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Apple revamps iPad lineup, including price drops

Apple iPad lineup, available from Connecting Point Medford OR

Today, Apple announced changes to its popular iPad lineup.

Some older models were phased out, a new model was introduced, and in some cases prices shifted significantly downward.

Here are today’s iPad family announcements, in a nutshell:

  • The iPad Air 2 product line is gone.
  • In its place, Apple is introducing a new 9.7-inch model, called simply “iPad.” Prices now start at $329.99 for a 32GB Wi-Fi only model (down from $399.99 for the iPad Air 2 counterpart it replaces). Other configurations include a 32GB Wi-Fi+Cellular model for $459.99, a 128GB Wi-Fi version for $429.99, and a 128GB Wi-Fi+Cellular model for $559.99. This new iPad is available in Silver, Gold, or Space Gray. We will begin accepting orders for iPad beginning this Friday (March 24th, 2017).
  • The iPad mini 2 line is also gone, and prices for the iPad mini 4 have dropped. iPad mini 4 is now available in just a 128GB configuration, with a Wi-Fi only version selling for $399.99, and the cellular version for $529.99. Color choices are Silver, Gold, and Space Gray.
  • The iPad Pro lines remain unchanged.

For complete specifications, pricing, and ordering info, visit our iPad lineup page here.

Apple introduces 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPhone SE, and four OS updates

Apple introduces 9.7-inch iPad Pro, iPhone SE, and four OS updates

iPad Pro 9.7-inch, available in four colorsAt a special event in Cupertino this week, Apple unveiled the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the 4-inch iPhone SE, while also rolling out free updates to all four of its operating systems. The new iPad and iPhone offer most of the functionality of the current iPad and iPhone models without being so large. On the software side, the updates to iOS 9.3 and tvOS 9.2 add significant features, whereas OS X 10.11.4 and watchOS 2.2 mostly fix bugs.

Apple iPad Pro familyMany people have found last year’s 12.9-inch iPad Pro with its optional Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard useful as a productivity machine, but for others, it’s too ungainly to hold or too expensive. That was the impetus behind the just-announced 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which meets or exceeds many of the larger model’s specs.

For instance, the smaller model’s screen can display more colors and adjusts its white balance to match the ambient light in the room. Its cameras are notably better — the rear camera is 12 megapixels instead of 8 and has a True Tone flash, while the front camera is 5 megapixels instead of 1.2 and can use the screen as a flash. Plus, the new iPad Pro can record 4K video instead of just 1080p.

On the downside, the 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s A9X chip is somewhat slower, it has half the RAM, and its Lightning port transfers data at only USB 2 speeds. But if the size is right for you, prices start at $599 for 32 GB of storage and go up to $899 for 256 GB. It will be available in April in four colors: silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold. Cases and accessories designed to fit the iPad Air should work with the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

Apple Smart Keyboard for iPad ProSpeaking of accessories, Apple has a new Smart Keyboard sized for the new iPad Pro, and the Apple Pencil works perfectly with it. There’s also a new Lightning to USB Camera Adapter that’s useful not just for syncing cameras but also for using USB peripherals like Ethernet adapters, audio interfaces, card readers, and microphones.

With the iPhone SE, Apple is trying to meet the needs of customers for whom the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are too large. The iPhone SE returns to the iPhone 5 form factor, with a 4-inch screen and aluminum case. Otherwise, its specs are nearly identical to those of the iPhone 6s, with comparable performance. It fails to match up to the current iPhone lineup only in the lack of the 3D Touch technology, the Taptic Engine that provides feedback you can feel, and slower wireless networking. It’s either $399 or $499, with 16 GB or 64 GB of storage, and comes in the usual four colors. Cases and stands for the iPhone 5 should work with the iPhone SE.

Apple took the opportunity to release free updates to all its software platforms too. iOS 9.3 was the most significant, providing Wi-Fi calling for Verizon Wireless customers, improving sharing of Live Photos, adding two-factor authentication for all iCloud accounts, and more. The marquee addition is Night Shift, which adjusts the color temperature of your screen at night, reducing the amount of blue light emitted to make it easier to fall asleep.

iOS apps that received welcome updates include Notes, which can now password-protect notes and import from Evernote, and iBooks, which can now sync PDFs to other devices via iCloud. The Podcasts app can show full-screen video again, Wallet works better with reward cards, Maps has enhanced public transit info, and News boasts a better For You section along with a Top Stories category.

Apple TV 4th GenFor those with a fourth-generation Apple TV, tvOS 9.2 is a big deal, with better scrubbing through video with the Siri Remote, new Home screen folders, a redesigned app switcher to match iOS, Bluetooth keyboard support, text input via dictation, and initial support for both iCloud Photo Library and Live Photos.

OS X 10.11.4 El Capitan and watchOS 2.2 offer mostly bug and security fixes, although OS X’s Notes and iBooks apps received the same improvements as the iOS versions, and sharing of Live Photos works better as well.

All these operating system updates are free, but it’s worth waiting a few days to make sure early adopters don’t suffer any ill effects. As always, if you’re concerned about updating your hardware, come in and talk to us!


AVAILABILITY: iPad Pro 9.7-inch is available to ORDER NOW. (Shipments will begin next month.)

iPod family

Get your iPod from the people who know Apple best:
Connecting Point Computer Centers

iPod touch
iPod touch is the perfect way to carry your music collection in your pocket. Now in five stunning colors. Listen to your favorite songs from Apple Music1 and iTunes. iPod touch offers the ultimate mobile gaming experience. Take great photos and videos with the new 8MP iSight camera and make video calls with the improved FaceTime HD camera.2 And stay connected with Messages and the most popular social networking apps. All on a four-inch Retina display.3iPod touch family

  • 4-inch Retina display3
  • A8 with M8 motion coprocessor
  • 8MP iSight & FaceTime cameras
  • 1080p HD video recording
  • 802.11ac Wi-Fi & Bluetooth 4.1
  • Up to 40 hours audio playback4

COLORS: Space gray, gold, silver, pink, blue

PRICES: 16GB $199.99; 32GB $249.99; 64GB $299.99; 128GB $399.99


iPod models are not available in all colors at all resellers.
1 Membership required. Requires initial sign-up. At the end of the trial period, the membership will automatically renew and payment method will be charged on a monthly basis until autorenewal is turned off in account settings.
2 FaceTime calling requires a FaceTime-enabled device with a Wi-Fi connection.
3  Display size is measured diagonally.
4  Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.
TM and © 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.


iPod nano
iPad nano family iPod nano comes in five stunning colors and is designed to provide hours of entertainment with maximum portability. Its 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display lets you see more of the music, photos, and videos you love1. And it has built-in FM radio as well as support for Fitness Walk + Run and Nike+.

  • 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display1
  • FM radio & video
  • Built-in pedometer & Nike+
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Up to 30 hours audio playback2

COLORS: Space gray, gold, silver, pink, blue

PRICE: 16GB $149.99


iPod models are not available in all colors at all resellers.
1   Display size is measured diagonally.
2   Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.
TM and © 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.


iPod shuffle
iPod shuffle familyiPod shuffle comes in 5 stunning colors. And with up to 15 hours of battery life, it is good to go for hundreds of songs.1 The control pad makes it easy to play your music. VoiceOver tells you the song title or playlist name.2 And you can sync multiple playlists from your iTunes library.

  • Up to 15 hours audio playback1
  • Built-in clip with clickable control pad
  • VoiceOver button2

COLORS: Space gray, gold, silver, pink, blue

PRICE: 2GB $49.99


iPod models are not available in all colors at all resellers.
Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.
Available in selected languages.
TM and © 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

VIDEO: New 60-sec Apple TV spot ‘Make a Film with iPad,’ narrated by Martin Scorcese

“Every scene is a lesson. Every shot is a school. Let the learning continue.” – Martin Scorcese

More and more creative people are discovering what an amazing filmmaking tool the iPad is. Its built-in camera is astonishingly good, able to capture 1080p video with remarkable clarity. And its screen acts as a superb, gigantic viewfinder. With a few additional accessories and apps, you can produce professional-quality film and video.

Connecting Point is your local, independent Apple Specialist. Come see what an iPad can unlock for you.

’12 Days of Savings 2013′ Day 4: 25% Off Select iPad Accessories

’12 Days of Savings 2013′ runs through December 21st, with special deals every day!

Connecting Point presents '12 Days of Savings 2013' Day 4: 25% Off Select iPad AccessoriesDay 4 (Dec. 12th): 25% Off Select iPad Accessories

The world’s most popular family of tablets has spawned a vast number of enhancements: cases, screen protectors, skins, shells, stands, car adapters, and much, much more. We’ve culled the cream of the crop, and offer them – for this one day only – at 25% off their regular prices. Find a great gift for your favorite iPad owner, and save a bunch in the process!

Find out about upcoming ‘12 Days of Savings 2013‘ bargains before anyone else – and lots of other cool deals, promos, special offers, tech bulletins, closeouts, and product intros – by signing up for Connecting Point’s email newsletter.

All “12 Days of Savings” offers are limited to stock on hand, and will not be extended beyond the day they are featured. Offers and prices are not applicable to prior purchases.

iPad Trade-In Program

Bring your old iPad in for cash or trade

cash or trade-in, cash paid for iPad, iPad trade-in, Medford OR Connecting PointiPad trade-in right here! Do you have an Apple iPad you’d like to trade-in* for something new – or even for cash? Then by all means, bring it in to our store!

Upon passing inspection by Connecting Point SERVICE, we’ll likely* offer a fair trade-in price (which can be applied to any new goods or services in our store). If you prefer, we’ll even pay cash!


*Trade-in prices are for iPads in good working condition, cosmetically flawless (no scratches, stains, or other blemishes, or water damage), with the original box, USB cable, and AC adapter (although we may still accept trades without a box, cable, or AC adapter – or if there is some cosmetic wear and tear – but we will consequently offer less in trade). We also ask that all accounts be removed or turned off (Find My iPad, Google, iTunes, etc.). Every iPad taken in trade must be examined by a technician at our Connecting Point SERVICE department first. We reserve the right to decline a trade on the basis of cosmetics, wear, damage, or any other criteria we feel might hurt its resale value. Value of trade-in may be applied toward any new goods or services, but not toward used, trade-in, or refurbished products, nor for gift cards. [04.23.20]#021617

Apple

Apple

Your local, independent source for all things Apple. As an Apple Premier Partner, an elite group of Apple resellers and service centers spanning North America, Connecting Point is authorized to sell, service, and support the entire Apple product line. If you’re...
We’ve got some unconditionally great gifts for Mom

We’ve got some unconditionally great gifts for Mom

Mother's day 2016 - gifts she'll love, unconditionallySelecting that perfect gift for Mother’s Day can be… challenging. You’ve done the whole “flowers and a balloon” thing. Candy seems kind of… well, unimaginative. But what if you could give her something she’d truly treasure, something she could use and enjoy every day, all year ‘round? Something (besides you) she’ll love unconditionally?

Connecting Point has the solution. As an Apple Premier Partner, we sell, service, and support the iPod touch, the entire iPad family (including the amazing new iPad Pro models), and the revolutionary Apple Watch. Our experts can help you pick out the right model and color for her – and we’ll throw in a $50 gift card, so Mom can come in and pick out the perfect accessory for her new treasure.

She’ll have plenty of choices: We stock cases, sleeves, screen protectors, Smart Keyboards and Smart Covers, watch bands, and much, much more.

We’re also offering the pink iPod shuffle for just $35* – that’s $15 off our regular price.

So give a gift Mom will love unconditionally, the way moms do: iPod touch, iPad, Apple Watch, iPod shuffle, all on sale now through Sunday, May 8th only at Connecting Point.


*While supplies last, limit one per customer.

Here’s the “TL;DR” version of today’s Apple event

Here’s the “TL;DR” version of today’s Apple event

SCREENGRAB - Apple iPhone 6s promo spot 09.09.15Instead of wading through the vast seas of press and tech coverage for this morning’s Apple event in San Francisco, here’s the “Too Long; Didn’t Read” condensed version:

Apple Watch

  • Announced new version of OS for its watches, WatchOS 2, available September 16th
  • WatchOS 2 gives third party developers access to watch’s sensors, the Digital Crown, microphone, and Taptic engine, along with the ability to build more complex animations
  • Announced new Apple Watch models, including those as a result of a partnership with Hermes, and new gold-and-rose and gold-and-anodized-aluminum finishes
  • Now over 10,000 apps for Apple Watch

Apple iPad family

  • Announced iPad Pro, a much larger tablet with a 12.9-inch, 2732×2048 Retina display
  • First availability won’t be until sometime in November
  • iPad Pro comes with new A9X 64-bit processor, claimed to have twice the memory bandwidth and storage performance of previous A8 processor, and to run 22X faster than the original first-gen iPad
  • Graphics performance also drastically improved
  • iPad Pro comes with a four-speaker audio system that automatically adjusts to screen orientation from portrait to landscape
  • Announced new magnetic Smart Keyboard (doubles as a cover) for $169
  • Smart Keyboard doesn’t use Bluetooth, but connects via new magnetic triple port on iPad Pro
  • Announced new Apple Pencil pressure-sensitive stylus for $99
  • iPad Pro available in Silver, Gold, and Space Gray finishes
  • Wi-Fi-only 32GB iPad Pro is $799; 128GB is $949
  • Only the 128GB iPad Pro will be available with cellular, for $1079
  • Other iPad models shift price points around. Entry level is now the iPad mini 2 16GB for $279.

Apple TV

  • Totally new fourth-gen box and set of features, with a 32GB model for $149 and 64GB model for $199
  • Original third-gen Apple TV will remain available, and still sell for $69
  • Only availability information for new Apple TV is “coming soon”
  • Much faster A8 processor
  • New remote has a glass multi-touch surface, volume control, and microphone for access to Siri
  • Siri allows voice command of menus, pop-up overlays, video navigation, movie and TV program selection (including suggestions), and much more
  • Remote also has motion sensitivity and a gyroscope to allow Wii-like control over games and other functions
  • Apple TV now has Bluetooth 4.0 and 801.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO
  • Onscreen menu now offers access to the App Store
  • Debut of TV OS, an iOS-based operating system that is supposed to make things a lot easier for developers

Apple iPhone family

  • Apple announced two new phones: the iPhone 6S and the iPhone 6S Plus. Physically, they look practically identical to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
  • But the new models’ screens come with a tougher “dual ion-exchange” glass
  • The new phones also feature pressure-sensitive touchscreens that work like the new Force Touch trackpad on the most recent MacBooks. Apple calls this “3D Touch.”
  • Both cameras have been improved, along with their flash technology
  • The back-facing iSight camera now captures 12 megapixels, and can record 4K video
  • The front-facing FaceTime HD camera now captures 5 megapixels
  • Rose Gold joins the previously available three finishes (Silver, Gold, and Space Gray)
  • A Live Photo feature has also been added, which automatically captures a few seconds of video and sound around still photos. Push firmly on a photo, and it plays the video.
  • Prices start at $199 for the 6S and $299 for the 6s Plus, with contract, for 16GB models
  • Jumping to a 64GB model adds $100, and to a 128GB model adds another $200
  • For teh first time, Apple offers off-contract pricing starting at $649 and $749, again for the 16GB models of the 6S and 6S Plus.
  • The new iPhones may be pre-ordered on September 12, and are slated to begin delivery September 25th

Miscellaneous

  • The next major upgrade to iOS, version 9, will be available next Wednesday (September 16th). Any device currently running iOS 8 will be able to upgrade to the new version.
A roundup of this week’s new Apple product announcements

A roundup of this week’s new Apple product announcements

During yesterday morning’s special press event, Apple introduced a host of new products, along with some restructuring and repricing in their product lines (you can now get a new iPad for a little as $250, and a new Mac mini starts at just $500). Here are the highlights, along with availability information (as best we can determine—we will update this post as details emerge):

  • Apple iPad Air 2 familyiPad Air 2: The big splash was made by the debut of the iPad Air 2, a crazy-thin (just 6mm) iteration of its flagship full-sized tablet. It’s not only thinner, but faster, too. And you can now add a third color choice to the current Space Gray and Silver: Gold. The new color choice, along with the addition of TouchID, brings the iPad Air 2 in line with Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Prices start at $499.99. Available for pre-order immediately; we expect to begin filling orders in roughly two weeks. Find out more.
  • iPad Air: Yep, it’s sticking around—but it’ll cost you substantially less. Prices now start at $399.99. Available almost immediately. Find out more.
  • iPad mini 3: Similar specs to the original iPad mini 2, but now adds TouchID and the new Gold color choice. Available for pre-order immediately; we expect to begin filling orders in roughly two weeks. Find out more.
  • iPad mini 2 and iPad mini: Now cost much less than before. The Wi-Fi 16GB iPad mini, for example, now sells for $249.99—the lowest price ever offered for a new iPad. Available almost immediately. Find out more.

If you’re interested in a specific model iPad, contact us and we’ll get you the very latest availability and pricing.

Other announcements…

  • Apple iMac 27-inch running YosemiteiMac 27-inch with Retina 5K Display: The “5K” stands for “5000”—as in 5000+ pixels. The new flagship iMac boasts more than four times the pixels of its 27-inch brethren. That’s impressive enough, but the fact that it will sell for $2499.99—that’s just nuts. Most 4K standalone monitors sell for more than that. Basically, Apple’s throwing in a quad-core Mac with all the bells and whistles for free. Available for pre-order immediately; we expect to begin filling orders in roughly one week. Find out more.
  • Mac mini: The littlest Mac got a well-deserved, long-delayed makeover. The entry price point dropped a hundred bucks to $499.99—the lowest price ever for a new Mac. It now comes with two Thunderbolt 2 ports and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. Available for pre-order immediately; we expect to begin filling orders in roughly one week. Find out more.
  • OS X 10.10 Yosemite: The long-awaited major update to the Mac’s operating system looks to be an impressive one, with hundreds of new features and enhancements—and is available for free download immediately.

Store

Apple store Connecting Point computers devices Mac store Medford OregonWELCOME TO OUR STORE! As your local Apple store, Connecting Point has just one goal: To provide the very best customer experience possible. Whether it’s our justly famous complimentary up-and-running tech support, innovative financing options, our unique trade-in programs, or our popular Deal of the Week, we aim to be different – better – than our competitors.

Why buy from us? | America’s favorite brands | Deal of the Week |  Apple Education PricingMac Trade-in Program | iPad family | iPad Trade-in Program | Matching Prices, Returns, and Refunds