Last week, Apple officially sent out invites for its live virtual event titled ‘Spring Loaded‘. The virtual event will be streamed live on Apple’s website on Tuesday, April 20, at 10:00 am PDT. The main highlight of the event will definitely be the announcement of news iPads, with an updated iPad Pro leading the way. Other products we can expect include iMacs, AirTags, and the announcement of iOS 14.5.
April 20 ‘Spring Loaded’ event – Expected Announcements
Based on industry leaks and reports throughout the last few months, we have curated a list of new products and services expected to be announced at the upcoming event.
iPad Pro with mini-LED screen technology
Apple is expected to announce its updated iPad Pro models at Spring Loaded, with the lineup expected to get faster M1-chip class performance, improved cameras, Thunderbolt 3 port, and mini-LED display for the 12.9-inch model. The models with mini-LED displays will feature better contrast ratios, higher brightness levels, realistic colors, and lower power consumption compared to traditional LED technology. So far, Apple has not shipped this new display technology on any of its products.
A report earlier this week suggested that Apple might delay shipments of the latest iPad model due to display production constraints. The report mentioned that the mini-LED will only be featured in the 12.9-inch variant, and both 11-inch and 12.9-inch variants are rumored to be retrofitted with a faster A14X chip and Thunderbolt support.
iOS 14.5 rollout
Apple has been beta testing iOS 14.5 for quite some time now and it is expected that the announcement for the final release of the software update will take place during Spring Loaded with a rollout slated for the coming week. The new update includes many features like new emojis, new app tracking transparency policies, and the ability to unlock iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask, and more.
Apple Podcasts
It is expected that the Cupertino tech giant will announce the Apple Podcasts subscription on April 20. Vox’s Peter Kafka shared on Twitter that he is certain Apple will introduce paid tier of its podcast app. The alleged service will include premium programs by acquiring exclusive rights to different podcasts, similar to what Spotify has done. A report also suggests that Apple is planning on producing original podcasts that would go hand-in-hand with its content on Apple TV+.
iMacs
Coinciding with the colorful theme of the event, reliable leaker @L0vetodream recently hinted at the launch of a new redesigned and colorful iMac line-up. the anonymous leaker @L0vetodream tweeted images of the invite and the 1999 neon-colored iMacs side by side suggesting that the Spring Loaded event will reveal a colorful all-in-one lineup. The claim of changes in color is corroborated by a previous report by Jon Prosser who said that Apple will be introducing the redesigned M1 iMac in five new colors like the current iPad Air line-up: Silver, Space Grey, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue.
https://twitter.com/L0vetodream/status/1383349327658057728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1383349327658057728%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ithinkdiff.com%2Fimac-color-spring-loaded-event%2F
Additionally, there has been a lot of speculation on the expected design and features of the new computer models. Earlier, L0vetodream shared that “the iMac’s screen is really big, bigger than the biggest one” with thinner bezels, round corners, flat edges, and Pro Display XDR. A reference of Apple Silicon iMac was discovered in macOS Big Sur 11.3 beta 5 code.
AirTags
It is also expected that Apple will launch the long-rumored AirTags at Spring Loaded. The tags will be easily attached to objects or everyday items like keys and purses to quickly locate them. Recent evidence of AirTags includes the discovery of a hidden Items tab in Find My app which is expected to work with Apple’s and third-party location trackers and leaked images of Nomad and CYRILL’s new AirTags accessories
Leaker Max Weinbach recently shared the design and price details of Apple’s alleged AirTags. Weinbach claims that the new trackers will be as small as a 50 cent coin but three times its thickness, with a $39 price tag.
You can also stay tuned to our Facebook page, Twitter account, and ithinkdiff.com to be updated on the announcements and coverage of the upcoming event. What are your thoughts and expectations from this event? Let us know in the comments below!
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