A client of iTandCoffee this week sought advice on whether to get a newer iPad (to replace his iPad Gen 3), and which would be the best to get.

One reason he was considering a new iPad was that he had been having trouble syncing his music from his iMac to his iPad.  It had been suggested by Apple Support that this was an issue with the age of his iPad and incompatibility with some new music he had 'ripped'.  In fact, he had turned on iCloud Music Library - something that was preventing his sync'ing from working as anticipated.  

(For anyone having similar issues, here is an article written previously on this topic: Purchased music won't download to my iPhone and my Apple TV doesn't show any music.)

While the iTunes sync problem was not in itself a reason for him to purchase a new iPad, the inability to upgrade iOS on his iPad 3 beyond iOS 9 was a good enough reason for him to consider an upgrade of his iPad..

So then, the big question was "which iPad to purchase?". 

I did suggest that I thought the smaller iPad Pro would be a good option for him, especially because it gives the ability to add the keyboard and Pencil.  I have loved my own larger sized iPad Pro for its beautiful screen and these 'add-ons', and figure that the iPad Air 2 has been around for 2.5 years - so is getting to be a bit 'long in the tooth' (in technology terms!).

I suggested to this client that, if he is not urgently needing to upgrade, it might be worth waiting a few weeks to see if any new iPad models are announced in the regular 'Spring' announcements from Apple in the US (Autumn for us in Australia).  These are expected in the next few weeks.

There are certainly rumours of upcoming changes to the iPad range.  Below is an article from MacWorld this week, addressing these rumours and the likelihood of them coming to fruition.  

We will all need to 'stay tuned' to see what will be revealed - if anything!

This week saw Apple announce its latest iPhones, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.  The big news about these new phones was

• The headphone jack is now gone, giving way to improved speakers.  Instead, the headphones will plug into the same lightning port as that used for charging.  
  
• Earpod headphones with lightning adaptor will ship with the new phones, as will a lightning to standard headphone jack adaptor, allowing you to still plug in your old standard headphones.
• The new phones will be water resistant
• The Home Button won't actually be a button any more, but will instead be a pressure sensitive spot in the same place as the original button.
• The iPhone 7 Plus will have two cameras (read more about this in the below article).

You have most likely heard the news this week, that Apple has released a couple of new products in its range of iPads and iPhones.

A new, small iPhone

The new iPhone 5SE replaces the iPhone 5S, and is targeted at those who do not want the larger sizes provided in the 6 and 6 Plus range.

Here is a MacWorld article with more information about this new iPhone.

• Meet the iPhone SE, which packs iPhone 6s performance in a 4-inch body - Macworld Australia 

A new iPad - an 'iPad Air-sized' iPad Pro

For me, the really interesting product announced on Tuesday was the newest iPad in the range, called the iPad Pro 9.7 inch (as distinct from the larger iPad Pro 12.9 inch, released late last year).  

Here is an article from The Age about this new iPad Pro: 

• Apple's smaller iPad Pro makes the original 12.9-inch one redundant

Here's another from Macworld:

• 9.7-inch iPad Pro first look: A worthy successor to the iPad Air 2 - Macworld Australia                                                                

Is the iPad Pro 12.9 inch too large?

I'm not sure if I have reported previously on this blog that I actually purchased the larger iPad Pro at the start of this year.  My main reason for purchasing was so that I could offer and informed opinion on it to clients (as well as the fact that just NEEEEEDED it).

At first it seemed that, like when I first got my iPhone 6 Plus, it was a bit too large to be practical.

However, after a couple of months of use, I have come to greatly appreciate the screen size and have fallen in love with it (as I did with my iPhone 6 Plus, and now the 6S Plus).

It is certainly large - about the size of an A4 piece of paper - but this doesn't bother me now, since is about the size of an A4 compendium that I might otherwise carry when going to see clients.  I no longer need to carry a notebook with me, and the large iPad Pro fits fine in my over-sized handbag (in which I also carry my iPad Air).  

While I can't say that it replaces my laptop for the majority of my work, it certainly has a place in my technology line-up for the following reasons:

• I use it as my notebook during client appointments, and to scribble notes from phone calls and innumerable other notes.
• I am absolutely loving the Apple Pencil that I can use to write and draw;
• I run my Powerpoint presentations from it during iTandCoffee classes;
• I view my photos on its amazing big screen, easy turning it from landscape to portrait (something that you don't really get to do with a laptop) - this is one of my favourite uses for it;
• I read the newspaper on it.
• I have it sitting on my desk as a second screen, allowing me to check my calendar an other important information while working on my main screen.

Which one would I buy now ?

The question I ask myself is, if I had waited until now to purchase this iPad Pro, which size would I purchase - the large version, or the 'iPad Air' sized version.

While the size of the iPad Pro has not caused me any real concerns, I do think that the smaller size is a lot more practical, light and portable for the majority of people - and perhaps will have a better resale value than the larger version (which most people are not too concerned about).

I think for most of my clients, I would recommend the smaller iPad Pro in preference to the larger.  

That is, unless the client is really looking for a laptop replacement that has the screen size of a laptop - around a 13in screen.  For those with eyesight issues and those who are not so concerned about slipping it in a handbag, the large version is a very good option.  

For school children using iPads, I think that the smaller version would be perfect, especially when teamed with the pencil so that they can write their notes.  (Although, be warned parents - the pencils are EXPENSIVE at $165, and very, very easy to lose!  I am speaking from experience here. I haven't yet found a iPad Pro case that houses my pencil, so need to stow it separately in my handbag.)

I would strongly recommend looking at the two size options 'in the flesh' to compare the sizes and weights, then making your decision based on what you are most comfortable with, and based on what you will be using it for.

You will discover that the iPad Pro (both versions) will be available with a new option of 256GB of storage - twice that of the previously largest storage capacity that was available (i.e. 128GB).   So the three size options will be 32GB, 128GB and 256GB.

What will the new iPad Pro cost?

At the time of writing this blog article, prices are not yet showing on the Apple Store website.  Online ordering opens 24/3/16, with the product available in store on 31/3/16.  

Below is a Choice article that outlines the cost of this new iPad (and the iPhone 5SE).  Presumably these are correct prices. 

• Apple announces smaller iPhone SE and iPad Pro - CHOICE

This Choice article is reporting the following prices for the Wi-Fi only versions of the new iPad.

• 256GB for $1399
• 128GB for $1149
• 32GB for $899

More information will be available on pricing once Apple opens up the online ordering system for this new product.  I will update this article with further pricing information when this is available.

Telcos have announced their plan prices for the new iPhone 6S, and are now taking pre-orders.

For those of you interested in a comparison of the monthly cost of the phone plans for each of the available iPhones, here are 3 tables that I have put together - with prices drawn from the Telstra, Optus and Vodafone websites on September 13th 2015.  

The information in the below tables is intended as a guide only - please make sure you check the relevant website for current pricing and terms and conditions.

Apple has announced that the price of iPhones will rise by 15% in Australia.  This has not yet impacted the main telcos.  So, if you are thinking about getting an iPhone, it might be time to jump in before the price rises.

Here is an article about this price rise.