Apple will be live streaming its iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 event on Oct. 16. Apple fans and followers who were not fortunate enough to receive an invitation from Apple will still be able to watch the event online from their Apple devices.
However, Apple still has posed some restrictions on who gets to watch the event, since the live stream will only be compatible with devices running on iOS or OS X. For non-Apple customers who are considering switching over to Apple, the only way for them to watch the live stream is to borrow a friend's iMac, iPhone, iPad, iPod or Apple TV running on newer versions of its platform, unless they are equipped with technical skills to hack into the live stream.
For iMac or MacBook owners, users can view the live stream through Apple's Safari web browser versions 5.1.10 or up and on OS X version 10.6.8 or later. Users can also watch the event online through an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running on iOS 6 or later. Apple TV owners can watch the live stream on the Apple Events channel, although users need to have newer Apple TV models to make it possible. Users are also encouraged to view the live stream over Wi-Fi, as streaming the event over data will likely incur huge mobile data costs.
"Live streaming video requires Safari 5.1.10 or later on OS X v 10.6.8 or later," Apple says on its Live page, where it posts live streams of its media events. "Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 6.2 or later."
Apple is expected to take the wraps off a refreshed iPad Air and iPad Mini that, as the rumor mill and various leaked reports and images suggest, will come with a TouchID fingerprint scanner -- a technology that Apple first introduced in the iPhone 5s -- a slimmer 7-mm profile and a more powerful A8X processor. Also to be expected is a new 27-inch iMac with a 5K Retina display and possibly an upgraded Apple TV.
Apple's last live stream was on Sept. 9, when Cupertino released the hotly anticipated iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Watchers have complained of a botched Sept. 9 live stream riddled with crashes, or nothing but a test screen with color bars displaying the event's schedules. In other cases, the live stream was working, but a Chinese translator was dubbed over Apple CEO Tim Cook's voice during his keynote. Hopefully, Apple has taken note of the glaring oversight and will pull out all the stops to stream smoothly this time around.
