iPad mini

Pre-orders for Nomad 3-inch USB-to-Lightning cable open, shipping in June

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 24, 2018

The three-inch Nomad Lightning cable made waves when it was announced back in November 2012. This handy little USB-to-Lighting accessory fits your key ring and comes to the rescue when you find yourself out and about with a dying iPhone and no charger in sight.

Originally a Kickstarter project, creators Kegan & Roberto developed the Nomad according to Apple's strict requirements in order to earn the sought-after Lightning accessory certification. The Nomad cable is available for pre-order now, priced at $24.99 a pop (no shipments expected until June)...

Google’s Nexus 10 no threat to iPad sales

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 18, 2013

Here's an interesting tidbit we found this morning: Microsoft's Surface tablets could actually be outselling Google's latest Nexus 10. We understand every scuffle between Google and Apple is actually a proxy for the battle between Android and iOS, so the statement by blogger Benedict Evans caught our eyes. According to Evans, the Samsung-made Nexus 10 likely sold around 1.01 million of the Google tablets by the end of March.

This compares to the 1.5 million Surface tablets Microsoft has reportedly sold - not to mention the ten million iPad mini tablets purchased in just the last two months of the fourth quarter in fiscal 2012. While the latest Nexus tablet is no threat to the iPad, the calculations suggest something more important: strong distribution and a well-defined ecosystem can overcome big-name rivals...

WSJ: Microsoft to respond to Apple, Google with smartwatch, smartphone, mini Surface

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

As Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn recently began hiring workers for assembly of a next-gen iPhone and possibly a rumored budget iPhone, our friends over at Redmond are thought to be busy developing own branded smartwatch, smartphone and seven-inch Surface tablet. Both gadgets are viewed as direct responses to Apple's rumored iWatch project, its wildly successful smartphone and the iPad mini tablet, respectively.

The smartwatch project is purportedly beyond the prototyping phase as Microsoft is said to have started aligning parts suppliers in Asia earlier this year, allegedly sourcing 1.5-inch screens. However, folks who apparently saw the prototypes warn it's "unclear whether Microsoft will opt to move ahead with the watch" at this stage...

iHelicopters unveils do-it-yourself Mini Brick Cars

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 25, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y6XDAfLN8I

In an interesting extension of its lineup of RC-controlled iOS toys, iHelicopters today launched Mini Brick Cars, an interesting do-it-yourself project that should appeal to your kids. As the name suggest, a Mini Brick Car is actually a package containing a bunch of mini bricks which allow you to create any type of vehicle that can be controlled via your iPhone, iPod or iPad using a dedicated controller app. The kit costs $59.95, including free shipping to any destination in the world...

Nearly half of U.S. teens own an iPhone, 62% are planning to buy one

Ed Sutherland ∙ April 10, 2013

Although it sometimes seems like every teen has an iPhone, we are not quite there, according to new research. Some 48 percent of teens say they own the Apple smartphone with 62 percent expecting to buy an iPhone as their next handset.

The 48 percent of teen-owned iPhones is up from 40 percent registered during fall 2012, according to Piper Jaffray's 25th bi-annual teen survey. Meanwhile, just over 20 percent of teens surveyed said they either own or plan to purchase a smartphone powered by Google's Android mobile operating software...

Avid launches iOS-compatible audio interfaces

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Avid, a highly regarded name among pro audio engineers, today announced a pair of mobile audio interfaces with native support for Apple's iOS platform and the iPad. The Avid Fast Track Solo and Fast Track Duo let you record your guitar, vocals and other instruments through a high-quality mic pres and inputs and tight integration with its Pro Tools Express suite for Mac or Windows PCs. Each interface has a bus-powered USB port on it and allows for a direct iPad connection without the need for Apple's iPad Camera Connection Kit interface...

USPTO withdraws its objections to Apple’s ‘iPad mini’ trademark

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 8, 2013

We told you how the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently turned down Apple's trademark application for the iPad mini because its review team deemed the moniker as ”merely describing” the product. They also mentioned that other identities have applied for the 'iPad' trademark, meaning there’s a “likelihood of confusion between the marks.”

As it turns out, the USPTO has now withdrawn these two main objections, in turn allowing Apple to keep the 'iPad mini' trademark, provided it amends the filing with some interesting fine print. Jump past the fold for full details...

Walmart now offering 16GB iPad mini for $299

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 28, 2017

Apple received a lot of criticism when it introduced its iPad mini last October for $329. Critics felt that since other 7-inch tablets out at the time, like Google's Nexus 7 for example, were in the $200 range, Apple was crazy for pricing the mini so high.

But these days you don't have to pay quite that much to snag the tiny tablet. Last week we saw Apple offering a refurbished version of the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $299. And today, it looks like Walmart has matched that price for a brand new one...

Major SkyDrive update: revamped UI, full-res photos, iPhone 5 and iPad mini support

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

There's a good reason why Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage client for iOS has seen its last update in June of last year: revenue sharing. Per Apple's rules, third-party software is required to share 30 percent of proceeds from in-app sales with Apple.

For example, when you fire up Dropbox's excellent iOS client and upgrade to a paid storage tier within the app, your iTunes credit card on file gets charged and Apple earns its 30 percent share.

Though Microsoft wanted to introduce that same functionality into the SkyDrive app, it wouldn't share any revenue with Apple. Neither party would budge and a spokesperson previously said Microsoft was "in contact with Apple regarding the matter."

The two parties have supposedly reached an amicable solution because Microsoft today announced SkyDrive 3.0, a major new version rocking an overhauled interface, support for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini and a few other features...

US Patent Office turns down Apple’s iPad mini trademark application

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple's been having some pretty bad luck on the patent and trademark front lately. It recently lost a trademark battle in Mexico for its world-renown 'iPhone' moniker, and it's fighting a similar battle in Brazil.

And that bad luck continues this week with reports claiming that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has turned down the Cupertino company's trademark application for its just-launched iPad mini...

Final Fantasy V hits the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 28, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XO9N_18mE4

Twenty years following its original release on SNES, Square Enix's Final Fantasy V has landed on the iPhone and iPad. The game invites you travel the lands commanding a band of four in search for the mysterious crystals that control the four elements - earth, water, fire and wind - thereby bringing peace and prosperity to the world.

These things have lost their power and are on the verge of destruction so you must find a way to restore their power. The iOS version also includes The Sealed Temple from the 2006 release, the Tetsuya Nomura-designed optional boss Enuo and an all-new soundtrack...

Apple reportedly cutting iPad mini shipments next quarter, new model coming?

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

There's a new report out of China this morning, claiming that Apple is cutting shipments of its iPad mini next month. The cut is said to be a 20% reduction, with steeper cuts likely happening in the latter part of the second quarter.

While the folks on Wall Street will probably try to spin this into an 'Apple is doomed' story, despite the fact that there's evidence that the mini is selling very well, the consensus seems to be that it's preparing to launch a new model...