So far this year we have had three Apple events. Two were focused on some of their hardware and the other on the next iteration of operating systems and software features. This year has followed the same format of years past in terms of Apple events. Additionally, we may see another event in November just like they did last year. In this article I’m going to talk about some of the standouts from Apple’s spring event.
Apple Spring Event
The New iMacs
In the Spring event, Apple’s biggest product was the new iMac which now comes in different colors. This was an homage to the company’s roots when their first iMacs launched in different colored, plastic cases. On top of that, these new computers are now the slimmest desktops Apple has ever made thanks to their M1 chips. The M1 chips were debuted last year in a line of MacBooks and the Mac Mini. Thanks to these chips, these 24” iMacs have better webcams and speakers and are expected to have similar performance as seen in the M1 MacBooks.
These desktops did have some drawbacks however. The main one being the small amount of ports available, with the most being 4 USB-C ports on a higher end model. Another feature only seen in higher end iMacs is the inclusion of an Ethernet port on the charging brick, leaving base models to depend on WiFi. A slightly more subjective criticism of the new iMacs revolve around Apple’s design choices. They decided to keep the iconic chin and to surround the screen with white bezels instead of the usual black bezels. There have been arguments fighting for and against these choices, but I think these choices don’t take away from the overall experience.
Updated iPad Pros
Leading up to the event, everyone was certain iPad Pros were going to see changes but no one expected that Apple would put their desktop chip inside them. Apple decided to beef up the iPad Pro with the M1 chip instead of using an A series chips like the A12x. This prompted many reviewers to again question where the iPad Pro fits into Apple’s hardware lineup and if they will make it more computer like as time goes on. As a previous gen iPad Pro user, I do wish the device behaved more like a MacBook than an iPhone.
Another hardware change to the updated iPads came in the form of a better screen. The 12.9” iPad Pro now comes with a XDR screen that is comparable to the quality of the $5000 Pro Display XDR. With that said, there’s not much difference in the form factor between this iPad Pro and the 2018 model. Yet there is one more thing that is worth mentioning and it’s a feature called Center Stage.
This feature is available while you’re on a FaceTime call. It allows the iPad’s camera to detect the user and track them as they move around. If another person pops into frame, the camera will adjust to fit both people. Now I have not seen any reviews on how this feature works but I still thought it was worth mentioning.
Other notable mentions
Apple AirTags
Apple’s AirTags have been rumored for many years but they finally debuted in 2021. For those who are unfamiliar, AirTags are location trackers that you can place on items like your backpack or on a set of keys. They are meant to compete against the trackers from Tile and actually have an advantage against them. By this I mean Apple likes to “limit” a competitor’s product by restricting access to the phone’s hardware and to their internal processes. Tile’s trackers can only rely on Bluetooth while Apple can use their internal U1 chips to create a mesh network with any iDevice. This results in a bigger network than Tile, or any other tracker company, can achieve on their own.
Additionally, the AirTags have a drawback when it comes to their design. First, the tags are pretty thick compared to their competitors. I personally had the Tile Sport, which would fit in my wallet pretty well. Another issue was that the device did not have a hole built in (Watch how you can make your own), so you couldn’t add it to a key ring. Apple’s solution to that was to sell you another accessory (from $12.95 to $449). However, this becomes less of an issue when using it for items such as backpacks or purses as you can just slide the tag into a pocket.
I’ve been a little harsh on this product but I have seen that it works fairly well in locating your lost items. It also has other features built in for privacy and security, which has been the cornerstone of Apple’s recent marketing campaigns. And lastly, the device’s battery can be swapped out when it dies, which is a little shocking seeing how Apple likes to keep tight control over their hardware. We’ll see what changes when version two of the Apple AirTags come out.
Apple TV
Apple announced the next generation of their Apple TV which features new chips as well as a new remote. Probably the biggest news from this announcement was the updated remote which improved upon its predecessor by adding a scroll wheel to it. The new remotes are also compatible with previous generation devices which is a bit of good news. I have never owned an Apple TV (though someday I might), so I don’t have much else to say.
Purple iPhone 12 and Podcast app changes
The last two items I want to mention are a new colored iPhone 12 and changes to the Podcast app. Starting with the iPhone 12, it’s now available in the color purple which is a nice addition to their lineup but does not feature anything new.
As a Podcast app user, I felt the need to bring up the changes. The changes to the app are not only cosmetic but will also start a subscription service. This is not as scary as it seems though. For the most part, all podcasts will remain free but there will be an option to support your favorite podcast by paying the creators directly. This is a trend that I’ve seen this year where more platforms are allowing creators to be paid directly.
That’s going to wrap it up for this article. However, I will be talking about Apple’s WWDC event here and the recent iPhone event as well. So make sure to check it out!