Apple iPad event: all the news as it happens

TWO tiny iPads, a big iMac and some big changes to the way your favourite devices to work. Here’s what you missed at the Apple launch overnight.

APPLE’S big October event took place this morning at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. We saw updates of the iPad Air and iPad Mini as well as an updated iMac with the world’s highest resolution display.

Most of the fun was spoiled a bit early after Apple accidentally leaked images of the new iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini on iTunes yesterday.

iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3

Apple has officially unveiled the iPad Air 2. It is even thinner than the original iPad Air at only 6.1mm thick. It’s so thin that you could stack two on top of each other and it will still be thinner than an iPad 2. The new iPad also has Apple’s fingerprint sensor Touch ID for the first time, just like earlier rumours and leaks predicted.

Using Touch ID, Apple Pay will also be available on the iPad Air 2 for online shopping.

Apple is pumping up the guts of the new iPad, packing in an A8X processing unit which the company says makes the device’s graphics 180 times faster than the original iPad.

For those who insist on taking pictures with their iPad, the rear iSight camera has been given an update to an 8 megapixel camera, and now takes advantage of an image signal processor similar to the iPhone 6’s.

This helps make pictures clearer than ever, and maybe for once, worth actually taking on your iPad.

Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller shows off the iPad Air 2’s improved front facing camera.

For the first time on iPad, you can also now take slow-motion and timelapse videos.

The iPad Mini 3 was also announced, with minor improvements across the device, including the addition of Touch ID.

Prices start at $619 for the 16GB iPad Air 2 and at $499 for the 16GB iPad Mini 3.

Pre-orders for both devices will start tomorrow and will begin to ship next week.

The iPad Air 2.

Macs

Apple announced the long awaited iMac with Retina display with the world’s highest resolution display for a computer. The company says there are 7 times more pixels on the new Retina 5K display than a standard Full HD display in a body that is just 5mm thin. The processor and graphics card inside have also been given a big update to make it more powerful than ever.

The 27-inch model will be shipping today for $2999.

‘The world’s highest resolution display’

iOS 8.1

The company has announced that its next update for iOS 8 will be rolling out this Tuesday and be adding a few new features to iPhones and iPad. These include a public photo library that will allow you to share all your images and videos with all your devices, iCloud Photo Library. Camera Roll is also making a return.

The company acknowledged it listened to users when improving iOS, however, it didn’t make any apologies over the botched updates that left people without the ability to make calls or use Touch ID.

Both iOS 8.1 and OS X Yosemite will be rolling out in the next few days.

Apple Yosemite

Apple’s new version of OS X, Yosemite will be available for free download later today.

The free download delivers new features letting Mac users take calls and send text messages from their computer, via a connected iPhone, as well as a new Today notifications tab, a redesign for its Safari web browser, and a look more akin to iPhone software.

“OS X Yosemite ushers in the future of computing, where your Apple devices all work together seamlessly and magically,” Apple software engineering senior vice-president Craig Federighi said.

An update to Apple’s iWork word processor will also receive a free update that will be available to download later today.

OS X Yosemite will allow you to make calls and texts right from your phone on your Mac.

Apple’s mobile payment system for iPhone 6, Apple Pay, which allows you to pay for things in store with your phone will finally be rolling out in the United States on this Monday the 20th of October. There is still no word on an Australian launch though.

There was also word on the Apple Watch launch, but that was just confirmed to be early next year with no specific date.