Apple kind of threw everything but the kitchen sink at its customers in terms of products and content (which included new Apple Silicon iMacs, AirTags, a new iPad Pro, a new Apple TV 4K, and other spiffy new wares) during Tuesday’s “Spring Loaded” media event, and if you’d like to rewatch it, it’s available via YouTube or Apple’s website.
The entire event takes place over roughly 61 minutes, so sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy:
Via The Mac Observer and Apple
As part of its “Spring Loaded” media event on Tuesday, Apple unveiled its 2021 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro tablets, each featuring the 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU M1 chip as well asx a new Thunderbolt connector (over the same USB-C port). The larger 12.9-inch model also sports a new mini-LED screen, which Apple calls ‘Liquid Retina XDR’.
This marks the first time that the iPad Pro is available in a 2TB storage option as well as up to 16GB of RAM. The cellular iPad Pro model now supports 5G connectivity, with the 11-inch iPad Pro retaining its $799 entry point, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is now $100 more expensive, and starts at $1,099.
Per Apple, the M1 processor found in the iPad Pro is up to 1,500x faster than the original 2010 iPad, and up to 50 percent faster than the 2020 iPad Pro.
Apple also stated that the updated Thunderbolt port offers a range of new accessories, and now sports up to 4X faster bandwidth, allowing the iPad Pro to drive the Apple Pro Display XDR at full 6K resolution.
The new iPad Pro also features an upgraded camera system for photography and augmented reality purposes. The front-camera now features a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. For FaceTime calls, the new ultra-wide camera now automatically pans around to keep the person in frame as they move around the room.
The new Liquid Retina XDR display offers a high dynamic range similar to that of the Apple Pro Display XDR, and has around 2500 local dimming zones, enabling a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 1600 nits peak brightness.
Alongside the new iPad Pro, Apple updated the Magic Keyboard accessory, which is available in a new white color option.
The new iPad Pro models can be pre-ordered as of April 30, and will ship in the second half of May.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via 9to5Mac and store.apple.com
The iMac just got the overhaul you’ve been hankering for, and is now available in the many colors you missed from years ago.
On Tuesday, Apple announced its redesigned iMacs, which are now available in the original Apple colors and offer the following nifty specs:
Each iMac features two Thunderbolt ports, Wi-Fi 6, and support for up to a 6K external display. The 8-core iMac configuration offers two additional USB-C ports and also features a 1Gbps Ethernet port in the power adapter.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via The Mac Observer and Apple
A prominent leaked by the handle of “Lovetodream” has hinted that Apple is set to introduce a variety of color options for its updated iMac models at its “Spring Loaded” media event on Tuesday, April 20. Another pundit has indicated that the event will be an Apple Silicon launch.
Per “Lovetodream,” tweeting on Saturday, the account puts together an image of the AR invite’s logo alongside one displaying multiple G3 iMacs. The model in question was well known for being offered to the public in a wide variety of bright colors.
The leaker then followed this up with a second message that they “didn’t say anything” in that first post.
Previously, the tweeter speculated that Apple could introduce an iMac with a much larger screen than the existing 27-inch iMac model, though stopped short of advising on sizes.
Previous rumors have stated that Apple may be looking into providing color options for the new iMac. The models were described to be a blend of the Pro Display XDR and iPad Pro, complete with edge-to-edge displays and colors similar to the iPad Air.
It seems likely that Apple will use the event to introduce new Apple Silicon-based hardware, although it’s unclear if it will continue with the M1 or introduce a new variant. It’s also been speculated that Apple could release computer hardware using chips similar to its M-series, its A-series, or a modified version of the M1 in the iMac. Apple typically uses upgraded versions of A-series chips in its iPad Pro lineup, which is something that Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has speculated on.
Speculation from February had the “M1X” as a 12-core CPU, up from the 8 cores in the M1, as well as increasing the GPU from 8 cores to 16 cores. There were also claims the chip is made using a 5-nanometer process, have 256 execution units versus 128 in the M1, and be able to drive three displays instead of two.
It’s all up in the air right now, but should hopefully make more sense after Tuesday’s media event.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider, Bloomberg, and @lovetodream
If you have a spiffy new M1-based Mac, you can now use Parallels to virtualize Windows on your machine.
Parallels officially released Parallels Desktop 16.5 on Wednesday, complete with native support for Apple Silicon, allowing users to run the Windows 10 ARM Insider Preview on M1 Macs.
The company stated that more than 100,000 M1 Mac users tested the Technical Preview of Parallels Desktop 16.5 running Windows 10 ARM Insider Preview on the machines.
Parallels VP of engineering and support, Nick Dobrovolskiy, said:
“We received enthusiastic feedback about the remarkable performance of both the Technical Preview of Parallels Desktop 16 for M1 Mac and Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview as well as x86 applications and games, including Rocket League, Among Us, Roblox, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Sam & Max Save the World and many others. Testers loved Parallels Desktop’s easy-to-use features and seamless integration of Windows with macOS Big Sur, which increased productivity,” said Dobrovolskiy.
Parallels touted the following bells and whistles of the new version on M1-basd Macs:
Microsoft has yet to officially release a Windows 10 version with ARM support although the ARM Insider preview can be snagged from Microsoft’s website. In the Windows 10 ARM Insider preview, you can then emulate Intel applications as well.
If you’ve had a chance to try