Apple has released a new generation of iPad Pro tablets and updated its Apple TV device. The company also introduced a new product called AirTag, which builds on its 'Find My' system for locating devices.
The new iPad Pro has a similar form to last year's model, while adding the new Apple M1 processor used already in the company's Macbooks. This gives the tablet a big boost in power, with the octa-core CPU running up to 50 percent faster than the A12 Bionic predecessor.
The tablets otherwise feature a new Liquid Retina XDR display, 5G support, up to 2 TB of storage, a USB-C port supporting both Thunderbolt up to 10 Gbps and USB 4 connections for peripherals, and a four-camera system with Lidar scanner to support positioning and AR applications. An upgrade of the front camera to an ultra-wide 12 megapixel sensor delivers Apple's new 'Center Stage' feature, to recognise viewers and keep them centre and focused in the image during video calls, even when moving around.
Pre-sales will start 30 April, and the new tablets will be in shops mid-May. Pricing starts at EUR 899 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and EUR 1,219 for the 12.9-inch version and goes up to EUR 2,599 for the top model. The tablets are available in space gray or silver with a choice of Wi-Fi or 5G and 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB internal storage.
Apple TV with new Siri remote
Apple also presented a new version of Apple TV 4K, its media box that can also serve as a smart home hub. Running the A12 Bionic chip, it comes with a redesigned Siri remote control, support for 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision and the addition of Wi-Fi 6. With 32 GB storage, the new Apple TV costs EUR 199, and the 64 GB model is priced at EUR 219. Pre-orders start 30 April, and the device will be in shops from mid-May.
At its spring product launch, Apple also announced the new colour of purple for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini. This will be available from 30 April, along with a new range of complementary cases.
AirTag locator bob
The new iPhone also will come loaded with iOS 14.5, the latest version of Apple's operating system. This is the minimum requirement for using AirTag, the one new device unveiled at the event. This iPhone accessory provides a way to locate items with Apple’s Find My app and will be available beginning 30 April. It can be attached to a handbag, keys, backpack or other items, allowing AirTag users to tap into the Find My network to locate a lost item.
AirTag can be purchased in one and four packs for USD 29 and USD 99. Each round AirTag is small and lightweight and is IP67 water- and dust-resistant.
Once AirTag is set up, it will appear in the new Items tab in the Find My app, where users can view the item’s current or last known location on a map. If a user misplaces their item and it is within Bluetooth range, they can use the Find My app to play a sound from the AirTag to help locate it. Users can also ask Siri to find their item, and AirTag will play a sound if it is nearby.
Each AirTag is equipped with the Apple-designed U1 chip using Ultra Wideband technology, enabling Precision Finding for iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 users. As a user moves, Precision Finding fuses input from the camera, ARKit, accelerometer, and gyroscope, and then will guide them to AirTag using a combination of sound, haptics, and visual feedback.
If AirTag is separated from its owner and out of Bluetooth range, the Find My network, based on the location of other iPhones opted in, can help track it down. The Find My network is approaching a billion Apple devices, Apple said. Users can also place AirTag into Lost Mode and be notified when it is in range or has been located by the Find My network. If a lost AirTag is found by someone, they can tap it using their iPhone or any NFC-capable device and be taken to a website that will display a contact phone number for the owner, if they have provided one.
No location data or location history is physically stored inside AirTag. Communication with the Find My network is encrypted so that only the owner of a device has access to its location data, and no one, including Apple, knows the identity or location of any device that helped find it. Bluetooth signal identifiers transmitted by AirTag rotate frequently to prevent unwanted location tracking.
