Apple Event invitation: It’s been way too long.

Apple Event · 2014

It’s been way too long.

Introducing iPad Air 2 and 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display.

Event date
October 16, 2014
Thursday · 10:00 AM PT
Location
Apple’s Town Hall auditorium
Apple Campus, Cupertino
In person
Invitation sent
October 8, 2014
8 days before the event

Watch the keynote

Full replay of the October 16 event.

Watch on YouTube Watch on Apple Podcasts

Read the story ↓

What was announced.

iPad

iPad Air 2

iPad Air 2 is the thinnest and most powerful iPad ever, featuring a stunning Retina display with an anti-reflective coating, the powerful A8X chip, and Touch ID. With improved cameras and faster wireless connectivity, it delivers an even more capable and portable experience.

Learn more ›
iPad Air 2

Mac

27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display

The 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display features an incredible 14.7 million pixels for stunning detail, vibrant colors, and razor-sharp text. Powered by quad-core Intel processors and high-performance AMD graphics, it delivers a powerful all-in-one experience for creativity and productivity.

Learn more ›
27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display

The story.

1 min read · Written by Invite Archive

Behind the invitation

The invitation for October 16, 2014, said It's been way too long, a playful line for an event held only five weeks after the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch event. It took place in the Town Hall auditorium on Apple's Cupertino campus.

What Apple showed

Apple started with software. OS X Yosemite was available that day as a free download, and Apple Pay would launch on October 20 with iOS 8.1.

Then iPad:

  • iPad Air 2 was just 6.1mm thick, the thinnest iPad yet, with Touch ID, an anti-reflective, fully laminated display, a faster A8X chip and a gold option, from $499.
  • iPad mini 3 added Touch ID and gold.

Then the Mac:

  • iMac with Retina 5K display had a 27-inch screen with 14.7 million pixels, at $2,499.
  • Mac mini was updated and its price dropped to $499.

The reaction, then and now

The 5K iMac impressed reviewers, with a resolution that was difficult to find in any standalone monitor at the time. The Mac mini update was less popular: its memory was now soldered to the board, and the faster quad-core option was gone.

iPad Air 2 was one of the most praised iPads, while iPad mini 3, which changed little beyond Touch ID, was criticized as poor value. Looking back, It's been way too long is a reminder of how much Apple had to show in 2014: new iPhones, Apple Watch, Apple Pay, and then a whole second event for iPad and Mac. See the full iPad timeline.