iPad mini

Patent troll VirnetX adds latest iOS devices and Macs to Apple lawsuit

Hot on the heels of the $368 million payout in the FaceTime suit, patent holding firm VirnetX is trolling Apple again, this time with claims that both the iPhone 5 and iPad mini infringe upon four patents. Both devices, along with the latest iPod and Macs, were added to the lawsuit. Just like the Facetime case could result in a ban of the iPhone 4S, this latest wrinkle might put sales of Apple's newest products in jeopardy ahead of the fast-approaching holiday season...

AT&T announces new FaceTime over Cellular policy

AT&T has announced today that it is reversing its decision to limit iOS 6's FaceTime over Cellular ability to customers on its new shared data plans. The carrier says that subscribers with LTE devices will now be able to use the feature regardless of what data plan they're on, as long as it's not unlimited...

Suppliers profit up 29% on new Apple product launches

A high tide lifts all ships, especially if it is Apple. That's the word today from one observer who says Apple suppliers are enjoying a 29 percent profit boost due to "blockbuster new products" recently released. Apple's key suppliers saw their profits increase dramatically compared to the usual (and paltry) two percent growth and much higher than September's tepid one percent increase, Wall Street analyst Brian White told investors Thursday. The reason: Apple's line of new products, including the iPad mini, iPhone 5, a thinner iMac lineup and refreshed MacBooks...

Apple patents cooling fans for iPhones, iPads

Is there a fan in the future for the iPad or iPhone? That question is front-and-center following word Apple has filed to patent a fan to cool its popular mobile devices. The measure is seen as a response to criticisms that the iPad grows hot due to powerful processors and CPU-intensive tasks.

The patent application, entitled "Cooling system for mobile devices", indicates a mechanical system comprised of fan, motor and an alert which potentially would vibrate the device. Because of the tight quarters, the motor would do double duty, driving both the fan and the alert, when required. Air intake and exhaust would likely employ an existing outlet in the devices, such as a headphone jack or the new Lightning connector port...

Incipio’s NGP case hugs the iPad mini

Incipio, as one of the largest world-wide accessory retailers, continues its line with fresh offerings for the iPad mini. Concurrently with the launch of the mini, Incipio hit the ground running with a few of their staple cases specifically tailored for Apple's newest iPad addition.

Today, I take a look at the Next Generation Polymer (NGP) impact protective shell. One of my biggest fears is scratching that beautiful black anodized shell and the NGP may be the ticket...

My iPad mini review

I remember the first time I picked up my iPad 3. I was surprised how much thicker and heavier it was compared to the iPad 2. In my iPad 3 review, I wrote that even though the increased thickness and weight of the device are noticeable, I'd probably get over it in a matter of weeks. Several months later, I'm still not used to it, and to be honest, I'm completely turned off by my iPad 3.

The nail in the coffin came when I received a Nexus 7. This device was everything I needed to read, email, and tweet, which is pretty much all I'm doing on a tablet. In the end, the Nexus 7 didn't do it for me and I returned it, but it clearly showed that there was a device missing in my life. A device that is small, thin, and light. A device that would be just like an iPad, but smaller. Enters the iPad mini...

Rumor: the next iPad mini will have Retina display

Moving to blunt criticism over the iPad mini display, a rumor out of China asserts that AU Optronics (AUO) is working on building a crisper Retina screen for the next iPad mini with the same 326ppi pixel density as the iPhone 4/4S/5. AUO is one of the suppliers Apple sources display panels for the iPad mini from. The need to offer a Retina iPad mini was allegedly pressing enough to bypass the usual waiting period before providing sharper display...

Display shootout pits iPad mini vs the Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7

Despite the success Apple is seeing with its iPad mini, the company has received a lot of criticism over the new tablet. Folks are particularly unhappy with its $329 price tag, which is at least $100 more than the competition, and its lack of a Retina display.

The mini's 1024 x 768 is also worse than its competitors, and has been the number one complaint in early reviews. But is it really that much worse than those found on the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7? DisplayMate thinks it has the answer...

The iPad mini could comprise half of all iPads sold in December

Apple will sell 20.2 million iPads during the December financial quarter - half of them iPad minis, one Wall Street analyst predicts. The forecast comes as experts attempt to divine the meaning of Apple's record three million tablets sold over the past weekend.

Despite a Northeast US battered and bruised by Hurricane Sandy, Apple announced it sold three million new iPads this weekend, breaking a record of 1.5 million Wi-Fi-only units moved during the iPad 3 opening weekend in March. Analysts believe a large portion of new iPads sold this weekend were various iPad mini models...

Apple announces sales of 3M new iPads in 3 days

Apple just announced that during the opening weekend it sold three million units of both the iPad mini and the fourth-generation iPad with Retina display, exceeding the three million iPad 3 tablets sold over the course of four days back in March. It's also double the 1.5 million Wi-Fi-only iPad 3 units Apple confirmed it sold in March. Though it did not break down sales by model so we don't know how many iPad minis the company moved, Tim Cook noted Apple "practically sold out of iPad minis". Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster predicted sales of 1.5 million iPad minis over its opening weekend...

iPad mini user guide

Good news for those of you who managed to score an iPad mini during this sellout weekend, Apple has posted the full-length user guide for the new tablet online.

Obviously, since the mini is so similar to its larger sibling, it's not going to take seasoned iPad users long to get accustomed it. But since Apple only includes brief "getting started" pamphlets with the device, it wouldn't hurt to bookmark the actual manual for future reference...

You can now reserve your iPad mini for in-store pick up

The iPad mini officially launched on Friday, and much like the online pre-order sale, it looks like initial stock has gone rather quickly. We've heard several reports now that many retailers are sold out of the 8-inch tablet.

But don't worry, if you haven't gotten your hands on a mini yet, Apple just opened up a new option that could allow you to get the slate next-day. That's right, you can now reserve the iPad mini for in-store personal pickup...