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As it happenedended

Apple event - as it happened: No new iPhones, but plenty of education updates and an affordable, upgraded iPad

Andrew Griffin
Tuesday 27 March 2018 14:11 BST
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New iPad features support for computer learning in schools

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Apple has held its latest product launch, revealing new iPads and sweeping updates to its education offering.

The event didn't bring with it many new announcements, despite expectations that Apple could update the iPhone SE or other products. Those sorts of updates have been expected early in the year, but it's likely that it will either be in a press release sent out after the event or in another announcement later on.

Instead, the event focused on education, revealing a range of new releases intended to be used in the classroom. They're ranged from new products – most affordable iPad ever, which can support the Apple Pencil – to software that allows teachers to more easily use Apple computers in their classroom.

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And so we're onto iPad properly. And it sounds like there is an update of some kind on its way...

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:15

This bit is being led by Greg Joswiak, one of Apple's highest profile executives. He's talking about the power of the iPad, and how it's a "magical sheet of glass".

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:16

Apple talking about the fact that there's nearly 200,000 apps specifically made for education on the App Store. (At some point, it's going to have stop this bragging – the breadth of apps on the App Store is pretty much a given at this point, and doesn't really indicate anything about quality.)

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:17

Here comes a Londoner! To talk about how her school is using Apple technology.

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:18

She teaches at three schools, they use iPads for research and other learning, and it helps drive spectacular performance, she says. And with that, she's off.

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:19

Joswiak (who's known as Joz at Apple) is back on. And he's talking about specific iPad models, so it sounds like we're moving towards something a bit more concrete.

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:19

new iPad. And it seems to support the Pencil. Here we go!

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:21

  ↵

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:21

It's a 9.7-inch iPad. It packs much of the stuff that made the pencil and the pro so good – the same quick reaction, tilt sensitivity, and all that – and puts it in the "most affordable" iPad that the company makes.

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:22

The pencil works for teachers as well as students. Apple is showing a range of different ways they might be able to mark things up: writing on reports in the same way they might do with a pen, for instance.

Andrew Griffin27 March 2018 16:24

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