It's a big week for Apple. Today's event comes one day before Apple and the FBI are set to meet in court regarding an ongoing battle over unlocking an iPhone that belonged to one of the San Bernardino shooters.
Lisa Jackson, Apple's VP for environmental issues, announces Apple Renew, a program that lets users take old products to an Apple store or send them in for free by printing a pre-paid label at apple.com/recycling.
Jeff Williams is now on stage discussing ResearchKit, which allows researchers to gather health data from willing participants, allowing them to gain new insights into medical research.
One year later: Apple is sharing some success stories: A Parkinson's study became the biggest ever in 24 hours. An EpiWatch app can be used to track seizures and triggers, another study is working on a way to detect autism at an even earlier age.
Apple is launching CareKit today. It's a framework for developers to build apps and "empower people to take a more active role in their care." The first app being released today is for Parkinson's. Six hospitals will start using it right away with their patients, Williams says.
We're getting some new Apple Watch....bands.
Beginning today, the Apple Watch will start at $299. That's a $50 price cut.
We're now hearing about Apple TV. More than 5,000 apps so far.
The major updates:
Siri can now search apps even better.
You can now arrange your folders on the screen.
You can dictate information such as your username and password.
The free update is available today.
Onto the iPhones.... Apple sold 30 million 4-inch iPhones last year.
"Some people asked us, some people even pleaded with us to please keep the 4-inch products in our line-up," Greg Joswiak says.
Introducing the iPhone SE.... "At the heart is our chips, our Apple A9 chip." It's nearly double the speed of the 5S.
Basically: The new iPhone looks like a 5 but has the brains of an iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s.
-Live Photos (An update from the iPhone 6s that captures the moments before and after a photo is taken to create neat photo memories.)
-12 megapixel camera
-True tone flash
-Built-in Apple Pay
-Panorama up to 63 MP
The iPhone SE starts at $399.
Orders begin this Thursday, March 24. The new phone will be available March 31. Apple expects to be in more than 100 countries by the end of May.
W're discussing iOS 9.3 now. Expect night shift -- a feature that removes blue light in the evening and helps you sleep easier. Notes app can also be protected by a passcode/finger print, making sure no one gets access to your most personal notes.
Get ready to update your iPhone -- iOS 9.3 is available today. Tim Cook says he's "looking forward to sleeping better" thanks to night shift.
Onto the iPads... over to Phil Schiller, SVP of marketing
Phil is discussing how much people love the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.
Introducing the second member of the iPad Pro family... It's based around a 9.7-inch retina display.
The size is significant -- Apple has sold more than 200 million iPads with a 9.7-inch display, so the new iPad Pro is designed to appeal to those people who love the size but are ready for an upgrade.
"Customers love taking photos with their iPads," Schiller says.
The new iPad comes in four finishes -- and for the first time ever, rose gold.
Apple is also offering a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 256GB is $1099. Now, back over to Tim Cook.
Cook says this is probably the last product announcement people will ever hear in this room on the Cupertino campus. It's the place the iPod and App Store were announced.
Apple's new campus -- the one that looks like a spaceship -- will be ready in 2017.
That’s a wrap! To summarize, here are the main points from today’s event:
Apple is releasing a 4inch iPhone SE. It starts at $399. Pre-orders begin on March 24 and the phone will be available on March 31.
Apple is releasing a smaller new iPad Pro. Measuring 9.7-inches, the device is just as powerful as the larger iPad Pro released last year but is designed to appeal to people who prefer a smaller tablet.
Apple’s iOS 9.3 is ready to download – it includes new features such as night shift and better protection for the Notes app.
New Apple TV updates are ready and support more Siri interaction, dictation.
Apple’s ResearchKit is making strides in medical research with studies on Parkinson’s, autism, and other conditions.
Apple announced a new environmental initiative called Renew, which allows people to easily recycle their old devices.
NEW iPhone same as the old iPhone... smaller. Four inches. The iPhone SE. But faster chips, better cameras etc. Still looks like iPhone 5.by Neal Karlinsky via twitter 3/21/2016 5:40:47 PM
