Apple’s iPad mini event: everything you need to know – The Verge

Watch this: Apple’s new iPad mini and Smart Cover videos

2012-10-23T22:40:30-04:00

iPad mini Smart Cover ad

Apple's iPad mini made its long-awaited debut this morning in San Jose, California. Apple posted video of the event earlier today, and now some new shorter spots are available as well. The first is the type of promotional short we've come to expect from Apple, with Jonathan Ive describing the new device with his unwavering, earnest enthusiasm. The second is a playful spot focusing on the multi-hued Smart Covers that are available for the 7.9-inch tablet. Take a look below to see the spots for yourself.

Check out the replay of our live coverage right here:

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The iPad mini’s price is high, low, and everything in between

2012-10-23T20:29:56-04:00

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Apple debuted the long-rumored iPad mini this morning, and per the norm for recent Apple product launches, the device was largely what we'd suspected. One question that had remained open, however, was the pricing: with competition from the likes of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD, would Apple feel compelled to match those devices on their budget-minded $199 price? We now know the answer is no - the iPad mini starts at $329 for the 16GB model, with pricing ramping up from there.

It's a 60 percent premium over the tablet's most direct 7-inch competitors, and a number that likely boosts the iPad mini out of the realm of the casual impulse buy. …

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3rd Generation iPad discontinued, refurbished models available starting at $379

2012-10-23T15:27:06-04:00

Gallery Photo: New iPad hands-on photos

The pace of technology is relentless, and with the introduction of the slightly-upgraded 4th Generation iPad (also known as the iPad with Retina display), the 3rd Generation iPad has been discontinued. The Retina display-equipped model is only a bit over seven months old, and the primary difference between the two models is a Lightning port instead of the old 30-pin connector, and a new A6X processor with twice the graphics performance of the outgoing iPad.

While those who recently purchased the 3rd Generation iPad may be disappointed, new iPad purchasers get to take advantage of new lower pricing. The refurbished iPad now starts at $379 fo …

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Watch this: relive Apple’s iPad mini event

2012-10-23T15:05:37-04:00

ipad mini

It's been only minutes since Apple's iPad mini event concluded, but you can relive it all right now by visiting the same events page that Apple used to broadcast the event live. You still need to use Safari 4 and OS X 10.6 or higher or an iOS device to watch the stream, but if you meet that criteria, you can see Tim Cook and company announce the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, new Mac mini, new iMac, 4th-generation iPad, and of course, the new iPad mini. Of course, once you are done watching the event, be sure to check out our hands-ons with the iPad mini, 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro and more!

Check out the replay of our live coverage right here …

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13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display hands-on

2012-10-23T14:34:59-04:00

macbook pro 13 hands-on

It's not quite as thin as the Air, but Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is still quite svelte - and the display is as gorgeous as you'd expect. The resolution settings for the display are just like the larger MacBook Pro - but the maximum allowed resolution is 1680 x 1050, unlike the 1920 x 1080 setting offered on the 15-inch model. Still, 1680 x 1050 is a tremendous option on a display of this size, though at the "best for Retina" setting the screen offers an effective 1280 x 800. If you've been using a 15-inch MacBook Pro for the screen size, the 13-inch just got a ton more attractive.

We only had a limited amount of ti …

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Sprint to offer Apple’s 4th-generation iPad, iPad mini with LTE

2012-10-23T13:53:05-04:00

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Apple's just-announced 4th generation iPad and new iPad mini with LTE will be headed to Sprint in addition to Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Apple has updated the chipset, camera, and Wi-Fi hardware in the 4th-generation iPad, but the company has also improved LTE support, which allows Sprint to carry the device.

This is the first time that Sprint has been able to offer Apple's iPad tablets with cellular connectivity on its network. There's no data pricing announced for either device, but Sprint says it will offer "a range of attractive data plans" in the coming weeks.

Check out the replay of our live coverage right here:

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Apple’s new 4th generation iPad contains A6X processor

2012-10-23T13:52:05-04:00

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Apple's latest revision of the iPad is powered by a new and improved A6X processor. Describing the new chip as a "powerhouse," Phil Schiller revealed that the A6X offers double the performance of the A5X - used in the previous iPad with Retina display - in terms of both CPU processing and graphics. "The competition wasn't even close to us, and now we're just blowing past them some more," Schiller said. Indeed, the iPad received a notable boost in gaming prowess when the A5X debuted last year, and we're looking forward to seeing what sort of improvements the company's latest silicon can offer users of the newly-refreshed tablet.

Check out th …

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Apple announces the 7.9-inch iPad mini for $329, shipping November 2nd

2012-10-23T13:51:26-04:00

ipad mini

The iPad mini has just been revealed by Apple at a special event in San Jose. Up on stage, Phil Schiller explains that this "isn't just a shrunken-down iPad, it's an entirely new design." The 7.9-inch iPad mini has a 1024 x 768 resolution, like the earlier-generation 9.7-inch iPad models, but is encased in an all-new 7.2mm-thick aluminum shell, which makes it 53 percent lighter and 23 percent thinner than the 4th-gen iPad.

Comparing the iPad mini against the Nexus 7, Phil points out that Apple's tablet is lighter and thinner than Google's slate in spite of having a display area that's a third larger. The Nexus 7 also has a bigger, plastic b …

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Apple announces 4th-generation iPad with A6X processor, Lightning port

2012-10-23T13:50:19-04:00

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Apple has just announced a revised version of its 9.7-inch iPad tablet. The 4th-generation iPad retains the high-resolution Retina Display and 5-megapixel iSight camera that debuted back in March, but it has swapped out the 30-pin dock connector for Apple's new Lightning port that appeared on the iPhone 5 last month. It also features a new A6X processor with twice the graphics performance of the outgoing A5X. Despite the upgraded performance, the 4th-generation iPad is still rated for up to 10 hours of battery life.

The Lightning port features a much smaller connector that can be used in any orientation. Of course, this also means that new iP …

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Apple adds new ‘fusion drive’ to iMac and Mac mini, combines SSD and standard hard drive

2012-10-23T13:42:09-04:00

As part of its radically-redesigned new iMac, Apple announced a new hybrid "fusion drive" for both the iMac and Mac mini. This drive combines a 128GB flash storage drive with a 1TB or 3TB HDD, and Apple claims that performance is nearly equal that of a standard flash drive. It manages everything in the background - by default, all of your Mac's apps are stored on the SSD, but as you use the computer it learns what you use the most and moves those apps to the SSD to increase performance. Phil Schiller said that an Aperture photo import using the fusion drive was nearly as fast as that when using a standard flash drive. For anyone frustrated w …

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