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Archive chapter

2012

What changed across Apple in 2012: ecosystem turning points, hardware launches, software releases and the support boundaries that moved with them.

Historical context

The changes that connected the ecosystem.

Curated, source-backed moments that explain how products, software and technologies changed direction together. These records add context without duplicating the canonical product or OS facts below.

Connector transitionMajor transition

Lightning starts Apple's next connector transition

iPhone 5 replaced the long-running 30-pin dock connector with the smaller reversible Lightning connector, beginning a hardware-accessory transition that would spread across Apple's mobile products.

Related products

Technology threads

Software history

Operating systems moved too.

Verified public releases in 2012, including major-version milestones, maintenance updates and products that lost major-version support.

Major releases
3
Point updates
13
Products dropped
3

Apple TV Software / tvOS

Apple TV Software 5

8 public releases in this major line · 7 point updates

  • Control your Apple TV from Control Center

    Control your Apple TV from Control Center: You can now control your Apple TV (3rd generation) from Control Center on all of your iOS and iPadOS devices.

Mac OS X / OS X / macOS

OS X Mountain Lion

6 public releases in this major line · 5 point updates

  • Deeper iCloud integration

    Mountain Lion integrated iCloud more deeply across Apple applications and documents.

  • Messages and Notification Center

    Messages replaced iChat for iMessage communication and Notification Center centralized alerts.

  • AirPlay Mirroring and Game Center

    AirPlay Mirroring extended the Mac display to Apple TV while Game Center brought Apple gaming identity and services to Mac.

  • System-wide sharing and Dictation

    A system sharing interface and built-in Dictation expanded common services across apps.

Major-version support ended

iPhone OS / iOS

iOS 6

10 public releases in this major line · 9 point updates

  • Maps

    Apple designed vector based maps

  • Siri improvements

    Sports: scores, player stats, game schedules, team rosters, and league standings for baseball, basketball, football, soccer and hockey

  • Facebook integration

    Single sign-on from Settings

  • Shared Photo Streams

    Share selected photos with the people you choose

  • Passbook

    One place for boarding passes, store cards, movie tickets and other passes

  • FaceTime improvements

    FaceTime over cellular support for iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation)

  • Phone improvements

    Do Not Disturb to suppress incoming calls and notifications

  • Mail improvements

    VIP mailbox to quickly access mail from important people

  • Safari improvements

    iCloud tabs to see open pages on all your devices

  • App Store and iTunes Store improvements

    Updated store design

Public release history

Updates shipped during the year.

13 public point updates are recorded for this year. Expand a platform to inspect the version-by-version release dates.

iPhone OS / iOS4 updatesLatest this year: 6.0.2
  1. 5.1
  2. 5.1.1
  3. 6.0.1
  4. 6.0.2
Mac OS X / OS X / macOS5 updatesLatest this year: 10.8.2
  1. 10.7.3
  2. 10.7.4
  3. 10.8.1
  4. 10.7.5
  5. 10.8.2
Apple TV Software / tvOS4 updatesLatest this year: 5.1.1
  1. 5.0.1
  2. 5.0.2
  3. 5.1
  4. 5.1.1

Hardware releases

Products announced this year.

Filters below affect the hardware list only. Product relationships and generation deltas still come from the canonical lineage catalog.

9 catalogued products

  1. Apple TV · Standard

    Apple TV (3rd generation)

    Upgraded Apple's streaming puck to full 1080p high definition via single-core Apple A5 silicon while retaining the fanless 6W design and landmark $99 price point.

    • IntroducedNative 1080p (1920 x 1080) video output over HDMI at 50/60Hz

      Native 1080p (1920 x 1080) video output over HDMI at 50/60Hz.

    • IntroducedApple A5 single-core system-on-a-chip

      Apple A5 single-core system-on-a-chip.

    • IntroducedRedesigned 1080p user interface featuring prominent iOS-style app tiles

      Redesigned 1080p user interface featuring prominent iOS-style app tiles.

    • IntroducedPeer-to-peer AirPlay support (introduced with the Rev A hardware revision, model A1469)

      Peer-to-peer AirPlay support (introduced with the Rev A hardware revision, model A1469).

    • ChangedVideo output resolution increased from 720p to 1080p

      Video output resolution increased from 720p to 1080p.

    • ChangedSystem memory doubled from 256 MB to 512 MB LPDDR2 RAM

      System memory doubled from 256 MB to 512 MB LPDDR2 RAM.

    • ChangedBluetooth connectivity upgraded to Bluetooth 4.0

      Bluetooth connectivity upgraded to Bluetooth 4.0.

    • ChangedSilicon upgraded from Apple A4 to single-core Apple A5

      Silicon upgraded from Apple A4 to single-core Apple A5.

    • Retired720p ceiling for iTunes video streaming and local AirPlay mirroring

      720p ceiling for iTunes video streaming and local AirPlay mirroring.

    • RetainedIdentical palm-sized black enclosure (99 x 99 x 23 mm, 270 g)

      Identical palm-sized black enclosure (99 x 99 x 23 mm, 270 g).

    • RetainedBuilt-in 6W universal power supply with silent passive cooling

      Built-in 6W universal power supply with silent passive cooling.

    • RetainedPort selection

      HDMI, Optical digital audio (TOSLINK), 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, and Micro-USB service port.

    • RetainedAluminum Apple Remote and $99 price tag (lowered to $69 in March 2015)

      Aluminum Apple Remote and $99 price tag (lowered to $69 in March 2015).

  2. iPad · Standard

    iPad (3rd generation)

    The milestone Retina display transition on tablet featuring 3.1 million pixels, Apple A5X quad-core graphics, 4G LTE, and a 5MP iSight camera.

    • IntroducedRetina display on iPad

      9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display with 2048-by-1536 resolution at 264 ppi (3.1 million pixels, 4x pixel density of iPad 2) with 44% improved color saturation.

    • IntroducedApple A5X SoC with quad-core graphics

      Custom Apple silicon pairing a dual-core CPU with a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 GPU, engineered specifically to render 3.1 million Retina pixels smoothly.

    • Introduced4G LTE cellular data

      First Apple mobile device supporting 4G LTE data networks (separate carrier bands for AT&T and Verizon in North America), including personal hotspot functionality.

    • Introduced5-megapixel iSight camera

      Upgraded rear camera featuring backside illumination, five-element f/2.4 lens, hybrid infrared filter, autofocus, and 1080p HD video recording with video stabilization.

    • IntroducedVoice dictation input

      Integrated microphone key on the software keyboard enabling speech-to-text transcription.

    • IntroducedBluetooth 4.0

      Upgraded from Bluetooth 2.1 to Bluetooth 4.0 low-energy standard.

    • ChangedChassis thickness and weight increase

      Thickness increased by 0.6 mm from 8.8 mm to 9.4 mm; weight rose from 601 g to 652 g (Wi-Fi) to accommodate a massive 42.5 watt-hour battery (+70% capacity) needed for the Retina display and LTE modem.

    • Retained30-pin dock connector

      Final flagship iPad to ship with the legacy 30-pin dock connector before Apple transitioned to Lightning.

  3. Mac · MacBook Pro

    MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2012)

    The mid-2012 15-inch MacBook Pro combined a Retina display, flash storage, and quad-core processors in a redesigned thin-and-light Pro enclosure.

    • Introduced15-inch Retina display with 2880-by-1800 resolution

      15-inch Retina display with 2880-by-1800 resolution.

    • IntroducedAll-flash storage architecture and HDMI port

      All-flash storage architecture and HDMI port.

    • IntroducedTwo Thunderbolt ports and two USB 3.0 ports

      Two Thunderbolt ports and two USB 3.0 ports.

    • ChangedThinner MagSafe 2 power port

      Thinner MagSafe 2 power port.

  4. iPhone · Standard

    iPhone 5

    A taller 4-inch display, LTE, thinner aluminum body, and Lightning define a major physical reset.

    • Changed4-inch Retina display

      The display became taller while retaining one-handed width.

    • IntroducedLTE

      LTE moved iPhone into a faster cellular generation.

    • IntroducedLightning connector

      The reversible Lightning connector replaced the 30-pin dock connector.

  5. iPod · nano

    iPod nano (7th generation)

    Nano stretches back into a larger media-player shape with a 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display, Home button, Bluetooth and Lightning.

    • Introduced2.5-inch Multi-Touch display with Home button

      2.5-inch Multi-Touch display with Home button.

    • IntroducedBluetooth wireless audio

      Bluetooth wireless audio.

    • IntroducedLightning connector

      Lightning connector.

    • ChangedForm factor shifts from square wearable clip to a thin rectangular player

      Form factor shifts from square wearable clip to a thin rectangular player.

  6. iPod · touch

    iPod touch (5th generation)

    A taller 4-inch Retina display, A5, improved cameras, Siri and a much thinner aluminum body align iPod touch with the modern iPhone-era design language.

    • Introduced4-inch Retina display

      4-inch Retina display.

    • IntroducedA5 chip and Siri

      A5 chip and Siri.

    • Introduced5MP iSight camera with 1080p video

      5MP iSight camera with 1080p video.

    • IntroducedColor aluminum enclosure and iPod touch loop

      Color aluminum enclosure and iPod touch loop.

  7. iPad · Standard

    iPad (4th generation)

    Swift generational correction bringing the Apple A6X chip with double CPU/GPU performance, Lightning connector, FaceTime HD camera, and expanded global LTE.

    • IntroducedApple A6X SoC

      Apple-designed system-on-chip featuring dual-core custom Swift CPU architecture clocked at 1.4 GHz and quad-core PowerVR SGX554MP4 graphics, doubling both CPU and GPU performance compared to the A5X.

    • IntroducedLightning connector

      Replaced the legacy 30-pin analog dock connector with an 8-signal, all-digital, reversible connector that dramatically reduced internal connector volume.

    • IntroducedFaceTime HD front camera

      Upgraded front camera from VGA (0.3MP) to 1.2MP with 720p HD video recording, backside illumination sensor, and improved low-light performance.

    • IntroducedDual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi

      Dual-band support (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) with channel bonding capable of download speeds up to 150 Mbps (2x prior generation).

    • IntroducedExpanded global LTE bands

      Added broader LTE band compatibility to support major international carrier frequencies across Europe, Asia, and Australasia.

    • Introduced128GB storage configuration

      Apple added a new 128GB capacity option on February 5, 2013, doubling maximum onboard storage for creative and enterprise workflows.

    • Retired30-pin dock connector

      Fully retired the legacy 30-pin connector from the flagship iPad line.

    • RetainedChassis design and 42.5 Wh battery

      Preserved the 9.4 mm thickness, 652 g weight, and large 42.5 watt-hour battery established by the 3rd generation iPad.

  8. iPad · mini

    iPad mini (1st generation)

    The introduction of the compact 7.9-inch iPad line in an ultra-thin 7.2 mm aluminum unibody that established the design language for future iPads.

    • Introduced7.9-inch compact form factor

      7.9-inch Multi-Touch display with 1024-by-768 resolution at 163 ppi; 23% thinner (7.2 mm) and 53% lighter (308 g / 0.68 lb) than 9.7-inch iPads, allowing comfortable one-handed operation.

    • IntroducedNarrow-bezel unibody design

      Anodized aluminum unibody with narrow vertical side bezels and diamond-cut chamfered edges, establishing a major new design identity across Apple hardware.

    • IntroducedSmart thumb rejection

      Touch-rejection software algorithms in iOS that distinguish intentional touch interactions from passive thumb resting on narrow side borders.

    • IntroducedDual stereo speakers

      First iPad featuring built-in stereo speaker grills positioned on the bottom chassis flanking the Lightning port.

    • IntroducedNative Lightning connector

      Integrated the compact, reversible 8-pin digital Lightning port natively from launch.

    • IntroducedDual cameras on compact chassis

      5-megapixel iSight rear camera with autofocus and 1080p HD video recording alongside a 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera with 720p HD video.

    • IntroducedNano-SIM on cellular model

      First iPad to adopt the ultra-compact nano-SIM form factor.

  9. Mac · iMac

    iMac (Late 2012)

    The late-2012 iMac compressed a redesigned all-in-one into a 5 mm edge while adding a laminated, lower-reflection display and Fusion Drive option.

    • IntroducedFusion Drive option combining 128GB of flash storage with a 1TB or 3TB hard drive

      Fusion Drive option combining 128GB of flash storage with a 1TB or 3TB hard drive.

    • IntroducedTwo Thunderbolt ports and four USB 3.0 ports

      Two Thunderbolt ports and four USB 3.0 ports.

    • ChangedAluminum-and-glass enclosure with up to 40 percent less volume and a 5 mm edge

      Aluminum-and-glass enclosure with up to 40 percent less volume and a 5 mm edge.

    • ChangedFully laminated display with an anti-reflective coating

      Fully laminated display with an anti-reflective coating.