What to Expect From Apple's iPad Event

Now that the Ides of October have rolled in with the autumn weather, our thoughts turn to Apples. Not the ones you pick off of trees, but the ones that occupy people's carry-on luggage and desktops all over the world. Yep, it's Apple season.


While the prospect of a new iPad is a given, there are Macs that could use a refresh. We're thinking about the iMac, Mac mini, and even the MacBook Air, but the latter seems to be a shot in the dark.


The iMac 21.5-inch was updated earlier this year with an ultrabook-class processor that helped Apple reach a $1,099 price point, but the rest of the line continued on in the same configurations as their late 2013 counterparts. Since then, we've had processor updates from Intel as well as graphics updates from AMD and Nvidia.


The rumors of an iMac with a Retina display have existed about as long as the MacBook Pro with Retina display was introduced two years ago. The current iMac 27-inch has a 2,560-by-1,600-resolution display, which coincidentally matches the native screen resolution of the MacBook Pro 13-inch with Retina display, though the iMac doesn't do the adaptive scaling that gives the MacBook Pro its super-sharp text and graphics. To get the same effect from an iMac display, Apple would have to push the native resolution up to and beyond what's considered 4K resolution (3,840 by 2,160 or 4,096 by 2,160 resolution, depending on who you ask). Retina or not, an update to the iMacs is a pretty good bet.


The Mac mini is even longer in the tooth; the current configurations have been on the shelves since late 2012, and two years is akin to an eon in today's product cycles. These compact systems are still running the Ivy Bridge Intel Core i5 processors, while today's Windows desktops run the second iteration of the newer Haswell core. Mac mini users aren't necessarily the ones who jump on the latest upgrades, but the system is long overdue for an update. A Mac mini update would be almost mandatory unless Apple is abandoning the traditional consumer desktop PC market altogether.


The MacBook Pros with Retina display were updated earlier this year, as were the MacBook Air laptops. While the rumor mill has been discounting the appearance of a MacBook Air with Retina display, the possibilities are still out there. While the system is compact and primed for commuting, the current MacBook Air 11-inch has a low 1,366-by-768 screen resolution, which is the absolute minimum for a modern computer. Call this one a long shot.


An even longer shot comes courtesy of Brian Westover, our Hardware analyst, who wants a MacBook Air with Intel Core M. The new Core M processors give you performance somewhere close to the ultrabook-class Haswell Core processors, but with better battery life and more importantly, no cooling fans needed. These processors will let Apple make the MacBook Air even sleeker, since it can delete the fan and any vents. Brian also wants a lower $699 base price for the MacBook Air, but that is unlikely as that will start to infringe on the iPad's turf.


Jamie Lendino, our Managing Editor for Consumer Electronics wants 16GB base memory for all Macs, and this is certainly possible. Jamie also wants the return of the matte display on the MacBook Pro and iMac, but I'm not sure if this will happen since glossy screens tend have better color reproduction.


We're certainly going to see more on OS X Yosemite (10.10), and probably a date for when you can upgrade your Macs to the new OS (probably Friday). Those iOS users that held off upgrading to iCloud Drive will be happy, at least. An Apple TV update is a possibility too, but don't count on seeing an Apple-branded HDTV anytime soon.


Apple's New iPad Lineup As for those iPads, Apple might have accidentally given us a sneak peek at what it has in store. Yesterday, an iPad user's guide for iOS 8 popped up online listing an iPad mini 3 and an iPad Air 2. The iTunes listing was quickly updated to show the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display, but the damage had been done.


The image tipped some of the device's specs, including a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Otherwise, they looked very similar to their predecessors. Most of the upgrades will probably be on the inside: upgraded processor, longer battery life, etc. But there is the possibility of some new color options.


PCMag's Sascha Segan, who has reviewed the iPad for the past two years, hopes that Apple will relax its obsession with having the slimmest tablet.


'Rather, Apple users want less breakable screens and longer battery life,' he said. 'A positive move in either of those directions could help balance the scales. The power-efficient A8 processor will help.'


Segan would also like to see increased RAM; a jump from 1GB to 2GB 'will give third-party app developers more breathing room to create powerful, high-end business apps,' he said. Segan also wants an end to the Lightning connector, but don't hold your breath.


For more of what the PCMag staff wants in the new iPad, check out the slideshow above.


Apple will be live-streaming the event on its website for those with Apple devices, but those in the know will want to follow @ PCMagLive on twitter. Editor-in-Chief @ DanCosta and Lead Analyst @ JoelSD will be covering the event live from Cupertino, along with the staff of PCMag.com back at the home base in NYC. We'll be there, so you be there!


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