The Apple Store sitemap page now displays the iconic “Return immediately” message. Unlike previous events, the main pages of the store are not functional (or at least not yet defective).
The unavailable sitemap was first noticed by The 8-Bit. The rest of the store is likely to follow soon. The Apple Spring Loaded event starts today at 10 AM. We are waiting for updates to the iPad Pro and iMac lines. Other rumors included the launch of the long-awaited AirTags trackers, updates to the cheaper iPad and iPad mini, as well as a new “Podcasts +” subscription service.
Usually, on event days, Apple removes all shopping pages from the online store. Currently, however, purchase pages for Apple devices, such as iPhones and Macs, remain available. Currently, it’s just the sitemap that doesn’t work. We expect the rest of the site to follow in the next hour or so.
As a funny historical point, there was a time when Apple forgot to remove the sitemap. This led to a rather embarrassing leak of ads that year, namely the iPhone XS and Apple Watch Series 4.
For this April event, we expect significant updates to the iPad Pro line. The iPad Pro 2021 will have updated processors and a Thunderbolt USB-C connector. The iPad Pro, larger than 12.9 inches, is expected to include a new mini-LED display, providing better contrast and higher brightness levels.
Many also expect this event to see the unveiling of the Apple Silicon iMacs. It is believed that these iMacs have a radical redesign of the chassis, with thinner frames and flat sides, in addition to being powered by the latest custom silicon processor / GPU from Apple.
The launch of AirTags is also rumored, Apple’s long-awaited competitor for board tracking. We’ve already seen several AirTags accessories appear before the event procedure.
iOS 14.5 will also receive a release date and could come with some new service announcements; a Podcast + subscription service is one of the latest rumors on the table.
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