*By Carlo Versano* Apple on Tuesday unveiled updated versions of its MacBook Air, Mac Mini, and iPad Pro lines from an event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The biggest update came in the form of a redesigned iPad Pro, the high-end model of the tablet the company debuted eight years ago and which Cook described on stage as "a magical piece of glass that transforms instantly into anything you want it to be." The new Pro features rounded corners, a nearly edge-to-edge display, USB-C connection, the Face ID technology pioneered on the iPhone X, and more powerful processors that Apple ($AAPL) is marketing toward creative professionals and gamers. Like the X, the newest iteration of the iPad Pro has dispatched with the home button and relies on swiping gestures. Apple also refreshed the $129 Apple Pencil, which can now attach to the side of the device magnetically, pair automatically, and charge wirelessly. The iPad Pro comes in two screen sizes: 11 and 12.9 inches. The 11-inch model is roughly the same size as the prior 10.5-inch model, a feat engineered by reducing the bezel. The models start at $799 and $999 respectively. Apple also overhauled its oft-overlooked Mac Mini computer by adding major performance boosts, 2 TB of flash storage, and ports for ethernet, USB, HDMI, and thunderbolt connections. The new Mini is five times faster than its previous version, the company said. It starts at $799 and does not include a keyboard or monitor. But perhaps no announcement was more anticipated than the unveiling of the new MacBook Air, Apple's hugely popular entry-level laptop that, revolutionary a decade ago, started to look long in the tooth as other computers came on the market rivaling it in speed, thinness, and weight. "When Steve pulled that MacBook Air out of that [envelope](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeQlgdZZJBw), it was clear things would never be the same," Cook said in advance of the debut. The new Air is given a boost with a Retina display and slimmed-down bezel that makes it more like a MacBook Pro in a MacBook Air's body. Apple built a Touch ID sensor directly into the keyboard and a new, larger trackpad that senses pressure. The insides were spruced up with new microphones and speakers and an option for 16 GB of RAM. Like the Mini, the new Air is made entirely from recycled aluminum. It weighs in at 2.75 lbs, slightly less than its predecessor. The entry price, though, is $1,199, an increase of $200 over the previous version. That will make it difficult for the Air to hold its own as an "entry-level" machine, though its pumped-up specs are sure to please many Air acolytes who have groaned about poor performance. Cook and other Apple executives also announced an iOS update and a new retail initiative at stores worldwide ー from newly opened flagships in Bangkok and Milan to Chicago and New York ー to offer classes and programs to Apple users. Called "Today at Apple," it's another indication of the shift toward experiential brick-and-mortar retail. All the new devices announced Tuesday are available for pre-order and will begin shipping November 7.
