Apple Now Selling Refurb iPad 4 and iPad mini Models

by Patrick Jordan on March 14, 2013 in iPad 4

Apple has made available some refurbished models of the iPad 4 (or 4th gen) and iPad mini. These are being offered at between 6-10% off at the Apple online store.

For iPad 4, there are 5 refurb models available – one WiFi only and four WiFi + Cellular models.

The iPad mini refurbished selection is much more limited, with just two models currently available – a 16GB WiFi + Cellular at $429 ($30 off) and a WiFi only 32GB for $389 ($40 off).

If you know anyone in the market for an iPad 4 or iPad mini at a little bit of a discount these are good deals.

Hat tip to everythingiCafe for sharing the news.

Rumor Confirmed: Apple Releasing 128GB iPad with Retina Display Next Week

by Patrick Jordan on January 29, 2013 in iPad 4

Wow, that latest iPad rumor took just about no time at all to prove true. Today Apple has announced a new 128GB version of the iPad 4, or 4th generation iPad with Retina display. The new version will double up the maximum storage capacity for both WiFi only and WiFi + Cellular models of the iPad 4.

Apple’s press release on this is aimed squarely at the business and enterprise market and cites a number of examples of the sorts of uses that make the doubled up storage extremely useful.

“With more than 120 million iPads sold, it’s clear that customers around the world love their iPads, and everyday they are finding more great reasons to work, learn and play on their iPads rather than their old PCs,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “With twice the storage capacity and an unparalleled selection of over 300,000 native iPad apps, enterprises, educators and artists have even more reasons to use iPad for all their business and personal needs.”
iPad continues to have a significant impact on business with virtually all of the Fortune 500 and over 85 percent of the Global 500 currently deploying or testing iPad. Companies regularly utilizing large amounts of data such as 3D CAD files, X-rays, film edits, music tracks, project blueprints, training videos and service manuals all benefit from having a greater choice of storage options for iPad. The over 10 million iWork® users, and customers who rely on other incredible apps like Global Apptitude for analyzing team film and creating digital playbooks, Auria for an incredible 48 track recording system, or AutoCAD for drafting architectural and engineering drawings, also benefit greatly from having the choice of an iPad with more storage capacity.

The new 128GB versions of the iPad 4 will be available starting next Tuesday, February 5, via Apple retail and online stores and other Apple Authorized resellers. They’ll be available in black and white and priced at $799 for the WiFi only model and $929 for the WiFi + Cellular.

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Do You Want a 128GB iPad?

by Patrick Jordan on January 28, 2013 in iPad 4

Would you be interested in an iPad with 128GB of storage? It looks like we may soon be seeing one if 9to5Mac and their un-named sources are correct. They say Apple is preparing to release a single additional iPad model, as an additional model in the iPad 4th gen lineup.

Here’s their sum-up on what’s know about this new model:

It is a fourth-generation iPad, not a new design.
It comes in both the current black and white color options.
It comes in both WiFi-only and WiFi + Cellular versions.
It is a more premium SKU that will join the current line of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB fourth-generation iPads.
10-pack deals (in both colors) for educational institutions will be offered.

In an update on their original post, 9to5Mac have said prices will be $799 for a WiFi only model and $929 for WiFi + Cellular. There is also some speculation that this new model might be for specific markets – like education or government for example.

If Apple does release a 128GB iPad 4 over the next few months, would you be rushing to grab one? I think if there is no other upgrade to the iPad then I would still stick with my iPad 3 – and await a hopefully lighter, slimmer, more iPad mini like model later in the year.

iPad 4th Gen Teardown: 1GB of RAM and No Surprises

by Patrick Jordan on November 3, 2012 in iPad 4

Those talented and fast-working folks at iFixit have completed their teardown (dissection) of the new iPad 4th gen, or iPad 4 – hot on the heels of their iPad mini teardown.

The teardown of the iPad 4 confirmed that it has 1GB of RAM, just like the iPad 3 and offered no real surprises given what Apple had already told us about the latest new iPad. Here are a few of the highlights findings from iFixit:

* As opposed to the Samsung display we found in the iPad 3, the new iPad LCD is manufactured by LG. Apple has reportedly been working to move away from Samsung as a primary supplier, so this LG display is not surprising. However, Apple often relies on multiple suppliers for a single component, meaning there are likely other LCD manufacturers lurking inside other iPad 4s.

* The battery is labeled with the same model number (A1389) as in the last round, so it’s no surprise that it’s another 3.7 V, 43 Whr package. Like the iPad 3, the battery is adhered very securely to the rear case. Since batteries are consumables that wear out, the trend of guled-in, hard-to-access batteries in iPads and other Apple devices is unfortunate.

* Chips inside include:
* Apple A6X Processor
* Hynix H2JTDG8UD2MBR 16 GB NAND Flash
* 2 x 4Gb Elpida LP DDR2 = 1 GB DRAM in two packages
* Apple 338S1116 Cirrus Logic Audio Codec
* 343S0622-A1 Dialog Semi PMIC
* Apple 338S1077 Cirrus Logic Class D Amplifier
* Broadcom BCM5974 Touch Screen Controller
* Broadcom BCM5973A1 Touch Screen Controller
* Texas Instruments CD3240B0 Touch Screen Line Driver
* 2 x Fairchild BCHAH/FDMC Voltage Regulator / Reference
* Murata 339S0171 Broadcom BCM4334 WiFi Module

* We found a 1.2MP Facetime HD camera lurking inside, with the ability to shoot 720p HD video. That’s a big improvement from the .3MP Facetime camera in the iPad 3. Compared to the iPad 3, this camera is actually slightly thicker (an extra .4 mm), but it still manages to fit into the same space.

Check out the full iPad 4 teardown for all the gory details.

That Other New iPad Announced Yesterday: the iPad 4th Generation

by Patrick Jordan on October 24, 2012 in iPad 4

The iPad Mini was announced at Apple’s special event yesterday, just as was widely expected – as were a number of new Macs. The one big surprise of the day was another new iPad – the iPad 4th generation – or the iPad 4 as it’s likely to be called by most of us.

This was surprising, and frustrating to many recent iPad buyers, in large part because the new iPad, or iPad 3, was only just released 7 months ago – and it has now been displaced and apparently dropped entirely from the iPad lineup. As Alicia talked about yesterday here, the iPad lineup now consists of the iPad Mini, the iPad 2, and the new iPad 4.

As a lead-in to the introduction of the iPad 4, Tim Cook finished off a rundown of the many impressive numbers for iPad and the reasons why it is so loved by users by telling us that Apple are ‘just getting started’ with the iPad and “We’re not taking our foot off the gas”.

Phil Schiller then unveiled the iPad 4 and emphasized that the 3rd generation iPad is the best tablet in the world and the 4th generation iPad ‘just extends that lead’. When describing the performance improvements in the iPad 4 he went even further – saying it puts the iPad so far ahead of the competition that:

I can’t even see them in the rearview mirror.

So it’s worth taking a quick look at what exactly has changed and improved in the iPad 4.

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