Apple is widely expected to unveil at least two new iPads this evening, but will also have a few other surprises lined up.
The chief executive, Tim Cook, will take the stage at 6pm UK time in the Town Hall auditorium at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California to unveil the company’s new tablets and computers for the next year.
iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3
Apple leaked the names and details of two new iPads on Wednesday night, mistakenly releasing an updated iOS 8 user guide through iTunes.
The leak confirmed that the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3 will be unveiled today. Both iPads will have Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which sits under the home button and allows users to use a fingerprint to unlock the tablets and authorise purchases with an Apple ID in the App Store and iTunes.
The tablets will also be more powerful, likely come with larger storage capacities, and have a new burst-mode camera feature. The remainder of the devices is pretty much unchanged from the iPad Air and iPad mini with retina display, released this time last year.
There have been rumours of a larger iPad, with a screen greater than 12in, although this now seems unlikely, given Apple’s leak.
iOS 8.1, Apple Pay and Yosemite
Besides new iPads, Apple will release iOS 8.1 – an update to its iOS software for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. There will also be more details of the roll-out of its mobile payment solution, Apple Pay, which the new iPads are expected to support for purchase of goods and services online.
The latest version of Apple’s Mac computer software OS X 10.10 Yosemite, which was first unveiled at the company’s World Wide Developer Conference in June.
New iMac
New Mac computers are likely to launch alongside Yosemite. A new iMac desktop computer has long been rumoured, including a 27in high resolution retina display, which is better than HD.
Apple’s MacBook Pro line of laptops already have retina displays, which are used to increase sharpness of the display, maintaining the size of icons, text and images, but increasing their pixel density instead of making everything on screen smaller, and providing greater “screen real estate”.
‘It’s been way too long’
Apple’s tag line on its event invitation , “it’s been way too long”, suggests that Apple could update some of its older products.
Another computer that could see an update is the Mac mini, which was last enhanced in 2012. The smaller, lower-cost computer is designed to be used with an existing screen, keyboard and mouse, unlike the iMac.
The Mac mini also has a server version, which is used by small businesses and universities for smaller computer clusters, which has not been updated at all since 2012.
Apple TV and iPod touch
The company’s small media streaming set top box, the Apple TV, also hasn’t been updated in a few years and it is possible that Apple will update it. Based on the same software and hardware as Apple’s iPod touch, iPad and iPhone, the Apple TV has long expected to get access to the App Store for apps and games, as well as more on-demand video streaming services from TV broadcasters, such as the BBC.
Whether Apple will unveil an updated Apple TV at tonight’s event is unknown, although the American cable TV channel HBO announced yesterday that customers would be able to purchase a subscription to HBO for streaming across the internet without needing a cable TV provider. HBO could be one of Apple’s launch partners for an updated Apple TV.
Another of Apple’s older devices, the iPod touch, could also be updated. Although it was overhauled in 2013, it still uses the same processor as the iPhone 4 from 2011. Apple traditionally updates the iPod touch when the iPhone changes significantly. The larger 4.7in screen size of the iPhone 6, could indicate the iPod touch will be updated with a larger screen.
Whatever Apple unveils, the Guardian tech team will bring you the news live from the event from 5.30pm.
• Apple upstages its own launch as details of new iPad appear online
