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Hardware Takes the Stage at WWDC 2017

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Apple presents an unusual keynote at WWDC 2017-- the traditionally software-focused conference hosts a slew of hardware launches, with "the most powerful" iMac Pro, a 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the HomePod, a cylindrical speaker armed with Siri intelligence.

WWDC 2017Of course, the two-hour keynote also introduces updates of all Apple operating systems, namely iOS 11 (now with AR Kit, support for person-to-person payments via iMessage, HomeKit improvements and a redesigned App Store), watchOS 4 (with a Siri-powered wach face able to customise contents in real time according to user needs), tvOS (not much revealed about this one, other than a new content source in the shape of Amazon Prime Video) and macOS High Sierra (a "perfected" version of the OS with Safari updates, HEVC support and new photo editing tools).

new iMac ProBut let's return to the hardware. As previously suggested, Apple presented an long awaited update on the iMac Pro-- a pro-class machine featuring a 27-inch Retina 5K display, up to 18-core Xeon processors and up to 22 Tflops of graphics performance, making it "the most powerful Mac ever made." The slick space-gray enclosure includes improved cooling capacity, as well as up to 4TB SSD storage, up to 128GB EEC RAM, x4 Thunderbolt 3 ports and built-in 10GB ethernet.

The regular iMac desktops also get a boost, with improved Retina graphics, Kaby Lake CPUs and USB-C ports. Apple says the machines can even handle VR, specifically through a demonstration of a Star Wars VR game featuring Darth Vader, a lightsabre and a TIE fighter.

On the iPad side, Apple has a 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch updates. Both carry a new A10X Fusion chip (packs a 6-core CPU and a 12-core GPU), Retina display with ProMotion technology offering a display rate reaching 120Hz and the same back- and front-facing cameras as the iPhone 7. The new iPads run on iOS 11, with new iPad-specific features such as a customisable Dock, improved multitasking and a new Files app bringing all storage (be it local or iCloud, Box or Dropbox) in one place.

HomepodThe final WWDC announcement is perhaps the most curious-- the HomePod is, to put it bluntly, the Apple take on the Amazon Echo. A white cylinder 18cm tall, the HomePod carries a 6-microphone array and is designed for voice-based control via Siri. Users can control music through the HomePod, as well as any other task Siri can handle, including home automation when paired with the Home app on iPhone or iPad.

For playback the HomePod boasts an Apple-designed upward-facing woofer, 7 beam-forming tweeters, automatic room-sensing technology and an A8 chip promising "advanced audio innovations."

The new iPad models are available soon, while the iMac Pro is expected to ship from December 2017. The HomePod will also be available from December, but only in the UK, US and Australia.

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