Apple reveals the iMac Pro, its most powerful Mac ever

Apple has used its WWDC 2017 keynote to unveil the iMac Pro. Not content with updating the regular line of iMac all-in-one computers, it’s also super-charging the iMac for professionals.

Sitting in the same design as the conventional iMac, the iMac Pro takes things to the next level with a huge amount of power. To make sure that everyone knows you’re using the iMac Pro, it comes in Space Grey, so it looks pretty mean.

It’s based on the 27-inch 5K iMac design, so you have that new display, offering increased brightness and better colours from its 10-bit panel, but internally, this is a machine built for professional power.

Apple

The starting configuration equips you with an 8-core Xeon processor, but there will be options for 10-core or 18-core versions too. It’s not just the CPU that’s ramped up, but it will be equipped with the new Radeon Vega GPUs, offering up to 16GB of vRAM. 

Apple says this is the most powerful Mac that they’ve never made and to accommodate all that power, they’ve had to redesign the cooling for this machines too, claiming that it will pump 80 per cent more air through to keep it running cool.

Apple

Of course this $4999 machine isn’t pitched at the average consumer, it’s for those who want develop in the VR environment for that new VR support, including HTC Vive, that’s coming to Mac, or to work on machine learning development and so on.

Be warned though: $4999 is for the entry level specification which will be available from December…

Apple App Store completely redesigned with new daily recommendations

Apple has announced that it is redesigning the App Store as part of iOS 11, to be released later this year.

It has a cleaner, simpler look on phone with separate Music app-style tabs separating content.

There is an all-new Today tab, which shows new games and apps recommended for that day only. You can also see other days’ content just by scrolling down.

The idea is to get ideas of what to download on a daily rather than weekly basis – the current format.

There are also new tabs for Games, which showcases a selection of the latest games. It also presents gameplay videos and tips, plus lists popular games and in-app purchases front and centre.

Apps also gets its own tab. It has similar features to Games.

Every app and every game gets a new product page on the store with all new features, with a more friendly design.

We’re yet to find out what the new App Store will look like on iPad, for example, or on the desktop app for Mac. However, considering Apple has stuck with the same basic format for around nine years, we’re thrilled it’s finally bringing us something new.

And we’re also thrilled that Monument Valley 2 is now available, as also revealed on stage at WWDC 17.

Apple App Store completely redesigned with new daily recommendations

Apple has announced that it is redesigning the App Store as part of iOS 11, to be released later this year.

It has a cleaner, simpler look on phone with separate Music app-style tabs separating content.

There is an all-new Today tab, which shows new games and apps recommended for that day only. You can also see other days’ content just by scrolling down.

The idea is to get ideas of what to download on a daily rather than weekly basis – the current format.

There are also new tabs for Games, which showcases a selection of the latest games. It also presents gameplay videos and tips, plus lists popular games and in-app purchases front and centre.

Apps also gets its own tab. It has similar features to Games.

Every app and every game gets a new product page on the store with all new features, with a more friendly design.

We’re yet to find out what the new App Store will look like on iPad, for example, or on the desktop app for Mac. However, considering Apple has stuck with the same basic format for around nine years, we’re thrilled it’s finally bringing us something new.

And we’re also thrilled that Monument Valley 2 is now available, as also revealed on stage at WWDC 17.

Apple introduces a new iPad Pro with a larger 10.5-inch screen

Apple has kicked off WWDC 2017, where it just announced a slew of updates to its products, such as a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro.

This iPad follows another new iPad from earlier this year. Called iPad, that device is 9.7 inches. It replaced the iPad Air 2 and starts at $329. As for the new iPad Pro, Apple executives took the stage to explain that it’s going to “take everything you love about the 9.7 inch and give you a whole lot more to love”. It looks like an iPad Pro, but with a larger 10.5-inch Retina display and reduced bezels.

It weighs 1 pound, but it’s 20-per cent larger. It allows for a full-size onscreen keyboard, and a full-sized physical keyboard you can attach. It also comes with a feature called ProMotion, which doubles the refresh rate to 120Hz and supports HDR Video. That refresh rate dynamically adjusts depending on what you’re viewing. So, the screen is a little better, more responsive, and bigger. Cool.

The display makes Apple Pencil more responsive, too, with the latency rate now at 20 milliseconds. And its True Tone technology is 50-per cent brighter, Apple said. The new iPad Pro is powered by the A10X six-core CPU, too, with a 12-core GPU included. The A10x Fusion chip improves CPU and GPU by at least 40-per cent. Cameras have also been upgraded with the same sensor as the iPhone 7.

So, it has a 12-megapixel camera on the back and a front-facing 7-megapixel FaceTime camera. It also has an embedded Touch ID fingerprint sensor and will run iOS 11 (set to be released later this year), which features dragging and dropping and more. Other specs include an LTE model, 64GB of standard memory (maxes out at 500GB), and an improved four-speaker sound system.

It also has a laminated “wide colour” display (improves contrast and expands the available color gamut) and support for the Smart Connector and Apple Pencil. Apple is launching new cases for the new iPad Pro, as well. Oh, and the new iPad Pro uses Lightning, not USB-C. It is available for preorder now and will be released next week, Apple said. The base 10.5-inch model costs $649.99.

We will update this post when we know more about UK pricing.

• Apple Glasses AR headset: What’s the story so far?
• Apple’s Siri speaker: What’s the story so far?
• Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus: What’s the story so far?

Pocket-lint is live at Apple’s annual developers conference and will bring you the latest as it happens. Check out our WWDC 2017 round up for more details about the show, including what’s being announced and how to stream Apple’s main keynote yourself.

• Best upcoming smartphones: The future phones of 2017
• How to shoot great video on iPhone, Apple reveals all
• Apple confirms it will hold its WWDC 2017 keynote on 5 June

Apple introduces a new iPad Pro with a larger 10.5-inch screen

Apple has kicked off WWDC 2017, where it just announced a slew of updates to its products, such as a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro.

This iPad follows another new iPad from earlier this year. Called iPad, that device is 9.7 inches. It replaced the iPad Air 2 and starts at $329. As for the new iPad Pro, Apple executives took the stage to explain that it’s going to “take everything you love about the 9.7 inch and give you a whole lot more to love”. It looks like an iPad Pro, but with a larger 10.5-inch Retina display and reduced bezels.

It weighs 1 pound, but it’s 20-per cent larger. It allows for a full-size onscreen keyboard, and a full-sized physical keyboard you can attach. It also comes with a feature called ProMotion, which doubles the refresh rate to 120Hz and supports HDR Video. That refresh rate dynamically adjusts depending on what you’re viewing. So, the screen is a little better, more responsive, and bigger. Cool.

The display makes Apple Pencil more responsive, too, with the latency rate now at 20 milliseconds. And its True Tone technology is 50-per cent brighter, Apple said. The new iPad Pro is powered by the A10X six-core CPU, too, with a 12-core GPU included. The A10x Fusion chip improves CPU and GPU by at least 40-per cent. Cameras have also been upgraded with the same sensor as the iPhone 7.

So, it has a 12-megapixel camera on the back and a front-facing 7-megapixel FaceTime camera. It also has an embedded Touch ID fingerprint sensor and will run iOS 11 (set to be released later this year), which features dragging and dropping and more. Other specs include an LTE model, 64GB of standard memory (maxes out at 500GB), and an improved four-speaker sound system.

It also has a laminated “wide colour” display (improves contrast and expands the available color gamut) and support for the Smart Connector and Apple Pencil. Apple is launching new cases for the new iPad Pro, as well. Oh, and the new iPad Pro uses Lightning, not USB-C. It is available for preorder now and will be released next week, Apple said. The base 10.5-inch model costs $649.99.

We will update this post when we know more about UK pricing.

• Apple Glasses AR headset: What’s the story so far?
• Apple’s Siri speaker: What’s the story so far?
• Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus: What’s the story so far?

Pocket-lint is live at Apple’s annual developers conference and will bring you the latest as it happens. Check out our WWDC 2017 round up for more details about the show, including what’s being announced and how to stream Apple’s main keynote yourself.

• Best upcoming smartphones: The future phones of 2017
• How to shoot great video on iPhone, Apple reveals all
• Apple confirms it will hold its WWDC 2017 keynote on 5 June

Apple’s HomePod Siri-enabled speaker is real, going after Sonos and Amazon combined

As rumoured prior to WWDC, Apple has announced its own music system in the form of the HomePod speaker.

It will be released later this year, but the company revealed a sneak peek during its keynote at the start of the Worldwide Developers Conference 2017.

The HomePod is designed to take on the Amazon Echo in smart functionality but also systems like Sonos in audio quality.

It has a seven-beam forming tweeter array to fill a room multi-directionally, plus a 4-inch woofer for bass control.

The speaker is controlled by Apple’s A8 processor, which the company claims is “the biggest brain inside of a speaker”. This enables many features, such as multi-channel echo cancellation and separation.

However, its the smart functionality, combined with Siri voice control (“Hey Siri”) and Apple Music which, using six microphones around the circumference, streams tracks using plenty of contextual phrases.

It can also, like the Amazon Echo or Google Home, set reminders, timers and find out news, traffic and sports reports.

Apple’s HomePod will come in white and black, and as it comes with HomeKit built into the device, works to control smart appliances around your home even when you just interact with your iPhone from another location.

It’ll cost $349 and will ship in the US, UK and Australia from December.

Apple’s HomePod Siri-enabled speaker is real, going after Sonos and Amazon combined

As rumoured prior to WWDC, Apple has announced its own music system in the form of the HomePod speaker.

It will be released later this year, but the company revealed a sneak peek during its keynote at the start of the Worldwide Developers Conference 2017.

The HomePod is designed to take on the Amazon Echo in smart functionality but also systems like Sonos in audio quality.

It has a seven-beam forming tweeter array to fill a room multi-directionally, plus a 4-inch woofer for bass control.

The speaker is controlled by Apple’s A8 processor, which the company claims is “the biggest brain inside of a speaker”. This enables many features, such as multi-channel echo cancellation and separation.

However, its the smart functionality, combined with Siri voice control (“Hey Siri”) and Apple Music which, using six microphones around the circumference, streams tracks using plenty of contextual phrases.

It can also, like the Amazon Echo or Google Home, set reminders, timers and find out news, traffic and sports reports.

Apple’s HomePod will come in white and black, and as it comes with HomeKit built into the device, works to control smart appliances around your home even when you just interact with your iPhone from another location.

It’ll cost $349 and will ship in the US, UK and Australia from December.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): What’s the difference?

Apple announced a new 9.7-inch iPad at its March 2017 event, replacing the iPad Air 2 but ditching the Air name, while at WWDC 2017, a new iPad Pro was revealed.

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) is the cheapest way to get your hands on an Apple tablet, but how does it compare to the latest iPad Pro 10.5, which takes the place of 2016’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro model?

• New Apple iPad (2017) review

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Design

• Similar designs, but iPad Pro is slimmer and slightly larger 
• Smart Connector and raised rear camera lens on iPad Pro
• iPad Pro comes in additional rose gold colour option

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) and the iPad Pro 10.5 feature similar designs with only a few slight differences on the surface. They are both distinctly iPad, offering slim, premium metal constructions with rounded edges and corners and the Touch ID home button on the front beneath the screen.

On the rear, the Apple logo is positioned in the middle, as usual, while the rear camera lens sits in the top left corner. The iPad Pro 10.5 has a raised rear camera lens and a flash module beneath it, while the new iPad has a flat rear camera lens and no flash. Both have a centralised Lightning port at the bottom in between grilles but the iPad Pro has Smart Connector ports on one of its sides, distinguishing it from the new model in terms of design.

The iPad Pro 10.5 is slightly larger measuring 250.6 x 174.1 in terms of width and height, while the iPad 9.7 measures 240 x 169.5mm. The iPad Pro 10.5 is slimmer at 6.1mm compared to 7.5mm though. The Pro and the 9.7-inch model weigh the same at 469g or 477g, depending on the whether you opt for Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and Cellular.

The Apple iPad 9.7 and the iPad Pro 10.5 both come in silver, space grey and gold colour options, but the iPad Pro is also available in rose gold and it is the only iPad in the family that comes in this colour.

• Apple iPad 9.7 vs iPad Air 2: What’s the difference?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Display

• iPad Pro larger screen but both have same 264ppi pixel density
• iPad Pro has fully laminated display with anti-reflective coating
• iPad Pro also has wider colour gamut, True Tone technology and support for higher refresh rate 

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) has a 9.7-inch Retina display, which means an LED-backlit LCD screen with 2048 x 1536 resolutions for a pixel density of 264ppi. The iPad Pro 10.5 on the other hand, has a slightly larger 10.5-inch Retina display with a slightly higher resolution of 2224 x 1668 pixels, resulting in the same 264ppi pixel density. They both have a fingerprint resistance oleophobic coating, but this is where any similarities conclude.

The iPad Pro 10.5 has a fully laminated display with an anti-reflective coating, while the iPad 9.7 doesn’t, meaning there is a small gap between the surface glass and the display panel of the smaller iPad and the reason for the increased thickness. In reality, it doesn’t actually make a great deal of difference other than content isn’t as close to the surface, but the colours of the iPad 9.7 are still vibrant and natural so the experience is still a great one.

The iPad Pro 10.5 also offers a P3 wide colour gamut and Apple’s True Tone technology, the latter of which adjusts the white balance based on ambient lighting conditions. It also offers an antireflection coating and something called ProMotion technology. Apple claims the 10.5-inch iPad Pro offers the world’s most advanced display. It is said to be brighter at 600nits, less reflective and more responsive, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate so it is likely to offer a better experience than the cheaper model.

• What is Apple’s True Tone display?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Camera

• iPad Pro has 12MP rear, 7MP front cameras
• iPad 9.7 has 8MP rear, 1.2MP front cameras
• iPad Pro has rear True Tone Flash, front Retina Flash, 4K video recording and Live Photo feature 

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) has an 8-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.4 aperture and 1080p video recording capabilities, while the front-facing camera resolution sits at 1.2-megapixels. There is no flash on either camera.

The iPad Pro 10.5 on the other hand, has a 12-megapixel rear camera with a f/1.8 aperture and 4K video recording, along with a 7-megapixel front-facing snapper, the same as the iPhone 7. It also offers optical image stabilisation, Live Photos with stabilisation, wide colour photo capture, a Quad-LED True Tone flash on its rear camera and a Retina Flash on its front snapper.

Other camera features are the same across both devices though, with both offering Auto HDR photos, exposure control, face detection, burst mode, timer mode and photo geotagging, all of which are also offered on the company’s iPhones.

• Which iPad is best for you?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Hardware

• iPad Pro has faster chip, but both have 10-hour battery life
• iPad Pro comes in larger storage options
• iPad Pro compatible with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) comes with the A9 chip and embedded M9 coprocessor, which is said offer 1.6x faster CPU and 1.8x faster GPU compared to the A8 chip, used in the Apple iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4. The iPad Pro 10.5 has a more advanced A10X Fusion chip with embedded M10 coprocessor though, said to be 30 per cent faster in performance and 40 per cent faster in graphics to the A9.

The iPad Pro 10.5 also offers Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard compatibility, which the iPad 9.7 doesn’t making it less of a working-on-the-go tablet compared to the Pro device. There is also four-speaker audio on the iPad Pro, compared to two-speaker audio on the new iPad. Both the iPad 9.7 and the iPad Pro 10.5 are said to offer up to 10 hours battery life.

In terms of storage options, the iPad 9.7 comes in 32GB and 128GB capacities, while the iPad Pro 10.5 is available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities. Both come in Wi-Fi and Cellular models.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Software

• Both run on iOS 10
• Both should get iOS 11 update

Both the Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) and the iPad Pro 10.5 run on iOS 10, meaning you’ll get an almost identical experience across both devices, aside from a few extra features on the iPad Pro.

Functions such as split-screen multi-tasking, the Home app for any HomeKit-enabled devices you might have, iMessages and of course the richness of the App Store ecosystem will be present on both.

There will also be a whole range of new and exciting features coming to the new iPads in September with iOS 11, such as Drag and Drop, Files, and a new app dock that looks similar to what you’d find on MacOS.

• Apple iOS 10 tips and tricks

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Price

• iPad (2017) starting price is £280 cheaper

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) starts at £339 for the 32GB Wi-Fi only option, stretching up to £559 for the 128GB Wi-Fi and Cellular model. 

The Apple iPad Pro 10.5 starts at £619 for the 64GB Wi-Fi only option, while the 512GB Wi-Fi and Cellular option will cost you £1019.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Which should you buy?

The decision between the Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) and the iPad Pro 10.5 will come down to what you want your new iPad for, as well as what you’re willing, or what you have, to spend on it. 

The iPad Pro 10.5 offers a better screen, more advanced chipset, the option of more storage, better cameras and it is also compatible with the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, both of which mean it will be a great tablet for working-on-the-go, whether sketching or typing. The iPad Pro also offers better audio.

The iPad 9.7 (2017) is significantly cheaper though and although it doesn’t match the iPad Pro in terms of specs, it’s still a brilliant tablet that offers a solid, consistent performance. It will be more than enough for some, while others will want the extra functionality that comes with the iPad Pro. The question you really have to ask yourself is, are those extra functions worth £300 to you?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): What’s the difference?

Apple announced a new 9.7-inch iPad at its March 2017 event, replacing the iPad Air 2 but ditching the Air name, while at WWDC 2017, a new iPad Pro was revealed.

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) is the cheapest way to get your hands on an Apple tablet, but how does it compare to the latest iPad Pro 10.5, which takes the place of 2016’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro model?

• New Apple iPad (2017) review

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Design

• Similar designs, but iPad Pro is slimmer and slightly larger 
• Smart Connector and raised rear camera lens on iPad Pro
• iPad Pro comes in additional rose gold colour option

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) and the iPad Pro 10.5 feature similar designs with only a few slight differences on the surface. They are both distinctly iPad, offering slim, premium metal constructions with rounded edges and corners and the Touch ID home button on the front beneath the screen.

On the rear, the Apple logo is positioned in the middle, as usual, while the rear camera lens sits in the top left corner. The iPad Pro 10.5 has a raised rear camera lens and a flash module beneath it, while the new iPad has a flat rear camera lens and no flash. Both have a centralised Lightning port at the bottom in between grilles but the iPad Pro has Smart Connector ports on one of its sides, distinguishing it from the new model in terms of design.

The iPad Pro 10.5 is slightly larger measuring 250.6 x 174.1 in terms of width and height, while the iPad 9.7 measures 240 x 169.5mm. The iPad Pro 10.5 is slimmer at 6.1mm compared to 7.5mm though. The Pro and the 9.7-inch model weigh the same at 469g or 477g, depending on the whether you opt for Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and Cellular.

The Apple iPad 9.7 and the iPad Pro 10.5 both come in silver, space grey and gold colour options, but the iPad Pro is also available in rose gold and it is the only iPad in the family that comes in this colour.

• Apple iPad 9.7 vs iPad Air 2: What’s the difference?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Display

• iPad Pro larger screen but both have same 264ppi pixel density
• iPad Pro has fully laminated display with anti-reflective coating
• iPad Pro also has wider colour gamut, True Tone technology and support for higher refresh rate 

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) has a 9.7-inch Retina display, which means an LED-backlit LCD screen with 2048 x 1536 resolutions for a pixel density of 264ppi. The iPad Pro 10.5 on the other hand, has a slightly larger 10.5-inch Retina display with a slightly higher resolution of 2224 x 1668 pixels, resulting in the same 264ppi pixel density. They both have a fingerprint resistance oleophobic coating, but this is where any similarities conclude.

The iPad Pro 10.5 has a fully laminated display with an anti-reflective coating, while the iPad 9.7 doesn’t, meaning there is a small gap between the surface glass and the display panel of the smaller iPad and the reason for the increased thickness. In reality, it doesn’t actually make a great deal of difference other than content isn’t as close to the surface, but the colours of the iPad 9.7 are still vibrant and natural so the experience is still a great one.

The iPad Pro 10.5 also offers a P3 wide colour gamut and Apple’s True Tone technology, the latter of which adjusts the white balance based on ambient lighting conditions. It also offers an antireflection coating and something called ProMotion technology. Apple claims the 10.5-inch iPad Pro offers the world’s most advanced display. It is said to be brighter at 600nits, less reflective and more responsive, supporting a 120Hz refresh rate so it is likely to offer a better experience than the cheaper model.

• What is Apple’s True Tone display?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Camera

• iPad Pro has 12MP rear, 7MP front cameras
• iPad 9.7 has 8MP rear, 1.2MP front cameras
• iPad Pro has rear True Tone Flash, front Retina Flash, 4K video recording and Live Photo feature 

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) has an 8-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.4 aperture and 1080p video recording capabilities, while the front-facing camera resolution sits at 1.2-megapixels. There is no flash on either camera.

The iPad Pro 10.5 on the other hand, has a 12-megapixel rear camera with a f/1.8 aperture and 4K video recording, along with a 7-megapixel front-facing snapper, the same as the iPhone 7. It also offers optical image stabilisation, Live Photos with stabilisation, wide colour photo capture, a Quad-LED True Tone flash on its rear camera and a Retina Flash on its front snapper.

Other camera features are the same across both devices though, with both offering Auto HDR photos, exposure control, face detection, burst mode, timer mode and photo geotagging, all of which are also offered on the company’s iPhones.

• Which iPad is best for you?

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Hardware

• iPad Pro has faster chip, but both have 10-hour battery life
• iPad Pro comes in larger storage options
• iPad Pro compatible with Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) comes with the A9 chip and embedded M9 coprocessor, which is said offer 1.6x faster CPU and 1.8x faster GPU compared to the A8 chip, used in the Apple iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4. The iPad Pro 10.5 has a more advanced A10X Fusion chip with embedded M10 coprocessor though, said to be 30 per cent faster in performance and 40 per cent faster in graphics to the A9.

The iPad Pro 10.5 also offers Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard compatibility, which the iPad 9.7 doesn’t making it less of a working-on-the-go tablet compared to the Pro device. There is also four-speaker audio on the iPad Pro, compared to two-speaker audio on the new iPad. Both the iPad 9.7 and the iPad Pro 10.5 are said to offer up to 10 hours battery life.

In terms of storage options, the iPad 9.7 comes in 32GB and 128GB capacities, while the iPad Pro 10.5 is available in 64GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities. Both come in Wi-Fi and Cellular models.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Software

• Both run on iOS 10
• Both should get iOS 11 update

Both the Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) and the iPad Pro 10.5 run on iOS 10, meaning you’ll get an almost identical experience across both devices, aside from a few extra features on the iPad Pro.

Functions such as split-screen multi-tasking, the Home app for any HomeKit-enabled devices you might have, iMessages and of course the richness of the App Store ecosystem will be present on both.

There will also be a whole range of new and exciting features coming to the new iPads in September with iOS 11, such as Drag and Drop, Files, and a new app dock that looks similar to what you’d find on MacOS.

• Apple iOS 10 tips and tricks

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Price

• iPad (2017) starting price is £280 cheaper

The Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) starts at £339 for the 32GB Wi-Fi only option, stretching up to £559 for the 128GB Wi-Fi and Cellular model. 

The Apple iPad Pro 10.5 starts at £619 for the 64GB Wi-Fi only option, while the 512GB Wi-Fi and Cellular option will cost you £1019.

Apple iPad Pro 10.5 vs iPad 9.7 (2017): Which should you buy?

The decision between the Apple iPad 9.7 (2017) and the iPad Pro 10.5 will come down to what you want your new iPad for, as well as what you’re willing, or what you have, to spend on it. 

The iPad Pro 10.5 offers a better screen, more advanced chipset, the option of more storage, better cameras and it is also compatible with the Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil, both of which mean it will be a great tablet for working-on-the-go, whether sketching or typing. The iPad Pro also offers better audio.

The iPad 9.7 (2017) is significantly cheaper though and although it doesn’t match the iPad Pro in terms of specs, it’s still a brilliant tablet that offers a solid, consistent performance. It will be more than enough for some, while others will want the extra functionality that comes with the iPad Pro. The question you really have to ask yourself is, are those extra functions worth £300 to you?

Apple HomePod: Price, release date, specs and everything you need to know

Apple used the keynote at WWDC 17 to announce a range of updates and evolutions, but the newest product to get excited about is HomePod.

Apple HomePod sees Apple looking to change how you listen to music, again, jumping on the iPod and AirPod nomenclature to come up with HomePod, a home speaker.

But this isn’t just any home speaker. This is an Apple home speaker. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Apple HomePod design

• Almost 7-inch tall cylindrical design
• Acoustic mesh sides
• Available in space grey or white

The Apple HomePod adopts a cylindrical design standing “just under” 7-inches tall and wrapped in mesh. It looks a little like the 2013 Apple Mac Pro converted into a speaker with a similar shape design; it’s also looks a bit like the UE Wonderboom but larger.

As this is an Apple product, it’s perhaps no surprise that it’s available in space grey or white colours.

The flattened top is where the Siri wave appears when you say Hey Siri, offering a similar sort of effect as you get from existing smart speakers, like the Amazon Echo or Google Home. It’s designed to give you a visual clue that it’s working. There are also touch controls in the top, but we’re yet to see this in action.

As with all Apple products, you’re looking a clear and uncluttered design, very minimal in its presentation.

Apple HomePod: The audio hardware 

• 4-inch central woofer
• 7 beam-forming tweeters
• Room-sensing technology
• Apple A8 chip

Apple hasn’t said a huge amount about the audio capabilities of the HomePod, but it has revealed that there’s a central 4-inch woofer that’s upward firing in the centre of the device. This provides the depth to the music, with Apple saying that it uses real-time software modelling to ensure that distortion is minimalised, so you should be able to turn it up loud without it losing quality. 

There are seven beam-forming tweeters wrapped around the core of the HomePod, providing 360-degree sound. This isn’t an uncommon arrangement as there are a number of speakers that use this sort of arrangement to offer 360-degree sound. 

Apple has said that HomePod will adapt to the room, something we’ve seen from companies like Sonos, meaning that if you place it in a corner, the sound will adapt so that you get the most from it. 

Powering the speaker is the A8 chip, the same as you’ll find in a number of Apple devices. This provides the processing power, although we’re sure that most of that will be aimed at connectivity and powering the Siri features that it offers.

There are 6 microphones on board so that the speaker can listen to you; again, this isn’t uncommon, as the existing devices on the market do the same thing, providing plenty of mics to hear what you’re saying and listen to your commands.

Apple

Apple HomePod: Sound quality 

Now we come to the crunch and also the part where there’s very little information. Naturally, Apple has said that it’s changing the way that you listen to music, saying that this is a smart speaker, like the Amazon Echo, as well as a quality connected speaker, like you’ll get from Sonos.

In terms of audio performance, comparing it to Sonos sets the bar fairly high, as Sonos has a great range of devices on offer. We suspect that it’s going to be a little better than the Beats Pill…

We will, of course, update as soon as we’ve had the chance to properly listen to the HomePod, but priced as it is against the competition, it’s going to need to deliver on the audio front. 

Apple also hasn’t mentioned anything about audio format support – other than Apple Music.

Apple

Apple HomePod: Connectivity 

• HomeKit compatible
• Wi-Fi
• Instant pairing
• Stereo pairing

The Apple HomePod is both a music speaker and a home controlling hub, as it is HomeKit compatible. Apple is pushing the security of HomeKit with the HomePod, saying that nothing is sent to Apple until you say Hey Siri, and then it’s all encrypted. Security is a big concern in smart home devices.

The speaker will connect to the internet using your Wi-Fi network, streaming music from Apple Music or playing Beats 1. Apple hasn’t detailed what other services that it will work with, so we’ve no idea if it will natively play from services like Deezer or Spotify. 

You will be able to pair with a phone instantly, so we guess it uses the same W1 chip as some of the recent Beats headphones and the Apple AirPods. Apple hasn’t confirmed other avenues of connection, but we’d imagine that Bluetooth and AirPlay 2 are part of the package – the inclusion of AirPlay would mean a wide range of services are supported direct from your iPhone or iPad and Apple has said that you’ll be able to play your own music, we’re just not sure how, yet. 

Apple has also confirmed that you’ll be able to pair speakers so that they sync up to make the music even better. Apple also detailed that AirPlay 2, a new feature of iOS 11, will give you multiroom audio control, so we imagine that HomePod will fit right into that scenario, like Sonos would. 

Apple HomePod: Siri and features

• HomeKit controller
• Siri

Being a HomeKit device means that the Apple HomePod can fit into the same roles as the Amazon Echo or Google Home, controlling other HomeKit devices. This is where things get a little more interesting, as there are a wide range of HomeKit devices – from Tado heating to Hue lighting and you should be able to speak to control all these things – it looks like Apple is catching up in the smart home arena.

Siri sits at the heart of this experience and although Apple hasn’t yet said much about what Siri will do on HomePod – aside from controlling music, telling you detail about tracks and answering other questions – but we’d assume that Siri will have the power to deliver plenty of detail from your Appleverse, most likely delivering reminders and calendar details, placing calls and more. 

We’re sure we’ll learn more about exactly what HomePod will be able to do shortly, so we’ll update when we do.

Apple

Apple HomePod price and release date 

• Price: $349
• Availability: US, UK, Australia
• Release date: December 2017 

Apple HomePod will be available in December and it will be initially launching in the US, UK and Australia, we’re guessing because of language support.

It will be priced at $349. Other region prices have not yet been announced.