October 30, 2018 Apple Event releases new iPad Pro's, updated Macbook Air and Mac Mini

Whew!!! That was really an exciting #AppleEvent. Got the Twitter reminder just in the nick of time. 

So here's the breakdown of the announcements.

New iPad Pro's

* Sizes: 11 inch and 12.9 inch

* Colors: Silver, Space gray

* Capacities: 64GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

* A12X Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture

* Neural Engine

* Embedded M12 coprocessor

* TrueDepth Camera

* Wi-Fi + Cellular models

Notable hardware changes

** Edge to edge display

** No notch

** No Home button

** 5.9mm Thickness

** 102 magnets scattered around the body for accessories to attach like the new Apple pencil and keyboard.

** The smart connector is now on the back of the unit instead on the side.

** USB-C Charging

** No headphone jack 😕

New accessories for iPad Pro 11 and 12.9

* Smart Keyboard Folio

- Full size keyboard

- Front and back protection

* Apple Pencil

- Double tap feature (App dependent)

- Pair magically once attached to the right side of the iPad Pro.

- Charges wirelessly while magnetically attached to the iPad Pro.

Updated MacBook Air

* 13 inch IPS Retina display

* 10% lighter than the previous generation

* Integrated Touch ID sensor

* Colors: Gold, Silver, Space Gray

* 8th Gen Intel dual core i5

* 8GB up to 16GB memory

* 128GB up to 1TB storage

* 12H Battery life

* Support for eGPU via Thunderbolt 3 port

* 2 USB-C 3.1 ports (Thunderbolt 3) for charging and DisplayPort

* Still has the headphone jack 😂

Updated Mac mini

* 8th Gen Intel 4 or 6 core i3,i5 and i7 series

* Color: Space Gray

* 8GB up to 64GB memory

* 128GB up to 2TB storage

* Gigabit or 10 Gigabit Ethernet

* 4 USB-C (Thunderbolt 3), HDMI, 2 USB-A ports

** Although it was not explicit this can support an eGPU since it's USB-C 3.1 specification.

Although these are exciting Christmas gifts for the coming season it will cause a very, very big dent on the wallet. This is because these new offerings from Apple are way more expensive than the last generation at the same time of introduction. 

I really would like to have that maxed out new 12.9" iPad Pro. But the cost is at a staggering US $1,899 excluding the new Apple Pencil and Smart Folio Keyboard. Ouch!

Thanks!

/*Dexter