Apple Unveils Thinner iPad Air 2

But no big surprises emerge out of Cupertino
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 16, 2014 5:03 PM CDT
Apple Unveils Thinner iPad Air 2
The iPad Air 2 on display at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.   (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Those who want a shiny new iPad for the holidays will have the option of shelling out $499 for the newly unveiled iPad Air 2, reports the Verge. The device is 6.1mm thick, down 18% from its predecessor, and Apple calls it the "world's thinnest tablet." Other notable changes include the addition of Touch ID, allowing it to be unlocked with a swipe of a finger, and a faster processor. But the changes are being seen as incremental rather than earth-shattering. CNET grabs this quote from an analyst: "Unless you really want it for the better camera capability on your iPad or are dying to have the thinnest iPad yet, there's not a huge incentive to upgrade from the previous model."

The base price is $499 when preorders begin tomorrow, while the new iPad Mini 3 (also with Touch ID) starts at $399, reports the Wall Street Journal. Apple also announced a new iMac with high-res display. "Sleek and stunning, yes, but not likely to spark the next iRevolution," sums up AP. The bigger Apple development to watch, it says, will be Monday's launch of the Apple Pay system. Among the first retail partners who will accept payments with the tap of an Apple device will be McDonald's, Macy's, Radio Shack, Subway, Staples, and Petco. (More Apple stories.)

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