By Patrick Avenell (Email – Twitter)
0838: Despite having been writing this for four hours, I am only now heading in to work. My colleague Claire Reilly will have more soon and I'll be back in around one hour. Thanks for reading!
0834: Fulltime score from San Francisco: New iPads 2 – 0 new iPad names. Meanwhile, Barca has beaten Leverkusen 7-1 (10-2), it's extra time in Cyprus and Spurs has beaten Stevenage 3-1. Spurs is probably the most supported team amongst Australian tech journos. There are a couple of Arsenal and Man United fans, and one particularly passionate Roma supporter, but Spurs have a very strong following.
0826: OMG: Messi has more goals in this game than iPads have Gs. Lionel's fifth (!) takes it out to 7-0.
0820: Here are some Apple-supplied specifications:
The new iPad is 9.5 x 7.31 x 0.37 inches (241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4 millimetres). It weighs 652 grams (Wi-Fi) or 662 grams (Wi-Fi + 4G). From this, we can assume that 4G weighs 14 grams.
0818: Blink and you'll 'mess' it: Lionel has bagged four, and Tello has two: Barca 6-0 Leverkusen. Still 1-0 in Cyprus and Spurs are up 3-1 at the Lane.
0802: Australia will get a 4G/LTE version of the new iPad, though we don't have carriers to support it. Essentiall it's a 3G+ iPad with a fancy name. Here's a quote from the Australian press release:
"iPad Wi-Fi + 4G with built-in next generation 4G LTE has the most comprehensive support for fast networks worldwide including HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA, and now both CDMA and GSM iPad users have the ability to easily roam internationally. The world-ready iPad delivers blazing download and upload speeds so web pages load incredibly quickly and email with large attachments can be sent and received easily. Personal Hotspot can be used to share the fast network connection on your iPad with up to 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB."
Australia is also getting Wi-Fi Hotspot capabilities, though that will be carrier dependent.
0758: Australian pricing for new iPad:
Wi-Fi only: 16GB – $539; 32GB – $649; 64GB – $759.
Wi-Fi + 4G: 16GB – $679; 32GB – $789; 64GB – $899.
0756: Here's a quote from Apple Australia's Apple TV press release, sent to me by my favourite member of its PR team:
"Apple TV will be available on Friday 16 March 2012 for a recommended retail price of AUD$109 inc GST through the Apple online store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers."
0751: Apple's US pre-ordering site is channelling Rick Perry:
0749: During its Grand Central Station Apple Retail Store opening video, Apple played We Are Young by Fun & Janelle Monae.
0746: Seriously, has no-one told Tim Cook that there's an iPhone app called Keynote that helps you with public presentations? He is shocking.
0743: Apple has sold 172 million post-PC devices in 2011. BTW, that's not those handy blister packs you use to mail PCs, that's iPhones, iPads and iPods. Spurs up 2-1 at the Lane (Adebayor from the spot).
0742: Considering how awesome the world seems to think the iPad is, Apple go on and on about the iPod. You revolutionised music, we get it, but it was 10 years ago!
0740: CEO Tim Cook said he was excited but he seemed only slightly more interested than Zlatan Ibrahamihovic did yesterday in Milan's loss/win against Arsenal.
0739: Everyone can now watch the Keynote address that launched the new iPad and the new Apple TV.
0735: It is absolutely pouring in Sydney at the moment. I'm sorely tempted to call in sick and go back to bed. Probably not a good idea to write that on my work's website though! It's half time in the Champions League: that lad Lionel has scored twice (24, 41) to give Barca a 2-0 lead on the night and a 5-1 lead on aggregate. In Cyprus, it's still locked at 1-1 on aggregate after Gustavo Manduca gave Apoel Nicosia a 1-0 lead over Lyon in the second leg. Second half under way at the Lane where it's still 1-1 between Spurs and Stevenage, while in the Championship it's 0-0 in both Brighton v Cardiff and West Ham v Watford.
0726: My old muckers at the SMH have taken time off from attending Fairfax comrades meetings to report Australian pricing. Apparently new iPad pricing starts at RRP $539 in Australia, while the new Apple TV will be RRP $109.
0725: More images are here, though tech gremlins are limiting the number. Will fix ASAP.
Post facto update: Those gremlins are now fixed.
0705: Here's an official image from Apple. We'll soon have a new page with all the images available.
0701: Spurs have an eqauliser (26 Jermain Defoe). It's now 1-1. Cypriot susrprise packet Apoel Nicosia is 1-0 up over Lyon, and that's 1-1 on aggregate. Still scoreless at the Camp Nou where Barca leader Leverkusen 3-1 from the first leg.
0700: Just made myself a double Nespresso to wake me up. Pro tip: shake some cinammon into the cup during the pour to add an extra kick. Make sure you don't pick up the paprika shaker by mistake.
0651: Full US pricing details (all $$$ are US $$$):
Wi-Fi only: 16GB – $499; 32GB – $599; 64GB – $699.
Wi-Fi + 4G: 16GB – $6299; 32GB – $729; 64GB – $829.
All are available in black and white.
0648: And here are some quotes from Apple's senior VP of worldwide marketing Philip Schiller. Apropos of very little, all the businessmen in American Psycho have vice president as their titles.
“The new iPad redefines the category Apple created less than two years ago, delivering the most amazing experience people have ever had with technology. The new iPad now has the highest resolution display ever seen on a mobile device with 3.1 million pixels, delivering razor sharp text and unbelievable detail in photos and videos.”
0643: Here is some official Apple propaganda. Well played if you keep your Weet-Bix down:
"We believe technology is at its very best when it's invisible, when you're conscious only of what you're doing, not the device you're doing it with. An iPad is the perfect expression of that idea. It's just this magical pane of glass that can become anything you want it to be."
You can watch the full video here.
The song in the background sounds a lot like Your Heart Is An Empty Room by Death Cab For Cutie. Great song.
0639: Apple is calling it 'Resolutionary'! Ha! And there is no upper case on the 'n' in new. It's the new iPad.
0635: New Zealand's finest Ryan Nelson has conceded an iPenalty at the Lane. Stevenage's cold as ice midfielder Joel Byrom slots it home. Big story developing here. That was Spurs first goal conceded in the FA Cup. Stevenage is still yet to concede.
0630: START QUEUEING!!!!
0628: As you may have guessed by my switching to live FA Cup coverage, show's over folks at Apple. It's called the New iPad (although I need to confirm the upper case N in New), it has a new HD Retina display, 4G/LTE in the US, a much better camera, new apps and is ever so slightly thinner. It's out 16 March 2012. Same memory and prices as the iPad 2. Full wrap, hopefully with more Australian details, to come.
0626: Chirpy the Spur is playing with a large inflatable FA Cup as Tottenham prepare to host its replay against Stevenage at the Lane.
0625: The king is dead. Long live the king. No mention or tribute to Steve Jobs at the New iPad launch. The fanboys will not be amused.
0622: Hmmm. What to make of all those locked on sources who swore it would be called the iPad HD. Hmmm.
0621: iPad 2 still kicking around, with $100 knocked off the US RRP. Now US $399 for the 16GB model.
0616: Huge emphasis on iPhoto at the launch. Coupled with the TVCs currently on air in Australia focused on the iPhone 4S's camera, it's clear Apple is pushing more and more into the digital camera space. BTW, you can get a fantastic point and shoot for under $100, but why would you?
0608: While one observer says this is "very interesting", a more common description has been "horribly boring". Note that that tweet was sent from a BlackBerry.
0606: Event has being going for over an hour now – I'm prepared to call it: there won't be an iTV. (I assume one will be immediatley launched now.)
0601: New iPhoto, iWork and iMovie iMprovements for New iPad.
0559: Fiona Apple has a new album. It's called 'The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do'. She really needs to just go with New Album.
0558: GarageBand Jam Sessions over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Now the other members of Gorillaz can contribute to their next iPad album.
0557: No Australian pricing yet, but in the US it's $499. With a one-to-one-ish exchange rate, that equates to an Aussie RRP of around $12,000.
0554: New games for iPad includes Blade: Dungeons. Aside: I was very pleased that Where's My Water? was the 25 gazillionth app download: I love that alligator.
0550: New iPad is a great name for the device. The numbers work well while still low, but once you get up high it's too hard to keep track of and there are too many negative connotations. The second iteration – iPad 2, Galaxy Tab 2, Xoom 2 – is the best as there is a lot of goodwill around second installments (like The Godfather Part II). Has there ever been a good third, fourth, fifth installment of anything? New iPad works well until this time next year, when Apple launches the Post Modern iPad.
0545: Telstra must be desperate for a 4G iPad so they can stream the AFL and NRL near live in HD. And Optus would like it too so they can essentially do the same thing despite not paying for rights.
0543: Available in sizes 16GB – 64GB. I would like a 128GB New iPad. Fit more of my redownloaded Full HD movies.
0543: Apparently it's called the New iPad. Shakes head slowly from side to side.
0540: iPad Something out 16 March in Australia. Pre-order today apparently.
0540: Same price as iPad 2: US$499…
0538: iPad Something has 4G/LTE in the US, 5MP camera, Siri, improved HD screen, Wi-Fi hotspot. No name yet.
0536: In something called 'The Big East Championship Presented By American Eagle Outfitters', West Virginia leads UConn 53-47.
0534: New iPad is 4G/LTE in US…
0533: Interesting observation from onlookers: Apple is heavily utilising the under-represented white male demographic in its presentation. Not a lot of diversity apparenlty.
0530: Stephen Fry is being intentionally being contrary by tweeting about a Ugandan warlord instead of a new toy.
0529: 5MP camera on the back. That is poor.
Post facto update: I write that 5MP is poor as the iPhone 4S has an 8MP camera, so the capability is there, and in this modern world of 15+ megapixel point and shoot cameras, to only have 5 is a disappointment, especially considering the fuss Apple made about the new iPad's photography credentials.
0525: Rival hack Trevor Long has a nice photo that you can view here.
0524: New iPad has Retina display, otherwise looks exactly the same, according to reports.
0522: I'm surprised Apple even knows Samsung exists (except for all those court cases). Quite a compliment to be criticised at an Apple launch. No doubt the Koreans are chuffed, like when their football team made the 2002 World Cup semifinal.
0521: Cook criticises Samsung for having a 'blown up' Twitter app. The lack of standard screen sizes in Android tablets will start to hurt those manufacturers. This has been a hobby horse of mine for a while.
0520: Apple sold 15.4 million iPads in the last quarter. What? Didn't these guys know there was a new one coming out?
0515: Those energy companies are smart! Shell has purchased the promoted tweet for 'iPad' searching today. So reward them for not being BP by downloading the Inside Energy App.
0513: New Apple TV with Full HD announced. News Limited scribe Jen Dudley amusingy tweets, "iCloud will now support movies so you can redownload movies on any devices. Curious."
0509: iOS 5.1 available today. Let's hope this one can finally tell the future. And Siri is coming in Japanses so our Japanese friends have the pleasure of not using it.
0507: Apple TV sales have been disabled from Apple.com, as have Macs, iPhones and you get the iPicture…
0504: Just to be different Piers Morgan is watching the other American president: "Watching Pres Obama live speech re cars etc – such an impressive communicator, whether you agree with him or not. #CNN".
0501: Apple not hosting a live stream of this event, which makes me wonder if they are launching a new internet. "Cook up on stage talking about Post-PC evolution. It's happening all around us and Apple is at forefront," Tweets ThePeterHa Retweeted by TheDaily, Retweeted by everyone else.
0453: Apple.com has removed the 'buy now' option from its US webstie.
1800 (Wednesday night, Sydney):
Apple’s media launch is around 9 hours away, with CEO Tim Cook set to take the stage at 10am in San Francisco tomorrow-ish (5am Sydney time). Current.com.au will up live drinking our Nespresso iPod coffee to continue this coverage.
To get the build-up going, let’s have a look at what we can expect from the event.
As for the products launched, there’s almost certainly going to be a new iPad model. Whether it’s called the iPad 3 or the iPad HD is up for debate, though the myriad of rumours and predictions come to a series of near-unanimous conclusions: the new iPad will have an improved display; it will be faster and lighter; 4G models will be available where supported; Siri will be on-board and unused; the home button is disappearing; and it will be brilliant.
Apple also has a habit of combining the launch of a mundane product line with a glamorous new gadget, such as the new iPods riding coattails at the iPhone 4S launch. To that end, it’s possible there will be more new iPods, though it’s more likely we’ll see a new Apple TV, though not an iTV.
The Apple TV is the red-headed iStep-sister of the Apple product family, with only true fanboys investing in a device that one such fanboy told me did sweet nothing (though he used a different term). Throwing in a new iteration of this gives Cook & Co the chance to explain and promote the device while everyone is paying attention.
As for an actual panel – the mythical Apple TV – this seems very unlikely. Apple entering a whole new category is big news, and the company with more media nous than any other would never hitch that onto the launch of another product.
(As an aside, I find it hard to believe that there ever will be an Apple iTV. That category has been decimated by price erosion, with consumers now able to pick up a 55-inch Full HD LED TV for $699. If Apple were to release a TV, for argument’s sake a 42-inch panel, its price expectations would be much higher, around the $1,500-mark, and the days of consumers paying that much for a TV are well and truly over. Would Apple ever get down and dirty with the discounting?)
Looking more broadly than just products, there are a number of other things to look out for at this launch.
After criticism for his underwhelming and nervous performance at the iPhone 4S event, it will be interesting to see if Cook is more relaxed and confident in his presentation. The former Dear Leader Steve Jobs was known for his phenomenal public speaking skills, so rather than trying to replicate this, it would be good to see Cook forge his own style.
On the topic of Jobs, will Apple pay tribute to their late CEO? Jobs was included in the In Memoriam section of the 2012 Academy Awards two weeks ago, but a large-scale, Apple-centric send-off would be a nice addition.
Choice of music is another point of interest. Jobs was a big fan of The Beatles – once bounding onto the stage to the Harrison classic Here Comes The Sun (great play on words). During the iPhone 4S launch, Apple used the more curiously titled Sleeping Lessons by The Shins to serenade the crowd.
Finally, it’s worth noting that numbers can be deceptive. Just like Arsenal can win a game 3-0 but actually lose, launching an iPad {anything other than 3} does not spell doom. The iPhone 4S let down many expecting the 5, but Apple has had record sales of this device, so presuming this iPad is named anything other than Newton, it too will dominate. For better or iWorse.