Apple Announces iPad Pro, Its Largest iPad Yet
Dave Gershgorn
at 08:07 AM Sep 10 2015
Apple iPad Pro presentation screenshot

Today Apple announced their “biggest news since iPad.” It's the iPad Pro, a 12.9-inch version of Apple's flagship tablet. It boasts a 5.6 million pixel display, with more resolution than even a 15-inch Macbook Pro with Retina display. It will weigh 1.57 lbs, and which is just a smidge over the weight of the original iPad, which weighed in at 1.54 lbs.

Inside the iPad Pro is Apple's new A9X processor, which claims to be faster than 1.8 times faster than the iPad line's previous processor and 22 times faster than the original iPad. This processor allows the newest iPad to multitask, running apps side-by-side on its relatively huge display. Apple also claims that the iPad Pro will get 10 hours of battery life, and packed with TouchID. There is also an LTE option available. It starts at $799 for 32GB, ranging to $1079 for 128GB with cellular data.

Audio

The iPad Pro has a 4-speaker audio system, at each corner of the device. It automatically adjusts panning based on how the user is holding the iPad Pro, and is reportedly three times louder than the iPad Air 2.

Input

Apple resisted making a stylus and dedicated keyboard for their products for years, mainly supporting companies like Logitech to do that work for them. But today, Tim Cook announced two new input methods for the iPad Pro: Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard. The Smart Keyboard connects magnetically to the iPad Pro, using the Smart Connector on the side of the device to transfer energy and data. It integrates the key switch technology that has been used in the new Macbooks, and is made of a special woven material that Apple seems to be very proud of. The keyboard will cost $169.

We're also given a look at Apple's take on a stylus, the Apple Pencil. The Pencil can touch individual pixels (a tall order for use with a device with such pixel density like the iPad Pro.) Apple claims "hours of use" with the Pencil, but it charges with a hidden Lightening connector in the cap. It will cost $99.

Apple/ Screenshot

The Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard is touted to work with creative drawing apps, the Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office. Adobe is even making a new set of Creative Suite apps for Apple's mobile devices, which are "easy as drawing on a napkin," if your napkin was a very expensive slab of metal and plastic. The Adobe apps will be available in October.

Developing, check back for more updates…

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