Apple quietly drops new products

Apple has quietly unveiled new iPads including a version that’s thinner and slightly larger than its current entry-level tablet. 

The new iPad Air starts at $779 in Australia for the 64GB Wi-Fi option and sports a screen that measures 10.5 inches diagonally. Comparatively, that’s slightly larger than the standard 9.7-inch iPad, which Apple will still sell for $469.

The new iPad Air has several features found in older Pro models, but not the latest. For instance, the iPad Air has a home button with a fingerprint sensor, while the latest Pro ditches that to make more room for the screen.

Many Apple fans will also be happy to see the iPad Mini get some long-awaited attention. Apple is refreshing its 7.9-inch iPad Mini for the first time in more than three years.

The iPad Mini starts at $599 for the 64GB Wi-Fi option and $799 if you want 4G connectivity.
 

In the past, Apple has sometimes used older chips in the Mini, saving the latest technology for the larger models instead. This time however, the Mini will have the same chip as the Air, along with support for the Apple Pencil stylus. But the Mini won’t have an optional keyboard attachment, unlike the new Air and Pro models.

The iPad announcement comes ahead of the company’s event next week where it is expected to announce a new Netflix-style streaming service and a magazine and news subscription offering.

MORE: Apple’s event will be the most interesting in years

APPLE FANS DREAM OF A FOLDABLE IPHONE

When it comes to the smartphone wars, there is a new battleground. And everyone is wondering if Apple will enter it.

I’m talking about the foldable smartphone. After years of expectations, tech giants have mastered the technology, ushering in one of the most significant design innovations in the smartphone era.

Most notably, Samsung and Huawei unveiled their foldable smartphone designs earlier this year, and Apple fans are imagining what an iPhone version might look like. 

Graphic designer Antonio De Rosa has produced some concept images which bring to life the potential of a foldable iPhone.

Although completely theoretical, it shows a phone that takes the same approach as Samsung’s device which opens up like a book to reveal a larger screen on the inside.

Garry McGregor, Vice President of IT and Mobile at Samsung Australia, recently told news.com.au that Samsung opted for the design after extensive customer research. It also helped in producing a handset about two-thirds the price of Huawei’s super expensive foldable phone which has the full screen placed on the outside.

So if Apple does join the foldable phone fray, there’s a good chance it will take a similar design approach to this. But we’ll have to wait quite a while to see.

Apple has several patents that relate to foldable smartphones. Last month, a patent application from the iPhone maker detailed how a manufacturer could prevent damage when the screen is repeatedly folded and unfolded.

Meanwhile supply chain reports claim Samsung could supply Apple with foldable screens.