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Apple announces new $329 9.7-inch iPad, replaces iPad Air 2, goes on sale Friday

The Apple Store is back up and Apple has just announced a new cheaper iPad, going on sale Friday for $329. The product replaces the iPad Air 2 in the lineup and is simply called ‘iPad’, available in three colors with 32 GB storage.

The $329 iPad features older internal components to enable the lower price point, featuring an Apple A9 chip although the 9.7-inch Retina display is brighter. It does not support Apple Pencil or include a Smart Connector like the ‘iPad Pro’ line. Apple has also increased the storage capacity on iPad mini …

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In a statement, Apple SVP Phil Schiller said that the new iPad will appeal to new users and old iPad owners, looking for a new tablet to use at home, school or at work.

The $329 iPad includes a brighter 9.7-inch Retina display than the iPad Air 2 that it replaces. It’s $70 cheaper than the iPad Air 2, which is no longer on sale. The new iPad has an A9 chip whereas the iPad Air 2 had an A8X;. Unfortunately, the new iPad is about 20% thicker than the iPad Air 2 which is a little disappointing.

Apple officially announces (RED) iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, updated iPhone SE with double the storage

Apple today has taken the wraps off of a new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The device was unveiled alongside a new iPad and a new social video editing app.

Apple made the announcement in a press release, which contained quotes from Tim Cook and offered up more details on the (RED) initiative.

In the press release, Apple CEO Tim Cook explained that (RED) gives customers an unprecedented way to contribute to the Global Fund for AIDS research. Cook explained that thus far, the (RED) initiative has been very successful and the new iPhone 7 color variant will further lend to the growth of the effort:

Everything Apple announced today (and what we’re still waiting for)

Apple may not have held an event for its latest announcements, but it has certainly been an eventful morning in terms of rumored products launching. There’s also a lot left in the product pipeline that didn’t get announced (and would warrant an event). Here’s what we learned from today’s announcements:

For starters, we now know that Apple actually will pre-announce when the Apple Online Store is going down for several hours of ‘maintenance’ to update product pages. I was skeptical but optimistic yesterday. The mystery created hype like a small-scale Apple event, although anyone waiting for an iPad Pro 2 was disappointed.

Shortly before the store came back online, we saw the still rumored red iPhone teased by a Chinese retailer without confirmation one was coming today. Then came this year’s March iPhone announcement: Product RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in 128GB and 256GB capacities.