Until September, 2014 was a pretty quiet year for new Apple products. But the drought is over.
After announcing new iPhones and the Apple Watch last month, another media event is being held October 16th at Apple’s Town Hall auditorium on its Cupertino campus. “It’s been way too long,” joked Apple in its invitation to select members of the press. For those itching to see new iPad and Mac hardware, indeed.
While Town Hall is only a fraction of The Flint Center’s size, October 16th’s event shouldn’t be viewed as any less important. iPad sales are stagnant, and Apple’s desktop displays have been needing an upgrade for years. Apple Pay, an entirely new venture for the company, is expected to come out any day now. And then there’s always the chance that Apple still has at least one surprise up its sleeve.
New iPad Air
The sun rises every morning, new iPhones come out in September, and new iPads come out in October. It’s just the way things work.
After numerous part leaks, it’s clear that the second-gen iPad Air will take the stage. The biggest addition will be Touch ID, the authentication linchpin for the potentially very lucrative business that is Apple Pay. And no, you won’t be holding your iPad up awkwardly at the checkout line; Apple Pay will be available in many of your favorite iOS apps for digital purchases.
Beyond Touch ID, there’s nothing really too exciting to add to the Air. Thinness is next to Godliness for Apple, so expect a more tapered design. A faster processor (modified A8) is a given, and hopefully there will be an improved camera. It’s been reported that Apple has developed an anti-flective screen coating, so that could be a plus for poolside readers.
Oh, and a gold color option will likely be offered so you can match your iPhone and future Apple Watch.
The more interesting rumor in the iPad department is the notion of a 12.9-inch iPad ‘Pro’ that’s aimed to be more of a serious desktop replacement. But don’t expect to see such a device until at least early 2015.
New iPad mini?
The future of the iPad mini remains much more uncertain than the Air, especially leading into October 16th’s event. There hasn’t been a real consensus in the rumor mill about whether we’ll actually see a new iPad mini this year, even though Apple ignoring a refresh would immediately signal that the mini’s future is not bright.
The problem is that bigger phones, namely the 6 Plus, make the idea of buying an iPad mini less attractive. If the mini does get updated, it would make sense to add Touch ID, the same gold color option, and faster specs.
Update: Apple itself appears to have leaked not only an iPad Air 2, but an iPad mini 3. Consider Touch ID confirmed.
Retina iMac
It looks like 2014 will be the year the iMac goes Retina. The 27-inch iMac will likely get the upgrade, effectively doubling its current 2560-by-1440 resolution. 5K, not 4K.
Like the Retina MacBook Pro, Apple will probably charge a high premium. But those who are already willing to pay will, of course, jump on it quicker than you can say “Craig Federighi.”
OS X Yosemite
Based on history, the next major iteration of OS X will get a public release date. Speaking of Federighi, the charismatic Apple exec will likely walk through the biggest Yosemite features like he did at WWDC in June. We can only hope for more of his fabulous jokes.
Apple Pay
Internal training documents from Apple Pay partners and other reports suggest that Apple Pay could make its debut in stores as early as this weekend. Apple has said that its mobile payments initiative would be coming sometime in October, so there’s always a chance that all launch partners won’t be on board so early.
Apple Pay settings have been found in the iOS 8.1 beta, so iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners will need the update first. iOS X.1 updates usually come out around October, so 8.1 could be out as soon keynote day.
What else?
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
The elephant in the room is Apple TV, the set-top box that Tim Cook no longer calls a hobby. Will it get stage time this go around? There unfortunately hasn’t been any concrete evidence to support the wish.
The Mac mini, the smallest and most neglected member of the Mac family, could see a refresh tomorrow, but we’re not willing to bet money on it. The same goes for Apple’s ancient Thunderbolt Display, which is practically the modern day equivalent of a CRT monitor.
And what about the venerable iPod, you ask? No idea on that one. Ask the Classic.
