It’s real! At today’s event, Apple unveiled the iPad Pro, a 12.9-inch tablet designed for those who want more screen real estate on the go.
On the outside, there isn’t too much new other than the larger screen, and on the software side, you’ll be using iOS 9 – no funky forked software for the largest iPad.
The exciting part comes with the internals and accessories.
The display contains 5.6 million pixels, at a 2732 x2048 resolution (which is, of course, Retina-class). The panel also includes a variable refresh rate – a first for the iPad – which allows it to save energy by only refreshing the panel as often as necessary for the on-screen content.
It will also playback sound using four speakers, from which it will select the optimal configuration depending on whether the tablet is in landscape or portrait mode.
Inside, it’s powered by a new third-gen A9x chip; Apple is calling is desktop class, at 1.8x faster than its predecessor. In fact, Apple is boasting it’s faster than 80 percent of the portable computers shipped in the last quarter (with better graphics than 90 % of them).
Despite all that power, Apple is claiming the iPad Pro will still last for ten hours of average use.
The company is also introducing a new keyboard called the Smart Keyboard, which is precisely what it sounds like. The keys use Apple’s new dome switches – similar to those in the new MacBook – and it folds onto the tablet as with the Surface Pro 3’s Type Cover.
iPad users already have plenty of keyboards to choose from though. More interestingly – and potentially to the late Steve Jobs’ dismay – Apple is introducing… a stylus.
Or, as they call it, the Apple Pencil.
There’s a lot of cool technology packed in. Aside from the expected pressure detection, it includes two sensors to know which way it’s tilted for advanced shading techniques. You could paint using the Pencil’s side, for example, to shade with a wider, lighter spread. Paint on the tip, and you’ll have a darker, thinner line.
Apple says it’s so precise it can touch a single pixel, in addition to very low latency that is supposed to feel like real pencil on paper.
The Pencil will last “hours” on a charge, but can recharge with a Lightning Connector, which plugs into the iPad Pro to top up.
But wait, there’s more: Apple brought Microsoft, of all companies, as its first partner to demo how Office can work with the iPad Pro.
The company showed off using Word and Excel at the same time thanks to iOS 9’s new split-screen view, as well as handwriting using the new pencil. You could even draw shapes in PowerPoint and have them automatically become graphic objects.
You’ll be able to get your hands on the tablet starting this November. Prices will start at at $799 for 32GB of storage, $949 for 128GB, and going up to $1079 for a 128 GB model with cellular connectivity.
As for the accessories, the Smart Keyboard will cost $169, while the Apple Pencil will burn an additional $99 from your wallet.
Developing…
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