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Spare a thought for the guy with Lightning headphones
It was a questionable decision to opt for headphones that work with two devices. Nevertheless, I do love the Audeze iSINE 10s that I've used every day for the past year and a half. Sure, I can't charge and listen to music at the same time, but thanks to a Lightning cable feeding data and power to Audeze's in-line DAC, they sound fantastic on both my iPad and my iPhone. Unfortunately, I'm now stuck with some wonderful headphones that are roughly half as useful as they were yesterday, as Apple has just switched from Lightning to USB-C for its latest iPad Pros.
Apple’s laptop line is more of a mess than ever
Imagine that you've got $1,300 and you'd like to buy a new Apple laptop. Which one do you choose? The $1,299 MacBook, the new $1,199 MacBook Air or the cheapest MacBook Pro, which also retails for $1,299. If you really want TouchID then you'll opt for the Air, but if you're looking for the "best" then the Pro is the only answer. Not that you'd understand that from the price list, thanks to Apple's crushing inability to properly differentiate its products.
Apple's iPad and Mac event: By the numbers
For the second time in as many months, Apple's executive leadership took to the stage to reveal the company's latest luxury computing products. This time around we saw a new iPad Pro with a fancy magnetic stylus, a Retina-enabled MacBook Air (made entirely of recycled aluminum), a new Mac Mini, and $9 headphone dongles to make the tablet you just dropped a grand on minimally functional in polite society.
The new Mac Mini, in pictures
Apple just wrapped a Mac-and-iPad event in Brooklyn, New York, and for most people, I suspect the refreshed MacBook Air and iPad Pro were the stars of the show. But for some of you, there was a more intriguing announcement in store: The Mac Mini, long neglected, has finally received some attention. The new model, announced today, has a brand new design, reminiscent of the Apple TV, with fresh specs to match, including quad- and six-core processors, up to 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of storage. When it comes to ports, you've got four Thunderbolt 3 connections, two USB-A sockets, HDMI, audio and Ethernet (including a 10Gbps option). The machine is up for pre-order today starting at $799 (with much more modest specs, obviously) and ships next week, on November 7th. We spied some units on display here at the demo area set up at the event venue, but it's not like anyone gets to sit down and simulate real work on this thing. We won't pretend to be able to vouch for the performance, then. In the meantime, though, we thought it would be helpful to include some photos, especially shots at scale that show what this tiny thing looks like situated in a realistic desk setup. Have a look, and stay tuned for a proper review, hopefully sooner than later. Follow all the latest news from Apple's fall 2018 event here!
Apple releases iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1 with Group FaceTime (updated)
Apple has released a smorgasbord of updates, and iOS 12.1 is just the start of them. Notably, you can now upgrade to watchOS 5.1 on Apple Watch Series 4 devices. It doesn't include the wearable's marquee ECG feature, unfortunately, but there are new solid-color watch faces and compatibility for features arriving on iOS and Mac, including Group FaceTime (audio only on the Apple Watch, of course) and more than 70 new emoji.
iPhone dual-SIM support doesn't play nicely with Verizon (for now)
Don't rush to try iOS 12.1's dual-SIM support if you're a customer of our parent company Verizon. PCMag has learned that the current software drops iPhone XS, XS Max and XR users down to CDMA (that is, the 2G network) if you activate another carrier on the eSIM and use your Verizon SIM card for the secondary line while in the US. This won't hurt if you're roaming abroad, but it's crippling for domestic use: You'll lose anything resembling fast data, and even basic coverage will shrink, given that 30 percent of Verizon's cell sites are LTE only. Accordingly, Verizon has decided it would rather decline to activate eSIMs for now than make users suffer when they rely on the company for a second line.
The biggest news from Apple's iPad and Mac event
As expected, Apple spent today's event in Brooklyn, New York, focused on the Mac and the iPad. The long-languishing MacBook Air finally caught up with the rest of the company's laptop lineup while the even-more-outdated Mac mini received its first meaningful update in years. And the iPad Pro, already the best pure tablet on the market by most measures, was completely redesigned again, adding USB-C and taking plenty of design cues from Apple's recent iPhones. Oh, and it's incredibly powerful. Apple even shows off the iPad Pro running attached to 5K displays now. While all these updates are meaningful, Apple is charging significantly more for them than it did for the products they replace. Get ready for some sticker shock. Whether these changes will be worth the cash is up to you: Read on to get details on the most meaningful changes Apple made today and how much the new hardware will set you back.
Apple iPad Pro (2018) hands-on: Even closer to a computer
For years now, Apple has strongly suggested that the iPad represented the company's vision for the future of computing, and for years, that felt like a bit of a stretch. Sure, crucial updates like iOS 11 gave the iPad a much needed dose of functionality, and that was enough to get some people looking at Apple's tablets as potentially valuable alternatives to traditional laptops and convertibles. This year... well, this year is a little different. I just spent some hands-on time with the updated iPad Pro -- specifically the bonkers 12.9-inch model -- and it's starting to feel more like a proper computer than ever. That's partially because of its more angular, no-nonsense design but also because of all the stuff Apple packed away inside.
The new iPad Pro vs. the competition: Working hard
Earlier this year students and other cost-conscious consumers got their hands on the latest low-cost iPad, but now it's time for professionals to get their hands on an upgrade. This year's iPad Pro switches the line to USB-C and boasts an improved Pencil. But the field it's facing is a lot different from last year's, especially now that Google's reentered the fray with its Pixel Slate. We've taken a look at some of the top productivity tablets to see how they measure up to the 12.9-inch iPad in numbers. For the real scoop on the new iPad, though, you'll have to wait for our full review, coming in the next few weeks.
Hands-on with the new MacBook Air: The one you've been waiting for
Finally. Here at a Mac-and-iPad event in Brooklyn, Apple just unveiled the long-overdue successor to the 13-inch MacBook Air, with upgrades that include a lighter and more compact design; a Retina display; faster performance; louder, bassier audio; and a new (but not necessarily improved) keyboard. As you'd expect, the company has a demo area set up at the venue, so I made my way up to a test machine to get some hands-on time.
Get ready to pay Apple $9 for an iPad headphone dongle
The new iPad Pro is a ridiculously powerful and expensive device, but as usual it's worth taking note of what Apple didn't include: a headphone jack. Yep, the iPad Pro is the next device to drop the decades-old port. Instead, get ready to pay $9 for a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, because Apple isn't including it in the box. Also, the new USB-C port on the iPad Pro means you can't use those Lightning headphones that came with your shiny new iPhone. Courage isn't easy, friends -- but since you'll likely be paying more than $1,000 for a new iPad Pro, what's another $9?
Apple's new iPad Pros swap Lightning ports for USB-C
Apple began its commitment to USB-C back in 2015 with the original MacBook. The ports are now standard on the company's laptops, but today, Apple announced that its new iPad Pros are following suit. Swapping the usual Lightning port out for USB-C isn't just a case of changing what charging cable the iPad Pros use. USB-C enables new features, such as using the tablets to charge other devices like iPhones or being able to easily hook them up to musical instruments or external displays with up to 5K resolution. USB 3.1 Gen 2 support also means faster data-transfer speeds from other devices like cameras. In general, the USB-C switcheroo makes the iPad Pros more peripheral-friendly and therefore more-productive, on-the-go tools. The trade-off, however, is that the new iPad Pros don't have a headphone jack, so the USB-C port doubles as that too. Get your dongle money ready.
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 pack larger displays, thanks to Face ID
Apple's iPad Pro is starting to look a little dated with its familiar design that hasn't changed much over the years. So it's nice to see that at its New York event today, the company unveiled a fresh new version. It's not a surprise by any means, thanks to all the leaks prior, but now we have more-official details. As expected, the new iPad Pros will have much slimmer bezels than before, thanks in part to getting rid of the home button and freeing up some room. In its place, Apple added Face ID for convenient authentication as well as a USB-C port.
Apple's new Mac mini is all about increased power
Yes, it's actually happening: Apple is releasing a new Mac mini after four years of leaving the tiny desktop virtually untouched. The new design is familiar on the surface, outside of its space gray finish, but boasts a huge performance upgrade with a minimum four-core 8th-generation Intel desktop processor (with an option for six cores), up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. It's up to five times faster in raw computing power, with 60 percent faster graphics. And it doesn't skimp on connectivity. You'll find four Thunderbolt 3 ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI, audio and Ethernet (including a 10Gbps option).
Apple is using 100 percent recycled aluminum in new Macs
Today, at its Mac event, Apple announced that the new MacBook Air and the Mac mini are "the greenest" Macs ever. That's because the new machine bodies are made from 100 percent recycled aluminum.
Apple finally put a Retina display in the MacBook Air
It's no secret that Apple's MacBook Air is beyond outdated, and the company has finally decided to offer a lower-cost laptop with more-modern specs. Amazingly enough, it's called the MacBook Air: CEO Tim Cook started his presentation by calling it the most loved laptop ever. And with that kind of love, it's no surprise Apple's keeping the laptop around. First and foremost, the new MacBook Air has a Retina Display. The giant aluminum bezel is gone, but the screen remains 13.3 inches. The full resolution is four times what the original Macbook Air had, which works out to 2,560 x 1600. That's not exactly the same as four times the old Air's 1,440 x 900 resolution, but we're not complaining about this improvement. Sadly, Apple is sticking with the two USB-C port setup, and it looks like there's no SD slot either. But those ports support Thunderbolt 3 for improved data-transfer speeds.
We're live from Apple's iPad and Mac event!
Hot on the heels of unveiling three iPhones and a watch, Apple is getting ready for yet another press event. This time, Tim Cook takes the stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and this time, Macs and a refreshed iPad Pro are said to be in store. I'd say that classic Mac logo on the invitation we received (see above) should erase any doubt that we're about to see some new computers. The questions are: which ones, and how extensive will the updates be? Our money is on a successor to the 13-inch MacBook Air, though don't be surprised if Apple drops the Air branding. Upgraded iMacs are a safe bet, too, and a Mac mini for pros is possible as well. Another shoo-in: a revamped iPad Pro with a Face ID sensor (and iPhone-like notch to match). And, of course, we remain hopeful that we'll learn more about Apple's long-delayed AirPower wireless-charging mat, but then again, we were left disappointed on that count after last month's iPhone launch. Fortunately for those of you who miss surprises, there have been fewer leaks ahead of this event, so you have more incentive than ever to fire up the livestream, open our liveblog and watch everything unfold. Join us on Tuesday the 30th, starting at or just before 10AM ET.
Watch Apple's iPad and Mac event live at 10AM ET!
Apple's hosting another event today, this time in Brooklyn, New York. The company teased the event earlier this month with a slew of artsy-looking Apple logos and the tagline "There's more in the making," and thanks to plenty of rumors, we have a good idea of what to expect. We're likely to see a new, nearly bezel-less iPad Pro with Face ID and maybe an updated iPad mini. Also expected to be on the docket is a new MacBook to replace Apple's MacBook Air and possibly some updated iMacs and AirPods too.
We're liveblogging Apple's Mac and iPad event tomorrow at 10AM ET!
You know the drill by now: Apple announces new iPhones and Apple Watches in September. Then, if it has anything else up its sleeve, it usually unveils the rest in a separate October event. Indeed, we hadn't even finished reviewing all the latest iPhones when we received an invite to another keynote, this one in Brooklyn, New York. So, tomorrow we'll be heading south across the East River to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where Tim Cook and co. are expected to debut new Macs and a refreshed iPad Pro. On the Mac side, we're ready to see everything from a 13-inch MacBook, to updated iMacs to a new Mac Mini targeted at professionals. The iPad is an easier bet: It's probably going to be the first iPad with a Face ID sensor (not to mention a notch). Oh, and because this is the Brooklyn Academy of Music we're talking about, we wouldn't be surprised if Apple unveiled some new updates to its creative suite. Unless we see a dramatic uptick in leaks over the next 24 hours, you'll want to follow our liveblog tomorrow, starting at or just before 10AM ET. We'll bring you news, photos and maybe some hands-ons if we're allowed to touch anything. Stay tuned!
