Apple just finished their Fall 2013 event, announcing new products and updates.  Apple broke news about a variety of its products, including iPads, Mac computers, and software applications.

Here are three major takeaways from the Apple event.

1. iPads

Apple announced some major changes to both the original 9.7 inch iPad model and the 7.9 inch iPad mini. Let’s take a closer look.

iPad Air

The new iPad 9.7 inch model had some of the largest changes since the iPad 2. In line with this, Apple has actually re-branded the standard full-size iPad with the name iPad Air. The iPad Air has a noticeable design change and an improved computing system.

The iPad Air’s design is thinner, lighter, and sharper.  It weighs almost half a pound (.23 kilograms) less than its predecessor and is just slightly thinner. The width of the bezel (frame around the iPad screen) has also been reduced significantly and the iPad Air’s corners have been squared off, similar to the iPad mini.

The iPad Air processing power has been upgraded with 64 bit architecture on an A7 chip. This will be particularly beneficial for gamers and those using applications with advanced visuals graphics. And the wonderful crystal clear retina display remains the same.

To read more about the new iPad Air, visit this page of Apple’s website.

iPad Mini

One of the most anticipated changes to the iPad mini was incorporating the high resolution Retina display. As expected, the iPad mini will now be offered with Retina display. The iPad mini has also been updated with 64 bit architecture on an A7 chip.

To read more about the new iPad mini, visit this page of Apple’s website.

2. Macs

The second key takeaway from the Apple event relates to the Mac computers: both the MacBook Pro laptops and the Mac Pro desktops have been upgraded. Although the changes are minor, here are the highlights.

MacBook Pro laptops

The new 13″ MacBook Pro is lighter, thinner, and faster. This laptop weighs 3.46 pounds (~1.56 Kilograms) with a depth of .71 inches or (~1.88 centimeters) and operates with a 4th generation dual-core Haswell chip from Intel.  Also, its graphics run 90% faster than its predecessor and the laptop has up to a 9 hours of battery life.

The 15″ MacBook Pro operates with the Crystalwell chip from Intel. It has a battery life of up to 8 hours.

Both the laptops and desktops above have quicker flash storage, Thunderbolt 2, and WiFi.

Mac Pro desktops

The cylinder-shaped Mac Pro is best for those that need a computer with awesome processing power and massive storage space. This computer is particularly useful for applications like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Aperture. The device runs on an Intel Xeon E5 Processor and has room for up to 1 terabyte of flash storage.

3. Software

There were several software-related announcements at the Apple event, including upgrades and freebies.

OS X Mavericks

The latest version of the OS X (operating system for Mac computers) was announced in June called OS X Mavericks.  Mavericks (OS X 10.9)  is a subtle upgrade from Lion (OS X 10.8).

Not only is Mavericks OS X now available for download, but it is free. That’s right, it seems Apple wants everyone to upgrade to the new operating. More specifically, this update is available with anyone operating OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and above (basically all Macs released within the past few years).

You can download OS X 10.9 Mavericks for free directly from the Mac App store here . However, the file is very large (5.29GB), so you may want to allocate some time for it.

iLife

All the iLife apps (iPhoto, iMovie, and Garageband) have been redesigned for the both Apple’s computer operating systems (OS X) and mobile operating systems (iOS). The revised apps harness the power of the 64-bit architecture built-in the iPhone 5S and new iPads. The apps have been visually redesigned and updated with new features.

iWorks

Apple already announced in mid September that the iWorks suite of apps (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) would come free with all new iOS (mobile) device purchases. Now these apps will also come free with any new Mac purchase too.

Apple has also upgraded the apps. Visually, the apps will have a new design, in-line with the modern looking iOS. Some new features you’ll discover are content-sensitive editing, synced interactive charts, and (in Keynote) object based animations. There are also collaborative online editing features, similar to Google Docs.

There is still no official announcement about when the new Apple Mac and iPad products will be released in Malaysia. What do you think about the new Apple announcements? Will you be purchasing a new iPad?

SEE ALSO: Malaysia Ranked as the Cheapest Place to be an iPad in the World

Photo Credit: Apple

Source: The Verge