Apple's Special Event March 21, 2016 Overview

Apple revealed 4 things in their Special Event today March 21 2016.

• The new 4" iPhone.
• The new 9 inch iPad Pro
• The iOS 9.3 update
• Research Kit & CareKit

The 4" iPhone SE

Sporting the same outer casing and design as its predecessors, the iPhone 5 and 5s, the iPhone SE not only drops the "5" numeral it also brings iPhone 6s and 6s Plus features to the 4" screen size.

Updated with the new A9 chip from its older siblings, the now simply titled iPhone SE gets the processing power to run the updated iSight Camera, and video processing required with it. It basically brings the power and features of the larger iPhones to the smaller screen size.

iOS

All in all a welcome update, and expected one, since Apple has been touting a 5 iPhone lineup since the release of the iPhone 6s and 6S plus last September. If you were put off by the larger screen, this is your chance to get the smaller version, with the smaller price tag, but with the same power and features as the larger offerings

The 9" iPad Pro

Since the iPad Air 2 did not get an update last September in favor of the iPad Pro release, it was pretty much called at that time that it would see an update mid cycle. The 9" iPad Pro as its being called, is now the 7th generation iPad released by Apple in the 9" format.

It features the same Apple Pencil supporting screen technology as its larger sibling, and gets some extra updates. Mainly the new 12MP iSight Camera available on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus along with a 5MP front facing Facetime camera. It also gets True Tone Flash and Live Picture support which its larger sibling lacks.

The 9" iPad Pro also debuts a new storage size offering with its 256GB version. The 256GB option will also be available in future 12" iPad Pros

Overall an expected update to the 9" lineup. However it leaves some iPad Pro adopters a little miffed, by the extra features not available in the larger more expensive version that now seems slightly outdated with only 6 months in its life span.

iOS 9.3 & CareKIt

iOS 9.3 brings a few new features, and updates to existing ones. Things like Health, and CarPlay get your standard updates. While Notes receives a new security feature which lets you password / Touch ID protect your Notes.

The new update also brings with it Night Shift, which makes the screen light warmer instead of the colder blue light it normally has, for night usage that may help you sleep better.

The update also brings with it new tools to manage iPads in classrooms, and new ways for Teachers and students to interact through their iPads.

iOS 9.3 also brings with it CareKit and ResearchKit, two new frameworks for App developers to help Doctors and care givers more easily track their patients care and status. Along with HealthKit they provide a wealth of information on the patient's health.

Overall a couple of key updates, but nothing really earth shattering in terms of new features. It was not as exciting as there usual September Keynotes, and the reveals were pretty much called since last year, so nothing that we did not expect already

Links

9" iPad Pro

http://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/

iPhone SE

http://www.apple.com/iphone-se/

iOS 9.3

http://www.apple.com/ios/updates/

FBI Requests Apple bypass the security of iOS to unlock iPhone used by San Bernardino shooters.

Apple is currently in a standoff with the FBI regarding an iPhone that was used by one of the perpetrators of the San Bernardino shootings last year.

The FBI is requesting Apple create a version of iOS, the operating system that runs on iPhones and iPads, that would allow them to unlock the iPhone recovered during the course of the investigation to gain access to the data, photos and files within it.

Tim Cook has been adamant that doing this would undermine the security that Apple has been striving for in their operating system for the last 9 years. The FBI is requesting that Apple endanger the privacy of every iPhone user in the world.

iOS by its very nature and design is a highly secure operating system that makes it virtually impossible to access the information on an iPhone or iPad without the passcode. iOS encrypts the data on the iPhone so that it cannot be recovered by normal means without introducing the passcode.

More so, introducing wrong passcodes will disable the iPhone after several attempts for a period of time. After which you can then attempt to enter a passcode again. Subsequent failed attempts increase the amount of time one needs to wait between attempts.

The FBI is requesting Apple create a version of iOS where this would not happen and they can brute force (try passcodes continuously, without stopping) the passcode entry until they find the correct one.

This event will undoubtedly set a precedent for IT legislature in the future.

Tim Cooks letter to Apple Customers: http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/