Apple updates its iPad and launches the iPhone 7 Red
Apple had not organised a keynote for the occasion. As often when it refreshes the range of Macs, the company simply sent out a release to introduce two new products: a 9.7-inch entry-level iPad, which replaces the iPad Air 2, and an iPhone 7 (And 7 Plus) all red. Apple is also set to launch Clips, a video app for iOS that seeks to compete with Snapchat.
A new iPad at £339
The iPad Air 2, launched in 2014, was beginning to age. With this new 9.7-inch iPad, Apple is taking its entry-level price with a price of $329 (£339 in the UK) for the 32 GB model, the A8X chip will be replaced with a 64-bit A9 processor launched with The iPhone 6S. This time, Apple favoured the price to measurements. This iPad is thicker than Air 2 (7.5 mm vs 6.1mm) and a little heavier (469 vs. 437 grams). It will be available in pre-order this Friday, for delivery next week. It remains to be seen if it will boost sales of the iPad which have almost halved between 2014 and 2017.
iPhone 7 red
Apple adds a new colour to its range, with a metallic red of the most beautiful effect. It is a partnership with the Red initiative, which is returning money to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, as with the iPod Nano 10 years ago. This special edition concerns the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus 128 and 256 GB. the iPhone 7 Red will be available this coming Friday, March 24th with a starting price of $749 (£699).
Clips, a fun video app
Clips, which lets you have fun with photos and videos with filters and emojis, looks like the first glance at a Snapchat clone. But it’s not a social network or an email app: the creatives are stored locally and can then be shared via iMessage or any other app (Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Tumblr etc.). Given Apple’s passive role in social functions (Ping, Apple Music), this is probably the best approach for the company. That does not forget to add some useful features, such as captions and subtitles that can be dictated by voice. Free, Clips will be launched in April, only on iOS.