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Last week Apple held its Spring Loaded event where it announced new products to entice Apple fans and perhaps convert some new ones. If you’re thinking of getting a new computer, tablet, or phone, or you’re worried about losing your existing ones, then you’ll want to know about Apple’s announcements.
As with last year’s Apple events, this 2021 Spring Loaded event was virtual due to the pandemic. In recognition of Earth Day, Apple CEO Tim Cook proudly announced that the company is now carbon neutral for its global corporate operations. Apple has set a goal of becoming totally carbon-neutral for its end-to-end operations, including its supply chain and the use of its products.
At Spring Loaded, many new and updated Apple products were introduced, including an upgrade to iMac computers, Apple TV, and iPad Pro; two new purple iPhone models; an update to the Apple Podcasts app; AirTags; and much more.
Apple Card
Apple Card, Apple’s credit card with partner Goldman Sachs, has been updated with new features, called Apple Card Family. Now, spouses and partners can merge and share their credit lines with Apple Card.
Cardholders can have their credit scores reflected in their use of the Apple Card. Family members over the age of 13 can share the same Apple Card and parents can place spending limits on their children.
=> Check out 10 Reasons Why You May (or May Not) Want to Get an Apple Card
Apple Podcasts App
Apple first launched podcasts in iTunes for listening on an iPod, with 3000 podcasts available for listeners. Now, with millions of podcasts available, Apple has redesigned its Podcasts app to make discovering and listening to podcasts easier.
The updated Podcasts app introduces Channels to make discovering podcasts easier, with personalized recommendations for new podcasts you might enjoy. Listeners will be able to subscribe to paid podcast subscriptions within the app to remove ads and unlock premium content.
The updated Apple Podcasts app launches in May in 170 countries.
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini
If you’ve been waiting to get your first iPhone until you could get a purple phone, your wait is over. A purple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are coming very soon!
The purple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini are available for pre-order now and will be sold beginning on April 30.
AirTags
The Find My app has helped folks find over 1 billion lost devices and people. Now, Apple is expanding the app’s ability to find things with a new product called AirTag that works with the Find My app to help people find lost objects.
AirTags are small disks that can be attached to items such as keys that can easily be misplaced. When you lose an item that has an AirTag attached, you can use the Find My app to play a sound and locate the item on a map. You can even ask Siri to “find my keys” to have the AirTag and Find My app locate them.
AirTags can connect via Bluetooth to other Apple devices that have the Find My feature activated to help you locate a missing item. The Find My app can also direct you to locate the AirTag by moving in a specific direction with a feature Apple calls Precision Finding. You can see how far you are from the object and in which direction you should move to be reunited with it.
Apple has included privacy features in AirTags, including unwanted tag detection, rotating identifiers, and audible alerts.
The battery in an Air Tag can last up to a year. Your iPhone can remind you when it’s time to recharge the AirTag battery.
AirTags can be engraved with words or images. Accessories are available in a variety of styles to attach AirTags to objects. Each AirTag costs $29 and a four-pack is available for $99.
Pre-orders are available now and AirTags will be launched on April 30.
Apple TV+/Apple TV
Apple TV+, Apple’s video streaming service, has expanded with more shows and a new season of fan-favorite Ted Lasso to be released July 23 (my recommendation => Ted Lasso is a must-see series!).
Already a Ted Lasso fan? Check out The Verge Someone deciphered the Ted Lasso shortbread recipe from Apple’s Spring Loaded event.
Apple TV 4K, Apple’s video streaming device, is getting an upgrade with a new, more powerful chip for smoother streaming videos and more vivid colors. A new feature called Adjust Color Balance works to measure and adjust your television’s color balance. This tool uses your iPhone running iOS 14.5 or later and FaceID to achieve the optimum color balance for your TV, making colors appear more realistic.
The Apple TV remote has been redesigned to be easier to use. Gone is the touchpad, replaced by an iPod-like scroll wheel. The Siri button has been moved to the side of the remote. The new remote can control your TV as well as your Apple TV.
The new Apple TV is available for pre-order beginning on April 30 and will be launched in the second half of May. The price will be $179 for 32 GB of storage and $199 for 64 GB.
iMac
Apple also announced an upgrade to its iMac desktop computer with its new M1 chip first included in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini late last year.
The new iMac is available in a rainbow of six new colors, plus the traditional silver:
- green
- yellow
- orange
- pink
- purple
- blue
The colors are similar to the colors of iMacs from 1998.
iMac: 2021 v. 1998. pic.twitter.com/QhSXAU7bTX
— Basic Apple Guy (@BasicAppleGuy) April 21, 2021
iMac has new components that make it both quieter at 10 decibels and thinner at 0.45 inches (11.5 mm). The 24-inch (61 cm) Retina display has more screen space in a smaller frame than previous iMac computers. TruTone technology adjusts the brightness of the display according to the lighting in the room.
New cameras, microphones, and speakers will help improve video calls. These iMacs come with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, similar to the camera on iPhones. The camera processing helps make the most of your image, making you look like a rock star, according to Apple.
Also included with the new iMac is a new, studio-quality microphone that helps reduce feedback and background noise. Six new speakers are included with these iMacs, for better sound quality with spatial audio and Dolby Atmos sound.
The new iMac runs 85% faster than previous models, launching apps more quickly and allowing 100 tabs to be open in Safari at once. You can even play an Apple Arcade game while on a Zoom call, not that anyone would ever want to do that…
This iMac comes with two USB-C ports and two Thunderbolt ports and can support up to a 6k display. The color-coordinated power cable attaches magnetically and comes with an ethernet port for less cable clutter on your desk.
Accessories
Three color-matched keyboard options are available for the new iMac. You can get a Magic Keyboard with emoji, Spotlight, dictation, lock, and Do Not Disturb keys. A different Magic Keyboard offers a Touch ID button for you to log into the computer or other websites with the touch of your finger. The third Magic Keyboard comes with Touch ID and a numeric keypad.
New color-matching Magic Mouse and trackpad are also available for the new iMac.
Availability
Prices for the new iMac start at $1299 with pre-orders beginning April 30. The new iMacs will launch during the second half of May.
iPad Pro
Apple has also included its M1 chip in a new iPad Pro that makes it 50% faster. A 2 TB storage option means most users will never run out of space. The USB-C port has been joined by a Thunderbolt port for faster transfer of data and more versatile connection of peripheral devices.
A 5G antenna improves wireless connections for iPad Pros with cellular. New cameras and microphones help improve live streaming and video calls.
The 12 MP Ultra Wide camera powers a new feature called Center Stage. As you move about the room while on video, Center Stage will keep you in the center of the shot. If other people join the video, the Ultra Wide camera will automatically zoom out to include them in the frame.
The liquid Retina display shows nearly 4 million pixels on the 11-inch model and 5.6 million pixels on the 12.9-inch model. Over 10,000 mini-LED lights bring added brightness to the displays.
Apple showed examples of what the new iPad Pro could do, such as making line calls in a tennis match, transcribing notes onto sheet music when played on a piano, and have advanced augmented reality capabilities.
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1099. Preorders begin April 30, with availability in the second half of May.
Your Thoughts
Which of Apple’s new products and features are most interesting to you? Have you always wanted a purple iPhone? Do you like the idea of AirTags to help you find missing objects?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
