TechCrunch TV Apple Event Wrap-Up: Software Free And Now, New iPads And Macs

The Apple event in San Francisco today was a big one in terms of just how much stuff Apple trotted out between software updates, pricing bombshells, and new hardware. The iPad underwent a makeover and lost some weight with the iPad Air, and the iPad mini stepped up to the big leagues with an uncompromising 64-bit A7 processor and Retina display. There were new Macs, too, and more details about the Mac Pro.

Apple also updated just about every piece of consumer software it makes, and all those updates were available today, and they were all free for existing users and anyone buying a new Mac or iOS device. That includes OS X Mavericks, the 10th and latest iteration of OS X, and the first major desktop OS update Apple has ever offered for free. Software pricing was probably the biggest surprise here, in terms of something that wasn’t leaked, but it’s a doozy in terms of throwing down a gauntlet for the competition.