Apple hit its stride in 2015, cranking out products in a variety of different categories at an astonishing rate. As we bid farewell to 2015 and start 2016, it’s only natural that we look back at what Apple did last year in anticipation of what the company has in store for us in 2016. Read on as we summarize the year that was 2015 for Apple.
January 2015
Apple began 2015 strong with the release of the SIM-Free iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. This update was followed by iOS 8.1.3 and OS X 10.10.2 to developers at the end of the month. The rumor mill also was kicking into high gear with reports of the new 12-inch MacBook and the launch details for the Apple Watch.
February 2015
Apple provided the first look at the next version of Photos, by including the Photo with iCloud Photo Library in a pre-release version of 10.10.3. Apple continued to add fuel to the rumor mill with a leaked report that the company was working on a Tesla-like electric vehicle, an endeavor known internally as Project Titan.
March 2015
March was a hardware update month for Apple with the refresh of the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro 13-inch with Force Touch technology. The company also dropped the price of the Apple TV 3 to $69 and released both iOS 8.2 with the Apple Watch app and iOS 8.3 public beta, which was the first version of iOS to be tested in Apple’s public testing program.
April 2015
Apple was a huge month for the Cupertino company. The company began selling three versions of the Apple Watch – the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Edition with a price tag that ranged from $349 for the Apple Watch Sport and climbed to $17,000 for the Watch Edition. The company also debuted the radical new 12-inch MacBook with paper thin design and USB-C charging. On the software side, Apple continued its regular updates releasing iOS 8.3 with diverse emojis, OS X 10.10.3 with Photos and new versions of Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor.
May 2015
After an enormous month in April, Apple slowed things down in May with only one new hardware product and a few minor hardware refreshes. The company updated the internals on both the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch and the 27-inch 5K iMac. The biggest news was the addition of a revamped Lightning dock that was designed for the larger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
June 2015
WWDC was the highlight for the month of June with the company previewing iOS 9, OS X 10.11 El Capitan and watch OS 2. Apple Music also got the official nod and an end of the month release date with iOS 8.4. The Apple Watch also finally landed in retail stores after an initial online-only launch.
July 2015
Apple slowed things down in July as it transitioned away from the software-focused WWDC and prepared for its annual hardware-laden event in the fall. During this summer month, the company only released an updated version of the iPod touch, which improved the camera, beefed up the internals and added a splash of color to the lineup. The iPod shuffle and nano also were updated with a matching color scheme.
August 2015
August was quiet for Apple hardware and software updates with the company releasing only iOS 8.4.1 and OS X 10.10.5. The rumor mill made up for this silence with details about the pink iPhone with a dual camera and the new Force-Touch feature coming to the iPhones.
September 2015
Apple swung for the fences in September with the announcement and subsequent release of the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad mini 4 and the Apple Watch Sport in Gold and Rose Gold. The company also debuted the first versions of iOS 9 (iOS 9, 9.0.1 and 9.0.2), the new OS X El Capitan and the second version of watch OS (watchOS 2).
October 2015
Apple didn’t host a media event in October, but that didn’t stop the company from releasing updates at a blistering pace. New and updated products include the following:
- Apple TV 4
- Siri Remote
- Magic Trackpad
- Magic Keyboard
- Magic Mouse
- First 21.5-inch 4K iMac and updated 27.5-inch 5K iMacs
- Beats Pill+
- Apple Watch Hermès
- SIM-Free iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
- iOS 9.1 with over 150 new Emoji
- watchOS 2.0.1
- OS X 10.11.1 with over 150 new Emoji
- iWork updates
November 2015
November is notable for the release of the long-rumored iPad Pro, which bridges the gap behind notebook and tablet. Apple also debuted the previously unannounced Apple Watch magnetic charging dock to compete with the bevy of third-party docks already on the market.
December 2015
Apple followed it Watch dock surprise with another unexpected product — the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s Smart Battery Case. The $99 case provides an extra boost of power to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s owners. Apple also updated its Lightning to SD card reader with USB 3.0 speeds for the new iPad Pro. The company also released updates for its major software platforms including iOS 9.2 with iPhone SD card reader support, OS X 10.11.2, tvOS 9.1 with Apple Music Siri, and watchOS 2.1 with Apple TV remote support.
Even though Apple didn’t launch a stand out product in 2015, it was a relatively busier year for the company. We can’t wait to see what Apple in store for us in 2016.
What was your favorite product that Apple launched in 2015?
