Apple sent out invitations for a new Mac announcement on October 27
(The invitation for Apple's event.Apple)
Apple sent out invitations Wednesday for an event on October 27 at its campus in Cupertino, California, where it's expected to announce a new Mac.
The invitation reads "hello again," a play off the greeting the original Macintosh gave when Steve Jobs introduced it in 1984.
There have been numerous reports about what to expect from Apple this month, so here's the rundown:
New MacBook Pro
A new MacBook Pro will likely be the star of the show.
According to the latest rumors, the MacBook Pro will be completely redesigned to look more like the Retina MacBook that launched last year. The key feature will be a touch screen at the top of the keyboard that replaces the function keys and can change depending on the app you're using. It'll also have a fingerprint sensor for unlocking the device, just like you do with the iPhone, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Finally, the MacBook Pro might ditch standard USB ports in favor of USB-C, the new, more capable USB port that's becoming the standard across the tech industry.
(A concept of what the next MacBook Pro could look like by 3-D artist Martin Hajek.Martin Hajek)
New MacBook Air
The MacBook Air may also get a slight refresh with USB-C ports and faster internal components. Many expected Apple to kill the MacBook Air line in favor of the Retina MacBook, but it looks as though the Air is here to stay for at least a few more years.
New iMacs
iMacs are expected to get a spec bump, but it's unclear if there will be a redesign. Apple introduced the Retina iMac with a 5K screen two years ago, and improved the color representation on the screen in an update last year.
AirPods
(Hollis Johnson/Business Insider)
Apple said the AirPods, its new wireless Bluetooth earbuds, would go on sale in October. Well, we're running out of October, so expect Apple to announce that the AirPods are officially on sale on the day of the event.
iOS 10.1
Last month, Apple promised an iOS update that would unlock the Portrait mode for the iPhone 7 Plus' dual-camera system. iOS 10.1 is already available in beta for some early testers, so expect the final version to be announced at the event on October 27.
Portrait mode mimics the blurry bokeh effect from DSLR cameras, which means the figure in front remains in focus while the background is blurred. The iPhone 7 Plus is the only device that'll get Portrait mode.
(Portrait mode on the iPhone 7 Plus.Steve Kovach/Business Insider)
Long overdue
It has been several years since Apple's Macs have gotten significant updates or redesigns, so this product refresh feels long overdue. Apple's announcement will come one day after Microsoft's event, where it is expected to announce a new all-in-one Surface PC, in New York.
Business Insider will have all the news from Apple's event on October 27, so be sure to come back for all the live updates, analysis, photos, videos, and more.
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