| Cult of Mac

Apple working on iPad-like smart home display for 2024

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iPad Pro 2022 Back View
Apple has an iPad-like smart home controller in the works
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s recently announced HomePod 2 packs some impressive smart home capabilities. But that’s not the only product the company is working on.

Apple is reportedly working on several smart home devices, including a smart display. The low-end iPad-like device can control thermostats, lights and do FaceTime calls.

Future iPads could get big boost from M-series Mac processor

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An iPad with an M-series chip could happen in 2022..
iPads could be so much faster running Apple M-series Mac processors.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple could be preparing to dramatically improve the performance of its iPads. The company reportedly will start building its tablets with the same M-series chips that go into the company’s laptops and desktops.

These will be produced by Apple’s chip maker TSMC, which is moving ahead with developing 3nm processors. Its first production units will reportedly be M-series chips for Macs. And these processors will also allegedly be used in future iPad models.

Huge Mac sales drive record-breaking earnings for Apple

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Apple Q4 2020 earnings: Mac sales (and services) drove revenues to record highs last quarter.
Mac sales (and services) drive Apple revenues to record highs once again.
Photo: Rachel Moenning/Unsplash CC

Apple pulled in more revenue last quarter than in any previous July-through-September period, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Growth came from sales of Mac and iPad, as well as revenue from services.

But iPhone revenue was down dramatically because of the delayed release of the iPhone 12 series. That hurt earnings significantly.

2020 iPad might borrow the best features of the iPad Pro

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Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for the 2020 iPad Pro
The 2020 iPad could look a lot like this iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

The 2020 iPad will resemble a smaller iPad Pro, if leaked schematics of this upcoming computer are accurate. It supposedly will offer narrow screen bezels, Face ID, a USB-C port and other features previously reserved for Apple’s high-end tablets.

Scribble and Smart Selection make Apple Pencil way more productive

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Apple Pencil 2 in Hand
The Apple Pencil is fancy, and finally getting more useful.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Back when Apple introduced the Apple Pencil, the company positioned the stylus primarily as a tool for artists. And try as I might, I’ve never been particularly great at drawing. That said, it didn’t stop me from picking up an Apple Pencil to annotate documents, edit photos or use as an alternative way to touch the screen.

Then the Magic Keyboard came along with a fantastic trackpad experience. It offered a different way to interact with the screen without touching it with my finger. But now, with iPadOS 14, Apple has rewritten the story of what Apple Pencil can do, and it’s completely changed how I use my iPad once again.

Best Apple Pencil alternatives for your iPad

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Adonit Note+ review
Apple Pencil isn’t the only iPad stylus. With Adonit Note+, you can draw Tippy. Or take notes, sign PDFs, and more.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPadOS 14 includes Scribble, finally allowing you to hand write text on an iPad with a stylus. If you don’t already have a stylus, there are some great options out there besides the very expensive Apple Pencil.

Here are some of the best available, so you can take full advantage of your iPad’s capabilities without paying too much.

iPad demand surges due to teleworking and online learning

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iPad neck
Students attending classes at home brought an increase in iPad demand.
Photo: R. Marsh Starks/UNLV Creative Services

Apple reportedly placed multiple rush orders for iPad screens with LG Display. The tablet saw increased demand in Asia this quarter, with COVID-19 forcing so many people to attend classes and work from home.

iPad sales dragged down by COVID-19, but rebound predicted

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The new 2019 iPad Air, with its 10.5-inch screen, works with Apple's existing Smart Keyboard.
The first quarter of 2020 wasn’t great for iPad Sales but Q2 might be much better.
Photo: Apple

Revenue from iPad sales dropped 10% during the first quarter of 2020. And shipments dropped 3%, according to a market-research firm. But analysts say that people working and studying from home during the pandemic could bring a burst of purchases this quarter.

A decade ago, iPad blindsided Windows team

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Steve Jobs with the original iPad
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad 10 years ago today. It wasn‘t good news for Microsoft.
Photo: Apple

Steven Sinofsky has an unusual perspective on the iPad. On the the 10th anniversary of Apple unveiling this tablet computer, the former president of the Windows Division at Microsoft looks back at his reaction to this breakthrough computer.