On Tuesday, Apple unveiled plenty of new toys, including the iPad Air, and iPad mini with Retina display. Still, Apple kept some things off the menu.
Apple TV
Reports
earlier this year suggested that a hardware refresh for Apple’s “hobby” product was imminent. Now that this hasn’t happened, one has to wonder what this means for the long-rumored “iTV.”
The Apple TV last received a significant update in March 2012.
Touch ID
As
Brent Dirks noted
previously, Apple surprised many for not including Touch ID on either the new iPad Air or iPad mini with Retina display. Most likely, supply constraints are the reason the fingerprint feature didn’t make the jump from the iPhone 5s to iPad.
Better Smart Covers
Earlier this month, former Apple employee
Jamie Ryan suggested that Apple would release a line of Smart Covers that included an attached keyboard. That didn’t happen. Instead, Apple unveiled slightly modified Smart Covers and Smart Cases for the new iPads.
iWatch
No one was expecting Apple to announce its own smart watch. They didn’t disappoint.
New iPods
As I noted on
Tuesday, this is the first time since 2001 Apple failed to refresh its iPod lineup.
Missing Macs
The Mac mini and non-Retina MacBook Pro have become the only OS X products not updated in 2013. This follows yesterday’s launch of a next-generation MacBook Pro with Retina display.
Summary
Earlier today, I suggested to my editor that perhaps Apple was prepping a third "special event" for November, which would cover the Apple TV and new iPods. He thought that would be one event too many for Apple for this fall, and I agree. Still, I find it interesting that Apple didn't update the iPod line for the first time in 12 years. That just doesn't sound right, no?
See also:
AppAdvice Takes A Hands-On Look At The iPad mini With Retina Display,
Apple's New Cellular iPads Will Be Available With The So-Called 'Uncarrier' T-Mobile, and
In The UK, How Does Apple's New iPad mini Compare Against Its Competition?
