Top 7 Most Important Announcements from Apple's March Event
On March 21, 2016, Apple held a special press event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.
These are the 7 most important announcements from that event.
1. Apple reiterates its position on encryption
I’m sure you’re familiar with Apple’s legal battle with the FBI. Apple started its press event with Tim Cook reiterating the company’s stance on this issue.
"I've been humbled and deeply grateful for the outpouring of support we've received across from Americans across the country from all walks of life,” Cook said. We didn't expect to be in this position, at odds with our own government. But we believe strongly that we have a responsibility to help you protect your data and protect your privacy. We owe it to our customers, and we owe it to our country. This is an issue that impacts all of us, and we will not shrink from this responsibility.”
2. Meet the new 4-inch iPhone SE
Apple’s new iPhone SE features a 4-inch display, an aluminum case with matte-chamfered edges, four metallic finishes (gray, silver, gold and rose gold), and Apple’s logo in aluminum. Underneath the beautiful exterior, it features the powerful 64-bit A9 chip from the iPhone 6S, a 12MP iSight camera that can record 4K video, and either 16GB or 64GB of storage space.
“iPhone SE is an exciting new idea — we started with a beloved, iconic design and reinvented it from the inside out. The result is the most beautiful and powerful phone with a four-inch display in the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone SE is packed with a stunning four-inch Retina display, advanced 64-bit A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor, longer battery life, 12-megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash, Live Photos, 4K video, faster LTE and Wi-Fi, and Touch ID with Apple Pay. Everyone who wants a smaller phone is going to love iPhone SE.”
Pricing for the new iPhone SE starts at $399. You’ll be able to order the iPhone SE starting March 24. The device will be released to the market on March 31, 2016.
3. This is the all-new 9.7-inch iPad Pro
Apple’s brand new iPad Pro has a 9.7-inch Retina display with True Tone technology that dynamically adjusts the white balance of the display to match the light around you. It weighs just one pound, features the powerful 64-bit A9X chip, comes with a four-speaker audio system, a 5MP FaceTime HD camera and a 12MP iSight camera that can record 4K video and shoot Live Photos. It is available in silver, space gray, gold and a new rose gold metallic finish. And last but not least, it provides support for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard cover.
“iPad Pro is a new generation of iPad that is indispensable and immersive, enabling people to be more productive and more creative. It’s incredibly fast, extremely portable, and completely natural to use with your fingers, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. And now it comes in two sizes,” said Philip Schiller. “The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a new Retina display with True Tone technology, four-speaker audio system, blazing fast A9X chip, 12-megapixel iSight camera, 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, faster wireless, and support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It is the ultimate upgrade for existing iPad users and replacement for PC users.”
Pricing for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro starts at $599. You’ll be able to order it starting March 24. The device will be released to the market on March 31, 2016.
4. iOS 9.3 and other software updates
iOS has been updated to version 9.3, and the most interesting feature it introduces is Night Shift. What this feature does is it uses your device’s clock and geolocation to automatically adjust the display’s colors. The warmer colors may help you get a better night’s sleep.
OS X has been updated to version 10.11.4. The most interesting thing about this update is that it adds the ability to password protect notes and that it lets you share Live Photos between iOS and OS X via AirDrop and Messages.
watchOS has been updated to version 2.2. The most interesting thing about this update is that it lets you pair multiple watches to the same iPhone, and then easily switch between watches without having to re-pair them.
tvOS has been updated to version 9.2. The update improves the text input and the setup experience, simplifies the home screen, and improves navigation.
iTunes has been updated to version 12.3.3. This update introduces support for the iPhone SE and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
5. Apple Watch price drop and new bands
Pricing for the Apple Watch now starts at $299. Apple dropped the price, meaning you’ll save money if you get an Apple Watch. Or, you could take that extra money and spend it on a watch band, like the new Woven Nylon band.
Alongside the new Woven Nylon band, Apple introduced a Space Black Milanese Loop, and new colors for the Leather Loop, Modern Buckle, and Sport bands.
6. Apple poked fun at the competition
Apple took aim at Microsoft, proclaiming that the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the ultimate PC replacement.
“Windows PCs were originally conceived of before there was an Internet, before there was social media, before there was app stores, and this is an amazing statistic: There are over 600 million PCs in use today that are over five years old,” Schiller said. “This is really sad. It really is. These people could really benefit from an iPad Pro. When they see the features and performance and capabilities of a product like the iPad Pro, designed for the modern digital lifestyle, many of them will find it is the ultimate PC replacement”
Apple also took aim at Android, reminding us that the latest Android edition, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, is on a just 2% of Android devices. iOS 9 on the other hand, has an adoption rate of 80%. Despite the fact that toth mobile operating systems were released around the same time, iOS 9 has managed to reach far more users than Android 6.0.
There’s no denying that iOS has a better adoption rate. That’s because Apple controls the hardware and the software, making it easy to push OS updates to the customers. Android on the other hand has a unique ecosystem, made up of many different devices, companies and carriers. Google releases an OS update, but it doesn’t go directly to the customer. It has to go through the manufacturer and the carrier first. And that, unfortunately, takes time.
7. Apple turns 40 on April 1, 2016
April 1st, 1976. That’s when Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne (the one who designed the company’s first logo) created Apple.
On April 1st, 2016, the company will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The video embedded below condenses 40 years of Apple history into 40 seconds.
Honorable mention – Liam, the iPhone recycling robot
Ever wondered what happens to your old iPhone? Why, it gets taken apart by Liam, a robot that can disassemble iPhones. You see, there are valuable materials inside old iPhones. Liam takes them apart so these valuable materials can be recycled.
Watch Apple’s entire March 2016 Special Event here.
UPDATE March 24, 2016
Apple uploaded the video from its March 2016 event to YouTube. It's embedded below.
These are the 7 most important announcements from that event.
1. Apple reiterates its position on encryption
I’m sure you’re familiar with Apple’s legal battle with the FBI. Apple started its press event with Tim Cook reiterating the company’s stance on this issue.
"I've been humbled and deeply grateful for the outpouring of support we've received across from Americans across the country from all walks of life,” Cook said. We didn't expect to be in this position, at odds with our own government. But we believe strongly that we have a responsibility to help you protect your data and protect your privacy. We owe it to our customers, and we owe it to our country. This is an issue that impacts all of us, and we will not shrink from this responsibility.”
2. Meet the new 4-inch iPhone SE
Apple’s new iPhone SE features a 4-inch display, an aluminum case with matte-chamfered edges, four metallic finishes (gray, silver, gold and rose gold), and Apple’s logo in aluminum. Underneath the beautiful exterior, it features the powerful 64-bit A9 chip from the iPhone 6S, a 12MP iSight camera that can record 4K video, and either 16GB or 64GB of storage space.
“iPhone SE is an exciting new idea — we started with a beloved, iconic design and reinvented it from the inside out. The result is the most beautiful and powerful phone with a four-inch display in the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone SE is packed with a stunning four-inch Retina display, advanced 64-bit A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor, longer battery life, 12-megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash, Live Photos, 4K video, faster LTE and Wi-Fi, and Touch ID with Apple Pay. Everyone who wants a smaller phone is going to love iPhone SE.”
Pricing for the new iPhone SE starts at $399. You’ll be able to order the iPhone SE starting March 24. The device will be released to the market on March 31, 2016.
3. This is the all-new 9.7-inch iPad Pro
Apple’s brand new iPad Pro has a 9.7-inch Retina display with True Tone technology that dynamically adjusts the white balance of the display to match the light around you. It weighs just one pound, features the powerful 64-bit A9X chip, comes with a four-speaker audio system, a 5MP FaceTime HD camera and a 12MP iSight camera that can record 4K video and shoot Live Photos. It is available in silver, space gray, gold and a new rose gold metallic finish. And last but not least, it provides support for the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard cover.
“iPad Pro is a new generation of iPad that is indispensable and immersive, enabling people to be more productive and more creative. It’s incredibly fast, extremely portable, and completely natural to use with your fingers, Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. And now it comes in two sizes,” said Philip Schiller. “The 9.7-inch iPad Pro has a new Retina display with True Tone technology, four-speaker audio system, blazing fast A9X chip, 12-megapixel iSight camera, 5-megapixel FaceTime HD camera, faster wireless, and support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard. It is the ultimate upgrade for existing iPad users and replacement for PC users.”
Pricing for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro starts at $599. You’ll be able to order it starting March 24. The device will be released to the market on March 31, 2016.
4. iOS 9.3 and other software updates
iOS has been updated to version 9.3, and the most interesting feature it introduces is Night Shift. What this feature does is it uses your device’s clock and geolocation to automatically adjust the display’s colors. The warmer colors may help you get a better night’s sleep.
OS X has been updated to version 10.11.4. The most interesting thing about this update is that it adds the ability to password protect notes and that it lets you share Live Photos between iOS and OS X via AirDrop and Messages.
watchOS has been updated to version 2.2. The most interesting thing about this update is that it lets you pair multiple watches to the same iPhone, and then easily switch between watches without having to re-pair them.
tvOS has been updated to version 9.2. The update improves the text input and the setup experience, simplifies the home screen, and improves navigation.
iTunes has been updated to version 12.3.3. This update introduces support for the iPhone SE and the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
5. Apple Watch price drop and new bands
Pricing for the Apple Watch now starts at $299. Apple dropped the price, meaning you’ll save money if you get an Apple Watch. Or, you could take that extra money and spend it on a watch band, like the new Woven Nylon band.
Alongside the new Woven Nylon band, Apple introduced a Space Black Milanese Loop, and new colors for the Leather Loop, Modern Buckle, and Sport bands.
6. Apple poked fun at the competition
Apple took aim at Microsoft, proclaiming that the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the ultimate PC replacement.
“Windows PCs were originally conceived of before there was an Internet, before there was social media, before there was app stores, and this is an amazing statistic: There are over 600 million PCs in use today that are over five years old,” Schiller said. “This is really sad. It really is. These people could really benefit from an iPad Pro. When they see the features and performance and capabilities of a product like the iPad Pro, designed for the modern digital lifestyle, many of them will find it is the ultimate PC replacement”
Apple also took aim at Android, reminding us that the latest Android edition, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, is on a just 2% of Android devices. iOS 9 on the other hand, has an adoption rate of 80%. Despite the fact that toth mobile operating systems were released around the same time, iOS 9 has managed to reach far more users than Android 6.0.
There’s no denying that iOS has a better adoption rate. That’s because Apple controls the hardware and the software, making it easy to push OS updates to the customers. Android on the other hand has a unique ecosystem, made up of many different devices, companies and carriers. Google releases an OS update, but it doesn’t go directly to the customer. It has to go through the manufacturer and the carrier first. And that, unfortunately, takes time.
7. Apple turns 40 on April 1, 2016
April 1st, 1976. That’s when Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne (the one who designed the company’s first logo) created Apple.
On April 1st, 2016, the company will celebrate its 40th anniversary. The video embedded below condenses 40 years of Apple history into 40 seconds.
Honorable mention – Liam, the iPhone recycling robot
Ever wondered what happens to your old iPhone? Why, it gets taken apart by Liam, a robot that can disassemble iPhones. You see, there are valuable materials inside old iPhones. Liam takes them apart so these valuable materials can be recycled.
Watch Apple’s entire March 2016 Special Event here.
UPDATE March 24, 2016
Apple uploaded the video from its March 2016 event to YouTube. It's embedded below.
