TORONTO – Apple unveiled its latest generation of iPads – The iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 3 – during the tech giant’s second launch event in less than a month.
The iPad Air 2, at 6.1 millimeters “thin,” adds many of the features previously available on iPhones. That includes the ability to take burst shots and slow-motion video and the inclusion of a fingerprint ID sensor for use instead of a passcode. It also has an anti-reflective coating, a first for a tablet, which makes it 56 per cent less reflective.
The iPad Air 2 will start at $549. Apple also updated its iPad Mini device, with a starting price of $439. The new devices will begin shipping next week, with advance orders starting Friday.
“It’s been an incredible year and tremendously busy already,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook, adding that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have been the fastest-selling in Apple’s history.
Cook added that Apple Pay, the company’s mobile wallet solution, will be available for U.S. customers on Monday.
Apple Pay, available on iPhone 6, allows users to use their smartphones to pay for purchases at brick-and-mortar stores as well as online via apps. The company said it’s easier and more secure than using a credit or debit card. The service puts Apple in direct competition with services like PayPal and Google Wallet.
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However, its unclear when Canadians will get to use Apple Pay. The company has not yet done any work on the system outside of the U.S.
Apple also unveiled a long-awaited update to its iMac all-in-one desktop computer line, featuring a high-resolution Retina display. According to Apple, the 27-inch display features over 14.7 million pixels.
With the release of the new iMac, Apple also revealed its new desktop operating system “OS X Yosemite” will be available for download for free starting Thursday.
Named after Yosemite National Park in California, the operating system has been redesigned to look more like Apple’s mobile OS with translucent windows and more simplistic app icons.
But the majority of the changes to OS X have to do with how Mac handles users’ files.
Apple has expanded its iCloud storage service so that users can store files of any type, not just those designed for iCloud. The service is also being rolled out to Windows PCs for the first time.
A new feature called Handoff will also allow users to start an activity on one device and send it off to another to finish – for example, users can start an email on their Mac and send it to their iPad to finish.
OS X Yosemite is available for free to all Mac users with computers introduced in 2009 or later. A complete list of compatible devices is available on Apple’s website.
Apple will be live streaming the event on it’s website starting at 1 p.m. ET. Global News tech reporter Nicole Bogart will be live tweeting the event.
– With files from the Associated Press
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