How Do You Like Them Apples?

It's become an event so regular that you can set your Apple Watch by it. Every six months the tech giant from Cupertino puts on a show to unveil their latest creations and build excitement over their iconic brand. These highly anticipated product announcements have become a "must stream" for "cult of Mac" devotees, retailers and financial analysts who follow the highly sought-after tech stock.

It seems like eons since Apple's March 2015 Spring Forward event, where they previewed the new iOS 9, unveiled the latest MacBooks and debuted the much-hyped Apple Watch. Fast-forward to last month's fall event, and everyone has their eyes on which new must-have Apple goodies CEO Tim Cook has up his sleeve in time for the holidays.

Sadly, due to Internet rumors that have become more and more reliable in recent years, it's become increasingly difficult for Apple to maintain any secrecy on product development. This time around, the general consensus is that Apple revealed nothing either surprising or revolutionary. The iPhone 6S was expected, as was the new Apple TV; other things -- like the plus-size iPad Pro and its revolutionary peripheral, Apple Pencil -- were unexpected.

iPhone's Latest

As expected, Apple's most popular product, the iPhone, got its latest "S" version, with marked improvements on the inside of the device but little or no changes to the exterior design. This predictably followed the trend set by previous "S" versions, which feature updates to internal components rather than cosmetics. Historically, "S" versions are faster and have better cameras than previous incarnations.

In contrast to last year's launch of the iPhone 6, the biggest redesign in the popular gadget's history, this year's 6S was a letdown. For anyone looking for marked physical differences from the 6S's predecessor, Apple's marketing team is employing the ironic slogan "The only thing that's changed is everything."

Critics think the "S" should be a "G" -- for "gimmicky." With the iPhone 4S, Apple introduced Siri, everyone's favorite sassy voice assistant; with the 5S it was Touch ID, which allows users to unlock their phones with a fingerprint. This time around, Apple has introduced 3D Touch, a new feature that senses pressure when the screen is tapped. Users can now peek at content like e-mail and open content with a harder press of the finger.

There is also a new "Live Photos" feature, which takes a photo but also includes a short video. Remember in "Harry Potter" when photos in portraits or newspapers were "live?" It's just like that.

Apple has provided internal improvements that make the 6S faster. The camera has also undergone a needed overhaul: The front-facing camera is five megapixels FaceTime HD, and the rear camera is now 12 megapixels. As for durability, Apple boasts that its 6S screen is the phone's strongest yet. We'll see when it is put to the test in the real world. (I'm not optimistic -- my iPhone 6 didn't even survive a six-inch fall.)

At first (or second) glance, the only noticeable difference is its color options. While the iPhones 5 and 6 are only available in silver and "space gray," the 6S adds subtle hues of gold and rose gold to the product's palette.

By no means is the 6S a must-buy. Save your excitement -- and money -- for the iPhone 7, which probably will be released at next year's fall event and a redesign of the 6. It could be wishful thinking, but my fingers are crossed for a waterproof, smashproof, battery-lasting-all-day iPhone.

The New, Much Improved, but Yet-to-Catch-On Apple TV.

At the September 2015 event, Apple also announced the newest version of its streaming media micro console Apple TV -- a product that has never gained widespread appeal.

What's cool about the new Apple TV is that the remote comes equipped with Siri, so users can ask her to search for something on the console rather than use the elegant but limited remote to type -- which has always been cumbersome, to say the least. With Siri, Apple TV users will finally be able to buy and download apps and games for Apple TV.

Personally, I've always been a huge fan of Apple TV because it syncs so well with my iPhone, MacBook and iPad. However, when it comes to Apple TV love, I'm in the minority. And there's a simple reason for that: its price.

Launched in 2006, Apple TV was years ahead of competing stream-to-TV devices like Google Chrome, Amazon Fire and Roku, but its unit sales have never dominated the field and make up only 17 percent of the market. Roku and Google Chrome devices have long undercut Apple with more affordable versions of what many believe to be ostensibly the same gizmo.

To remedy this, Apple has lowered the price of its old third-generation device to $69. Conversely, those wanting to avail themselves of Apple TV's new features will have to fork over $149.

A Bigger and Better iPad

Easily the most exciting product launched at Apple's September event was the new iPad Pro. Since first launched by Apple in 2010, the iPad -- which has gotten lighter and more diminutive with each version -- hasn't been able to shed its image of a personal tech gadget, unable to break into the market for professional use. Enter the iPad Pro.

The most noticeable difference with the iPad Pro is its size. The 12.9-inch display dwarfs the traditional iPad's 9.7 inches. Even with its mammoth screen, at only .27 inches it's only slightly thicker than an iPhone 6, and it weighs in at a lean 1.57 pounds.

Skeptics initially saw the larger size as the tablet's answer to the iPhone 6 Plus, but a look at the specs on the Pro show that this is far more than a copy. With its A9X chip, the Pro delivers double the graphics capabilities and almost twice the performance of the iPad Air 2. Four high-fidelity speakers built into the body provide three times the acoustic output of its predecessor, making watching videos and presentations more engaging.

Two Major Peripherals Available for iPad Pro Users

Apple Pencil turns the iPad Pro into a powerful hands-on artistic and drafting tool, and all but ensures that the tablet will maintain Apple's place as the preferred brand for visual artists. More than just an electronic stylus, Apple Pencil, with its two tilt sensors, has the ability to not only write and draw but also shade like the charcoal and pastel sticks long used by artists.

Apple's new Smart Keyboard for the iPad Pro is a godsend for any iPad user who's ever had trouble typing on glass. Taking a cue from Microsoft's Surface, Apple designed a case for the iPad Pro with a built-in micro keyboard. Many see this as Apple's way of trying to get into the business machine market -- where Microsoft's cost-competitive tablets have thus far dominated.

A Breakdown of Prices and Release Dates

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus released on September 25. Preorders are scheduled for shipment in early October. With a two-year contract, the new iPhone costs $199 to $299, depending on the carrier.

Apple TV will release in late October and costs $149 for the 32GB and $199 for 64GB.

The iPad Pro releases in November and ranges from $799 for 32GB to $949 for 128GB and $1,079 for the Wi-Fi and cellular model.

The Smart Keyboard retails for $167. Apple Pencil is available at the bargain price of $99.