Apple’s Spring launch event saw the the company’s newest products, software, and updates.

To coincide with their environmental initiative, they first announce their new robot, ‘Liam’. This robot is designed to deconstruct old iPhone components into reusable materials. A responsible solution for your old iPhone(s) as the new one(s) roll out.

Next, the Apple CareKit is a new research tool for users and their doctors to better collate data for various health conditions. The CareKit will work along ResearchKit to track user’s vitals — temperature, heart rate, and even range in motion. This data can then be shared with the users doctor to adjust treatment and track their condition. The CareKit is available this April.

Small updates have been made to the Apple Watch and Apple TV. The cost for a Apple Watch has been lowered, and is now be available for £259. New watch band options are now available too, such as — a woven nylon (available in a variety of colours), a Sport band, and a Leather band.

Apple TV, since launching last year, now has over 5000 apps and more updates will be coming soon. These updates will include — folders, voice dictation for password confirmation, and Live photo viewing.

A new iPhone has been released! The new iPhone SE is a four inch device with a 64 bit A9 chip and an M9 motion compressor — meaning it is equivalent to the iPhone 6S. The camera in the iPhone SE is an impressive 12MP camera with the standard features — panorama, time-lapse, slow-motion, 4K video capture, Live photos, and a Selfie cam with true tone flash.

Apple is also claiming the iPhone SE offers LTE speeds 50 percent faster than the iPhone 5S. The SE has Touch ID and Apple Pay built in, too. Pre-orders begin this Thursday, 24 March, and will be available in stores 31 March. The iPhone SE is a more affordable option and a needed answer to the more expensive 6S. Pricing starts at £359.

Don’t forget to install the new software update, iOS 9.3 — which has simple but useful updates.

These include —

• Password protection on the Notes app,
• Night-shift sleep friendly lighting mode,
• App suggestions for Health apps,
• Apple News will now feature top stories and suggest editor’s picks for easy browsing,
• CarPlay has a new feature which includes song suggestions and maps locating nearby points of interest, eg. petrol stations and rest stops,
• Education features have been added that will benefit students, teachers, and administrators.

In more Apple product news there is a new iPad Pro, with a 9.7 in Retina display, and weighing less than one pound. The new scaled-down version of the 12.5 in iPad Pro has Oxide TFT display for a high contrast ratio. It also is 47 percent less reflective than the iPad 2 — having the lowest reflectivity of all the tablets. The screen is also the brightest and with the widest colour gamut Apple has ever built — designed to recognise ambient light to cast tones in the most natural hues. Also with four corner audio speakers, A9X chip, M9 motion coprocessor, a graphics drive as powerful as an Xbox 360, and a “Hey Siri” hands free compatibility. The camera quality is 5MP for front view and 12MP for the rear, and can shoot video in 4K.

Apple’s explanation for releasing a (smaller) iPad Pro so soon, is to cater to those who want a powerful more commuter-friendly device. Apple has also said that they want to attract Windows users over to the new iPad Pro as an, “ultimate PC replacement”.

Accessories included with the iPad Pro will be —

• Smart keyboard
• Lightning SD card reader
• USB camera adapter
• Apple pencil

Available in four colours, including the new rose gold.

Pricing starts at £499 and will be available to order on 24 March, as well as all of the Spring launch products, and available in store on 31 March.

Please be in touch with us at DirectionForward if you would like any more information or assistance in regards to Apple’s latest product and software launch.

We are a Joint Venture Partner with Apple and can achieve up to 12% discount on RRP pricing for all their products. If you have any enquiries, contact us at the following address — [email protected]