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Can an iPad Pro replace your PC?
In 2016, Apple believed its professional-grade tablet, the iPad Pro, was ready for the big time. Phil Schiller even described the machine as "the ultimate PC replacement" when describing the product onstage. The company's own advertisements claimed that the device could do everything a desktop or laptop could do. But that wasn't really true until the launch of iOS 11, when the company really let the iPad off the leash.
iPad Pro could be Apple's next device to use Face ID
It's safe to assume that the face recognition system in the iPhone X will eventually reach other devices, but which ones are next in line? KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo might have an idea. The historically accurate analyst expects the next generation of the iPad Pro to adopt the TrueDepth camera and, by extension, Face ID. This would unify the experience across Apple's mobile devices, the analyst says, and would spur developers knowing that they could use face recognition across multiple Apple devices, not just one handset. The new iPads would ship sometime in Apple's fiscal 2018, which ends in September of next year.
Netflix adds HDR support for iPhone 8, iPhone X and iPad Pro
Netflix is adding high dynamic range (HDR) support to more mobile devices. A handful of Android handsets are already benefitting from the picture upgrade, including the LG G6, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, among others. Now, thanks to the release of iOS 11, iPhone users suffering from FOMO can get in on the action too. You'll be able to binge watch in Dolby Vision HDR on the newly launched iPhone 8, 8Plus, and the upcoming iPhone X. Along with Apple's new smartphones, iPad Pro (2nd-gen) owners will also receive the bump in picture quality -- that goes for both the 10.5 and 12.9 inch models of the tablet.
Some iPad Pros now cost $50 more due to flash storage shortage
Apple had a lot to say during its iPhone 8 event, but it left out one important detail if you're in the market for an iPad Pro. The tech titan has quietly raised some iPad Pros' prices by $50, and according to 9to5mac, it's all because of the rising prices of NAND flash storage. When you check the Apple Store, you'll notice that the 256GB and 512GB 10.5-inch Pros now cost $799 and $999, respectively. The 12.5-inch model also got the same treatment, with variants of the same storage capacity setting you back $949 and $1,149.
Apple demonstrates how the iPad Pro was made for iOS 11
Apple's iPad sales were surprisingly good last quarter, but a lot of critics (including us) thought there was still no way the iPad Pro could replace a proper PC. The release of iOS 11 next month will change some minds, however. A new series of Apple videos shows how to use the new features, including the Dock, Files app, multitasking, Apple Pencil and more. Suffice to say, it drastically improves productivity on the tablets, making it much easier to do multiple jobs concurrently.
All Apple had to do to sell iPads was make them cheaper
It's been about a year and a half since Apple introduced the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. It was a great device, but it also made Apple's tablet lineup more confusing than ever. I wrote at the time that Apple seemed to be just throwing ideas out there, trying to see what would make customers get back in the store and buy more iPads. I also noted that it wasn't even clear what the "best" iPad was anymore. It's taken a while, but Apple has streamlined its lineup, making clear separations among products in terms of both price and feature set. As a result, iPad sales increased year over year for the first time since the holiday quarter of 2013 (when Apple sold a whopping 26 million tablets). But this quarter's turnaround wasn't driven by Apple's "future of personal computing" vision promised by the iPad Pro. Nor was it driven by the Pro's useful features, which will only get more compelling when iOS 11 launches this fall. No, sales increased because Apple finally made a plain iPad that isn't terribly ambitious -- just affordable.
Microsoft inadvertently hints at its own iPad keyboard cover
You might not have any inclination to buy a Surface Pro tablet if you're an iPad owner, but Microsoft may be happy to sell you the keyboard portion. WinFuture has noticed that Microsoft posted a battery document mentioning an unannounced iPad Touch Cover. The file reveals precious little about the peripheral, but its name harkens back to the Surface Touch Covers that Microsoft used to sell -- the emphasis here would be on thinness over the tactile feel of a Type Cover. The inclusion of a battery and the April timing of the document suggests that it uses Bluetooth and targets the entry-level iPad, although we're not ruling out a Smart Connector attachment for the iPad Pro crowd.
iPad Pro 10.5 review: Where execution and ambition meet
Never mind that Apple keeps updating its notebooks and desktops -- Tim Cook once said the iPad represented the future of personal computing. That was one year ago, when the company revealed the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, and he seemed to mean it. Of course, you don't need me to tell you that a lot can happen in a year. The iPad that Phil Schiller revealed after Cook dropped that bombastic statement has already been discontinued, making way for the shiny new 10.5-inch model Apple unveiled at WWDC 2017. The Pro 10.5 ($649+) feels very familiar, not to mention surprisingly powerful, but that's no surprise -- every new iPad Pro that Apple releases is the best one out there. What's more impressive is how finally -- finally -- Apple has put together an iPad that feels capable of living up to the company's lofty words. It's not perfect, and it's not for everyone, but the iPad Pro 10.5 is still a bigger step forward than I expected.
Recommended Reading: Netflix trims its library of original shows
'The Get Down,' 'Sense8' Cancellations Signal That Netflix's Originals Are 'Destructible' Daniel Holloway, Variety In the span of about a week, Netflix cancelled both The Get Down and Sense8 -- two noteworthy series from its slate of original shows. The streaming service seemingly renewed everything, but now a couple of its more anticipated shows won't return. Variety has a look at what this means for the company, including reasons why these two shows in particular won't be coming back. It turns out producing a Baz Luhrmann show is even more expensive than initially anticipated.
The Apple Pencil case won't save you from losing it
iPad Pro users, take note: Apple has released what might be the most Apple product in the history of Apple. One of the announcements to slip through the cracks during that intense WWDC keynote yesterday was the introduction of a $29 holder for the iPad Pencil.
The new iPad Pro packs a bigger screen into a familiar body
The tablet market isn't in great shape, but Apple is still convinced that the iPad represents the future of mobile computing. That's where the Pro models come in: They're designed to bring serious horsepower to everyday tasks in hopes that people could use them to replace traditional computers. Now we've got a new one, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which replaces the 9.7-inch model we reviewed last year. After a bit of hands-on time, one thing is clear: If you're looking for a premium tablet, this is one slate you can't ignore.
The iPad looks like the future of the MacBook with iOS 11
Apple hasn't been shy about where the iPad is headed. With the traditional tablet market on the decline, the company started repositioning its slate as more of a laptop replacement with the iPad Pro a few years ago. The emphasis on a keyboard accessory and stylus, Apple's Pencil, evoked Microsoft's Surface strategy, but it also seemed inevitable. The iPad is getting more powerful every year, and it already does most of the things a typical consumer would want out of a laptop. Now with iOS 11, the iPad looks even more like something that could eventually replace Apple's MacBooks. Or at the least, it hints at a world where the two devices converge.
The new iPad Pro vs. the 9.7-inch iPad Pro: What's changed?
The iPad Pro's new 10.5-inch screen size may be a bit bigger than the 9.7-inch model it's replacing, but it's still sleek and svelte. However, a larger display and a new chassis aren't the only differences. Inside you'll find upgraded specs belying the device's thin frame. Take a peek at our table to to see how much of a difference that extra 0.8 inches of screen makes between smaller iPad Pro models.
Apple's 10.5-inch iPad Pro replaces the older 9.7-inch model
Apple's original 12.9-inch iPad Pro hit the scene in Nov. 2015. Its sheer size and high-end specs made it a standout of the tablet scene, while the Apple Pencil created to work with it made it a hit with designers and other creatives. Now, just a year after Apple introduced a smaller, still capable 9.7-inch iPad Pro with a more typical form factor, the company has replaced it with a new larger model with a 10.5-inch screen.
Apple's fabled iPad redesign may arrive at WWDC
Apple could have more than one hardware treat to unveil at WWDC this year. KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a mostly solid track record for Apple predictions) now believes that Apple is likely to launch a long-rumored 10.5-inch iPad redesign when the developer conference kicks off on June 5th. Kuo understands that mass production is supposed to start in the late second quarter (aka June), so it only makes sense for the tablet to launch around the same time. As for what the device would entail, provided the report is accurate? To no one's surprise, Kuo mostly focus on the display.
Apple offers free Smart Keyboard repairs for up to three years
It's been about a year and a half since Apple's iPad Pro hit the market, which means the laptop-ditching early adopters have had plenty of time to mash the keys and put Apple's Smart Keyboard through some rigorous paces. Unfortunately for some users, however, those keyboards have started experiencing some "functional issues" like sticking or unresponsive keys and shoddy connections that make it difficult to actually get some work done. According to an internal memo circulated to Apple Stores and service providers last week, the company plans to address these issues by offering free repairs on any Smart Keyboard within three years of the purchase date.
Apple hopes cheap, not powerful, will turn around iPad sales
Apple has been trying to reverse declining iPad sales for several years now, without much success. For the past year and a half, that strategy could be summed up in one word: more. More power, more screen real estate, more accessories. Of course, the iPad Pro also cost more money, so it didn't help reverse waning interest in Apple's tablets. Now Apple is going in the opposite direction. The newest iPad, announced yesterday with little fanfare, is most notable for its affordable price. The 9.7-inch tablet starts at only $329 with 32GB of storage; you can get a spacious 128GB model for $100 more. It replaces the aging iPad Air 2 in Apple's lineup -- but despite the updated processor on the inside, the new tablet makes a number of compromises to hit that low price. But Apple seems to think it's found the right balance of specs and price to get more people to turn the iPad's fortunes around.
What to expect from Apple's 'Hello Again' event
Apple is sneaking in one more big product unveiling before 2016 comes to a close, and expectations for new Macs are running high. And how couldn't they be? Aside from last year's iMacs and the 12-inch MacBook, Cupertino's computer lineup has gone largely untouched since 2015 -- and there are numerous systems that have remained the same for even longer. But which Macs are going to get an upgrade on Oct. 27th? And is there a chance that other devices will get their moment in the sun? We've rounded up some of the more credible rumors to give you a sense of what's likely in store.
Apple drops iPad prices while bumping up the storage
While Tim Cook and Co. didn't make any iPad announcements on stage earlier, Apple's tablet range did get a few changes today. Like the iPhone line, Apple is bumping the minimum storage to 32GB across the board and keeping the same price as the previous 16GB models. The iPad Pros now top out at 256GB of storage, but you'll actually be paying less per gigabyte than in the past.
Google Docs finally adds multitasking tools for iPads
Google Docs, Sheets and Slides' most recent iOS updates make them play a whole lot nicer with multitasking on iPads. The patch feels a little overdue at this point, but hey, we'll take support for iOS 9's tablet features like Split View and Slide Over whenever we can get 'em. Supported models include the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4 and both sizes of iPad Pro, and if the update hasn't hit your device yet, that's what the source links below are for.
