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CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) -- Apple unveiled a thinner iPad http://www.bernoonsub.com Thursday with a faster processor and a better camera as it tries to drive excitement for tablets amid slowing demand.
The iPad Air 2, at 6.1 millimeters "thin," also 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 percent less reflective, said Philip Schiller, senior vice president of marketing, on stage at the event at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.
The iPad Air 2 will start at $499. Apple also updated its iPad Mini device, with a starting price of $399. The new devices will begin shipping next week, with advance orders starting Friday.
Meanwhile, Apple made its new Mac operating system, Yosemite, available as a free download starting Thursday. Apple Pay, the company's new system for using iPhones to make credit and debit card payments at retail stores, will launch on Monday.
CEO Tim Cook opened Thursday's product-launch event by touting strong reception to the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, released last month.
"It's been an incredible year and tremendously busy already," he said, adding that the new iPhones have been the fastest-selling in Apple's history. He reiterated that the iPhones will launch in China in just a few hours and said the launch is aligned with a rollout of 4G cellular networks there.
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NEW IPADS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SkEhl3avNU
With Apple Pay, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners will be able to make payments at brick-and-mortar stores by holding their phone near a card reader. The new iPhones have a wireless chip to transmit the information needed to complete the transaction. Owners of older models won't be able to use Apple Pay, even with the software update.
Consumers aren't likely to abandon plastic credit cards until a majority of retailers, especially smaller merchants, accept contactless payments such as Apple Pay. But Apple Pay may spur transactions over mobile Web browsers and apps this holiday season, since it lets consumers avoid typing in credit card information each time.
The new iPad Air 2 will be able to make browser transactions, but not payments at retail stores.
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APPLE WATCH
Apple says it will release tools next month so that developers can begin making apps for the upcoming Apple Watch wearable device.
Rival smartwatches running Android have suffered from not having many useful apps from the start. Apple is hoping to have a strong app store in place when Apple Watch debuts next year.
encouragingunde14 · Thu Oct 23, 2014 @ 07:48am · 0 Comments |
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