Apple Introduces New iPad Mini, Plus New Macs
Apple's event in California Theater in San Jose was full of announcements and a few surprises, as the company unveiled a new Mac Mini and gave a hardware lifting to the existing iPad tablet. The company also took the wraps off the highly-expected iPad mini and a 13-inch MacBook with a 2560 x 1600 "Retina" display.
Apple introduced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro laptop with a
"Retina" display, with four times the resolution of the previous
model. The new model will start at $1,699. The old MacBook Pro will
still be sold, starting at $1,199.
At a mere 0.75 inches and 3.57 pounds, the portable 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is 20 percent thinner and almost a pound lighter than the current 13-inch MacBook Pro. It has a redesigned, slimmer chassis but highlight feature is undoubtedly the screen, which has a 2560 x 1600 resolution. The diaplay packs more than 4 million pixels (227ppi.) The IPS panel is said to have a 178-degree viewing angle, 75 percent reduced reflection, and 300 nits brightness.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro features 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 processors with the option to choose faster 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 processors, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 8GB of 1600 MHz memory, and up to 768GB of flash storage. The 13-inch MacBook Pro also features a FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, improved speakers, three-stream 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a MagSafe 2 power port. The new device has also two Thunderbolt and two USB 3.0 ports, as well as an HDMI port, SD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and MagSafe 2 power connector.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro battery delivers up to 7 hours of wireless productivity and can remain in standby for up to 30 days. With the new Power Nap feature in OS X Mountain Lion, the MacBook Pro with Retina display stays up to date while it sleeps. Power Nap automatically refreshes Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, and Photo Stream, and when the notebook is plugged in, downloads software updates and backs up your Mac using Time Machine.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro will ship today starting at $1699 - armed with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. If you need more storage, a model with a 256GB SSD is starting at $1,999 (US). Configure-to-order options include faster dual-core Intel Core i7 processors and flash storage up to 768GB.
Apple also introduced a new Mac Mini, starting at $599. The updated version comes with Ivy Bridge processors.
The cheapest model will include a 2.5Ghz dual-core i5 processor with 4GB of 1600 MHz RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
There's also a $999 server version, which will incorporate a 2.3GHz quad-core i7 processor and two 1TB drives. Both models include Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics.
Retaining its compact aluminum design, the new Mac mini now includes four USB 3.0 ports in addition to its Thunderbolt, HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet, and FireWire 800 ports.
Apple also a redesign its iMac desktop, which now comes with Intel's Ivy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 processors, slimmer edges and it's has a less reflective display.
Redesigned from the inside out, the new iMac packs high-performance technology into an aluminum and glass enclosure with up to 40 percent less volume than its predecessor and an edge that measures just 5 mm thin. The new iMac also features a reengineered display that reduces reflection by 75 percent. In the new design, the cover glass is fully laminated to the LCD and an anti-reflective coating is applied using a "high-precision" plasma deposition process.
Screen sizes include both a 21.5-inch, 1080p model and a 27-inch, 2,560 x 1,400 model. Both models feature 720p front cameras with dual microphones as well as NVIDIA's GeForce 600 graphics, up to 32GB of RAM. Storage options include a 3TB HDD, a 768GB SSD or a "Fusion drive" - essentially a hybrd drive, which mixes both 128GB of flash with 1TB or 3TB of conventional storage. Apple's OS and pre-installed applications will run on the SSD by default, while documents and media will run off the HDD.
The new Fusion Drive combines a massie 128GB of multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash capacity with either a 1TB or 3TB HDD, but they appear as a single storage volume. With 128GB of NAND flash, this hybrid solution puts Apple ahead of the competition.
The 21.5-inch model ships in November, and will cost you $1,299 for a 2.7GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive; the 27-inch model is priced at $1,799 and has a 2.9GHz Core i5 as well as the same memory and storage.
The highly expected announcement for the iPad mini was also made today. The completely new iPad design is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad.
The 7.9-inch device has the same 1,024 x 768 resolution as the iPad 2. iPad mini comes in a new aluminum and glass design that is just 7.2 mm thin and weighs 0.68 pounds. It has been manufactured with a new process with the same anodized edges as the iPhone 5. Compared with Google's Nexus 7, the .9-inch increase in diagonal space gives Apple's slate 35 percent more display area.
iPad mini also features a front-facing FaceTime HD camera and a 5 megapixel iSight camera on the back with advanced optics for taking still pictures and recording full 1080p HD video. The iSight camera includes video image stabilization and both cameras feature backside illumination to let users capture pictures in low light. iPad mini also allows sharing of photos with friends using iCloud's Shared Photo Streams.
The iPad Mini has Apple's A5 CPU, it will run LTE. Apple says the device has a 10-hours of battery life.
"iPad mini is every inch an iPad. With its gorgeous 7.9-inch display, iPad mini features the same number of pixels as the original iPad and iPad 2, so you can run more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPad mini is as thin as a pencil and as light as a pad of paper, yet packs a fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5 megapixel iSight cameras and ultrafast wireless―all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life."
iPad mini also features dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi support for speeds up to 150 Mbps, which is twice the Wi-Fi performance compared to previous iPad models. It is available in Wi-Fi + Cellular models which are world-ready with built-in support for ultrafast wireless standards, including LTE and DC-HSDPA. iPad mini data plans will be available with no contract.
iPad mini with Wi-Fi models will be available in black & slate or white & silver on Friday, November 2, for a suggested retail price of $329 (US) for the 16GB model, $429 (US) for the 32GB model and $529 (US) for the 64GB model.
iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will start shipping a couple of weeks after the Wi-Fi model, beginning in the US on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be offered for a suggested retail price of $459 (US) for the 16GB model, $559 (US) for the 32GB model and $659 (US) for the 64GB model.
Apple has also updated the already released iPad. The 4th generation iPad comes with new hardware as it packs the A6X, which delivers up to twice the CPU performance and up to twice the graphics performance of the A5X chipprocessor. It also packs a 720p Facetime camera round front and the new image processor found in the iPhone 5. It gets the reversible Lightning port that debuted on on the iPhone, and will be available in both black and white.
iPad mini and fourth generation iPad both feature support for the Lightning connector that is smaller and more durable than the 30-pin connector.
The fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi models will also be available on Friday, November 2, in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model.
Fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will be offered for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. Additionally, iPad 2 is available at $399 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just $529 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model where they are sold now.
iPad Mini specs
At a mere 0.75 inches and 3.57 pounds, the portable 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is 20 percent thinner and almost a pound lighter than the current 13-inch MacBook Pro. It has a redesigned, slimmer chassis but highlight feature is undoubtedly the screen, which has a 2560 x 1600 resolution. The diaplay packs more than 4 million pixels (227ppi.) The IPS panel is said to have a 178-degree viewing angle, 75 percent reduced reflection, and 300 nits brightness.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro features 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 processors with the option to choose faster 2.9 GHz Intel Core i7 processors, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 8GB of 1600 MHz memory, and up to 768GB of flash storage. The 13-inch MacBook Pro also features a FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, improved speakers, three-stream 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a MagSafe 2 power port. The new device has also two Thunderbolt and two USB 3.0 ports, as well as an HDMI port, SD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and MagSafe 2 power connector.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro battery delivers up to 7 hours of wireless productivity and can remain in standby for up to 30 days. With the new Power Nap feature in OS X Mountain Lion, the MacBook Pro with Retina display stays up to date while it sleeps. Power Nap automatically refreshes Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, and Photo Stream, and when the notebook is plugged in, downloads software updates and backs up your Mac using Time Machine.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro will ship today starting at $1699 - armed with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. If you need more storage, a model with a 256GB SSD is starting at $1,999 (US). Configure-to-order options include faster dual-core Intel Core i7 processors and flash storage up to 768GB.
Apple also introduced a new Mac Mini, starting at $599. The updated version comes with Ivy Bridge processors.
The cheapest model will include a 2.5Ghz dual-core i5 processor with 4GB of 1600 MHz RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
There's also a $999 server version, which will incorporate a 2.3GHz quad-core i7 processor and two 1TB drives. Both models include Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics.
Retaining its compact aluminum design, the new Mac mini now includes four USB 3.0 ports in addition to its Thunderbolt, HDMI, SDXC, Gigabit Ethernet, and FireWire 800 ports.
Apple also a redesign its iMac desktop, which now comes with Intel's Ivy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 processors, slimmer edges and it's has a less reflective display.
Redesigned from the inside out, the new iMac packs high-performance technology into an aluminum and glass enclosure with up to 40 percent less volume than its predecessor and an edge that measures just 5 mm thin. The new iMac also features a reengineered display that reduces reflection by 75 percent. In the new design, the cover glass is fully laminated to the LCD and an anti-reflective coating is applied using a "high-precision" plasma deposition process.
Screen sizes include both a 21.5-inch, 1080p model and a 27-inch, 2,560 x 1,400 model. Both models feature 720p front cameras with dual microphones as well as NVIDIA's GeForce 600 graphics, up to 32GB of RAM. Storage options include a 3TB HDD, a 768GB SSD or a "Fusion drive" - essentially a hybrd drive, which mixes both 128GB of flash with 1TB or 3TB of conventional storage. Apple's OS and pre-installed applications will run on the SSD by default, while documents and media will run off the HDD.
The new Fusion Drive combines a massie 128GB of multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash capacity with either a 1TB or 3TB HDD, but they appear as a single storage volume. With 128GB of NAND flash, this hybrid solution puts Apple ahead of the competition.
The 21.5-inch model ships in November, and will cost you $1,299 for a 2.7GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive; the 27-inch model is priced at $1,799 and has a 2.9GHz Core i5 as well as the same memory and storage.
The highly expected announcement for the iPad mini was also made today. The completely new iPad design is 23 percent thinner and 53 percent lighter than the third generation iPad.
The 7.9-inch device has the same 1,024 x 768 resolution as the iPad 2. iPad mini comes in a new aluminum and glass design that is just 7.2 mm thin and weighs 0.68 pounds. It has been manufactured with a new process with the same anodized edges as the iPhone 5. Compared with Google's Nexus 7, the .9-inch increase in diagonal space gives Apple's slate 35 percent more display area.
iPad mini also features a front-facing FaceTime HD camera and a 5 megapixel iSight camera on the back with advanced optics for taking still pictures and recording full 1080p HD video. The iSight camera includes video image stabilization and both cameras feature backside illumination to let users capture pictures in low light. iPad mini also allows sharing of photos with friends using iCloud's Shared Photo Streams.
The iPad Mini has Apple's A5 CPU, it will run LTE. Apple says the device has a 10-hours of battery life.
"iPad mini is every inch an iPad. With its gorgeous 7.9-inch display, iPad mini features the same number of pixels as the original iPad and iPad 2, so you can run more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "iPad mini is as thin as a pencil and as light as a pad of paper, yet packs a fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5 megapixel iSight cameras and ultrafast wireless―all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life."
iPad mini also features dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi support for speeds up to 150 Mbps, which is twice the Wi-Fi performance compared to previous iPad models. It is available in Wi-Fi + Cellular models which are world-ready with built-in support for ultrafast wireless standards, including LTE and DC-HSDPA. iPad mini data plans will be available with no contract.
iPad mini with Wi-Fi models will be available in black & slate or white & silver on Friday, November 2, for a suggested retail price of $329 (US) for the 16GB model, $429 (US) for the 32GB model and $529 (US) for the 64GB model.
iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will start shipping a couple of weeks after the Wi-Fi model, beginning in the US on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular will be offered for a suggested retail price of $459 (US) for the 16GB model, $559 (US) for the 32GB model and $659 (US) for the 64GB model.
Apple has also updated the already released iPad. The 4th generation iPad comes with new hardware as it packs the A6X, which delivers up to twice the CPU performance and up to twice the graphics performance of the A5X chipprocessor. It also packs a 720p Facetime camera round front and the new image processor found in the iPhone 5. It gets the reversible Lightning port that debuted on on the iPhone, and will be available in both black and white.
iPad mini and fourth generation iPad both feature support for the Lightning connector that is smaller and more durable than the 30-pin connector.
The fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi models will also be available on Friday, November 2, in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model.
Fourth generation iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will be offered for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. Additionally, iPad 2 is available at $399 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi model and just $529 (US) for the 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G model where they are sold now.
iPad Mini specs
| Models | iPad Mini Wi-Fi |
iPad Mini Wi-Fi + Cellulal |
|---|---|---|
Colors |
Black & Slate, White & Silver |
|
| Dimensions
|
|
|
| Storage |
16GB
32GB
64GB |
16GB
32GB
64GB |
| Wireless and Cellular |
|
|
| Carriers | AT&T, Sprint,Verizon | |
| Display |
|
|
| Chip | Dual-core A5 |
|
| Cameras, photos and video recording |
FaceTime HD Camera
iSight Camera
Video Recording
|
|
| Power and battery |
|
|
| Input/Output |
|
|
| Sensors |
|
|
| Location |
|
|
Audio playback |
|
|
| TV and Video |
|
|
| Mail attachment support | Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel) |
|
Accessibility |
|
|
| Environmental requirements |
|
|
| In the box |
|
|
| Built-in apps |
|
|
