Since last month WWDC 2014 announced Mac OS X – Yosemite, this year Apple Special Event catchword is”It’s been way too long.”
What live here (if available): https://www.apple.com/live
Last Friday (NZ Local Time 17th October, 2014), Apple hold an another meeting to announced new product. Not very surprised, because most of product was leaked before the event.
Same as the WWDC 2014, Apple was focus on the software development not the hardware.
This is the summary of Apple Special Event 2014:
Software:
- MacOS X: 10.10 Yosemite
Apple announced OS X Yosemite official version to user update. OS X Yosemite before the official beta version improves many bugs, and further improved the stability. And also added new features such as iCloud Driver, Message, iTunes and iWork applications have also been upgraded. Some of functions was take more close to the iOS 8, such as iCloud Driver, Handsoff and Hotspot sharing. And also the UI interface was changed if we compared with the 10.9 Mavericks, it looks like more “flat”.
iCloud client interface has also been redesigned, as The Verge said, Apple iCloud finally changed the way that we can understand.
OS X Yosemite and iOS 8 will be able to carry out a variety of linkage, the most exciting is that, OS X Yosemite official version at the same day with conference, the best part is you can FREE upgrade.
Some futures was added to the new system:
1) The new version of Safari is six times faster than other browsers using JavaScript, but adds two hours of battery life.
2) You can use the signature in the message Markup.
3) Can be used directly MailDrop change attachments, the maximum upload 5GB attachment, the attachment is encrypted.
4) iCloud drive seamless cross-platform support for synchronizing files, including Windows system equipment.
5) Can achieve better Continuity enables seamless connectivity between devices Apple.
6) You can connect to Apple TV via AirPlay without Wi-Fi connection.
Tips: Go to actual Yosemite in US. Yosemite National Park was located at central eastern portion of the U.S. state of California.
- iOS 8.1
The new version of the system is mainly based on user feedback, to solve the previous version of the bugs, in addition to increasing the Camera Roll function, but also in terms of Apple Pay, iCloud photo gallery also improved. It will be available at next Monday (NZ Local Time is Tuesday).
- Apple Pay
Apple Pay carrying three US bank issuers (Visa, Master and American Express), supported by more than 500 global banks and numerous online and offline support businesses, will be officially launched next Monday (same day as iOS 8.1 release). Bad news is Apple Pay currently only available in US.
Hopefully, New Zealand can launched this year, so people can using their iPhone to pay easily at any shops in NZ.
Hardware:
- iMac 5K 27′ Retina
The biggest part of this conference, iMac 5K was announced this year.
Some futures was surprised to me:
1) Screen resolution up to 5210 x 2880 pixels, 4K and more than 67% of the pixels, body thickness of only 5 mm edge.
2) Screen material is Oxide TFT, reduce energy consumption by 30%.
3) Using 3.5GHz Intel i5 processor, upgradeable to 4GHz Intel i7 processor.
4) AMD Radeon R9 graphics chip.
5) 1TB Fusion Drive.
- iPad Air 2
iPad Air 2 was first stressed the body becomes thinner than previous generation only 6.1mm. Compared to the iPad Air’s 7.5mm thin 18%, Apple called “the world’s thinnest tablet.” “Thin and thin” iPad Air 2 weight 437g, the screen size is still 9.7 inches with a resolution of 2048 * 1536, and the fit with full-screen, reflective rate decreased by 56%.
Configuration: iPad Air 2 uses 64 A8X processor, 40% faster than the A7, CPU performance improved compared to the first generation iPad 12 times, GPU performance is improved 180 times, iPad Air 2 pre-installed with the latest iOS 8.1 system .
iPad Air 2 is equipped with a new iSight camera, upscaling to 8,000,000, aperture f / 2.4, and supports high-speed continuous shooting function Burst shot and time-lapse photography. Although the body thinner, better iPad Air Camera 2 has not prominent. In addition, the front camera has also been improved, f / 2.2 large aperture, FaceTime HD camera, into the light rate increased 81 percent, making FaceTime iPad become more self-timer and talk to the force. But iPad Air 2 battery life is still about 10 hours.
- iPad Mini 3
One sentence to summary the iPad Mini 3: Same as the last generation, only add Touch ID to 3rd generation and more expensive than last generation.
- Mac Mini
Compared with iMac 5K, Mac Mini is only has some update:
1) 4th generation Intel Core processor.
2) Intel Iris graphics chip.
3) Two Thunderbolt interface.
4) Flash-based PCle.
5) Support for 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
- Apple Watch
It will be coming early 2015…
Overall, this conference Apple did not give us too many surprises, the new version of the iPad evolution was not much, but Apple actually build a ecosystem to become another important part, and the software OS X linkage with Apple’s iOS integration desktop devices and mobile devices, bringing an excellent user experience. The most amazing is iMac 5K retina display market mainstream spike 4K screen, and we have to say that Apple become the leader of the computer industry once again.
Thanks for read my reviews. 🙂
