Items tagged with iPad Mini
Apple may have chosen to quietly launch its second generation iPad mini tablet with an upgraded "Retina" class display, but that didn't stop the folks at iFixIt from snagging a sample for their operating tablet. They made quick work of tearing into the newest iPad mini, which sports a panel that still measures 7.9 inches like before, but with a tastier 2048x1536 resolution at 326 ppi. Does the upgraded panel make a difference in terms of how difficult it is to service these devices? Short and sweet, the answer is "no." The newest iPad mini mustered a rather pathetic "Repairability Score" of just 2 out of 10, meaning it's not something you'll want to try and crack open at home unless you're highly...
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Apple's second generation iPad mini tablet (now with a "Retina" class display) is finally available to order, though you know how the drill goes. As with most Apple product launches to retail, you either act fast or get in line and wait for inventory to catch up with demand. Things on Apple's end have gotten better recently, but there have been rumors of display shortages for the new model iPad mini. This is the iPad mini people have been waiting for, as opposed to the first generation model, which was essentially a shrunken down iPad 2 tablet. This is the one that brings a much higher resolution panel (2048x1536, 326ppi) to the party, along with a faster processor (custom A7 chip), more RAM...
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It was widely expected that Apple would refresh its iPad tablet family today, and the Cupertino company didn't disappoint. What you might be surprised to find out, however, is that Apple didn't unveil an iPad 5. Not technically, anyway. Because the new 9.7-inch tablet is so much thinner, lighter, and faster than before, Apple decided a new name was in order. So, what we have here is a first generation "iPad Air" tablet, and though thinner, lighter, and re-branded, the new Air still leverages all of the goodness of previous-gen iPads. That's right, Apple just renamed its iconic tablet, which now sports a 43 percent smaller bezel than the previous version. It's also 20 percent thinner all around,...
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Barring some kind of major surprise, Apple will unveil its next generation of iPad and iPad mini devices a week from today on October 22, 2013. That's the date that appears on invitations Apple has begun sending out to members of the press with a heads up that the media event will take place at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, beginning at 10 AM Pacific (12 PM Eastern). The invitation doesn't reveal what specific products are to be announced, with the only hints being the tagline ("We still have a lot to cover") and graphic, which shows the top of the Apple logo and a bunch of colorful leaves in the background. It's not so much a matter of what Apple will unveil -- we...
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History doesn't always repeat itself, particularly when you're trying to juggle supply chains across the globe year in and year out, but it seems that 2013 will mirror 2012 in terms of Apple event launches in the fall. Last year, we saw the new iPhone and iPad launched within weeks of one another. This year, it appears that the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s launch will be followed by a new iPad, a refreshed iPad mini, and perhaps a few other surprises. AllThingsD is reporting that Apple's next iPad will be unveiled at a California event on October 22nd. The focal point will obviously be the iPad, where the larger, full-size iPad is expected to acquire the 64-bit A7 processor housed in the iPhone 5s....
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The drama surrounding Apple's second generation iPad mini tablet and whether or not it will sport a Retina-class display continues as rumors of a supply shortage come to light. Plan and simple, people working in Apple's supply chain are saying that it's not feasible to introduce an iPad mini with a high resolution display this month. This puts Apple in a bit of a pickle. The Cupertino company could roll out its second generation iPad mini this month as planned and let customers deal with the shortage of devices. Alternately, Apple could forgo a Retina-class display and save that upgrad for another time, a decision Google and Amazon would be thrilled with. There's also a third option -- delay...
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It's widely expected that Apple plans to follow up the launch of its iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C handets with new iPad and iPad mini tablets, though it's still a bit of a mystery as to when those products will be announced. Based on leaked info and rumor mill chatter, most analysts believe Apple is on pace to announce a fifth generation 9.7-inch iPad later this month, and for a time, some also expected a new iPad mini would make a simultaneous debut. That no longer looks to be the case. While the iPad 5 may still have an unveiling in October, it's looking more and more like the next iPad mini device, which is expected to sport a Retina class display, will be pushed back into next year. "The Regina...
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There were rumors Apple would release a larger size iPhone during yesterday's press event, and it would make sense for Apple to offer a bigger model to compete with all the Android devices wielding screens between 4.5 inches and 5 inches, give or take a fraction of an inch. Well, Apple stuck with the 4-inch form factor yet again for both its iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, though if you didn't watch any of the live blogs or catch up on tech news, you wouldn't have known that. For those reasons, we can give a pass to random people walking the sidewalks of New York who believed that Apple went bigger this time around. What's not so easy to excuse, however, is that when presented with an iPad mini and...
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If you like living on the bleeding edge of technology, now is a terrible time to pick up an iPhone or iPad device. Apple has begun inviting members of the press to its headquarters on September 10, presumably to announce the next iPhone, and you have to think a tablet refresh can't be far behind. So, if you snatch up an iPhone 5 today, you'll kick yourself next week for not having waited. The same doesn't apply if you could care less about owning the latest and greatest, and are more concerned with scoring a deal. If that's what floats your boat, you can head over to Walmart and pick up a discounted iPhone 5 or iPad tablet. By inking a 2-year service agreement with any of the big three wireless...
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You've probably heard the adage, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," and certainly Apple's done that with Samsung, though only because the Cupertino company may have no other choice. It's no secret there's plenty of bad blood between Apple and Samsung, the two mobile giants vying for dominance in the smartphone and tablet sectors, and while the former would like to severe ties with the latter, breaking up completely is proving hard to do. Initial reports regarding Apple's second generation iPad mini tablet suggested Sharp and LG would provide the upgraded Retina-class panels rather than continue to rely on Samsung. However, after speaking with "people familiar with the matter,"...
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Bad news if you were hoping to score a second generation iPad mini with an upgraded display sometime this holiday shopping season. While nothing is set in stone. word on the web is that a new iPad mini model won't even go into production until the fourth quarter of 2013, meaning its release would likely slip into 2014. It's long been believed that a Retina-class display will find its way onto a second generation iPad mini model, and according to Digitimes' supply chain sources, it will indeed boast a 2048x1536 resolution. Furthermore, Apple is said to be revising the design so that the bezel is almost non-existent. Don't rule out a slightly updated iPad mini model in time for the holiday shopping...
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Microsoft's hardware partners weren't exactly thrilled with the company's decision to launch Surface RT and Pro tablets, especially Acer, which warned Microsoft time and again that isn't easy competing in the hardware space. Nevertheless, Microsoft forged ahead, and though its Surface slates aren't making much of a market share dent, the Redmond outfit may not be finished dabbling in tablets. Citing an analyst with the Topology Research Institute, Focus Taiwan says Microsoft will probably launch a smaller, cheaper Surface slate in the fourth quarter of this year. The initial name is "Surface Mini," though we'd be surprised if Microsoft blatantly ripped off the name of the tablet it would be competing...
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One of the most oft-recommended Android tablets is Google's Nexus 7 built by Asus. The 7-inch slate is still relatively well equipped with an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, and best of all, stock Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, the latter of which is reason alone to put the Nexus 7 on your short list of potential Android tablets. But not even Google is immune to the fast pace of technology, hence a second generation Nexus 7 slate is in the pipeline. An announcement may come as early as next month, which would be exactly one year after the original Nexus 7 launched. The time is right for another Nexus 7 tablet, and as an added bonus, a July release would give Google...
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You can always tell when Apple is getting ready to refresh a product line. For one, there are all the rumors, speculation, and leaked information that precede events like Apple's upcoming World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC), which will take place this year on June 10. But even more telling is when the Cupertino company lowers prices on refurbished units ahead of a major event. Such is the case with the 4th generation iPad and iPad mini lines. If you poke your head into Apple's bin of refurbished products, you'll find the 9.7-inch slate starting at $419 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model. The 32GB Wi-Fi iPad is going for $499 and the 64GB Wi-Fi is selling for $439, a 17 percent discount versus a 16 percent...
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There's been so much hype, speculation, and rumors in regards to the next iPad mini release featuring a Retina-class display that if Apple doesn't include one, there's probably going to be a pretty big backlash, especially in the media. Fortunately for Apple, it's an easy situation to avoid, and according to NPD DisplaySearch, mass production of iPad mini devices with an upgraded Retina display are about to begin. "We should see the start of mass production of panels in June or July," Richard Shim, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch, told CNET. Shim added that LG Display will be one of the major suppliers of Retina-class panels for the iPad mini, and that Apple's rival Samsung is in no way supplying...
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If you don't count refurbished models and the occasional sale price, the iPad mini is the least expensive iPad around, as Apple likes to point out. That's made the 7.85-inch tablet a popular option among users who crave the look and feel of an Apple device without paying the full premium that comes with owning an Apple product, though demand could fall through the floor as the Cupertino company readies a revised model. Upstream sources in the iPad mini supply chain tell Digitimes they expect a 20-30 percent decline in first generation iPad shipments during the second quarter of 2013. Potential iPad mini buyers are anxious to see what Apple announces next, especially since the first generation...
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Don't look now, but in the near future, it's possible we'll see a smaller size Windows 8 tablet designed to compete with Apple's iPad mini and all those 7-inch slates, like the Nexus 7 (Google) and Kindle Fire HD (Amazon). Maybe Microsoft will take the reins and build a smaller Surface. As Kevin Garnett famously said, anything is possible. But is it plausible? I'd argue that it is. According to Apple Insider, Microsoft recently tweaked its Windows 8 hardware certification guidelines to allow for devices with screen resolutions of 1024x768 at a depth of 32 bits. Guess what resolution the iPad mini sports? That's right, 1024x768. "This doesn't imply we're encouraging partners to regularly use a...
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It doesn't take a trip to the local psychic to figure out Apple's planning to release another iPad mini device, but what nobody outside of Cupertino knows is exactly when. Even Apple may not have a specific date in mind, which makes speculating an even tougher proposition. Nevertheless, DisplaySearch thinks it has at least a rough estimate based on supply chain data. "We're seeing potential in the third quarter period of panel production for a higher-resolution iPad mini," DisplaySearch analyst Paul Semenza revealed to CNET. "When would the [next] mini be available? Could be third quarter or fourth quarter." Another thing that makes predicting an iPad mini 2 launch date tricky is the inevitable...
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Apple is quick to point out that the iPad mini is the least expensive iPad it's ever carried, and while that's true, it's still comparatively expensive when going up against competing slates that are similar in size. The iPad mini starts at $329, versus $200 for a Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD. Even the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" costs $60 less than the iPad mini, and if you want a tablet that's even larger, the 10.1-inch MeMO Pad from Asus runs $300. Of course, none of those device run iOS, and if you're already heavily invested into Apple' ecosystem, there's some obvious value in sticking with your platform. The iPad mini is also remarkably thin and light while retaining its premium polish. So, if you're...
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When it comes to Apple’s advertising, the bar is high and always climbing. Whether you think the new ‘Alive’ and ‘Together’ hit the mark is a matter of taste, but if the more than 150,000 YouTube views is any indication, the ads are certainly getting some attention. The spots show some exciting ways to use iPad and iPad mini and tout the Apple App Store’s more than 300,000 iPad-specific apps. And of course, because the mini natively supports all iPad apps, that number applies to the mini, too. Apple may be planning to redesign the iPad, but for now, it's heavily promoting the existing models. Apple's 'Alive' spot. The two 30-second spots share the same structure,...
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Investment research firm Piper Jaffray suspects Apple is gearing up to host a press event by the end of April, one in which in the Cupertino outfit will introduce a line of redesigned iPad tablets. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster pointed out to clients that over the past two years, the Spring event has been all about the iPad, and since Apple just introduced the iPad mini and only made minor tweaks to the full size iPad, a major overhaul is likely. "We believe Apple could update the full sized iPad to a body style similar to the iPad mini. Additionally, we believe that the iPad mini could get a Retina display, although that may happen later in the year given the supply constraints Apple faced...
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It's believed that Apple CEO Tim Cook has made at least two trips to China since taking over as head of the company. And why not, considering that China is Apple's second-largest market. Furthermore, Cook said he "strongly" believes China will become Apple's No. 1 customer, so there's good reason why he's exerting so much effort building and maintaining a relationship with Chinese officials. Continuing with that effort, Cook said Apple is planning to launch the iPad mini with cellular connectivity in China by the end of the month. You can already order an iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular model in the U.S., which offers high-speed Internet access on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. It's $459 for the 16GB...
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