During a pre-recorded event that a CBS News report said resembled “a one-hour infomercial for Apple,” 360,000 people watching via YouTube stream saw Apple’s first product launch event of the year.
Although there were many high points and interesting product initiatives, the overall reception was muted at best.
Apple stock was down about 2 percent following the launch announcement.
So what was announced?
- A colorful new iMac
- An updated iPad Pro with 5G
- The M1 chip that’s also used in the company’s desktop computers
- An AirTag lost-device tracking device
- A refreshed Apple TV 4K with a brand-new remote
The company says its high-end iPad Pros that use the company’s M1 chip will be the most powerful tablet on the market, making the new iPads 50 percent faster than last year’s models.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s screen is brighter and has better color resolution than previous displays using a technology called Mini-LED.
Additionally, the new wave is here: Apple’s new iMacs are powered by Apple’s custom M1 silicon, not Intel processors. The entry-level model costs $1,299.
Finally, let’s talk TV: Apple is rolling out a new remote for Apple TV. It will ship in the second half of May with the new Apple TV 4K, which costs $179 or $199 depending on the model.
AirTag, an iPhone accessory, is priced at $29 for one or $99 for four. It will be on store shelves on April 30.
It uses Apple technology called Find My, which uses a network of iPhones to find lost objects.
Further, Apple announced its new podcast subscription service, challenging Spotify and others in the audio streaming space.
Apple remains one of the world’s most profitable companies with a market value of $2.2 trillion, up 100 percent since the beginning of the pandemic.
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