The iPad Air launched online and in retail stores around the globe this morning, and like clockwork, the folks over at iFixit have already ripped it apart. The teardown gives us a closeup look at the components inside the tablet.
And this is particularly interesting this year, as Apple has completely redesigned the 5th gen iPad to be thinner, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. You'll find photos of its A7 chip, 5mp camera and more after the fold...
Good news for folks hoping to score a new iPad Air tomorrow without having to go wait in line. A new report is out this afternoon reaffirming previous chatter that Apple will allow some users to schedule their online orders for same-day in-store pickup.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, 9to5Mac is reporting that some Apple Stores have been told to allocate a smaller number of devices for purchases handled in the morning and later in the day, leaving the rest of the inventory free for Personal Pickup...
Due to time zone differences, Apple's online stores in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore and Australia had gone offline earlier this morning, ahead of the November 1 iPad Air launch. And right on cue, the online Apple Store in Australia, China, Japan and elsewhere have returned for business now.
Most of the stores are listing the device as shipping within 24 hours. The online Apple Stores across Europe and in North America are expected to go down in a few hours as Apple preps to take online orders at midnight.
I've got more info plus line shots from across the world right after the jump...
As retailers have now begun receiving large shipments of iPad Air units, Apple's online stores in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere are now going down ahead of tomorrow's launch. The online Apple Stores in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore and Australia are all offline, with more going down as we speak.
This was to be expected. As is their wont, Apple typically takes its online store offline ahead of major product launches and significant product updates. The iPad Air is slated to launch on Friday, November 1, in the United States and a few dozen international markets...
While the new iPad mini with Retina display is expected to be in very short supply when it launches later next month, the redesigned iPad Air will reportedly be very easy to find when it goes on sale November 1.
And a new report is out supporting this theory. Citing knowledgeable sources, 9to5Mac claims that Apple Stores and other retailers have begun receiving large shipments of iPad Air units ahead of this week's launch...
Apple claims the A7 chip inside the iPad Air provides two times faster performance over its predecessor, the fourth-generation iPad driven by the A6X chip, in both CPU and GPU department. The claim exasperated disbelief among some watchers who questioned and dismissed Apple's 'two times faster' mantra as pure marketing talk with strings attached.
Per early GeekBench scores, the iPad Air is over 80 percent faster than the iPad 4, close enough to Apple's advertised 2x CPU gain. But what about graphics?
Apple's annual 10-K report to the SEC always includes interesting tidbits. This year, the tech giant said it spent $4.5 billion on research and development, a move the iPhone maker describes as "critical" to remaining competitive.
The spending marks a 32 percent increase in research over fiscal 2012, when the company spent $3.4 billion.
The consumer electronics powerhouse said it employs 80,300 full-time workers, more than half in retailing. About 30 new retail locations are planned for 2014 with 20 more stores being remodeled, the company also told the government agency Wednesday. A couple more tidbits follow...
As we count the remaining days - or should I say hours? - until Friday's iPad Air launch, I reckon those of you who frequent iDB have made up your mind by now. I'm guessing you've read everything there's to know about the tablet, checked out big media reviews and just really thoroughly talked this through with your friends and family members - all in the service of making an informed purchasing decision.
Yes, some iDB team members have also made up their mind. You can imagine we're absolutely eager to learn about our readership's position on the iPad Air. From your vantage point, is it a buy or pass? Cast a quick vote right below...
There were two recurring themes in the first round of iPad Air reviews that began hitting the web late last night: the tablet has substantially decreased in size (that includes weight, thickness, etc.), and dramatically increased in speed.
While we will probably have to wait until we go hands-on to really understand the former claim, the latter can be seen in initial benchmark testing. Early GeekBench results show the Air outperforming its predecessor by a huge margin...
Apple's iPad Air is scheduled to land on store shelves in the United States and a few dozen countries worldwide this coming Friday, November 1, and online shoppers should be able to order theirs with in-store pickup option starting at 3am Eastern, midnight Pacific.
As we inch closer to the big day, a number of big media outlets and respected bloggers have now published their reviews which mostly focus on the device's thinner and lighter appearance, the new design and the powerful innards, though some mention the free iLife/iWork apps and the supreme app ecosystem.
We've compiled the best review quotes for your reading pleasure, so you could make an informed purchasing decision...
If you've been listening to Let's Talk Jailbreak, you know that I've been going through a bit of a metamorphosis as of late. I've gotten rid of a lot of excess in the name of simplifying and streamlining my life. Sebastien and Cody like to make fun of me because of that, but it is deserved when you consider how I've waffled back and forth.
My 64GB iPad mini was one of the casualties of my downsizing efforts. I convinced myself that owning just one iOS device made life a lot simpler. I still believe that managing multiple devices is a bit of a pain, but I've decided to go ahead and take the plunge again.
One of the top accessory makers and among the leading players in the Apple accessories ecosystem, Logitech, today announced four new keyboard cases and covers designed specifically for Apple's upcoming iPad Air.
However, Logitech's arch-enemy Belkin earlier telegraphed an announcement of its own. A whole bunch of new iPad Air-specific accessories are part of Belkin's announcement, including three new Bluetooth keyboard models from Belkin's Qode lineup, one of them apparently made from an "aircraft-grade aluminum alloy".
Jump past the fold for the full reveal...