Apple will be unveiling its new iPads in an event on Oct. 16 based on new reports. The new iPads, the iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3, will be unveiled alongside new iMac computers and OS X Yosemite.
The event will also be much simpler than the one held last September to unveil the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. While that event was held in the Flint Center for the Performing Arts, where the late Steve Jobs unveiled the first Mac computer 20 years ago and amid a mysterious structure and one-song performances, the iPad event will only be held at Apple's Town Hall Auditorium.
The reports go against earlier rumors that the new iPads will be introduced in an event on Oct. 21. The new date came from sources of Recode, an news organization that happens to have a good track record on covering such dates.
Several reports regarding the next iPad tablets suggest that they will be featuring the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which will be very important for enterprise customers that only want specific people being able to use specific tablets.
The new iPads will also feature Apple Pay. However, the tablets will most likely not have an NFC chip, as it will be awkward to be holding up a tablet to a payment terminal.
The introduction of the new iMac computers will be coinciding with several new features and software updates that are slated for a release during October or November.
The event will also likely have a focus on OS X Yosemite, Apple's next operating system for Macs, Macbooks and iMacs. Updating to OS X Yosemite for Apple computer uses is expected to be free, as with most of the updates sent out by Apple over the past several years.
Yosemite, which is officially known as OS X 10.10, looks to tie the iPhone and iPad together with the Mac computers through a feature named Handoff. The feature allows users to seamlessly switch between the devices when all of them are connected through the iCloud service.
Apple Pay, Apple's own mobile payment system, may also be formally launched at the event on Oct. 16, as the feature was only announced in the September iPhone event.
Apple hopes to boost the slumping sales of its iPads, as sales for the second quarter only reached 13.3 million units. Apple CEO Tim Cook is optimistic that the sales for the tablet will pick up due to the partnership that was entered into by Apple with IBM for enterprise usage, introducing new iPads before the holiday season will also help increase sales.
