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Apple's 'Spring Loaded' Event Officially Announced for Tuesday, April 20

Gasu E. said:
The Find My Network is an ecosystem that Apple controls. They introduced it a couple of weeks early so it didn't get overshadowed by the AirTags. The AR support for AirTags is going to overshadow everything else in that space. You misplace your keys, you look at the AR FindMY app, and you see a real-time image of your room with a balloon on a string tied to your keys.
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Nope.

The Find My network is the product. This is what it is all about. A little plastic tag with a chip in it is not. Anyone can make that, and they do. There were even new trackers announced on the same day from third parties with support for the Find My network.

It couldn't be more clear if it were written on the roof of Apple Park.
 
69Mustang said:
Question for those who are excited about AirTags: why the excitement?

It seems like the kind of innocuous afterthought tech that you impulse buy while in line for checkout. Like picking up one of those spare USB drives that sit near the counter at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Microcenter, etc.

Not knocking the product category, just genuinely curious about the excitement surrounding something so mundane.
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I'm actually most excited for the AirTags simply because I still have PTSD from the one time I lost my keys, and the locksmith had to completely destroy and replace the lock so that I could get back into my house. Cost me over $1k for service and lock & deadbolt replacement.

I think AirTags is one of those things that you don't appreciate until you need it, and then you REALLY wish you had it - just like insurance. Also, the idea that any iPhone can be used to locate an AirTag vs. limited network of something like Tile is why I'm holding out for it.
 
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lukesturr said:
Apple isn't that boring with their event titles. They have to be relating the name to something in the event.
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As Renee Richie helpfully points out, the team that creates the graphics for these events usually have no idea what will be announced.
Apple gives them a spec, like ”use these colors and use this font” or whatever, and that’s about it.
The event on March 9, 2015 was called “spring forward.” This one is called “Spring loaded.”
The colors are just the colors of the new iPhone and Apple Watch spring cases and bands that were leaked a couple weeks ago.
Again, keep expectations low.
 
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Shut up, take my money and give me a 32GB 32" 8K iMac with 2TB SSD and miniLED display.
 
HarryWild said:
Not sure what the range of Air Tag is. I want a cheap way to find my parked car in giant parking ramps and flat airport parking lot that are nearly 3 blocks square. Sick of calling security to locate my car.
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That's got to be a joke. Umpteen find-my-car apps in the store that use GPS.
 
69Mustang said:
Question for those who are excited about AirTags: why the excitement?

It seems like the kind of innocuous afterthought tech that you impulse buy while in line for checkout. Like picking up one of those spare USB drives that sit near the counter at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Microcenter, etc.

Not knocking the product category, just genuinely curious about the excitement surrounding something so mundane.
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Because they literally don't get it. The product they're looking for is the Find My network that was announced last week.
 
Lemon Olive said:
Nope.

The Find My network is the product. This is what it is all about. A little plastic tag with a chip in it is not. Anyone can make that, and they do. There were even new trackers announced on the same day from third parties with support for the Find My network.

It couldn't be more clear if it were written on the roof of Apple Park.
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Airtags are real.
Once again, third-party companies make MagSafe accessories, iPhone cases, etc. Apple makes magsafe accessories, iPhone cases, etc.
 
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The BEST use I can think of in my case, are AirTags for luggage. Think of all the people in an Airport with iPhones that can help you find them in case they go missing.
 
Some people have pets. Slap an AirTag on them, and you'll never have to worry about Fluffy, your child's pet boa constricter getting lose, and eating your neighbor's cat Buffy.

I strongly expect the above to be the plot of Apple's AirTags commercials.
 
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Great news, was just about to order AirPods Pro replacement for lost pair. Hopefully new Pros!
 
Really really hoping for an iMac release. I’ve been rocking a 2018 11” iPad Pro for the past couple years as my primary device while my 2012 MBA barely chugs along for stuff that absolutely requires using a computer. I’ve waffled over replacing it with something so many times for a few years now but have always decided against it for one reason or another. It really is time now.

Trying not to get too excited- we could get radio silence regarding iMacs come 4/20, but I’m hopeful that the appearance in macOS betas means that they really are on the horizon.
 
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Alan Gordon said:
Some people have pets. Slap an AirTag on them, and you'll never have to worry about Fluffy, your child's pet boa constricter getting lose, and eating your neighbor's cat Buffy.

I strongly expect the above to be the plot of Apple's AirTags commercials.
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It won’t be. They don’t want the liability. They prohibit devices for tracking living things.
Source: my dog collar was rejected from the program for that reason.
 
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Airpods Pro with better battery and build quality are an immediate buy for me. Fingers crossed.
 
mi7chy said:
Apple has reversed course on a lot of things like >3.5", pen support
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Apple did not reverse course on pencil support. The statement that Steve Jobs made was if you need a stylus to control the system the product was not done right. He did not argue against having a stylus for precision input for specific applications.
 
fishkorp said:
It won’t be. They don’t want the liability. They prohibit devices for tracking living things.
Source: my dog collar was rejected from the program for that reason.
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I was joking around. I didn't truly believe that'd be their commercial... especially the scenario I used.

HOWEVER, I do see a lot of people using AirTags for pets, regardless of Apple's intentions. Unless a stalker used a pet to keep track of their victim, I honestly don't see any potential for abuse, nor do I believe the pet's rights are violated.

Interesting information regarding the collar though. If you don't mind me asking, can a person see your collar and know that it's a tracker, or are the tracking features hidden? In other words, could someone "gift" that collar to someone's pet, and then track them without their consent? I'm thinking that may be the scenario they're afraid of.
 
Alan Gordon said:
I was joking around. I didn't truly believe that'd be their commercial... especially the scenario I used.

HOWEVER, I do see a lot of people using AirTags for pets, regardless of Apple's intentions. Unless a stalker used a pet to keep track of their victim, I honestly don't see any potential for abuse, nor do I believe the pet's rights are violated.

Interesting information regarding the collar though. If you don't mind me asking, can a person see your collar and know that it's a tracker, or are the tracking features hidden? In other words, could someone "gift" that collar to someone's pet, and then track them without their consent? I'm thinking that may be the scenario they're afraid of.
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Visibly, all components are inside the collar. Without knowing chipset specifics, etc, I wouldn’t know if that’s possible in current state to work with Find My. I currently partner with a local handmade collar maker and we embed NFC tags inside the collar (if they want). Holding your phone next to the collar (the area where the tag is) takes you to a website with pet info, contact info, etc. like a virtual dog tag.
I’ve been just beta testing locally for now. My hope was to take it to the next level and add in Find My support. Most hardware I’m assuming I’d need would add some bulk. And regular cotton collars wouldn’t work because they won’t keep the electronics safe and dry. So I’m just in prototype stage for the one that would have worked here.

I did resubmit for a different product though. Waiting to hear back.
 
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iPhone SE update - last update less than a year ago so won't happen. Anything with more features than the current SE would kill a lot of 11 sales

iPad Air update - same, very unlikely

Regular iPad update - same, very unlikely. Could get spec bump to some kind of A13 chip but highly unlikely since Apple still lists it as "New" on apple.com

iMac/iMac Pro update - several years since genuine update and also closing in on a year since 2020 spec bump, plus iMac Pro discontinued entirely. Buzz for M1 line has also made the current iMacs significantly less attractive/popular especially because of pricing/performance comparisons. Update must be imminent.

iPad Pro update - a good while since update, a little more than a year. Has seen very regular, yearly updates so very likely

AirTags launch - Appears to have just been a test product but since Apple never really made use of the U1 maybe now? I say it's 50/50.

MacBook Pro - Anyone's guess but don't seem to be on any leaker's radar, so most likely no

Mac Pro - same as for MacBook Pro, no likely

AirPods 3 - AirPods launches are highly irregular but if Apple actually is sticking to a lineup with two different models, one in-ear and one "on" ear, then an upgrade to the AirPods 2 should launch in 2021.
 
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GUYS! I think I'm onto something??
Look at the "Ls" in the "Hello" from this first Macintosh ad https://www.inexhibit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Apple-Macintosh-1984-advert.jpg and compare it to the graphic design for the Spring Loaded event.

It doesn't match perfectly but think about the original Macintosh logo with the multi-colored Apple logo that all Macs had back in the day -Doesn't that kinda match with the colors of the doodles of the "Spring Loaded" graphic?

I've attached a comparison of the two "ll"s of the old ad and the Spring Loaded invite.
 

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  • FirstMacintoshSpring2021.png
    FirstMacintoshSpring2021.png
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In regards to the AirPods, I badly need the new gen....my day 1 AirPods Gen 1 is slowly on the decline. The right earbud is much louder than the left earbud and it is just damn annoying to listen to anything on them anymore! As soon as Apple announces them, I am using Apple Pay and buying them right then and there!

The OG AirPods did last me 5 years, so I am not complaining!
 
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