The Apple Store sitemap page is currently showing the iconic ‘Be right back’ message. Unlike previous events, the main store pages are not down (or at least not down yet). The sitemap being unavailable was first noticed by The 8-Bit. It is likely the rest of …

The Apple Store sitemap page is currently showing the iconic ‘Be right back’ message. Unlike previous events, the main store pages are not down (or at least not down yet).
The sitemap being unavailable was first noticed by The 8-Bit. It is likely the rest of the store will follow shortly. Apple’s Spring Loaded event starts at 10 AM PT today. We are expecting updates to the iPad Pro and iMac lines. Other rumors included the launch of long-anticipated AirTags trackers, updates to the cheaper iPad and iPad mini, as well as a new ‘Podcasts+’ subscription service.
Usually on event days, Apple takes down all of the shopping pages on the online store. Right now, though, the purchase pages of Apple devices like iPhones and Macs remains available. It is only the sitemap that is currently down. We expect the rest of the site to follow in the next hour or so.
As a funny historical point, there was a time when Apple forgot to take down the sitemap. This resulted in a rather embarrassing leak of that year’s announcements, namely the iPhone XS and the Apple Watch Series 4.
For this April event, we are expecting significant updates to the iPad Pro line. The 2021 iPad Pro will feature updated processors and a Thunderbolt USB-C connector. The larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro is expected to include a new mini-LED display, offering better contrast and higher brightness levels.
Many also expect that this event will see the unveiling of the Apple Silicon iMacs. These iMacs are believed to feature a radical chassis redesign with thinner bezels and flat sides, in addition to being powered by Apple’s latest custom CPU/GPU silicon.
The launch of AirTags are also rumored, Apple’s long-awaited competitor to the Tile tracker. We have already seen more AirTags accessories pop up in advance of the event proceedings.
iOS 14.5 will also finally get a release date and that may come with some new Services announcements too; a Podcast+ subscription service is one of the last-minute rumors on the table.
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