Big-Screen iPad Pro, New iPhones Headline Apple Fall Product Lineup

At its latest event, Apple refreshed its top sellers, with the introduction of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, and an upgraded Apple TV.

With the addition of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (dare we dub it iPad Big?), Apple now has another screen size option for its many users to go with the regular iPad, iPad Mini, iPhone and Apple Watch. The new display, which encompasses 5.6 million pixels, resembles that of a Retina MacBook Pro.

Other tablet makers, including Hewlett-Packard, Dell and Acer, have already marketed larger tablets previously, but they haven’t seen good traction yet. Perhaps it’s because a laptop is more natural for many people to use, especially for business. However, with Apple now in the race, perhaps this is a sign that big tablets may be ready to break out.

The larger iPad enables a piano player to use 36 keys, nearly half of the 88 that comprise a regular piano keyboard. There’s also a new connector on the side of the iPad Pro called the Smart Connector; its job is to carry power and data to the keyboard that comes with it.

Running the new, more powerful A9X processor, the iPad Pro may be sought by video game enthusiasts as an option to Xbox and other heavier, bulkier platforms. It also sports four speakers—unheard of in previous similar devices.

The 12.9-inch Retina display, the fast A9X chip and the 10-hour battery are all important factors in the new tablet, which becomes available Sept. 25.

The main news in the newest iPhones involves the 4K cameras, which are the first to come on a smartphone.

The 4K photos and video (it creates video in 4K, also), the more powerful processor, the 5MP live video and the improved WiFi connectivity are key selling points.

The iPhone 6S and 6 Plus become available Sept. 25. Apple is making them in many more colors than previous iPhones, as shown here.

The iPhone 6S will cost $199 for 16GB, $299 for 64GB and $399 for 128GB. The iPhone 6S Plus will be $100 higher for each configuration.

Apple, coming up with a solution to the constant churn of phones in the market, is instituting an auto-upgrade program. For $32 per month, you get a new iPhone each year, choose your carrier and maintain Apple service in a 24-month agreement. There also is a new Apple app that enables Android users to switch easily to iOS and iPhone. “It’s the neighborly thing to do,” CEO Tim Cook said with a smile.

There are two versions of the new Apple TV: one priced at $149 for 32GB and another priced at $199 for 64GB. The Apple TV service has programming arrangements with Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA and NHL, so major sports events will abound.

Siri really is getting around Apple’s products: You can ask her for information about whatever you’re watching; there’s a special button on the unit for that.