Apple's iPad is credited with forging the modern tablet market as we know it. Having emerged back in 2010 - yes, it has been only five years since the first iPad was announced - it has evolved into the current delight that is the iPad Air 2, and as with most of Apple's other great exports, it has been copied and ripped off with each new revision. As the iPad has improved, however, so have the device knockoff makers, and a new iPad Air clone offers good specs, beautiful design and Retina-res display for a mind-blowing $177.
Whether you're feeling a bit geeky, or are simply curious as to the inner workings of your iPad (which, by default, renders you a geek anyway), you can now enjoy a high-resolution wallpaper showcasing your iPad Air's insides. Theoretically, the images offer a glimpse of what your device would look like if the display component were completely removed, and as well as being pretty darned cool, it also serves as a reminder of how meticulous and intricate the interior build quality is of this product.
The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 have been officially announced, and the big question in everyone’s mind right now is: how do they compare to the original iPad Air and the iPad mini 2 with Retina display from last year?
As expected, the news has finally come in from Cupertino; Apple has announced the longed-awaited iPad Air 2 and the iPad mini 3. Better yet, Apple has announced the starting prices for the devices at $499 and $399, respectively. You can read all about the two most coveted devices of the year as we have covered them in separate posts, but here’s another news to break: The original iPad mini 2 and iPad Air are going to be sticking around at a $100 lesser price tag than they originally were, starting at $299 and $399, respectively. But wait, there’s more, the iPad mini 1 is also here to stay, and now carries a price tag of just $249 for the base model.
Although we have a fairly good idea of what Apple has in the offing with regards to software thanks to the recent announcement of iOS 8 and OS X 10.10 Yosemite, we're still very much in the dark as to what new devices the Cupertino will roll out later this year. The headlines may have been dominated with speculation pertaining to the likes of the iWatch and iPhone 6, but both the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display are expected to be treated to a customary refresh. Today, a new video takes a mockup of the next-gen iPad Air and compares it with the current model, and although the changes appear to be subtle, we can expect the already-svelte device to become even thinner this time around.
In terms of pricing, Apple's product line-up is inaccessible to many, and in particular, students. Beset by fees and general student debt, the purchase of a product like the iPad Air or iPad mini with Retina display is largely out of the question, and as such, Apple frequently offers discounts to those studying in university or college. Apparently, those two aforementioned slates are now subject to the Cupertino's special education pricing structure, with prices starting at $469 for the iPad Air and $379 for the Retina iPad mini.
Back in the era of Steve Jobs, the Apple iPad was always touted as a post-PC device, but aside from partially replacing the traditional desktop / notebook as we know it, the Cupertino's slate is also changing the way we take notes and organize our lives. In no situation is this fact more apparent than in the day-to-day life of Bollywood choreographer Feroz Khan, who now utilizes a single iPad Air for most of his work when, not so long ago, he would have to drag several items around with him in order to do his job properly.
The annual Mobile World Congress gathering, organized by the GSM Association, has been taking place in Barcelona for the last couple of days. Tech giants such as Sony, Samsung and LG use the event to introduce and showcase their latest tech in front of the world's press, but MWC also hosts the Global Mobile Awards that rip through various categories to filter out and award the best-of-the-best of the last 12 months. The awards may be packed full of random and obscure categories that don't necessarily appeal to the average technology enthusiast, but there was some great news for Apple and HTC, with both companies receiving a best in class award for one of their products.
Apple's iPad Air may well be revered as the sleekest, lightest, thinnest, most powerful and indeed the most elegant full-sized tablet so far from the Cupertino giant, but even looking at more practical aspects, such as the battery life, the new iPad Air is peerless. Which looked at battery retention rates for a range of top-level tablets, testing common activities such as video playback and Web use to determine which slab could hold out the longest, and on both counts, the iPad Air came out on top.
Apple chose today to out a new iPad ad that will probably go down as one of our favorites, with an ad break during the NFL Playoffs chosen as the perfect time to show the new ad.