on $200 billion of goods from China will make some of its products (including Apple Watch, HomePod, AirPods and Mac mini) more expensive. The company said in a letter to the US government, which sought public comments on the levies, that Apple Pencil, Magic Mouse and Trackpad and various leather covers and cases will be among the affected products.
Apple iPad review (2018): A little better, a little less competition
The tablet business has been tough in recent years, but last year Apple found a hit in its low-cost iPad. Its admirable performance and battery life made up for its lack of frills, and that $329 price tag certainly didn't hurt, either. Apple saw its iPad sales grow year-over-year for the first time in ages after its release, all but ensuring we'd get a sequel — and here we are. Apple spent most of its time at a launch event in Chicago lauding this year's $329 iPad ($299 with that education discount) as a great machine for kids in classrooms. I won't dig into that too much in this review — there are people far more qualified than I to explore the relative merits of iOS versus Chrome OS in schools. While the iPad's announcement explored its use almost exclusively as a classroom tool, it's a lot more than that. In fact, just like the iPad we got this time last year, Apple's latest is the best budget tablet you can buy right now.
Apple iPad hands-on (2018): It's all about the apps
Apple's new iPad isn't actually that new: It was heavily leaked, for one, and, importantly, it's just about the same as the basic iPad it replaces. The company unveiled the device today at what was billed as an education-focused keynote. Indeed, it was held at a Chicago high school, with frequent cameos from teachers, the most important group this device is being marketed to. As you'd expect of Engadget at an Apple keynote, my colleague Chris Velazco and I had a brief chance afterward to handle the new tablet. Whereas Apple-product unveilings are typically showcases for shiny new hardware, this time the physical trappings are mostly an afterthought. What we have here is a revised version of Apple's existing 9.7-inch iPad, with the biggest change being support for the Apple Pencil. (It's still sold separately.) I could tell you about the aluminum enclosure, available in several colors; how light it is, at one pound; the 8-megapixel camera; and the A10 Fusion Chip borrowed from the iPhone 7. But that's all beside the point. What really matters is how teachers use it.
Apple sneaks art lessons into curriculum with 'Everyone Can Create'
At its "field trip" event in Chicago today, Apple launched a new 9.7-inch iPad with Pencil support, as well as a slew of new software for classrooms. That includes a training program for teachers and retooled iWork apps to help stay on top of homework. There's plenty of focus on using Apple's stylus in these programs, which makes the company's new "Everyone can create" curriculum less surprising than you might think.
Apple's retooled iWork suite includes Pencil support
Today, Apple announced that it is releasing new versions of its iWork suite of apps -- Pages, Numbers and Keynote -- that supports Apple Pencil. A variety of new iPad apps (including the Microsoft Office Suite and Notability) will support the Pencil, many of which were previously only available on iPad Pro. The Pencil is intended to be used for note taking, illustration and other detail-oriented purposes. Advanced sensors within the Pencil measure pressure and tilt, which helps with accuracy.
The new entry-level iPad works with the Apple Pencil
Apple's education-focused event is underway in Chicago and, as expected, the hardware star of the show is a new iPad. VP Greg Joswiak just announced the "new" iPad, an update on the model introduced just about one year ago. The rumor mills predicted a new iPad keeping the traditional 9.7-inch form factor intact, and that's what Apple is showing off this morning. Indeed, Apple said that last year's 9.7-inch model has been the most popular iPad in education "by far."
Apple’s Jony Ive will return to his design management role
Apple's chief design officer, Jony Ive, is picking his old management duties back up again, 9to5Mac reports. Back in 2015, Ive was upgraded to chief design officer from senior VP and day-to-day management was taken over by Alan Dye and Richard Howarth. Earlier today, 9to5Mac noted that Dye and Howarth were no longer listed on Apple's leadership page and now word's out that Ive is back at the management helm. In a statement to Bloomberg, an Apple spokesperson said, "With the completion of Apple Park, Apple's design leaders and teams are again reporting directly to Jony Ive, who remains focused purely on design."
Apple iPad, Mac rumors suggest upgrades for power users
While we prepare to see the next iPhone on September 7th, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has delivered another batch of rumors centered around Apple's iPad and Mac plans. According to his sources, along with a standalone 5K monitor the company is working on with LG (that would surpass even the 21:9 screens just announced) the next step for iMacs are the option of AMD GPUs built-in, while the Macbook Air is expected to get a USB-C upgrade that could mimic the current Macbook.
Apple patents stylus that doubles as a joystick, air mouse
A simple, high-quality pressure-sensitive stylus is all well and good for tablets, but can such a device really meet the needs of a desktop user? That seems to be the question Apple's asking with its latest patent. The company's latest technology patent dreams up a do-everything stylus capable of being a drawing device, air mouse and even a joystick.
Apple is reportedly launching a 9.7-inch iPad Pro in March
9to5Mac is reporting that Apple plans to unveil a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro at an event on March 15th, rather than the rumored Air 3. The new iPP would join its larger, 12.9-inch predecessor and incorporate support for both the Smart Keyboard & Apple Pencil. Of course, with a smaller screen, Apple will have to resize the Smart Keyboard cover accessory to make it fit. 9to5Mac also reports that the smaller iPad Pro will come with the same color and storage options as the 12.9-incher.
Use your Apple Pencil to draw all over Microsoft Office apps
Microsoft has rolled out support for the Apple Pencil in its iOS version of Office, allowing iPad Pro users to scribble to their heart's content across spreadsheets, documents and presentations. This month's Office updates include a new "Draw" tab in the top ribbon, instant inking capabilities, and a new function that automatically converts sketches to shapes and diagrams. Plus, Microsoft's preview program, Office Insider, is now available for Mac users.
Use your Apple Pencil to alter photos, make music and weigh things
The Apple Pencil is aimed at professional artists who want to use the iPad Pro as a fancy creation tablet, but Simon Gladman has other uses in mind for the stylus. He made three Swift apps that use the Apple Pencil in new ways: as a synthesizer powered by AudioKit, in an image-editing program and as part of an electronic scale. PencilSynth uses the Apple Pencil's position on the iPad Pro to control the sound emitted, changing pitch and frequency as the Pencil travels at different angles across the screen. PencilController offers three image-filtering modes (hue/saturation, brightness/contrast and gamma/exposure), each controlled by holding one finger on the appropriate mode key and moving the Apple Pencil around a pivot point on the screen. PencilScale is the most "experimental" of Gladman's projects, using the Apple Pencil as a stand for a series of weights sitting directly on top of a scale app. Gladman calls PencilScale "sensitive, but not terribly accurate."
Recommended Reading: Jony Ive tells the story of the Apple Pencil
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. Jony Ive Interview: The Story of the Apple Pencil The Telegraph The initial wave of iPad Pro reviews arrived this week, and with them the first impressions from folks using the new Apple Pencil for an extended period of time. The Telegraph spoke with Apple's design guru Sir Jony Ive to get the backstory on the accessory and why habits like sketching don't have to become obsolete.
Apple's Pencil looks great, but...
Apple's big iPad Pro came with a big surprise -- an optional stylus. It's easy to dismiss the accessory -- named Apple Pencil -- as a reaction to Microsoft's Surface and Samsung's Galaxy Note series. Whatever the motive, though, the Pencil pushes the iPad and iOS in a new direction, away from regular consumers and toward Apple's bread and butter: designers and creatives. We spoke with over a dozen professional artists, illustrators and designers to gauge the reaction to the accessory. Many use styli in their everyday workflows through options including dedicated Wacom graphic tablets, all-in-one solutions like the Surface series or capacitive options like FiftyThree's Pencil for iPad -- and they've got a lot to say about Apple's entry into the market.
