Apple launches new iPhone - like the old one, but better

Apple announced a new iPad Pro during the company's March 21 event.

The company could use a lift. CEO Tim Cook noted the company's conflict with the Federal Bureau of Investigation over what he termed the government's power to access the data of iPhone users. The new iPhone is slated to come out on March 31, and will be released in over 100 countries by the end of May.

Apple will start a busy week for the tech giant on Monday when it hosts analysts and reporters at its headquarters in Silicon Valley.

So when can we expect this little rascal to hit store shelves?

The arrival of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus seemed to herald a new "bigger is better" mindset from Apple, however the latest addition to the family seems to suggest they far from done with small smartphones.

Apple unveils CareKit, an open source framework for making health apps
Now the University of Rochester and Sage Bionetworks are already using it to monitor the advancement of the Parkinson's disease. It will be open for institutions to develop apps that will help patients take a more active part in the care for their health.

Apple just announced a 256GB model of the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.

As for accessories, Apple has created a new Smart Keyboard that supports the new iPad Pro and also supports the Apple Pencil. The Apple Watch now starts at $299, and there are new woven nylon bands available, along with a black Milanese loop and more leather colors.

Apple has been in a legal battle with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is trying to extract information from the iPhone of one of the accused shooters of last year's San Bernardino attack. He said the company sold 30 million 4-inch iPhones in 2015. That means it may appeal to some shoppers, especially in overseas markets, who want a premium phone at lower cost. Much like the iPhone 6s, live photos and retina flash will also be included as well as Touch ID, its fingerprint unlock function.

"It is a large enough display to get all your work done, but easy to carry around", said Apple vice-president Phil Schiller. If you're thinking about upgrading from an iPad Air, I really recommend it, as the four speakers on the bigger iPad Pro make a massive difference when it comes to actually being able to watch movies without needing headphones. Its rival Samsung, by contrast, is known for selling a multitude of phones and tablets at various sizes and prices.