Apple launches new iPad and education programs

Apple on Monday launched an upgraded iPad alongside a number of new applications tailored for the classroom.

The new 9.7-inch iPad, which will retail for $329 will feature an 8MP camera, 10 hour battery life, the A10 Fusion chip, and support for the Apple Pencil. Previously, the Pencil worked only with the iPad Pro.

In the UAE, the price for iPads sold to schools (educational pricing) will be Dh1,294.65. The Pencil, which comes separately, retails for Dh399.

Apple says the new iPad is more powerful than any Chromebook, but at $329, it will still cost twice as much as many Chromebook models. Chromebooks and android tablets currently hold 60 per cent markets share of the devices in the education market. Apple holds less than 20 per cent. Many analyst had predicted Apple would lower the entry cost of the iPad to help its adoption in schools, but the retail price remains unchanged.

But one of the biggest developments for education from the company will be the integrated educations software, which will be available for the iPad and is also scheduled to come to Apple’s line of Mac computers. Programs demonstrated at a special Apple event in Chicago featured augmented reality that can be used for art and geography or to dissect a virtual frog.

Apple is also launching a program called “Everyone can Create,” which will focus on music, video, photography and drawing. The name is based on Apple’s coding initiative, called “Everyone Can Code.”