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| iPad Pro, new Apple TV and iPhone 6S handsets unveiled | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Apple has unveiled a larger iPad tablet, a TV box with its own app store and new iPhones that can detect how firmly their screens are being pressed. | Apple has unveiled a larger iPad tablet, a TV box with its own app store and new iPhones that can detect how firmly their screens are being pressed. |
| The firm suggested the iPad Pro was suited to work tasks, video games and both editing and watching movies. | The firm suggested the iPad Pro was suited to work tasks, video games and both editing and watching movies. |
| Sales of the company's earlier iPads had been on the decline. | Sales of the company's earlier iPads had been on the decline. |
| Apple said the "3D touch" feature of its new phones "transformed" the experience of using them by making it easier to use and switch between apps. | Apple said the "3D touch" feature of its new phones "transformed" the experience of using them by making it easier to use and switch between apps. |
| Huawei demonstrated its own version of the feature - which it called "force touch" - at its own launch event last week. | Huawei demonstrated its own version of the feature - which it called "force touch" - at its own launch event last week. |
| Bigger iPad | Bigger iPad |
| The iPad Pro has a 12.9in (32.8cm) display, making its shortest edge the length of its earlier iPad Air 2's height. | The iPad Pro has a 12.9in (32.8cm) display, making its shortest edge the length of its earlier iPad Air 2's height. |
| Apple sold 19% fewer iPads between the start of October and the end of June as it did during the same period a year earlier. | |
| One expert suggested that the new model could reinvigorate sales. | One expert suggested that the new model could reinvigorate sales. |
| "As much as the iPad is experiencing some challenging times, it's vastly more successful than any other tablet on the market and it's still a multi-billion dollar business," said Geoff Blaber from the CCS Insight consultancy. | "As much as the iPad is experiencing some challenging times, it's vastly more successful than any other tablet on the market and it's still a multi-billion dollar business," said Geoff Blaber from the CCS Insight consultancy. |
| "Moreover, what's happened is there's been cannibalisation from larger screened iPhones. | "Moreover, what's happened is there's been cannibalisation from larger screened iPhones. |
| "A larger-screened iPad should definitely breathe some life into the category. But the price will be a barrier for many." | "A larger-screened iPad should definitely breathe some life into the category. But the price will be a barrier for many." |
| Apple said the new tablet offered similar processing power to 80% of the portable PCs that were sold over the past six months. | Apple said the new tablet offered similar processing power to 80% of the portable PCs that were sold over the past six months. |
| The iPad Pro will be launched alongside an optional magnetically-connected keyboard - which resembles a similar accessory for Microsoft's Surface tablet. | The iPad Pro will be launched alongside an optional magnetically-connected keyboard - which resembles a similar accessory for Microsoft's Surface tablet. |
| In addition, the firm announced a stylus called the Apple Pencil, which has sensors in its tip to help mimic the effect of using a real pencil on paper. | In addition, the firm announced a stylus called the Apple Pencil, which has sensors in its tip to help mimic the effect of using a real pencil on paper. |
| The announcement is notable since the firm's ex-chief executive Steve Jobs had said: "If you see a stylus, they blew it", when he announced the original iPad. | The announcement is notable since the firm's ex-chief executive Steve Jobs had said: "If you see a stylus, they blew it", when he announced the original iPad. |
| Apple said the iPad Pro should run for 10 hours of use between charges and would be available in November and range from $799 to $1,079 (£520 to £702) depending on its level of storage and 4G connectivity. | Apple said the iPad Pro should run for 10 hours of use between charges and would be available in November and range from $799 to $1,079 (£520 to £702) depending on its level of storage and 4G connectivity. |
| The Pencil costs $99 and the keyboard $169. | The Pencil costs $99 and the keyboard $169. |
| Analysis: Dave Lee, North America technology reporter | Analysis: Dave Lee, North America technology reporter |
| Tablet computing is great, but it could be said that the iPad's Achilles heel was that it was great as a consuming device, but if you wanted to really do something, get work done, it wasn't ideal. | Tablet computing is great, but it could be said that the iPad's Achilles heel was that it was great as a consuming device, but if you wanted to really do something, get work done, it wasn't ideal. |
| Apple is trying to address that with the iPad Pro. It's enormous, but not bulky, even if it does come in heavier than the original iPad at 1.67lbs (0.76kg). | Apple is trying to address that with the iPad Pro. It's enormous, but not bulky, even if it does come in heavier than the original iPad at 1.67lbs (0.76kg). |
| Crucially, it has some intriguing input devices. | Crucially, it has some intriguing input devices. |
| It's easy to scoff at Apple making a crowd cheer and whoop at a "pencil", but it's a big step forward for the most popular tablet on the market. | It's easy to scoff at Apple making a crowd cheer and whoop at a "pencil", but it's a big step forward for the most popular tablet on the market. |
| Making the iPad a "doing" service makes it a really formidable product, and one that should eat into netbook sales. | Making the iPad a "doing" service makes it a really formidable product, and one that should eat into netbook sales. |
| Apple TV | Apple TV |
| Chief executive Tim Cook also unveiled a new set top TV box with its own app store and new operating system. | Chief executive Tim Cook also unveiled a new set top TV box with its own app store and new operating system. |
| The device uses a remote control that features a touch-sensitive panel and a microphone that allows it to be voice-operated. | The device uses a remote control that features a touch-sensitive panel and a microphone that allows it to be voice-operated. |
| It uses the firm's Siri virtual assistant to let owners request shows or movies based on their desired themes or favourite actors. In addition, it can play video games. | It uses the firm's Siri virtual assistant to let owners request shows or movies based on their desired themes or favourite actors. In addition, it can play video games. |
| "The future of TV is apps," declared Mr Cook. The firm had previously described its TV boxes as a "hobby". | "The future of TV is apps," declared Mr Cook. The firm had previously described its TV boxes as a "hobby". |
| Apple was one of the first tech companies to offer an internet-connected TV box, but Amazon, Roku and several smart TV-makers beat it to offering an app-focused experience. | Apple was one of the first tech companies to offer an internet-connected TV box, but Amazon, Roku and several smart TV-makers beat it to offering an app-focused experience. |
| Mr Cook acknowledged it had taken his company several years to introduce a TV app store. | Mr Cook acknowledged it had taken his company several years to introduce a TV app store. |
| "I don't think they have missed an opportunity by waiting until now," commented Ian Maude from Enders Analysis. | "I don't think they have missed an opportunity by waiting until now," commented Ian Maude from Enders Analysis. |
| "There's a lot of people out there who want to watch content that is only available online from the TV, and if Apple can show its device does things better than the alternatives you would expect them to start winning market share pretty quickly." | "There's a lot of people out there who want to watch content that is only available online from the TV, and if Apple can show its device does things better than the alternatives you would expect them to start winning market share pretty quickly." |
| Apple did not unveil a rumoured TV shows and movies subscription package of its own for the box, but Mr Blaber suggested that might follow next year. | Apple did not unveil a rumoured TV shows and movies subscription package of its own for the box, but Mr Blaber suggested that might follow next year. |
| "Broadcast content remains the challenge but growth in Apple TV will ultimately leave content providers with little option," he said. | "Broadcast content remains the challenge but growth in Apple TV will ultimately leave content providers with little option," he said. |
| Much of the Apple TV presentation was dedicated to the video games it can play. The remote is motion sensitive, and works in a similar fashion to Nintendo's Wii controllers. | Much of the Apple TV presentation was dedicated to the video games it can play. The remote is motion sensitive, and works in a similar fashion to Nintendo's Wii controllers. |
| The US firm has already had huge success with video game sales on its iPhones. | The US firm has already had huge success with video game sales on its iPhones. |
| But one industry watcher questioned how disruptive the new box would be as a gaming device. | But one industry watcher questioned how disruptive the new box would be as a gaming device. |
| "There are already plenty of examples of set-top boxes and micro-consoles that play games, but none of those has had a dramatic impact on the market," commented Piers Harding-Rolls from IHS Technology. | "There are already plenty of examples of set-top boxes and micro-consoles that play games, but none of those has had a dramatic impact on the market," commented Piers Harding-Rolls from IHS Technology. |
| "That's not to say that Apple entering the market won't be significant. | "That's not to say that Apple entering the market won't be significant. |
| "But when you think of what the high-end consoles can do - allowing things like Sony's forthcoming Morpheus VR headset - what they offer can't be replicated in terms of power." | "But when you think of what the high-end consoles can do - allowing things like Sony's forthcoming Morpheus VR headset - what they offer can't be replicated in terms of power." |
| The TV box will cost either $149 or $199 depending on how much storage the user wants. | The TV box will cost either $149 or $199 depending on how much storage the user wants. |
| iPhone upgrade | iPhone upgrade |
| The idea behind the new iPhone's 3D Touch feature is that users can call up different functions by pressing the handsets' screens firmly. | The idea behind the new iPhone's 3D Touch feature is that users can call up different functions by pressing the handsets' screens firmly. |
| Examples of how it can be used include: | Examples of how it can be used include: |
| The handsets also gain the ability to shoot 4K videos - which means four times the amount of pixels of 1080p high definition video. | The handsets also gain the ability to shoot 4K videos - which means four times the amount of pixels of 1080p high definition video. |
| In addition, their back cameras have been upgraded to offer 12 megapixels rather than eight - Apple said it had ensured the extra resolution had not come at the cost of more noise. | In addition, their back cameras have been upgraded to offer 12 megapixels rather than eight - Apple said it had ensured the extra resolution had not come at the cost of more noise. |
| The iPhones also get a processor boost. They will go on sale in a fortnight's time. | The iPhones also get a processor boost. They will go on sale in a fortnight's time. |
| One expert remarked that the upgrades were not as big as had been seen in some years, but were likely still enough to continue year-on-year sales gains. | One expert remarked that the upgrades were not as big as had been seen in some years, but were likely still enough to continue year-on-year sales gains. |
| "In developed markets Apple has a huge potential to sell to existing iPhone users who were not able to upgrade when the iPhone 6 launched because they were tied to contracts and then decided to wait until now," commented Francisco Jeronimo from the research firm IDC. | "In developed markets Apple has a huge potential to sell to existing iPhone users who were not able to upgrade when the iPhone 6 launched because they were tied to contracts and then decided to wait until now," commented Francisco Jeronimo from the research firm IDC. |
| "But in markets like China it's about attracting new users. | "But in markets like China it's about attracting new users. |
| "Those who were not attracted by the iPhone before will probably continue not to be interested. | "Those who were not attracted by the iPhone before will probably continue not to be interested. |
| "For the others, the new features themselves will not make a significant difference - it's more important for Apple to grow awareness of its products." | "For the others, the new features themselves will not make a significant difference - it's more important for Apple to grow awareness of its products." |
| Watch update | Watch update |
| Apple also announced an upgrade to its smartwatch operating system that will be released on 16 September. | Apple also announced an upgrade to its smartwatch operating system that will be released on 16 September. |
| Watch OS 2 will allow third-party apps to run natively on the device rather than relying on a linked smartphone's processor. | Watch OS 2 will allow third-party apps to run natively on the device rather than relying on a linked smartphone's processor. |
| In addition to loading faster, the apps will also gain the ability to play video and access the Watch's microphone and sensors. | In addition to loading faster, the apps will also gain the ability to play video and access the Watch's microphone and sensors. |
| GoPro is taking advantage of this to allow users to see live streams from its action cameras on Apple's wearable. | GoPro is taking advantage of this to allow users to see live streams from its action cameras on Apple's wearable. |
| Facebook also revealed it is bringing its Messenger app to the platform. | Facebook also revealed it is bringing its Messenger app to the platform. |