Apple Event Recap: iMac, AirTags, iPad Pro, More
- Paul Thurrott
- Apr 20, 2021
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113
At a virtual event today, Apple announced new M1-based iMacs and iPad Pros, a new Apple TV 4K, the long-awaited AirTag, and more.
So let’s start with the biggest news first and move on from there.
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iMac 24-inch (M1)
Apple introduced its first Apple Silicon-based iMac, but it ships with the same M1 chip it unveiled last year and not a next-generation M1X or M2 chip as many expected. But it’s available in seven stunning colors, which is kind of fun, and it has a 24-inch 4.5K Retina Display, and not a 21.5-inch display like the previous entry-level iMac. The iMac 24-inch starts at $1299 will be available to order starting April 30 and it will ship to customers starting in the second half of May.
iPad Pro (M1)
The new iPad Pro 11 and 12.9 share the same form factors as their predecessors, but they’re now based on the M1 chipset and not the mobile-focused Ax-series chipset, as before. Both feature optional 5G networking, but the 12.9-inch version is the better upgrade, with its new Liquid Retina XDR display. And check this one, Surface fans: Both new iPad Pros support Thunderbolt. There’s also a new white version of the Magic Keyboard. The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999 but the 12.9-inch version jumps to $1099 and up. Both will be available to order starting April 30 and will ship to customers starting in the second half of May.
AirTag
We’ve been waiting for Apple’s Tile ripoff for over two years, but it’s finally here. The AirTag costs $29, but you can buy a pack of five for $99. “Whether attached to a handbag, keys, backpack, or other items, AirTag taps into the vast, global Find My network and can help locate a lost item, all while keeping location data private and anonymous with end-to-end encryption,” Apple notes. AirTag will be available beginning Friday, April 30.
Apple TV 4K
Speaking of something we’ve been waiting years for, Apple also finally revved the Apple TV 4K with a new version featuring a faster A12 processor and what looks like a significantly better Siri remote with a power button and a dial for scrolling through content. The new Apple TV 4K will be available for order starting April 30 at $179 for a version with 64 GB of storage, and it will ship in the second half of May.
iPhone 12 in purple
Apple isn’t changing the iPhone 12, but it is offering the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini in a new purple color if you’re so inclined. Prices remain the same and the purple versions will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, April 23, with availability beginning Friday, April 30.
Apple Podcasts subscriptions
The Apple Podcasts app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac is getting a major upgrade with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, a way for customers to discover and pay for ad-free podcasts that will go live starting in May. (Why didn’t they call it Apple Podcasts+, one wonders?)
Apple Card Family
Apple is expanding its credit card offerings with Apple Card Family, a way for people to share their Apple Card, track purchases, manage spending, and build credit together. Starting in May in the U.S. only, Apple Card Family will let two people co-own an Apple Card, and share and merge their credit lines while building credit together equally. And it will let parents share Apple Card with their children 13 and older, with optional spending limits and controls, and with a single monthly bill.
Conversation 113 comments
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yoshi
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I wish Tim Cook broke into the lab and stole those colors for the MacBook Air.</p>
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jdawgnoonan
Log in to Reply<p>Nice large white bezels on that iMac. </p>
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ngc224
Log in to Reply<p>As a long-suffering Microsoft fan, Apple is flat-out impressive. Engineering, design, marketing – Apple has it all.</p><p><br></p><p>I’m about to give up on Microsoft.</p><p><br></p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623936">In reply to ngc224:</a></em></blockquote><p>The grass isn't always greener on the other side.</p><p><br></p><p>The neighborhood across the street may look nice, but the HOA could be a real pain.</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623936">In reply to ngc224:</a></em></blockquote><p>Lol. You like that stuff? The iMac design is a major step backwards. You can tell John Ivey is gone. And what's up with an emoji on the tracker? It's like they are getting lost in their design philosophy. Getting cliche.</p>
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jcbeckman
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623952">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>The emoji was an example of the free engraving. You can have a mix of emojis, text, and numbers (originally I thought it was graphics but nope).</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623966">In reply to jcbeckman:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>K. That's cool then- thx. Letting you pick a graphic of your choice is a nice feature. </p>
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macguy59
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623991">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Or you can choose to have no engraving (what I will do)</p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623952">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p><em>And what's up with an emoji on the tracker?</em></p><p><br></p><p>That Unicode engraving capability is going to earn them millions on those air tags.</p><p><br></p><p>Like them or not, Apple knows how to print money. I betchya Microsoft would love to be as successful with their hardware. </p>
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irfaanwahid
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623936">In reply to ngc224:</a></em></blockquote><p>I hear you. </p><p>If it wasn't for my coding skills sitting on Microsoft stack.. I think I was ready to move to Apple side.</p><p><br></p><p>Let's see</p><p>Apple devices I own:</p><p>-iPhone 12 Pro Max</p><p>-Apple Watch 4</p><p>-AirPods</p><p>-AirPods Pro</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft devices I own:</p><p>-Surface Pro 4</p><p>-Xbox One</p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623959">In reply to irfaanwahid:</a></em></blockquote><p><em>If it wasn't for my coding skills sitting on Microsoft stack.. I think I was ready to move to Apple side.</em></p><p><br></p><p>It will be interesting to see how the Windows on ARM story continues to unfold. </p><p><br></p><p>I was using my Mac with a Parallels Windows 10 VM for a while to do some .NET C# development. </p><p><br></p><p>But I ended up transitioning away from desktop apps into web dev. </p>
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interloper
Log in to Reply<p>What on earth were they thinking with those white bezels? Absolutely horrendous.</p>
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bob_shutts
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#623937"><em>In reply to Interloper:</em></a><em>They sure beat the monster one inch bezels on my 27” model. </em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623937">In reply to Interloper:</a></em></blockquote><p>First thing I thought when I saw them. They look like a cheaper version of an iMac.</p><p><br></p>
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prebengh
Log in to Reply<p>Just a correction, the 11” iPad Pro starts at $799, and Apple TV is $179 for the 32 GB version and $199 for the 64 GB version.</p><p>And it seems like the Podcast subscription is a subscription to individual podcasts, and not like a collection of different podcasts. So it more like a way to pay for individual podcasts (which in my view makes it less compelling).</p>
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bart
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The Apple Card Family is clever. This way you can <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">get that new spec'd out iPad Pro or iMac for your kid to pay off the debt when they're grown up :)</span></p>
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corbey
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The new 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, not $999.</p><p><br></p><p>Also, the new Apple TV remote is supposed to be compatible with older units and available by itself for around $60.</p>
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anthonye1778
Log in to Reply<p>Some interesting product launches for sure. But there sits that gorgeous-looking iMac… still without any sort of touch interface. Sinofsky is right. It's a gigantic iPad without touch. It's frankly incredible NOT to have touch at this point, especially since the device is near-perfect for such a capability. I was almost expecting them to include pencil capabilities as a sort of half-measure, which still would have been phenomenal. But alas…</p><p><br></p><p>Oh well, the new Apple TV 4K is interesting as are the AirTags. Not in the market for a new iPad Pro but the Mini-LED display on the larger one looks absolutely sick for content creators.</p>
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fishnet37222
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623943">In reply to AnthonyE1778:</a></em></blockquote><p>I have never once been inclined to interact with a PC using a touchscreen, even if it had one. My work laptop has a touchscreen, and one of the first things I did was disable the touch functionality.</p>
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jaredthegeek
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623974">In reply to fishnet37222:</a></em></blockquote><p>I do on my laptop and strangely when I had an iMac on my desk I did reach up to poke at it once. I have never done that when my laptop was docked to a monitor.</p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623974">In reply to fishnet37222:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yikes. Keep living in the 80's man. Once our team started with touchscreens they keep taping non touchscreen devices. It is the most natural way to interact with the screen. Turned it off – Lol! Its massively nice to work with.</p>
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rob_segal
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623943">In reply to AnthonyE1778:</a></em></blockquote><p>I imagine making macOS touch-optimized is low on their priority list considering they have iPadOS. Adding a touchscreen is simple. Making macOS touch-friendly while keeping it a great mouse and keyboard experience is a lot tougher and may not fit into their vision of what their desktop experience should be.</p>
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bleeman
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623943">In reply to AnthonyE1778:</a></em></blockquote><p>That's one of the reasons I love my Surface Studio 2 as my All-In-One. Not to mention the 28" screen. Now if it could only run Microsoft Flight Simulator decently, I'd be in heaven!</p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<p>Where are new iPad, iPad Mini and iPads with user-replaceable, world-wide standardised batteries?</p>
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anthonye1778
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623944">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>what?</p>
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hbko
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623944">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>They are replaceable, if your iPad has troubles you can get it swapped/serviced at the nearest Apple Store.</p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623979">In reply to hbko:</a></em></blockquote><p>Can I open my iPad within a minute and without risking to break the display? No. Therefore, I have to delete my data to protect them, go to the Apple store (currently impossible due to Corona), wait a couple of days while I cannot use my iPad, go to the Apple store again, pray that I get back my property instead of of some other user's device (Apple reserves the "right" to swap devices) and pay the excessive amount of €120 for ca. €15 of true value.</p><p>For comparison: changing the battery of my mouse takes 1 minute. This is what I call replaceable.</p>
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Sir_Timbit
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623944">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>Apple is never, ever going to do these things. </p>
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macguy59
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#623993"><em>In reply to Sir_Timbit:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Name me a current tablet where this is possible ?</p>
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Sir_Timbit
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624050">In reply to macguy59:</a></em></blockquote><p>Oh, very likely none, but my comment wasn’t intended as a dig against the iPad. </p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyThe iPad will recover from this slight. It’s OK. 🙂
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624147">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p>I may be a voice in the wilderness but matters become more interesting when the EU wakes up to the issue, the Greens take over Germany or right to repair initiatives in the USA succeed:)</p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624050">In reply to macguy59:</a></em></blockquote><p>Simply speaking, none. (A few years ago, some Dell tablets had replaceable batteries.) Currently, it is easier to find smartphones with replaceable batteries: Fairphones. However, why do you ask? That every manufacturer makes the same mistake is not any justification for Apple making this mistake.</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyIn your imagination. 🙂
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nbplopes
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623944">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>The battery is replaceable.</p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623944">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p><em>Where are new iPad, iPad Mini and iPads with user-replaceable, world-wide standardised batt</em></p><p><br></p><p>Where are *any* tablets that do this? A Surface Go, maybe? </p><p><br></p><p>Also, this sounds horrible. I’d specifically avoid any tablet that took regular batteries. </p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624065">In reply to curtisspendlove:</a></em></blockquote><p>"this sounds horrible. I’d specifically avoid any tablet that took regular batteries."</p><p>You do not join the choir of those reading "AAAA batteries" when instead I mean a new battery standard for mobile devices, do you?</p><p>Standardisation of batteries for mobile devices should be very much easier than standardisation of eletronic parts or protocols. Industry just needs to agree, or politics or ISO needs to declare, a set of standard sizes, places of connections, voltage and the requirement that each declared capacity in Wh is provided for a period of warranty, such as at least 3 years.</p><p>This would allow competition between battery manufacturers so consumers could buy the best batteries with large capacity, reliability and long life from one manufacturer and use them in a device of another manufacturer. You call this horrible – I call this highly desirable.</p>
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ianbetteridge
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623944">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>Why is user-replaceable preferable to replaceable by a qualified technician? Old parts the have been replaced by users are much more likely to end up being disposed of unsafely, sometimes in domestic waste landfill or incineration. Companies, on the other hand, have to follow local e-waste disposal laws which means they are more likely to be disposed of safely. </p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624206">In reply to ianbetteridge:</a></em></blockquote><p>Advanced repair can be best done by a qualified technician but I do not speak of this exception. I speak of the frequent cases. The most frequent hardware service is battery replacement. Apple / iPad: it costs ca. €120 in Germany. Electronic device with a user-replaceable, non-standard battery: the user pays €15 ~ €60 depending on the battery and the device manufacturer's greed if not as outrageous as Apple's greed. Electronic device with a user-replaceable, standard battery: the user pays €1 ~ €35 depending on the battery.</p><p>Having to consult a technician wastes time. Depending on the product, place of living etc., it can be hours or days, during which one cannot use one's device. User-replaceable battery means that the user buys the replacement battery in time and then needs about 1 minute to replace it. The user can always continue to use his device (and continue earning any money with it), except for 1 minute. Incomparably better! (Not to mention side effects on data management and security if having to give a device to a technician.)</p><p>See also my other reply.</p>
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michael_babiuk
Log in to Reply<p>The ability to use an iPhone to calibrate a person's HDTV display using the new Apple TV 4k is rather neat. </p><p><br></p><p>The redesign 24" iMac with the improved webcam iSight camera module – coupled to the improved mics and sound system – would make for a compelling ZOOM or virtual meeting desktop computer. </p><p><br></p><p>I suspect that a hypothetical "iMac Pro" with an upgraded M2 chipset and rumored larger display (perhaps without the chin bezels) will wait until the fall or September when the new MacBook Pro laptops are introduced. Waiting until then could be a result of "chip supply shortages" – even Apple is not immune from them it would seem. At any rate, I will wait to upgrade my desktop system if a new "iMac Pro" is introduced. (But I was sure hoping that I didn't have to wait and that I could have purchase one of those hypothetical beasts in a few weeks.)</p>
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Saarek
Log in to Reply<p>I've been waiting for them to replace the Apple TV, definitely going to be ordering that bad boy.</p><p><br></p><p>But the iMac…… I'd planned on buying one of these iMacs, but I have to say I'm massively underwhelmed. £1649 for the model with 512GB SSD and a paltry 8GB of Ram and last years entry level chip.</p><p><br></p><p>Real nasty taste in the mouth with the £200 jump from the base model which they deliberately neutered to try and force people into buying the middle model. There should be no base model, it should just start at the £1249 with the 256GB SSD and all ports and go from there.</p>
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Greg Green
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623955">In reply to Saarek:</a></em></blockquote><p>For regular use the ram is not a problem. The M1 chip apparently uses it quite differently and for those working with the Mac mini or MacBook Air they’ve had no problems with regular workloads including video and audio editing.</p>
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Saarek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623987">In reply to Greg Green:</a></em></blockquote><p>I appreciate that, I own a MacBook Air M1 with just the 8GB of Ram so know first hand just how good it is.</p><p><br></p><p>As an entry level point I have no issue with it being 8GB, but, assuming they charge £200 to up the Ram to 16GB, which is likely, that means that I'd be paying £600 more over the base model for a 256GB bigger SSD and 8GB more of Ram (yes, I know you also get one whole core more on the GPU and some ports that should not have been stripped out I the first place).</p><p><br></p><p>I just don't see the value in it. The base model simply should not exist.</p>
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nbplopes
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623955">In reply to Saarek:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I was expecting this chip on entry level iMacs… but was not expecting the 8GB for starters. On another note … what’s with that chin? I was expecting just sheet of glass with the things on the back. Instead, they seamed to have put almost the entire components in the chin …</p><p><br></p><p>I’ll pass this one … waiting for the 29.5” model or so.</p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623955">In reply to Saarek:</a></em></blockquote><p><em>There should be no base model, it should just start at the £1249 with the 256GB SSD and all ports and go from there.</em></p><p><br></p><p>Hi, have you met Apple?</p><p><br></p><p>I think we will see something about the more powerful line of iMacs and MacBook Pros in the WWDC keynote. </p><p><br></p><p>Expect them to be even more expensive than the ones released today. </p>
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Saarek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624064">In reply to curtisspendlove:</a></em></blockquote><p>I have, our entire household is Apple based. </p><p><br></p><p>They’ve released what would in effect be the old education style model as the new base model. It’s BS.</p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624070">In reply to Saarek:</a></em></blockquote><p>It’s the current base model. They are still rolling the M1 line out. So who knows what will happen in the next couple of years. </p><p><br></p><p>Those “base models” mostly exist for organizations doing mass purchases. </p><p><br></p><p>Most individuals buy at least the second model up. </p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623947">In reply to Dan:</a></em></blockquote><p>Countless product categories have user-replaceable, standardised batteries: desktop mainboards, torches etc. Scews, lightbulbs etc. are standardised. However, batteries of mobile devices are specfically designed to restrict life span to 1/4 of what otherwise hardware would survive and to waste earth's ressources and energy for the sake of making the self-declared leader of environmental protection richer at the expense of us endusers. Asking who is asking for replaceable, standardised batteries is singing Apple's PR, which wants to make the world believe that average expense per year and honest protection of the environment would be immaterial.</p>
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hbko
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623957">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>This feels like a very outdated concept. It’s not the screws and user replaceable battery that instantly makes it environmentally friendly. </p><p><br></p><p>The internals of any Apple device are serviceable, also Apple goes to great lengths to recycle materials and parts. They even resell refurbished devices for a “second life” at a lower cost. So yes, they are standard and can be repaired – at the Apple Store or your local reseller.</p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623983">In reply to hbko:</a></em></blockquote><p>A proprietary Apple "standard" per device version.</p><p>I get the recycle part of the tale. They speak of aluminium. What about the other elements? Adhesive and difficulty to open intentionally create short product life of many mobile devices.</p>
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ianbetteridge
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623997">In reply to RobertJasiek:</a></em></blockquote><p>The model that you're using is a bit of an over-simplification of the environmental picture of devices. </p><p>First, it's always worth taking a whole-lifecycle approach to environmental impact. Being able to replace a standard battery is no use if the old battery can't be safely disposed of. A serviceable design is no use if that design costs more energy to manufacture (70% of all the power – and hence carbon emissions – for any computer is consumed in making it, not using it). </p><p>It's also worth drawing the distinction between parts which are replaceable, and parts which are user replaceable. The former is generally preferable to the latter: all companies, including Apple, are subject to e-waste disposal laws which individuals are not. A battery that can be taken out by an end user is more likely to end up as hazardous e-waste in landfill than one replaced by a company like Dell or Apple. </p><p>In terms of recycling materials other than aluminium, products returned to Apple for recycling also yield tungsten, copper, steel and rare earth magnets. </p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624203">In reply to ianbetteridge:</a></em></blockquote><p>Ok, let's dig deeper into it. Thanks for details of further materials recycled by Apple. Environmental aspects include conditions of mining of ressources, energy of production, energy of use, disposal etc.</p><p>My experience may be prejudiced as a German. Here, disposing batteries is common sense, many supermarkets and every electronics market collects batteries, and sellers of electronics or batteries and waste collecting places accept batteries and electronics as sorted garbage. It is, of course, possible that recycling (at least of batteries and electronics) is not taken at least as seriously in all countries. Needless to say, Germans must also abide e-waste disposal laws, but they are easy to follow because there are enough places of correct disposal.</p><p>In Germany, it makes comparatively little difference who (waste collectors or electronics manufacturers) recycles if only they are serious about it. Therefore, a distinction between manufacturer-replaceable and user-replaceable is of little importance as to the quality of later recycling. The key related aspect is that user-replaceable (especially batteries) allows an on average much longer lifespan than manufacturer-replaceable, see below. Typical examples: compare smartphones to torches. Smartphones are very much more expensive but have a comparably short lifespan because their batteries are (if at all) only manufacturer-replaceable – torches are cheap but have a long lifespan because their batteries are user-replaceable.</p><p>"A serviceable design is no use if that design costs more energy to manufacture": This is wrong also for the case of a serviceable design costing more energy to manufacture because it would not be much more just be making a device repairable and battery-replaceable. The most relevant factor here is the lifespan of a device. By making it reliable, repairable and battery-replaceable, the expected average (first hand plus second hand) lifespan of an electronic device is multiplied by 2 to 4, if not more. This means that 1/2 to 1/4 of devices must be built new and later (by consuming more energy) recycled.</p><p>Environment is one important aspect. Expense per device per year is the other major aspect for many of us. Doubled lifespan means half the expense for new devices of the same type etc.! It is as simple as that. Oh, wait, excessive (Apple-like!) servicing costs for repair or battery replacement shorten a device's average lifespan greatly and motivate too many to buy new instead, which, you know, is bad for the environment.</p>
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vladimir
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>they did not say what happens when the ipad's thunderbolt port is connected to an external monitor. Interestingly, the new ipad has 16gb of ram, the previous one had 4. It could run macos without any problem. When that is going to happen, it will be a game changer for me</p>
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mattbg
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623963">In reply to Vladimir:</a></em></blockquote><p>The new iPad Pro seems to have two RAM options, and they are tied to the storage options. 128-512GB have 8GB RAM and 1TB-2TB have 16GB RAM.</p>
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jcbeckman
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I believe it’s a 4-pack of AirTags for $99, not 5. That’s not terrible, but then Apple wants $39 for a leather key ring holder? I’ll go with the Belgian $13 one, thanks.</p><p><br></p><p>And if the iPad Pro uses an M1 chip, you’d think they could update iPadOS to run M1 Mac apps. I was disappointed they didn’t follow up with that. Seems like Rosetta 2 should work as well.</p>
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RobertJasiek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623961">In reply to Dan:</a></em></blockquote><p>Who said that A-standard would be appropriate for mobile computers? It requires a NEW standard for thin devices with long battery life, of course! Currently, batteries have all sorts of weird shapes but standardised shapes enable more reliable batteries (they cannot bend easily) with longer battery duration (because regular shape does not waste space inside).</p>
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matsan
Log in to Reply<p>Phew – I was afraid I’d have to buy an Intel 27” iMac right away but it seems like they will be around for some time, guess until parallels get their virtualization working with x86 which is a deal breaker for me. </p>
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ivarh
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623968">In reply to matsan:</a></em></blockquote><p>I don't think they will start emulating an x86 CPU. I remember soft PC from the PowerPC mac days and it was not a speedy thing. The reason rosetta is so fast is that its emulating x86 for macos. This means that as soon as the app calls an API call it will be handled by native arm code and not emulated x86 code. Trying to run Windows under rosetta will be a lot slower since the OS itself has to be running on an emulated x86 and not using an ARM version of the windows system. This is probably why the ARM version of Windows runs x86 apps pretty well since once an emulated app calls a windows API it can be executed by the underlying ARM windows routines. </p>
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garrygbain
Log in to Reply<p>Isn't the new MAC a dead ringer for a Surface Studio…. Apple copying MS again, catch up Apple.</p>
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prebengh
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623969">In reply to garrygbain:</a></em></blockquote><p>As far as I know Apple had an iMac long before Microsoft released the Studio. </p>
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mikegalos
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623969">In reply to garrygbain:</a></em></blockquote><p>Without the Surface Studio's functionality</p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to Reply?
There’s a pretty clear evolution in iPad designs, and this one visually resembles the iPhone 12 and iPad Air/iPad Pro lineups. I think it looks nice.
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ken10
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623969">In reply to garrygbain:</a></em></blockquote><p>It does have a lot of the design elements of the Studio, but I would not say it's copying, as the early iPhones had similar designs. There is only so many "versions" of square and rounded you can have in general. However, I fully expect the silicon inside the new iMac to significantly provide a better experience than the unreliable performance of the Studio. </p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624029">In reply to ken10:</a></em></blockquote><p>We have surface studios throughout our company and they are super reliable. And you are right its not copying – no touchscreen, no ability fully adjust the screen to the same degree. If it was meant to be a copy it was very poorly done. </p>
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nbplopes
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623969">In reply to garrygbain:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>No. Its stealing again. “No one” is buying Surface Studios :)</p>
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will
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Hardware is no longer an issue with the iPad Pro, it is the software. iPadOS needs to somehow break into a full desktop replacement. </p><p><br></p><p>Maybe they will virtualize macOS so when docked it is macOS and when portable it is iPadOS…or something like it</p>
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jm2016
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623970">In reply to will:</a></em></blockquote><p>I don't think the M1 in the iPads Pro is necessarily the start of full OS convergence, but the idea of virtualization is interesting. </p><p><br></p><p>Adding M1 to the iPads is more about building scale in the new chips (a margin play) as they get ready to roll out the next wave of Mx chips. It wouldn't surprise me if this time next year, the M1 is moved down to the iPad Air as well.</p><p><br></p><p>A series in iPhone and lower end iPads, M series in Macs, iPads Pro really gives them 2 broad chip ranges at a decent scale. </p><p><br></p><p>If they can fit an M1 in an iPhone, that would be interesting.</p>
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nanovak
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I just want the new Apple TV remote. Don't need the new box … just the remote. :-)</p>
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matsan
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623976">In reply to nanovak:</a></em></blockquote><p>Just $60 away – <a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJFM3LL/A/siri-remote" target="_blank">https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MJFM3LL/A/siri-remote</a></p>
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cavalier_eternal
Log in to Reply<p>The new iMac is probably the best example of why Apple is moving on from Intel. There is no way they could have made that with an Intel chip and maintained performance. It will be interesting to see what they do with the designs of their other systems as Apple Silicon progresses. </p>
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scovious
Log in to Reply<p>I'd be curious of the GPU performance on the iMac, if there's anything beyond what's on the SOC at all. Any idea if there is anything user upgradable on it, like the RAM or the SSD?</p><p><br></p><p>I also wonder why Apple won't make a flush back on the iPad Pro, does Apple think people don't put iPads down flat on a table? They all wobble pretty hard with that camera bump. iPads could definitely use extra battery life, so that seems like a bad design choice in my opinion. </p><p><br></p><p>I definitely like the Thunderbolt and USB 4 addition, I wouldn't invest in any tech without that.</p>
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Jeffsters
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623981">In reply to scovious:</a></em></blockquote><p>Most have a case so, as has been the case, the bump is non-issue.</p>
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anoldamigauser
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Looks like they borrowed the wheel for the TV remote from the old <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA" target="_blank">Macbook Wheel</a></p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyI assume this dates back to the iPod. 🙂
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innitrichie
Log in to Reply<p>The Hermes Airtag key ring looks a steal at $299</p><p>I'll also need the Hermes Airtag Luggage Tag for $399</p><p><br></p><p>Great solutions to an age old problem.</p>
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nbplopes
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623986">In reply to innitrichie:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Personally I will go with the $10 Belkin option also on the site. Or even cheaper in some china shop.</p><p><br></p><p>PS: Hermes stuff always have been outrageously, stupidly and humanly offensive expensive. Check the €2.200 Cleophee Hat or the €500 caps. Its as ridiculous as far as some rich people can go. </p><p><br></p><p>Someone people call it Prestige. But the origin of that word is actually quite contrary to the common thought. It used to mean: deceit, imposture, illusion. A interpretation more accurate in my opinion. But hey, don’t see anything wrong Hermes trying to bank on people with that kind of mentality, there is a market for that. Brand.</p>
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crunchyfrog
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#623986"><em>In reply to innitrichie:</em></a><em> Lest we forget the $10,000 Series 1 Apple Watch. Who's toting that around now…</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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Truffles
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624151">In reply to crunchyfrog:</a></em></blockquote><p>The people who can afford that kind of thing wouldn't even remember the price. It's probably sitting, forgotten, in the back of a draw somewhere.</p>
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djross95
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Much of this stuff is fluff, and pointless fluff at that (purple iPhones?), but MS better pay attention to the new iMacs. Anyone buying an all-in-one PC after this announcement has to have their head examined. When Big Sur gets v. 14.5, and 15 later this year, Windows 10 will look positively prehistoric. And "rounded corners" in Sun Valley won't be enough to stem the tide–Microsoft better have their act together and not just do a "barely good enough" upgrade. </p>
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VancouverNinja
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#623989">In reply to djross95:</a></em></blockquote><p>? Those iMacs will never find a home in our company. And who's up for buying one with macOS vs Windows 10? Oh yeah still pitifully no touchscreen. Sorry but Microsoft has nothing to worry about with the rainbow line up from Apple. </p>
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retcable
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624034">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>Sitting at my desk with an iMac on it and a perfectly fine expanded keyboard and Magic Touchpad on the keyboard tray under the desktop, I feel absolultely NO need to raise my arm/s and touch the screen to manipulate something on-screen. It's just not necessary. </p><p><br></p><p>Plus, the thought of having to "Windex" my computer screen every little bit to remove smears, smudges, and fingerprints is total anathema to me. If someone wants to do that, fine & dandy, more power to them, and there are plenty of touchscreen Windows machines available, and maybe Apple should make one as well for that market, but for me it would be totally unused.</p>
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ianbetteridge
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624034">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>Touchscreens on laptops I can see the point of. Touchscreens on desktops? Nope. </p>
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jaredthegeek
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>11 inch iPad Pro with 5G is quite a tempting machine. I really like having integrated cellular in my devices and miss it when I don't have it. An iPad and use all MS services since I can set defaults is a very compelling device to carry around all the time for the work I do with it. </p>
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ronv42
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Any one up for the $450 luggage tag?</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MX8A2AM/A/airtag-herm%C3%A8s-luggage-tag" target="_blank">AirTag Hermès Fauve Barenia Luggage Tag – Apple</a></p>
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akcanuck
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624010">In reply to RonV42:</a></em></blockquote><p>I'm sure Rene Ritchie will be buying one.</p>
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jm2016
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I think this is sets the stage for an M1 iMac Pro. This looks similar to first wave of M1 Macs – the low end/middle of the range. I think this will lead to a line of iMac Pro models with larger screens, and beefier specs. </p><p><br></p><p>Time will tell, but maybe this will make consumer/pro models more distinct. Like with the M1 MacBooks – if you're at the low end or middle of the intel iMac spectrum, this looks like a good upgrade.</p>
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will
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624014">In reply to jm2016:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Not 100% sure on this as they discontinued the iMac Pro line and yet they still have the intel iMac line as well as the M1 iMac. </p><p><br></p><p>They are however missing the space grey color so maybe there is something more up the Pro side later this year as the MacBook Pro 16 and Mac Pro are what's left as of now.</p>
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nbplopes
Log in to Reply<p>What’s with that chin in the iMac? Jezzz</p>
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ianbetteridge
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624035">In reply to nbplopes:</a></em></blockquote><p>That chin is where literally the entire computer lives. </p>
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bettyblue
Log in to Reply<p>A home run by Apple. Air tags and new Apple TV will be purchased.</p>
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macguy59
Log in to Reply<p>The 2 items I was waiting for are finally here (Mini-LED iPad Pro and Airtags) The new ATV remote is a nice bonus. Hard pass on the iMac . . . now if they do a 32" version, I'm in</p>
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michael_babiuk
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#624049"><em>In reply to macguy59:</em></a><em> I was also hoping for an :"M2 32" iMac Pro" type desktop computer. However, I suspect we will have to wait until the M2 chip arrives in the rumored MacBook Pro refresh later in the year. I also suspect that such an "iMac Pro" may have to wait until 2022. Then again we may never see it since that type of computer would best be served by the rumored MX based Mac Pro device.</em></blockquote><blockquote><em>At any rate, I do like the new iMac (in green – Michigan State University colors -grin) and it would make for a nice relatively inexpensive desktop platform to host or participate in ZOOM or virtual meetings.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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bkkcanuck
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624049">In reply to macguy59:</a></em></blockquote><p>I am hoping they are just clearing the schedule of items they don't want to talk about during WWDC… and some non-entry machines starting being announced there. </p>
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Truffles
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624207">In reply to bkkcanuck:</a></em></blockquote><p>That's also my guess. I've pretty much decided to cross-over to an iMac 27" equivalent when the new models come out this year.</p>
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curtisspendlove
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624272">In reply to Truffles:</a></em></blockquote><p>I’m really impressed with these new iMacs but I already have three monitors on my desk. :(</p><p><br></p><p>I guess I could give one to one of the older kids, but I dunno. I’m still kinda holding out for a “Pro” Mac Mini or this “mini” Mac Pro that is rumored. </p>
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justme
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Am I the only one that sees AirTags as a well-meaning but a potentially bad idea? Might be my latent cynicism, but all I can see are potential misuses of such tags. Yes, you can Find My with your phones these days, but that can be turned off.</p>
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wright_is
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624080">In reply to JustMe:</a></em></blockquote><p>Listening to the details, it sounds like, if it is being tracked, it beeps. So abuse will be harder if "you" suddenly start beeping…</p>
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justme
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624085">In reply to wright_is:</a></em></blockquote><p>Hadnt heard about the beeping. That certainly helps if thats how it works. Thank you!</p>
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retcable
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624080">In reply to JustMe:</a></em></blockquote><p>Using AirTag and the U1 chip in your iPhone, the FindMy feature can take you directly to the item you are looking for, tell you how many feet away it is, which I don't think Tile can do. It can tell you exactly how far away you are from what you are searching for, which is a great perk, rather than just telling you that your item is somewhere in your house or within a 100-yard radius. </p>
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Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyI guess just don’t buy one if you’re worried about it.
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crunchyfrog
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#624080"><em>In reply to JustMe:</em></a><em> I just hope Apple's Tags work better than Tile. Tile tags have failed me every time I needed to find something that had a tag on it.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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GT Tecolotecreek
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624145">In reply to crunchyfrog:</a></em></blockquote><p>I had similar results with TrackR, another TIle competitor. Just didn't work very well. </p>
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igor engelen
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#624080"><em>In reply to JustMe:</em></a><em>I can't remember the details but they implemented / are implementing something in ios to avoid for instance stalking.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>
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ianbetteridge
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624080">In reply to JustMe:</a></em></blockquote><p>You're right to question, because there's all kinds of stalking scenarios which a product like this *could* enable. Apple seems, so far, to have thought this through though. If your iPhone detects an AirTag which doesn't belong to you but consistently moves with you (i.e. it's been planted on you) it will give you an alert about it. If you don't have an iPhone, after a set amount of time away from its owner's phone, the tag starts beeping – so if someone is trying to track you and you don't have an IPhone, you'll find out after a couple of days. Also, if you find a tag, you can identify it's owners contact details (if they have opted in to share them) with any NFC-enabled device, including an Android phone. </p>
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simont
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I am surprised there was nothing said about IOS 14.5 as the privacy options are going to cause head aches for a lot of companies.</p>
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MTrimmer
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I find the iMac design unappealing. The colors are unique, but I spend little time looking at the back of my computer. And when I look at the front, I see this enormous chin that reminds me of Sylvester Stallone staring at me all day long where there should be more screen. No thanks, not interested.</p>
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spiderman2
Log in to Reply<p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">- An all in one pc with an external power brick</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">- A 2014 air tag </span>st1.bgr.in/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/nokia-treasure-tag.jpg</p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">- An ipad PROOO that can replace a pc like this </span>www.zdnet.com/a/hub/i/r/2018/11/12/96dd4e8f-e8b5-463f-8ff3-8da444279f06/resize/1200xauto/fbbb083d78cb385da61e0a712bc762fd/apple-ipad-pro-2018-1.jpg</p>
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crunchyfrog
Log in to Reply<p>I thought this was a great launch and had more stuff than I had expected come out. The AirTag's are interesting and I hope the AppleTV remote can be purchased for the previous gen devices, although I am sure it can be. The changes in AppleCard are also interesting and I'll be curious to see the details when it's launched.</p>
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ianbetteridge
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624148">In reply to crunchyfrog:</a></em></blockquote><p>The good news is you can indeed purchase the remote separately. The bad news is that it's expensive. </p>
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crunchyfrog
Log in to Reply<p>Seriously, a purple iPhone 12? Not to nitpick but that does not look like purple to me, more like lavender…</p>
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bkkcanuck
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624154">In reply to crunchyfrog:</a></em></blockquote><p>For most men when it comes down to colours…. there is actually a very small colour palette : Black, Grey, Blue, Black, Brown, Green, Purple, Red, Yellow, Orange, and White…. anything else is really just a fancy one of the others…. /s</p><p><br></p>
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Truffles
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#624174">In reply to bkkcanuck:</a></em></blockquote><p>Having just painted my house, I can confirm that the shade of white chosen for the ceiling is not different to the shade of white chosen for the walls which is not different to the shade of white chosen for the skirting boards. However, I can confirm that the three partially used tins of white paint do take up a very real amount of space in my garage.</p>
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red.radar
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Can't wait for the dog collars with airtags</p><p><br></p>