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Wi-Fi models of Retina iPad mini now available for pickup at some Apple Stores

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 6, 2013

When the iPad mini with Retina display first went up for sale on Apple's web store this morning, the option to pick it up in-store was not available. Customers could only choose between shipping methods, with estimates ranging from 1-10 days depending on the model.

But this has changed for some folks over the past few hours. A number of Apple Stores across the US and other launch countries are now showing that Wi-Fi models of the new mini are available for Personal Pickup, meaning you could order the tablet and pick it up today...

Walmart’s Black Friday sale: $100 gift card with iPad mini purchase, $75 with iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 16, 2018

And they're off! With Black Friday now just a few weeks away, retailers have begun teasing their after-Thanksgiving-day sales in hopes of convincing hordes of customers to visit their stores on the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

We've already seen a preview of Target's sale, which offers the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $479 with a free $100 gift card, and other discounts. And now, Walmart has published a snippet of its Black Friday specials showing a similar offer...

California inventor gears up for legal showdown with Apple over iPhone features

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

"Boy, have we patented it!", quipped Steve Jobs in wrapping up the segment of his January 2007 MacWorld Expo presentation dealing with the iPhone's multi-touch user interface.

Months later, Jobs through the combination of sheer willpower, yelling and F-bombs would impose restrictions on early Android releases.

The goal was to prevent Google's smartphone software from employing multitouch gestures on mobile devices that Apple had been researching for years. The strategy eventually failed, prompting Apple to launch proxy battles against Android backers such as HTC, Samsung and Motorola over prized iPhone inventions.

One guy was unimpressed, though: a California inventor has been claiming for years now that he holds a patent related to an essential iPhone feature. He's not afraid to take the consumer electronics powerhouse to court in order to prove the infringement and seek a five percent cut of Apple's US sales, Bloomberg reported Tuesday...

Retina iPad mini’s A7 chip slightly underclocked versus iPad Air

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

In a surprise non-announcement, Apple's iPad mini with Retina display has unexpectedly gone on sale this morning. For the time being, the device is available online for shipping or with in-store pick-up.

What you can't do (yet) is just walk in and purchase one due to supply constraints and ongoing manufacturing woes as Apple is "working hard" to meet demand. Availability issues aside, what's there to get excited about the device?

For The Loop's Jim Dalrymple, the answer is simple: the iPad mini with Retina display is a no-compromise play - thou shall no longer sacrifice clarity for portability as the tablet packs in the same Retina display like its bigger brother, the iPad Air.

In fact, the only difference between the two is the screen size as the new iPad mini runs the same A7 processor that debuted on the iPhone 5s and made its way into the iPad Air. And just how speedy is the Retina iPad mini vs. the iPhone 5s and iPad Air?

Here are the first benchmark scores...

How Steve Jobs imposed limitations on Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

I clearly remember September 2008 when the HTC G1 debuted in partnership with Google and T-Mobile. Google's first usable Android-driven handset arrived some fifteen months after the iPhone had gone on sale in June 2007 and tech die-hards were startled that it didn't incorporate the pinch-zoom gesture.

Android would be deployed across lots more handsets before eventually implementing not only pinch-zooming, but other familiar iPhone features as well. There was an unconfirmed rumor at the time that Google removed multitouch gestures from initial Android builds at Apple's request.

In all honesty, the notion seemed a bit crazy. Why would Google take the iPhone head on and yet cave in to Apple's demands? According to a new 272-page book titled Dogfight: How Apple And Google Went To War And Started a Revolution by Fred Vogelstein, Apple's then CEO Steve Jobs imposed that choice on Google's Android head Andy Rubin by sheer willpower...

ZAGG’s Origin wireless speaker combo [review and giveaway]

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

The Bluetooth speaker is making its way as a universal speaker for all mobile devices. As I mentioned in a previous Bluetooth speaker round up just last week, it appears more companies are entering the Bluetooth speaker marketplace. Also, it seems fewer companies are producing dock based speakers. After Apple turned the iPhone dedicated aftermarket upside down by eliminating the 30 pin cable, fewer companies want to continue chancing a Lightning pin specific option. With the universal Bluetooth standard, not only does the company future proof their design, but all mobile devices will work effortlessly, thus preventing costly dedicated iPhone models.

ZAGG (you know them as one of the original iPhone skin companies) is also branching into the mobile media scene. No longer just the InvisibleShield company, ZAGG and their new subsidiary iFrogz are getting their hands dirty in a cross platform way. From skins to cases to audio, there is certainly a diversification for the company. I was able to review a new pair of their Bluetooth headphones a few weeks back and today, a closer look at the ZAGG Bluetooth speaker, should leave everyone begging for more.

The ZAGG Origin, which made its first splash at CES 2013, had escaped my radar until recently. With a streamlined design and hard hitting sound, I was excited to receive a review unit. Origin may look like it is just another part of the average Bluetooth line up, but a detachable companion speaker is the second part of a one-two punch to success...

Actually, it was Samsung who sub-contracted GlobalFoundries to build Apple chips

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

Yesterday, the unconfirmed news broke out about a surprise tie-in between Apple and GlobalFoundries, the world's top semiconductor foundry second only to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) which counts Nvidia, Broadcom, Qualcomm and AMD as its clients.

The Albany Times Union newspaper asserted that GlobalFoundries will build Apple's A-series chips for iOS devices at a new $6 billion facility in upstate New York. The development has led some folks to conjure up that Apple could be finally ditching Samsung for semiconductor manufacture, but that's not really the case at all. Read on...

Walk-in Retina iPad mini purchases unavailable, Apple ‘working hard’ to meet demand

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

Those of you who just woke up needn't worry, there's nothing wrong with the Internet today - Apple's iPad mini with Retina display has indeed made a surprise debut. As Cody told you, the highly anticipated tablet has unexpectedly been available as of midnight Pacific Time on November 12, arriving without too much noise on Apple's part aside from a quiet website update and a press release.

It would appear that the combination of pent-up demand and production issues prompted Apple to limit launch availability to online orders or Personal Pickup in the case of retail stores, implying you can't just waltz inside your nearest Apple Store and buy a Retina iPad mini...

Apple establishes Philippine Typhoon Relief donations via iTunes

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

Thousands of lives were lost after Typhoon Haiyan made landfall and ripped through the Philippines last Friday. As you could imagine, companies and organizations around the world are banding together and contributing to the relief efforts with donations. This includes Apple, which on Tuesday activated Red Cross donations through iTunes to help with relief efforts.

Apple normally takes its customary 30 percent cut on iTunes proceeds, but the company surrendered the commission for the relief effort. You can donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200 and Apple will transfer 100 percent of your donation to the American Red Cross in the region, to help distribute food and relief supplies to survivors and help with search and rescue efforts...

Ultravisual review: Instagram for artistic photography

Lory Gil ∙ Updated December 4, 2013

If there is one thing I’ve learned since I started writing for iDB it is that there are a few readers of this site that hate Instagram. Square pictures and filter overlays are like poison to some iPhone photography hobbyists.

Ultravisual is a social networking photography app that lets you upload and edit photos and videos without the limitations of the square aspect ratio. Plus, you can follow other users who have an eye for visually interesting images and curate your own category of media to share with others…

Viber 4.0 arrives with push-to-talk, Viber Out, Sticker Market, tweaks and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2013

Viber today released a brand new version of its iOS and Android application which now includes the Viber Sticker Market, the new background gallery, the ability to send push-to-talk voice messages, forward messages, add more participants to group conversations than ever before and additional tweaks.

What's really interesting is that Sticker Market allows Viber users to put their own creations on sale and make a profit when others buy their work from the palm of their hand.

The full breakdown follows after the break...

Jony Ive talks designing for Sotheby’s (RED) charity

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 31, 2017

Apple's SVP of all design, Jony Ive, recently contributed to a couple unique items conceived specifically for Sotheby's (RED) charity auction. These include, among other objects of affection, a one-off red-colored Mac Pro, a unique aluminum-clad desk and an awesome retro-looking Leica M camera.

Ive already talked about creating that camera and working with influential industrial designer, Australia-born Marc Newson, and now we get to see the two men discuss the intricacies of working with Sotheby's on making these nice auction items a reality...