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iMovie for iOS is ready to handle your 4K video editing
If you're determined to produce a 4K masterpiece on an iPhone 6s, 6s Plus or iPad Pro, you now have one of the tools you need to get the job done. Apple has delivered an iMovie update that switches on 4K editing for its most powerful iPhones and iPads, giving you an easy (though not professional-grade) way to edit extra-sharp videos on the move. You can't capture 4K on the iPad Pro, alas, but it's powerful enough to edit multiple 4K streams. The giganto-tablet also has room for a larger media browser and a video viewer that shows every single pixel of a 1080p clip.
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.
Apple isn't the only one making an iPad Pro keyboard
If there's one company that has experience building iPad keyboards, it's Logitech. The accessory maker has made countless typing tools for Apple's tablets, so unsurprisingly, it's also working on one for the iPad Pro. It's called the Create Keyboard Case and, like Apple's own Smart Keyboard, connects through the new three-pronged Smart Connector. That means there's no need to pair or charge the attachment, because it draws all of its power and data directly from the tablet. Logitech says it was developed closely with Apple -- the first teaser image (above) hints at a full QWERTY layout and an exterior covered in a "tightly-woven premium fabric." Why choose the Create over the Smart Keyboard? For one, the Create has plastic keys -- rather than the fabric covered set found on Apple's offering -- and if you've seen the Smart Keyboard folded up, well, it doesn't look all that attractive. Logitech says it'll be available in the US and select parts of Europe and Asia when the iPad Pro goes on sale in November -- there's no word on pricing just yet, however.
Microsoft to launch major Office updates for iOS 9, iPad Pro and Watch
Microsoft's giving its Office apps for Apple's devices a huge boost, enabling it to take better advantage of iOS 9's, WatchOS 2's and the iPad Pro's new features and capabilities. To start with, the company's making it easier to multitask on the iPad -- especially on the upcoming supersized Pro tablet -- once the latest iOS version drops. You can slide over to a second screen to access another app, use two Office apps at the same time side-by-side and even edit a Word, an Excel or a PowerPoint file attached to an email while it's open on Outlook via split screen.
A comic predicted Apple's iPad Pro keyboard 3 years ago
Humor writers are inadvertently prophetic at times -- just ask The Onion, whose joke about five-bladed razors was all too prescient. And apparently, that translates to the world of tech-themed comics. Hijinks Ensue and Sharksplode creator Joel Watson drew a comic in 2012 that predicted the iPad would get a Microsoft Surface-like keyboard cover in 2015... which it did, in the form of the iPad Pro's matching Smart Keyboard. The only real gaffe was imagining that the iPad keyboard would show up at WWDC, not a special event later in the year.
Pre-event Apple rumors nailed almost all of the surprises
If today's big Apple event taught us one thing (beyond the fact that Tim Cook's music taste remains questionable at best), it's that the rumor mill has fully figured out Apple's game plan. If you've been paying attention to the news over the last few months (particularly if you've been reading 9to5Mac), there was almost nothing to be surprised by. The iPad Pro and iPad Mini 4 were unveiled; a new app-friendly Apple TV will be coming soon; and Apple's new iPhones are largely what we expected. That doesn't mean that there wasn't a ton of news jammed into today's two-hour event -- it's just that just about every bit of it was predicted ahead of time. Let's go through the announcements in detail and see exactly how the rumor-mongers stacked up.
UK pricing for the iPhone 6s duo, iPad Pro and Apple TV
Apple announced a bunch of new products today, including the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, new Apple Watch finishes and bands, a monster iPad Pro and a revamped Apple TV with Siri, universal search and games. Whether you're interested in some, or all of the company's new wares, we've got all available UK pricing right here.
Here's our first look at the new, supersized iPad Pro
Today at its annual iPhone press event, Apple didn't just unveil two new handsets, but also a refreshed Apple TV and the long-rumored iPad Pro. As the name would suggest (and as leaks already told us), this is a supersized tablet meant, with a 12.9-inch screen, an optional pen (excuse me: Pencil) and a click-in keyboard. Though the pen and some forthcoming Adobe apps underscore how this might be useful for creative pros, the split-screen view and added processing power might also make it a good fit for other kinds of workers, running the gamut from spreadsheet monkeys to engineers to people in medical fields. I had a chance today to play with the new Pro and its accessories for a few minutes, and while it's too soon to tell how this stacks up next to, say, the Microsoft Surface Pro or even a similarly priced touchscreen laptop, it's definitely not too early to share some first impressions.
The iPad Pro vs. the competition: Super-size your tablet
Last year Apple embraced the mantra that "bigger is better" for the iPhone. Now it's done the same with the iPad line, in the form of a larger-screen 12.9-inch tablet. But Apple isn't the first to make a big tablet, and not even the first to call it "Pro." How does the iPad Pro compare to other large tablets, like the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and the Surface Pro 3? We've lined up the specs side by side so you can decide which one you'd rather hold in your lap while you work.
Apple's iPad Pro accessories include a Smart Keyboard and Pencil stylus
Apple's larger iPad Pro is aimed at suits and other creative professionals that want to get work done. Although its 12.9-inch display offers plenty of pixels for your fingers to poke at, the company will also be offering a standalone keyboard and stylus accessories. The latter is called the Pencil, and in typical Apple fashion it's a simple, minimalist-looking tool. It has pressure sensitivity -- meaning you can press harder for thicker, darker strokes -- as well as tilt sensors for realistic shading. While you're scribbling on the iPad Pro, Apple says the tablet's subsystem scans for Pencil's signal 240 times per second, recording your input with "lightning-fast responsiveness" as a result. Pencil's internal battery lasts for 12 hours and with the hidden Lightning connector you can plug it directly into the iPad Pro for easy charging -- just 15 seconds gives you another 30 minutes of battery life, Apple claims.
What to expect from Apple's 'Hey Siri' iPhone event
Gosh, is it September already? The impending leaf death and the moaning of young'uns going back to school are usually accompanied by shiny new Apple gewgaws to gawk at, and this year is no exception. We'll be schlepping cross-country to bring you all the news from Apple's "Hey Siri" event at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern on Wednesday, but before we grab our boarding passes and all our cameras, let's recap what we think the company's got in store for us.
Alternate iOS 9 keyboard hints at larger iPad
Whenever someone talks about the 12.9-inch iPad, we pull the same nervous, hopeful gaze that we do when Half-life 2: Episode Three is mentioned. Deep down, we know in our hearts that neither are very likely to happen, but no matter what, they'll never be able to take the hope from us. Now, iOS expert and friend of the site Steve Troughton-Smith believes he's found a nugget of proof that the iPad "Pro" exists. Oh, put your tongues in your cheek and grab a handful of salt, because we're venturing into tangent territory, here.
9to5Mac: Apple's working on iOS tweaks for 12-inch iPad
Still holding out for a larger iPad? Well, you're certainly not alone. Thanks to new details from 9to5Mac, it looks like Apple's prepping for a reveal as well. The site has a solid track record when it comes to rumors, and it reports that both hardware and software tweaks are in the works for the 12.9-inch slate. Two models, code-named J98 and J99, are reportedly in the testing phase alongside tweaks to Apple's mobile OS to outfit the extra screen real estate. As you might expect, the difference between the two is one is WiFi-only and the other carries both WiFi and cellular connectivity. Among the changes to iOS is a split-screen feature that could be announced for current iPad models as early as WWDC in a few weeks.
Bloomberg: A 12.9-inch iPad is still coming, just later this year
If you're holding out hope for a super-sized iPad Pro, Bloomberg is still in your corner. The outlet previously reported 12.9-inch iPad production could start as early as Q1 of this year, but now says suppliers are gearing up to start production in September. Citing delays in the supply of display panels, Bloomberg claims Apple will turn around sliding tablet sales with the still-unannounced new variant. Whatever the folks in Cupertino are up to, we hope that next time around the iPad Mini gets more upgrades to match its higher price.
Bloomberg claims a 12.9-inch iPad is coming next year
The rumor mill surrounding Apple is at full force right now. But while people are still waiting for the supposed bigger-screen iPhone (or iPhones) and a smartwatch to show up, we can now add one more device to the list. According to Bloomberg, Apple's set to introduce a 12.9-inch iPad in 2015. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report claims that production on said iPad, which would be Apple's biggest yet, is scheduled to begin as early as Q1 of next year, noting that it's all part of Tim Cook's plan to "shake up the iPad line." Of course, this isn't the first time we've heard whispers on a 12.9-inch tablet from the iPhone maker, as some outlets have previously reported on leaked parts from a device being known as "iPad Pro." Now whether or not Apple is actually working on one, that's yet to be determined -- but even if it was, let's not forget that companies tend to have a change of heart from time to time.
Why the iPad Air makes rumors of a 13-inch iPad a bit more believable
Apple rumors are a dime a dozen, and an overwhelming majority never materialize. So, when the rumors of an almost-13-inch iPad made the rounds earlier this year, it was easy to dismiss it as just another whisper in the endless hum of Apple conjecture. But then Phil Schiller took the stage in San Francisco and showed off the iPad Air for the first time... and the mega-iPad rumors suddenly make a bit more sense. An odd lineup Right now, Apple is selling four tablets: iPad 2, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina, and iPad Air. The iPad 2 and standard iPad mini are arguably the "budget" options, while the Retina iPad mini and iPad Air are the top-of-the-line models -- at least for now. The new iPad mini and the iPad Air are so remarkably close in terms of specs, the only important distinction between them is the screen size (9.7 inches vs. 7.9 inches) and even that isn't really all that big of a choice. They're both powered by the A7 chip, the camera capabilities are identical, they are both shockingly lightweight, etc. At just $100 USD difference between the two base models, it all comes down to how big you want your display to be. It's not out of the ordinary for Apple to occasionally allow two of its products to come dangerously close to each other in terms of specs, but the company uses these moments as an opportunity to once again widen the gap with a ridiculously desirable new device. You need only look at Apple's notebooks for proof of this: For a time, the MacBook Air was encroaching on the MacBook Pro's turf, and some questioned the feasibility of both products existing side by side. That is, until Apple showed us the MacBook Pro with Retina, and the tech world collectively nodded its head in understanding. Room for more While the iPad Air is currently being billed as the big dog in the iPad cage, it doesn't set itself apart from the rest of the company's tablet offerings -- especially the Retina iPad mini -- in any truly meaningful way. But why not? Why doesn't the top-of-the-line iPad offer some of the company's newest toys like Touch ID and slow-motion video capture? Why does the bigger and heavier of the two newly-minted tablets carry the "Air" label? Maybe it's because the iPad Air isn't meant to be Apple's most feature-filled tablet. Maybe there's an iPad Pro on the horizon. If it exists -- and that's a remarkably huge "if" -- it follows that the device may be bigger (13 inches, for example), faster, heavier, and more pricey. It would also probably include Touch ID, slow-motion video, and some other bells and whistles, and its existence would put the iPad Air in a place it would make sense: A lighter, smaller, less feature-packed alternative to the top-of-the-line Apple tablet. So, does an iPad Pro really exist? As easy as it is to pretend that these factors point to a new, larger iPad, reality has a way of reminding me that I've never wished a 13-inch iPad exists. The biggest argument against the iPad as it stands now is that it's significantly more expensive than its modern competitors, and introducing an even more expensive version of the device wouldn't exactly help the brand to appear more consumer friendly. Of course, neither does a $2,999 über-powerful desktop computer, but Apple's got one of those, too. If there is a market for larger tablets -- and I imagine there is, especially among creative types -- a super-iPad would probably do quite well in that space. But will Apple tempt fate and look to capitalize on a new, possibly mythical class of consumer? The iPad itself is proof that they've had the guts to do it in the past, but the untold number of failed prototypes in Apple's basement suggests that they could just as easily ignore it altogether. In short, I have no idea, and neither does anyone else (save a few Apple folks, of course). But if it does come to fruition, it would be a fantastic way for the company to once again set a new standard in tablets, and we could probably hold our breath for as long as it takes Apple's competitors to introduce their own mega-tablets as well.
