Only one tablet has survived the rise and fall of the tablet craze — mostly unscathed, that is— and that’s the Apple iPad. First launched in 2010, the original iPad mostly served as a larger iPhone, but without calling capabilities. And with no front-facing camera, you couldn’t even place video calls. Fast forward almost a decade and Apple’s tablet lineup are bonafide laptop replacements for some. Apple has adapted the iPad in form, function, and overall cost in such a way that it’s become the no-brainer tablet purchase.
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Apple’s smallest tablet got an upgrade — but it won’t feel like much of one unless Apple Intelligence is better than it seems.
That’s according to recent benchmarks, as well as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter.
The new iPad Mini having that much RAM isn’t shocking — the company boosted RAM for the iPhone 16, and is expected to for its upcoming Macs, likely in service of Apple Intelligence AI features expected this month.
What better place to ring in the new year than in zombie-infested Raccoon City? The port for Apple devices, announced for the App Store earlier this year, has now gotten a December 31st release date, AppleInsider spotted.
Like Resident Evil 4 and Village, it’ll be free to start, and an in-app purchase unlocks the full game.
[AppleInsider]
As a result, Apple has yanked the software update for now, reports MacRumors. Presumably, Apple will release a fixed version of iPadOS 18 soon so that people using Apple’s most advanced tablets can check out the new features in the update.
Apple could release a new keyboard accessory for “an entry-level iPad or the new iPad Airs” by mid-2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in today’s Power On newsletter.
The keyboard won’t have glitzier iPad Pro Magic Keyboard features like a metal palm rest, but could come with a function row, he writes.
Here’s an iOS and iPadOS trick I wish I’d known years ago. Once you’re in the home screen’s wiggling edit mode hold one finger on an app and then with another finger tap the other apps you want to move with it. They’ll all be grouped together and can be collectively moved as one.
Apple has rolled out a new version of iOS 17.6.1 that fixes a bug that had prevented users from enabling its Advanced Data Protection feature, as spotted by MacRumors.
watchOS 10.6.1 is also out with a fix for a bug that kept users from accessing Apple Fitness Plus through the watch, the outlet separately writes.
Pencilera, a free camera app exclusive to iPad OS, could make it easier to take photos with your tablet when you can’t reach it. It turns the Apple Pencil 2 or the Apple Pencil Pro into a wireless remote that triggers the shutter when double tapping or squeezing the stylus’ stem.
As reported by AppleInsider and MacRumors, today Apple released a second developer beta for iOS / iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 updates with Apple Intelligence features.
There’s also a sixth set of developer betas for the initial updates set to hit iPhones, Macs, and other devices this fall, and an update for the AirPods Pro 2 set that’s in line for some new features.
The update reportedly brings Thanos snap mode (aka Distraction Control), improvements to the Photos app redesign, and other UI tweaks. I can’t wait to snap away some Cookies!
Anyone can download and install the public betas for iPad and iPhone, but pro tip: carry a battery pack with you — betas are brutal on your percentage.
Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg that “Apple Intelligence” features will be available for developers to beta test this week.
However, he also says the first ones won’t be released publicly until weeks after Apple’s big September updates for iPhone / iPad / Mac, etc. Rollouts for others from its WWDC showcase, like upgraded Siri, could stretch into 2025.
I recently wrote about using Windows XP on my iPad Pro and Verge commenter cindrBear helpfully pointed out that in 2001, Microsoft announced Tablet PC.
Like with Copilot Plus PCs, the Tablet PC initiative encouraged manufacturers to make hardware for specific features — in this case, a Windows XP edition for touchscreen tablets. Seeing it in action in this video, I’m clearly using the wrong version of XP.
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