Both LG Display and AU Optronics are currently supplying the displays for Apple’s new iPad mini tablet, but with AU reportedly having some production issues, it's looking as though LG is carrying much of the burden. The report surfaces from the hit-and-miss DigiTimes citing the usual "sources familiar with the matter," and although the two companies are considered the “main display suppliers," it would seem the vast majority of iPad minis are packing a screen manufactured by LG.
Over the years, the want lists of children have gotten more and more gadgetry, and according to a recent study by Nielsen, it's those of the Apple variety kids looking to receive this year. It's not a new trend, either. Over the past few years, it's become increasingly clear the devices most sought by American youngsters between the ages of six and twelve are those Designed by Apple in California, with half of those studied pining for the larger Apple iPad.
The iPad mini is a highly sought-after device, and if you thought the $329 starting price was a little steep, things just got a whole lot more expensive. London-based Gold and Co. has released a limited edition set of 250 24kt gold iPad minis, so if you have lots of disposable cash and want to offload it somewhere, this looks like a viable avenue.
What with all the noise, hullaballoo and general excitement surrounding the release of the iPad mini, the slightly refreshed iPad 4 has found itself all but forgotten about. Replacing the existing iPad 3, or New iPad, the fourth generation unit is the same as the third bar some tweaks here and there, which may explain the lack of excitement. Still, if you've been waiting for the cellular versions of the tablet to be made available, then you won't have to wait much longer.
Good news appears to be filtering down to the email inboxes of those who have been waiting patiently for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version of the fantastic new 7.9-inch iPad mini. When Apple announced the device at the California Theatre last month, it would have been painful to a lot of customers to learn that the release was being staggered with the initial launch of the Wi-Fi model only. Those US based technology fans that bit the bullet and pre-ordered the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant should hopefully be seeing their mini tablet landing within the next five business days according to official Apple email correspondence.
The iPad mini may only have been out for a short while, but Apple's hardware partners are already purportedly preparing for its predecessor, with a Retina display high on the agenda. The iPad mini has, on the whole, been well-received, but of the numerous gripes bloggers and consumers alike have had, the lack of an über-sharp display has consistently been one of the main issues.
Apple has posted the iPad mini User Guide, and if you wish to download it, you can do so by following the link embedded at the end of this post. Whenever a new iOS device hits the market, the user guide always arrives fashionably late, and while the "Fingertips" leaflet provided with said iPhone, iPad or iPod touch gives users a general idea of how to get started with their shiny new device, the User Guide offers more in-depth coverage.
The iPad mini has had to deal with a fair amount of criticism since its launch, and similarly, there have been quite a few outcries regarding Apple's decision to throw out a new iPad just seven months after releasing its predecessor. The lingering wave of skepticism clearly doesn't seem to have affected sales adversely though, and Apple has just announced the sale of three million new iPad units, which is double previous weekend record of 1.5 million set by the launch of the iPad 3 in March.
Apple has found themselves on somewhat of a product release spree in the last two months, with a new iPhone, a new range of iPods and two new iPads being released to the public. Put that together with the launch of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display and the imminent release of refreshed Macs and you have a very packed Apple hardware refresh. With all of this new technology coming out, the jailbreak world may have taken a public backseat recently, but legendary iPhone Dev Team member MuscleNerd has just updated his Twitter feed to make sure are all aware that things are still bubbling away in the background.
With the iPad mini now officially available in the first wave of supported territories, it is inevitable that the reviews will start pouring in from every angle as early adopters inspect every nook and cranny of the gorgeous little tablet. One of the most talked about areas of Apple's new mini creation will undoubtedly be the 7.9-inch display, a screen that already seems to have split opinions right down the middle. In an attempt to add some clarity to the display debate, RepairLabs have put the company's iPad range under the microscope to compare the received screen quality.