This is just in. iOS 7.1 beta 1 download links have just gone live for iPhone 5, 5s, 5c, 4s, 4, iPod touch 5, and iPad 2 and up on the iOS Dev Center. A new beta for Apple TV 2nd and 3rd gen has also been released.
Consumers living in all initial release countries have been frantically descending on Apple Retail Stores to get their hands on the iPad mini 2 with Retina display. The smaller form-factor tablet has proven to be extremely popular in the time that has followed its first-generation launch with the recent introduction of the Retina display and A7 processor only extending that popularity. The limited inventory in online and physical retail outlets show just how popular the new iPad mini has become, but those owners who also have the larger iPad Air may just find themselves comparing color output on the Retina display and finding themselves a little confused.
As part of their continued efforts to improve the overall functionality and stability of Mavericks, Apple has today distributed the first seed of OS X 10.9.1 to registered developers. The same 10.9.1 seed that has been released into the developer portal has also previously been distributed amongst specific Apple internal employees with the hope of ensuring that everything runs as smoothly as possible before it gets installed onto the machines of end-users.
It seems that we can't have any big Apple product release these days without it being laden with some sort of baggage. The infamous 'antennagate’ debacle of the iPhone 4 was perhaps the biggest blow up that we've seen lately, but that doesn't mean that other products haven't had their fair share of issues. It seems that the very recent release of the iPad mini 2 with Retina display may be the latest Apple hardware to suffer from an issue that could very well be blown out of all proportion.
The lack of significant inventory for Apple's latest flagship products should be a familiar story by now. Over the last few years, we have seen multiple iPhone and iPad launches that have ended in disappointment due to stock related issues for those looking to get in on the action on day one. A large percentage of consumers who tried to get their hands on the gold iPhone 5s on launch day ended up extremely disappointed, and it looks like the same situation is occurring for those wanting to purchase the new iPad mini 2 with Retina display. To make sure we don't make a trip to the Apple Store only to be left disappointed, there is now the option of an unofficial tracking solution that shows in-store pickup stock of the new iPad mini 2 with Retina display.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Apple does a lot of business through a lot of different sales channels. Consumers who prefer to shop from the comfort of their own home can easily purchase Apple hardware and software directly through the company's official online store. Those who prefer to interact with bricks and mortar don't usually have to stray very far to find themselves purchasing goods in one of Apple's physical retail outlets. In addition to those options, Apple also has a vast array of official resellers who are always happy to shift their goods. But if there was a competition for which physical store could shift the most iPhones then who do we think would win?
Apple's decision to revamp and revitalize the rather disheveled iChat app was undoubtedly a decision that was needed to be made, but the execution of that decision has left more than a lot to be desired. OS X users have been more than happy to let Apple know that the Messages app on their platform isn't up to scratch, but while we wait for the Cupertino overlords to do something about it let's take a look at a new Messages concept that totally overhauls the app with the aim of actually appealing to those who use the service.
It has been reckoned for a while now that Apple is in the process of developing a so-called "iWatch" product to be worn on the wrist. The rumor itself is certainly believable, particularly with the release of Samsung's Galaxy Gear back in September, but the reports surrounding the product itself have ranged from the plausible to the far-fetched. Today arrives perhaps the most outrageous claim that Apple will be creating two different specifications of the iWatch - a smaller model for women, and a larger version for the predominantly larger wrists of the male population.
With the announcement of the iPhone 5s last month, the feature many were talking about was the new gold color configuration on offer. Naturally, some held out hope that the iPad range would follow suit, but while both the Retina iPad mini and iPad Air both got such niceties as the A7 processor and M7 motion coprocessor, the lovely goldness seems to have been reserved for the company's flagship smartphone at this point in time.
Whenever a new device is released to market, the benchmark tests begin almost instantaneously. Today, the iPad mini with Retina display made its long-awaited debut, and although it still appears in very short supply, it has already been put through its paces and compared with some of the other marquee devices in the iOS product line. As it transpires, it's almost identical to the iPhone 5s in terms of speed, although both the iPad mini 2 with Retina display and the Touch ID-enabled handset fall slightly behind the iPad Air, which is faster than both.
