Apple has launched the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and a refreshed 12.9-inch iPad Pro at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2017. Also, it has also introduced a new music-based smart speaker called HomePod built to deliver topnotch audio experience.

Apple HomePod Features

The size of the HomePod is less than 7 inches, but it is packed with a seven-tweeter system at its bottom and at the top is a 4-inch woofer with auto bass EQ designed by Apple. it is equipped six microphones to recognize voice even the music is playing at high volume. The entire speaker system is powered by Apple A8, the same chipset that is present under the hood of iPhone 6. It is very easy to setup a HomePod as it only requires the user to hold the iPhone close to the HomePod and it is smart enough to detect it and start playing music.

With spatial awareness onboard, the Apple HomePod can automatically detect the spaces and features of the room where it is placed and accordingly it can adjust the sound and deliver optimized sound output. If two HomePods are kept in the same room, both the devices can detect each other and function together to deliver the best sound experience without any ads.

The Apple A8’s prowess is coupled with Siri AI which transforms HomePod into a smart speaker system. The HomePod is integrated with Apple Music which makes it possible to listen to wide array of 40 million songs from its library. Siri can serve as a musicologist for music lovers as it can quick provide answers to questions like “Who is singing this song?” and “Who is playing the drums in this song?”

With Siri intelligence, the HomePod offers various features such as listening to news, unit conversions, setting reminders, send messages, control other smart devices, weather updates and more. When the HomePod users is not at home, he/she can use the Home app on an iPhone or iPad and access its features remotely.

Read More: Apple iPhone 8 CAD Images Hint Front-Mounted Touch ID Sensor, Vertical Dual Rear Cam

Apple HomePod Price, Availability 

As far as availability of Apple HomePod is concerned, it will be available in December starting with regions like the U.S, the U.K. and Australia. More countries will be added later on. It will be priced at $349 and will be available in color choices like White and Space Gray. The HomePod is compatible with iDevices running on iOS 11 and iPhone 5s and above.

Here is the official introduction video of Apple HomePod:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hw9skL-IXc

(source|via)

The post Apple HomePod Launched: It’s the New Smart Speaker & Musicologist Built to Reinvent Home Music Experience appeared first on Gizmochina.

At the ongoing Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2017, Apple has finally unveiled the all-new 10.5-inch iPad Pro to replace the 2016’s 9.7-inch iPad Pro. It has also announced a refreshed 12.9-inch iPad Pro as a successor for the original version that was launched in 2015.

10.5-inch, 12.9-inch iPad Pro Specifications and Features

Apple has managed to include a 10.5-inch screen into the same form factor of a 9.7-inch iPad Pro by cutting down on the bezels by 40 percent. The weight of the tablet is only 1 pound. The new 10.5-inch and the refreshed 12.9-inch iPad Pros come with True Tone screens that can automatically adjust the temperature of the color on the basis of lighting conditions.

The displays also offer a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz which means users can take advantage of smooth scrolling and responsiveness along with 20ms latency for Apple Pencil. The ProMotion feature enhances display quality by consuming less power and automatically adjusts the refresh rate. Other features of the display include wide color gamut with HDR video support, ultralow reflectivity and 600 nits brightness.

The new iPad Pros are fueled by Apple A10X Fusion chipset that features a hexa-core processor which includes three high-performance cores and three high-efficiency cores. It also includes a 12-core graphics that delivers 40 percent better graphics performance than Apple A9X. The new iPad Pros can deliver a battery performance of up 10 hours along with fast charging support.

The 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the refreshed 12.9-inch iPad Pro also feature the same 12-megapixel with f/1.8 aperture rear-facing camera sensor that is available on the backside of iPhone 7. It carries features like Optical Image Stabilization, quad-LED true tone flash, and 4K video shooting support. It has a 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera.

The new iPad Pros are also fitted with quad-speaker audio system. For connectivity, the two devices offer features like embedded Apple SIM, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and LTE Advanced. The Touch ID sensors on both devices can be not only used for unlocking but also for authenticating transactions on Apple’s online stores

The all new iOS 11 comes preloaded on the new iPad Pros. It brings a plethora of new features such as a full-sized onscreen keyboard, a customizable dock that gives access to frequently used apps and documents from any screen, a enhanced multi-tasking, revamped app switcher, a new Files app that gives access to iCloud Drive, Dropbox and other online storages, a new drop-and-drop feature between apps and a document scanner for scanning single or multiple documents. The Apple Pencil supports inline drawing, PDF annotation, drawing on screenshots, Instant Markup support for easily signing on documents, and a simple tap on the Lock Screen launches the Notes app instantly.

Read More: Apple iPhone 8 CAD Images Hint Front-Mounted Touch ID Sensor, Vertical Dual Rear Cam

Storage Variant Pricing and Availability

The 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro color variants include Silver, Space Gray, Gold and Rose Gold. The Wi-Fi only 10.5-inch iPad Pro with 64 GB storage is priced at $649. Its Wi-Fi + Cellular model is priced at $779. The Wi-Fi only variants of 256 GB and 512 GB storage variants are respectively priced at $749 and $849.

The Wi-Fi only 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 64 GB storage is priced at $799. Its Wi-Fi + Cellular model is priced at $929. The Wi-Fi only 256 GB and 512 GB variants are respectively priced at $899 and $1,099. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available in colors like Silver, Space Gray and Gold.

The new iPad Pros are available from online stores and authorized resellers of Apple in the U.S. and other countries like Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Countries like India, Turkey and UAE will be receiving the new iPad Pros later this month followed by Brazil, Mexico and South Korea in July.

The Apple Pencil is priced $99 and Charcoal Gray Smart Keyboard for 10.5-inch iPad Pro costs $159. The Smart Keyboard for 12.9-inch iPad Pro is priced at $169. Apple is also new Leather Sleeve, Apple Pencil cases, and Smart Covers for the new iPad Pros.

(source)

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In March of 2016, Apple unveiled the 4-inch iPhone SE, probably to cater to those who wanted a compact phone like the iPhone 5s. Exactly a year after its release, Apple relaunched the phone with new storage variants (32GB and 128GB) and stopped production of the 16GB variant.

Yesterday, Apple announced that the 2017 edition of its WWDC event will kick off on June 5. Asides the announcement of new versions of iOS and macOS, and a Siri-based smart speaker, Apple is also expected to announce a second-generation iPhone SE. A weibo user has leaked an image said to be the shell of the upcoming phone.

Although the name isn’t confirmed yet, the second generation iPhone SE appears to have a glass back, confirming Apple is making a shift from metal. The camera setup is also vertical as the LED flash now sits directly underneath the camera lens.

The image also reveals that the shell is made of Ion-X glass, the same used for the Apple Watch Sports. The Ion-X glass is more flexible, lighter and less expensive than sapphire but it is also more prone to scratches. Since the iPhone SE is currently Apple’s cheapest smartphone, it is not hard to see why they are settling for the material.

(Source)

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