The first big Apple media event of 2016 is finally here.
Months of rumors, speculation and anticipation have been leading up to Apple’s “Let us loop you in” event this morning, at which the company is expected to unveil a new 4-inch iPhone, a new iPad Pro model, and some Apple Watch hardware.
Tim Cook and the rest of the Apple crew are set to take the stage at 10 a.m. Pacific and Cult of Mac will be here to liveblog the festivities. Will there be a “one more thing” at the end to make this a truly unforgettable event? Come follow along with us below:
Tim’s wrapping up with a goodbye to the venue — and to talk up the theater on the spaceship campus.
I’m sure the iPad Pro is better in a lot of ways than a five-year-old laptop, but I don’t know why they keep pushing that.
12.9-inch iPad Pro is also getting a 256GB model. iPad Air 2 price drops down to $399.
Not a lot of lead time on this event. Everything’s either out today or next week.
So the big selling point phrases are … best iPad upgrade ever and ultimate PC replacement. What will it cost? 32 GB for $599, 128GB for $749, 256GB for $899. Orders begin Thursday, shipping on March 31.
iPad Pro, Jr. is coming in Rose Gold along with the usual silver, space gray, and gold.
Apple tossed in a 12MP iSight camera in the back, but it comes with a little bump.
We need to get some engineers into this liveblog to do something about that echo.
There’s also some sweet new dongles for iPad Pro: USB Camera Adapter and SD Card Reader.
There’s a Smart Keyboard designed specifically for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Apple Pencil is also supported. “The greatest accessory Apple has ever made,” says Phil.
The new iPad Pro comes with a Tru Tone display that automatically adjusts to the temperature of the light around you. It could make it the best tablet for mobile photo editing.
Everybody, everywhere, every time, says iPad Pro is great but no desktop replacement. So … I’m not buying this line of reasoning. No way a big percentage of Windows users says, “My computer’s kinda old, so I’m going to buy an iPad Pro.” It’s wishful thinking.
There are 600 million active PCs that are 5 years old. Apple wants to replace them with the iPad Pro.
Because their gear is old, Lewis. So they need a … tablet. Instead of a new laptop or PC.
Two reasons for smaller iPad Pro, according to Schiller:
1) 9.7-inch display wasn’t a random size — it’s a great size for a tablet. They’ve sold more than 200 million of that size so far.
2) They are targeting Windows users. Huh?
Phil Schiller on deck to talk about the iPad Pro. Tim just referred to the old one as a 12.9-inc iPad Pro, so it looks like it really will be called a “9.7-inch iPad Pro.”
And now for the celebrity/executive endorsements of the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.
Who knows about that 50 million active users, Buster. It’s a squishy number. Sounds good but … not clear what it really means.
iOS 9.3’s multi-user feature for education iPads needs to be added to iOS 10 for all users.
What’s an “active user” anyway? Some that opened it up once or twice when they set up their iPhone?
Apple News now has 50 million active users says Joz. The update is adding trending topics and editors pics, plus a few other small features.
And … there’s the customary Android dig. iOS 9 is running on 80 percent of devices; latest version of Google’s mobile OS is on 2 percent. Sorry, Android fans.
Joz is now previewing iOS 9.3 “which is one of the biggest dot updates we’ve ever released.” First feature being shown is NightShift.
Starting price point for iPhone SE is $399 — the most affordable iPhone launch ever. This is the event’s first big surprise.
It looks just like the iPhone 5s, only with matte chamfered edges and an A9 chip inside.
Not everybody loves phablets. So … big surprise … here comes the 4-inch iPhone SE. It’s “the most powerful 4-inch iPhone ever.”
FOLDERS!!!! Apple TV is getting folders. It’s sad how many people clapped for that.
I’m confused by the continuing focus on the luxury market for Apple Watch and the revelation of woven nylon bands. Maybe they look better in person.
Looks like the Apple Store is down while they change those Apple Watch prices and add all that nylon stuff.
Apple Watch is up. First, a lot of numbers!
#1 smartwatch in both sales and customer satisfaction, and bands and stuff.
http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/jeff-williams-researchkit.jpgApple is launching CareKit, a new framework to build apps, to help people who manage medical care.
The new software includes Care Cards that help you keep track of all the tasks you need to do each day, track symptoms, and share the information with friends and family and your physician.
ResearchKit isn’t just for researchers. It’s also helping patients manage their treatment, Williams says. And today they are launching … CareKit, a “framework to build apps that empower people to take a more active role in their care,” Williams says. First one is for Parkinson’s.
20 minutes into the event and zero mention of new products. Don’t think we’ll be getting any surprises.
Just kidding with the sleepy-time jab. It looks like ResearchKit really is a powerful tool for scientists. And it’s really just the beginning.
I think it’s brilliant. We had no idea we’d be hearing about yaks and Autism during this briefing. Apple has thrown us for a … LOOP???
Guys, I cracked it.
Virtually overnight, ResearchKit powered some of the largest health studies in history, Williams says. Studies have tackled diabetes, asthma, HIV, hep C, cancer, Parkinson’s and many more diseases … One year in, ResearchKit is transforming medical research. Much more of this and we’ll need a study on narcolepsy.
Now Jeff Williams is up to talk about Health stuff like ResearchKit. This is such an exciting Apple event….
So Liam’s basically an iPhone executioner, right? What a difference some sinister music would have made to that video montage.
http://www.cultofmac.com/screen-shot-2016-03-21-at-17-11-54/
That’s pretty iPhone 5s in the slide for Reusing Apple gear. Or is it an early shot of the iPhone SE?
99% of Apple’s packaging comes from recycled paper, or sustainably managed forests. In the future all paper will come from recycled paper.
93% of Apple’s facilities now run of renewable energy. Some countries are already at 100%.
Apple brings Lisa Jackson, head of environment, on stage to talk about Apple’s initiative to protect and preserve the environment. First time Lisa has presented at an Apple event.
“We did not expect to be in this position, at odds with our own government [on iPhone security]…. This is an issue that impacts all of us and we will not shrink from this responsibility,” Cook says.
Tim Cook playing up Apple’s 1 billion active devices. We’ve heard this before at Apple’s earnings call.
A couple good mornings from Tim Cook. Though not as enthusiastic as I would expect. Score: 6/10
Be sure to check out our reviews of both the Cinnamon Roll Classic and the Cinnamon Roll Plus after today’s event.
Neither of them has a camera, a Retina display, 3D Touch, or a Home button because they are cinnamon rolls.
But I can confirm that they are also entirely free of headphone jacks, which lines up with some of the rumors I’ve been hearing.
The cinnamon roll is about 4 inches wide, and it contains two full coils. It comes in two varieties: The Cinnamon Roll Classic is exactly what you’d expect, but the Cinnamon Roll Plus has pecans on it.
I have no opinions about Beats 1, but I’m ready to provide tons of insight on this amazing cinnamon roll I’m eating.
The livestream is up. Beats 1 Radio is playing during the pre-event. Must be nice to have your own radio station.
Twitter embeds are all messed up. Lewis promises someone is working to fix it though.
This could be Apple’s last keynote at the old Apple Campus. They’re expected to move into the spaceship early next year.
Apple media waiting to get in pic.twitter.com/2GSkWObsHz
— Matthew Panzarino (@panzer) March 21, 2016
Reporters have been let inside the hallway. Still not into the auditorium yet though.
Inside 1 Infinite Loop. #AppleEvent. This will prob be the last event here. New campus opens in Jan pic.twitter.com/VBCJO1lC8C
— Shara Tibken (@sharatibken) March 21, 2016
We know pretty much everything Apple will announce today, but Joshua Topolsky has a crazy theory that would make today’s event historic.https://twitter.com/joshuatopolsky/status/711951663658102784
Bright turquoise press badges for this event. Could it also signify a new iPhone SE color?
Turquoise pic.twitter.com/rxRkNwXRCd
— Chris Davies (@c_davies) March 21, 2016
Sneak peak of Apple’s new product from Steve Kovach.
Whoa Apple is announcing an umbrella pic.twitter.com/vzfXAsz0BQ
— Steve Kovach (@stevekovach) March 21, 2016
Tech journalists are outside scarfing up some breakfast and chatting before the mad dash happens when Apple opens the doors.
Tech journalists mingling, eating breakfast, and waiting. pic.twitter.com/sKSveJlPfU
— Harry McCracken (@harrymccracken) March 21, 2016
