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Apple goes Pro with iPad that's aimed at businesses

Fall is in the air ... should your business go Apple picking this year?

Following the unveiling of the Cupertino, California-based company's new line of products earlier this month, the buzz has started for the new and improved Apple line just in time for the holiday season. And while the iPhone, iPad, AppleTV and other products continue to be the "gotta have" devices in the consumer market, there was one new release in particular that has a lot of potential for the small- to medium-sized business owner.

The new iPad Pro could be that device that brings it all together for business, according to Josh Davis, technology expert and manager of the Apple Boutique at Abt Electronics in Glenview. The iPad Pro, a larger version of the popular Apple iPad tablet, features a 12.9-inch, 5.6 million pixel screen, a more powerful processor and improvements in a number of features like Siri and Spotlight search. Apple's latest operating system, iOS 9, will make the iPad Pro a more robust performer, with features like the ability to split screen or multi-task between two apps.

With a price point expected at $799 when it is released in November, and the availability of an optional touch keyboard and Apple Pencil stylus, the iPad Pro could be the device that fits between a tablet and a laptop, making it a good device for business operators, according to Davis.

"A lot of companies have the iPad, they have iMacs, they have Apple computers in the front lines ... many of these being part of their (point of sale) systems," he said. "Businesses might consider utilizing an iPad Pro instead of an Apple computer to run their business."

The idea of replacing laptops and tablets with a single device is not new. Apple rival Microsoft, for example, has been successfully marketing its Surface Pro 3 tablet as a such a replacement. And on the face of it, an iPad Pro with the smart keyboard and Apple Pencil looks like an Apple version of the Pro 3.

But Davis points out that there are distinct differences between the two.

"The iPad Pro may be Apple's competitive option against the Surface," Davis explained. "But Surface is a computer, not a tablet. It does not run a mobile operating system. It uses full-blown Windows."

And while he says the appeal to that is huge, the iPad Pro uses the same mobile operating system as the regular iPad, iPod and iPhone, opening it up to Apple's vast app network.

"iOS 9 on an iPad Pro is letting you do things like a computer, more so than any iPad ever," Davis said. "It is in essence a fantastic competitor to the Surface. But they are two different beasts.

"For a small-business owner, that may be a better opportunity because the world of apps that work for small businesses is so versatile."

Davis believes the iPad Pro will be a big player in the consumer and business electronics markets.

"It will be a big game-change when it hits the market, and iOS 9 will drive that," he said.

Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, discusses the new iPad Pro during the Apple event at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco earlier this month. Associated Press photo
The new iPad Pro with a Smart Keyboard is displayed during a product display following an Apple event in San Francisco. Associated Press photo
Josh Davis...Abt Electronics

News bytes

• Palatine-based Acura Pharmaceuticals, a niche company that creates technology that prevents abuse of medications, announced its Oxaydo tablet is being marketed in the U.S. by Egalet Corp.

Oxaydo, an oxycodone hydrochloride drug that incorporates Acura's Aversion abuse-deterrent technology, is used for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. Acura's Aversion technology is a mixture of gelling ingredients and nasal irritants designed to address common forms of opioid abuse.

"We are excited that Oxaydo, for the first time, is being promoted to physicians by a pharmaceutical sales force," said Acura President and CEO Bob Jones. "Our marketing partner, Egalet, has done a terrific job building their commercial infrastructure to make this launch happen."

Acura also developed Impede, a technology that prohibits pseudoephedrine-containing cold and allergy products from being converted into methamphetamine.

• Woodstock-based Other World Computing named Jonathan Ellihou vice president of channel sales. Ellihou will be in charge of refining the zero emissions Mac and PC technology company's reseller channel strategy on a global basis, and managing and growing OWC's network of distributors.

Before joining OWC, Ellihou had been the East Coast channel manager for G-Technology, where he played an integral part in developing the G-Technology authorized dealer program, its minimum advertised price policy as well as design and implementation of marketing initiatives for the media and entertainment market sector. Before that, he was a worldwide sales executive for Broadfield Distributing Inc., which is a wholesale distributor of video editing and production equipment.

"The expansion of our reseller network will further strengthen our ability to meet the needs of our customers in the United States and international markets," said Larry O'Connor, CEO and founder of OWC. "Jonathan's depth of knowledge in technology products and his 20+ years of experience in successfully building dealer channels will greatly benefit our customers and help OWC strengthen its position in select markets around the world."

• The Illinois Technology Association recently formed a new Talent Advisory Board. The Chicago-based association said the board is designed to bring together leaders in recruitment and talent development to collaborate on positioning Chicago as a premier destination for technology industry talent.

It will also provide strategic direction and guidance on the development of new ITA talent initiatives and will assist in assessing the effectiveness of current programs.

"Talented people are the lifeblood of any business and they aren't always easy to find - especially in the technology sector," said Trisha Degg, ITA director of talent programs. "I'm thrilled to be able to bring this experienced group of people together to assist the ITA in building out and refining the programs that we offer our members."

Board members include Shana Sternstein, director of recruiting, Cars.com; Jennifer Marszalek, interim head of people and HR, GrubHub; Rob Crawford, director of talent acquisition, Raise; Lindsay Dagiantis, senior manager of talent acquisition, Rise Interactive; Matt Garvey, manager of talent acquisition, kCura; Lindsay Ellis, campus and events recruiting Lead, kCura; Mike Dwyer, director of talent engagement, NowSecure; Kristy Nitskoff, director of talent development, VISANOW; Jim Conti, director of talent, Sprout Social; and Jeremy Haney, head of people, Belly.

The Talent Advisory Board is one of several advisory boards the ITA plans to launch this year.

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