After mentioning the incredible, enormous success of the iPhone 5 (apparently it sold over 5 million units, which is the most phones sold in an opening weekend, ever), Apple CEO Tim Cook took to the stage at the California Theatre to introduce another surefire blockbuster gadget. Yes, the entire world sat, waiting with bated breath.
And, here it is: The iPad Mini has been a hot topic, with apparent leaks and tech gurus predicting the reveal of the device for the last few weeks. But, Apple being Apple, the company trotted out another line of products before they debuted the much-hyped device. A history of iMacs, a celebration of the App Store, and a MacBook update all preceded the major announcement. So, why should we care?
This is the device that has been called the “Kindle killer,” and it’s been hyped as Apple’s most-recent punch in the fight to completely own this particular (and growing) niche in the tech market. The first update — which was an inevitable hint of things to come — was the freshly revamped iBooks, which now offers continuous scrolling (you just swipe and let it roll) and iCloud integration. But why would we need a new iBooks app, you say? Just you wait. Hit the slideshow for all the details!
MacBook fiends, prepare for some major envy: The new MacBook Pro just launched, and let’s just say somebody has been working out. The incredibly skinny .75″ Pro gets a Retina Display refresher, too! The computer also offers serious environmentally friendly features (nice touch). Oh, and it starts shipping today. Like, this moment. For $1,699. We will take 10, please.
It’s so small — it would fit in one of Mitt Romney’s binders!
Speaking of skinny, the new iMac is practically skeletal. The single-screen computer is the most slender iteration ever, hosts a whole lot of memory, and is totally geared for speed and performance — sticking with Apple’s reputation of being the “creative person’s computer.”
But, let’s be honest: The real draw here was the iPad Mini. Tim Cook offered two important numbers that explain why this is such a covetable new market: The 100 millionth iPad was just sold, and over 90% of the web traffic from tablets come from the iPad. Which means a lot of people like to surf the web with their ‘Pad, in case you were still in denial.
With a smaller, lighter iPad meant for one hand, Apple is going straight for the Kindle’s jugular. With a 7.9-inch display and a sure-to-be-dropped-in-the-toilet .68 pounds (Apple claims that it weighs as much as a pad of paper), the iPad Mini promises to be “more than a smaller iPad,” with the same access to apps and downloaded content. It also offers the same resolution as the iPad 2 and a whopping 10 hours of battery life, for all your Facebooking and Internetting needs — in 29.6 square inches of full-color, Apple-quality display. This is, as Phil Schiller stated again and again, “Every inch an iPad.”
The brand-new iPad Mini starts at $329 with 16 gigs of memory and Wi-Fi. That’s only $40 less than the iPad 2 when it debuted. The Wi-Fi and cellular option starts at $459, with the most expensive selling for $659.
So, it’s not exactly cheap. The iPad isn’t quite the Kindle-killer that pundits thought it would be, because readers might still opt for a lower priced gadget for their e-Book needs. However, with those tiny, multicolored smart covers, its light weight, and a proportionally gigantic screen, you now know what will be on everyone’s Christmas wishlist (it’s available for purchase starting on November 2). And we mean everyone. So, start saving…
via Refinery29.com
(Photos courtesy of Apple)
