On Gear Live: Samsung S95C: The OLED TV You Can’t Afford (to Ignore!)

Latest Gear Live Videos

Report: iPad Air & iPad mini Retina to gain Touch ID, 8MP camera, A8 chip this year

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors,

iPad AIr mini touch id

Apple may be prepping the 2014 iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display models to include Touch ID, among other new additions. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the prediction is that we'll see an expected chip bump with the Apple A8 processor, rear iSight camera resolution increased to 8MP, and the aforementioned Touch ID fingerprint recognition security feature in both the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display.

Kuo also believes that this year's iPads will launch earlier than they did last year, which would imply that they should arrive sooner than November. As for the long-rumored 12.9-inch iPad? Kuo says that the larger tablet is unlikely to appear in 2014.


Advertisement

iPad mini keyboard review: Belkin FastFit vs. Logitech Ultrathin

belkin fastfit logitech ultrathin ipad mini review

It's 2014 and we're all familiar with iPad keyboard cases by now. They're designed to protect your iPad's screen while giving you the option of a physical keyboard when you need to do some heavy typing. For the iPad Air, these keyboards are more or less interchangeable. But for the iPad mini, because of its reduced size, keyboard markers have a hard decision to make as far as the keyboard layout goes.

The Belkin FastFit Keyboard Case for iPad mini (pictured in black) feels more like a traditional full-sized keyboard, with larger number keys compared to the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Mini (pictured in white). Both have arrow keys and proper Command, Alt/Option, Function keys that let issue quick commands like changing the volume, pausing playback and activating Siri. Both keyboards have laptop-style keys that feel nice to type on, and both have standard magnets that attach to your iPad mini. We put these two keyboards head-to-head in this iPad mini keyboard review.

Click to continue reading iPad mini keyboard review: Belkin FastFit vs. Logitech Ultrathin


iPad mini with Retina display review

iPad mini with Retina display with iPad Air

I've been using the iPad mini with Retina display for a couple of weeks now, and after using it as my primary tablet device during that time (setting aside my iPad Air) I think it's time to report back with my findings as it pertains to Apple's second-generation miniature iPad.

Last year, Apple introduced the iPad mini to the world at the same time as the fourth-generation standard-sized iPad. Essentially, Apple took the iPad 2 and forked it into two different products--the Retina display-packing full-sized iPad, and the iPad mini, which was simply an iPad 2 that had been reduced in size. Many (me included) expected that the next iPad mini would remain a year behind as far as internal chips and technologies go, leaving the cutting edge stuff with the larger iPad.

We were wrong.

Instead, Apple released two iPad that are, from a technological standpoint, virtually identical. You got the slimmed down iPad Air (see our iPad Air review), and the iPad mini with Retina display. Both pack the same number of pixels. Both sport the new Apple A7 processor (1.4GHz for the iPad Air, 1.3GHz for the iPad mini.) Same with the M7 co-processor, and the 10-hour battery life. So, the question as it pertains to an iPad purchase becomes, is it more important to you to have a larger display, or a more compact form factor? I've already given you my iPad Air review, now join me after the jump for my review of the iPad mini with Retina display.

Click to continue reading iPad mini with Retina display review


iPad mini with Retina display now available for purchase

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds,

iPad mini with Retina display

If you've been waiting for the new iPad mini with Retina display to go on sale, it's time for you to head over to the Apple Store online. Apple announced the iPad mini with Retina display alongside the iPad Air three weeks ago, but the mini didn't see as immediate a release at the Air did due to supply constraints on the Retina panels. It's an odd move for Apple to launch as major a product as a new iOS device by simply releasing it on sale on its online store without it also being available in its physical retail locations, but that's exactly what's happened. You can order your iPad mini with Retina display now, and it'll currently ship in 1-3 business days if you want a 16GB or 32GB model. If you prefer 64GB or 128GB, those will ship in 5-10 business days. You may be able to do in-store pickup, but from what we are seeing, those are very, very few and far between.

The iPad mini with Retina display sports a 2048 x 1536 display, new Apple A7 processor, and MIMO Wi-Fi connectivity. Pricing starts at $399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, while the top-of-the-line version has 128GB storage and LTE connectivity for $829.

You can order your iPad mini with Retina display now.


Apple releases iOS 7.0.3 with iCloud Keychain, iMessage fix, Touch ID tweaks

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 7.0.3 features

Alongside all the major news coming out of today's Apple iPad event, the company has also released an iOS update. iOS 7.0.3 bring a few new features to the platform, like iCloud Keychain, which works alongside the same feature in OS X Mavericks (which was also released today on the Mac App Store) to keep your account names, passwords, and credit cards synced across your devices, while protecting them with your Apple ID. Here is a rundown of all the changes in iOS 7.0.3:

  • Adds iCloud Keychain to keep track of your on account names passwords and credit card numbers across all your devices
  • Adds Password Generator so Safari can suggest unique hard to guess passwords for your online accounts
  • Updates lock screen to delay display of "slide to unlock" went Touch ID is in use
  • Adds back the ability to search the web and Wikipedia from Spotlight search
  • Fixes an issue where iMessage failed to send for some users
  • Fixes a bug that could prevent iMessage from activating
  • Improves system stability when using iWork apps
  • Fixes an accelerometer calibration issue
  • Address is an issue that could cause Siri and VoiceOver to use a lower quality voice
  • Fixes a bug that could allow someone to bypass the lock screen passcode
  • Enhances the Reduce Motion setting to minimize both motion and animation
  • Fix is an issue that could cause VoiceOver input to be too sensitive
  • Updates the Bold Text setting to also change dial pad text
  • Fix is an issue that could cause supervise devices to become unsupervised when updating software

You should be able to check the Software Update area on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to grab the update now.


Apple announces iPad mini with Retina display

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds,

iPad mini with Retina display

The one glaring hole in the iPad mini has now been fixed, as Apple has announced a brand new iPad mini with Retina display. It sports the same 2048 x 1536 display that is found on the new iPad Air, and also sports the same processor as well--the Apple A7 processor, also found in the iPhone 5s. It even has the M7 processor built-in as well. In fact, it sports all of the same features internally that are found on the iPad Air--the only difference seems to be the size of the actual display, and since the iPad mini and iPad Air share the same display resolution, the mini ends up having the more pixel dense panel. No exact launch date has been announced yet, but we know that it'll launch in late November, starting at $399 for the 16GB model--that's a $70 price increase when compared to the original non-Retina iPad mini.

Read More | iPad mini Product Page

We’re giving away a brand new iPad mini!

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Announcements, Apple, Handhelds,

iPad mini giveaway

In case you missed it, we are giving away an iPad mini, and you only have two more days to enter! This is a super-easy contest to enter. We have 21 questions we'd like to ask you about what you think of our Ford Fiesta Movement video content so far. Simply head on over to the survey and answer the 21 questions. At the end, select my name (Andru Edwards) and put in a valid email that we can use to contact you if you're selected as the winner. That's it!

Read More | iPad mini giveaway

What we expect from tomorrow’s Apple iPad event

Apple Oct 22 event

Apple is set to go out with a bang this year with its big October 22 event. The obvious product announcement that everyone is expecting belongs to the iPad line, with the iPad 5 and iPad mini both seeing significant upgrades. What else can we expect from what will likely be the final Apple event of 2013? Join us after the break for our analysis and expectations.

Click to continue reading What we expect from tomorrow’s Apple iPad event


Apple to announce redesigned iPad 5, iPad mini with Retina display on October 22

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, PC / Laptop,

iPad mini Retina

Apple is set to announce its brand new iPad 5 and iPad mini with Retina display on October 22, according to AllThingsD sources familiar with the matter. After announcing the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in September, Apple will be following a similar pattern to last year, with the October announcement focusing on its tablets.

So what can we expect from the event? For starters, the fifth-generation iPad will see a redesign, bringing in cues from the iPad mini, like the thinner side bezels and a more sleek rear design. The iPad mini will be picking up a Retina display, the one glaring omission from the original model that launched almost a year ago. No word yet on if the Touch ID fingerprint technology will make it to either tablet, but we have heard reports that we may see both a space gray color, and the champagne gold that's been popular on the iPhone 5s (see our iPhone 5s review.) IGZO display technology from Sharp may be featured here, and AllThingsD says that both models will sport the new 64-bit A7 processor as well.

Of course, there are other products we're waiting for Apple to update us on as well, so there's a good chance we will also get pricing and release information for the new Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (especially since the Mavericks Golden Master is available to developers,) and a spec bump for the MacBook Pro to include Haswell processors, and possibly an Apple TV update. Of course, we'll be here to bring you all the news as it unfolds.

Read More | AllThingsD

Advertisement