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The best deals we found this week: Mario games, iPad mini and more
We saw a number of good deals this week, with one of the highlights coming from Mario Day—or "Mar10" Day in Nintendo lingo. Some of the most popular Mario-verse games are still on sale, dropping them to prices that are rarely seen outside of the holiday shopping season. Also, you can still get $50 off an iPad mini 5 at Amazon and Best Buy. Here are the best deals from this past week that you can still get today. Nintendo Switch Mario games Nintendo's annual "Mar10" day celebration of Mario is still happening. Through March 14, you can snag a number of popular Mario games for Nintendo Switch at discounted prices. Key among them are Super Mario Maker 2 for $40, Super Mario Party for $40, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 for $40 and Yoshi's Crafted World for $40. These sale prices are available at Nintendo's eShop, Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers, but since the sale is nearing its end, some retailers may be sold out of certain games. Also, check out Nintendo's eShop for additional, non-Mario games on sale including Just Dance 2020 for $20, Monopoly for $10 and Child of Light for $5. Buy Super Mario Maker 2 on Best Buy - $40 Buy Super Mario Party on Best Buy - $40 Buy Mario & Sonic at the Olympics on Amazon - $40 Buy Yoshi's Crafted World on Amazon - $40
Apple quietly announces 10.5-inch iPad Air and refreshed iPad mini
Apple's online store went dark earlier this morning, and now it's clear why: The company decided to quietly roll out not one, but two new iPads ahead of its big event next week. The new, larger, 10.5-inch iPad Air will arrive with a 70 percent performance boost compared to its predecessor, thanks to the company's A12 Bionic chip with Apple's Neural Engine. That'll be useful alongside the now 20-percent larger display -- which is compatible with the first-gen Apple Pencil too.
Apple's 2020 iPhones may use laser-assisted 3D cameras
Apple's plans to improve iPhone photography might go well beyond adding a third rear camera. Bloomberg sources say the tech giant is developing a 3D camera system that uses a laser scanner to capture depth information at distances much greater than the dot projection system used in Face ID on current iPhones. Augmented reality is reportedly the main focus, since this would help gauge dimensions, but it would also help with portrait mode photos that currently have to rely on software to detect foreground objects.
Apple's next low-cost iPads might skip Face ID
If the redesigned iPad Pro gave you hope that Apple would deliver a similar overhaul for lower-cost iPads, you might want to temper your expectations. Code sleuther Steve Troughton-Smith has discovered that the iOS 12.2 beta references four new iPad configurations that don't include Face ID, suggesting they'll stick to Touch ID and thus a more conventional design. This isn't shocking when Apple is likely sticking to a lower price point, but it does suggest that it could be a while before the company's depth-sensing camera tech is truly affordable.
Watch Apple's iPad and Mac event live at 10AM ET!
Apple's hosting another event today, this time in Brooklyn, New York. The company teased the event earlier this month with a slew of artsy-looking Apple logos and the tagline "There's more in the making," and thanks to plenty of rumors, we have a good idea of what to expect. We're likely to see a new, nearly bezel-less iPad Pro with Face ID and maybe an updated iPad mini. Also expected to be on the docket is a new MacBook to replace Apple's MacBook Air and possibly some updated iMacs and AirPods too.
Apple's iPad mini might not be long for this world
When Apple didn't do much more to the iPad mini 4 this spring besides increase the storage, it left more than a few people wondering if the tiny tablet is on its way out. If you believe a BGR source, the answer is "yes." The contact claims that Apple plans to phase out the iPad mini now that it has been "sized out of its own category" -- why get one when the iPhone 7 Plus and new entry-level iPad can cover the bases for many people? That's reportedly reflected in the sales figures, which make it "very clear" that the iPad mini isn't in high demand.
iPad Mini 4 review: A long wait makes for a potent upgrade
Fans of Apple's smaller iPad Mini caught a tough break last fall when the company unveiled its new tablets for the year. Although Tim Cook & co. lavished plenty of attention on the faster, slimmed-down iPad Air 2, the upgraded iPad Mini 3 was regarded as a mere afterthought. The list of changes was so short, in fact, that some of us wondered why Apple would introduce a performance gap between the Air and Mini lines. Still more people wondered when they'd get a Mini with enough power to match its larger sibling. Turns out, the answer was "a year later." I've been testing the new iPad Mini 4 for over a week now and can say with confidence this is the Mini we should've gotten last year.
Apple is launching a new iPad mini 4 for $399
Apple's iPad line has typically been the star of its own October event in years past, but the company is changing things up and including iPad updates in its big iPhone event today. The big news is the new iPad Pro, but Apple is also releasing the new iPad mini 4, the first substantial update to Apple's smaller iPad in almost two years. As the rumors predicted, Apple's 7.9-inch tablet has had its internals updated to be a near match for last year's iPad Air 2. That means Apple's A8 processor is on board, a substantial upgrade from the A7 the iPad mini has sported for the last two years. That extra processing power is particularly important, because it means the iPad mini should be able to run all of iOS 9's fancy new multitasking features.
iPad mini 4 split view support clues hidden in El Capitan
iOS 9's split-screen feature will only work properly on the iPad Air 2, because it's only one in the existing lineup with hardware capable of supporting it. 9to5mac and developer Hamza Sood, however, found proof in OS X El Capitan that Apple's releasing a new iPad mini, and that it will also be capable of supporting split-screen apps. They found a resource file from within the upcoming platform's Safari browser that clearly states that an iPad mini will get "half screen" capability, as you can see below the fold.
Apple pulls the original iPad Mini, its last non-Retina iOS device
Pour one out for the OG iPad Mini, as Apple has just removed it from its website and online store. It proved Apple could effectively build a smaller tablet, though its low-resolution (1024 by 768) display doesn't hold a candle to the sharp Retina screens we're used to today. And with the iPad Mini 2 at $299 (and no shortage of deals available), there simply wasn't any room for the older tablet on the market. Now Apple is only promoting the iPad Mini 2 and 3 online. And given the $100 price difference between those two tablets, as well as the fact that they sport the same hardware (aside from Touch ID on the iPad Mini 3), we recommend snapping up the iPad Mini 2 for now. By dumping the original iPad Mini, Apple now has a fully 64-bit lineup of iPads, which should make life easier for developers moving forward.
Dear BlackBerry, Ryan Seacrest isn't done with the QWERTY keyboard
Maybe you remember the bizarre collision of worlds at last year's CES when Ryan Seacrest touched down in Las Vegas to introduce the Typo, a physical QWERTY keyboard case for the iPhone 5/5s. If you do, then you may also recall the controversy and legal tussling over the original Typo's striking resemblance to BlackBerry's Q10 keyboard. One court ordered a sales injunction and another Typo revision later, Seacrest and his partner Laurence Hallier are back at CES to debut another physical keyboard accessory, this time it's the Typo2 for the iPad Air and iPad mini lines. The pair carved out some time during the madness of CES to speak to me about Typo's bumpy start, the impact of customer feedback on product design and the boldfaced names that swear by their QWERTY case.
The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 review
It's a conflicting time for Apple. On one hand, it's a joyous occasion for the company because its latest iPhones, which come in larger screen sizes than the last, set new sales records worldwide; but on the other hand, its lineup of iPads just experienced its third straight quarterly decline. Coincidentally, this comes just a week after Apple announced its annual tablet refresh, which includes a thinner and more powerful version of the iPad Air along with a Touch ID-enabled mini with Retina display. Just because it's down doesn't mean it's out. Giving up on a product category isn't really Apple's style, and last week, it offered up the Air 2 as exhibit A. The company made it clear that making a solid top-of-the-line tablet is on the top of its to-do list, so naturally the new 10-inch device got plenty of upgrades in nearly every aspect of its design. Curiously, it didn't give the mini lineup the same kind of treatment: The mini 3 got so little love this time around that the best news about it is the fact that last year's version is now $100 cheaper. Should the new iPads still get a place in the consumer's backpack? Read on to find out.
iPad mini 3 vs. the competition: Which will you hold in one hand?
The iPhone might be getting bigger with each iteration, but it's not quite at tablet size yet. There's still plenty of room for the latest 7.9-inch iPad mini, now equipped with Touch ID. But is that enough to justify buying one over other 7-inch slates? We've sized up the iPad mini 3 against some of its more popular competitors to see which tablet's specs give you the most bang for the buck. If matching the iPad mini 3 up against the Nexus 7, Galaxy Tab4 7.0 and Kindle Fire HD 7-inch isn't enough for you, make your own comparison with our handy tool and decide for yourself which tablet really comes out on top.
Apple officially outs the iPad mini 3, pre-orders start tomorrow
You knew it was coming; now it's here. Apple just pulled back the curtain on the iPad mini 3 at its live media event in Cupertino, and so far it's pretty much what we expected -- a modestly updated tablet with some more familiar looks. The saga of the iPad mini 3 hasn't been too spoilerific, but Apple's "accidental" leak from the other day painted the thing with some vague strokes: We figured out what it'd be called and knew it would have a Touch ID sensor (turns out that latter bit is the most notable addition to the mix). Phil Schiller didn't spend too much time on them -- by which we mean he hardly said anything about them -- mostly likely because there's really nothing else new here.
Apple's upcoming iPad event may take place on October 16th
It's no secret that Apple tends to reveal its new iPads in October -- at least, that's been the company's tradition for the past few years -- so the big question has been exactly when in October we can expect to see these upcoming tablets. According to Re/code, which has a history of predicting such event dates with a high degree of accuracy, we should mark October 16th on our calendars. The report indicates that the launch will take place at Apple's Town Hall auditorium, so it'll be a smaller affair than last month's spectacle. While we haven't seen as many rumors of the new devices as we did with, say, the iPhone 6, there's been a lot of buzz about a new 12-inch model making the rounds in addition to the usual 9.7-inch Air and 7.9-inch mini. There's also a chance we'll see new options on the iMac side; and with OS X Yosemite and Apple Pay due very soon, you can count on some fanfare about those as well. [Image credit: AP]
iPad, I choose you: 'Pokémon' officially hits the App Store
Remember that Pokémon iPad game that was teased not too long ago? Well, if the mere mention of it stoked a fire inside that made you want to abandon Blizzard's Hearthstone forever, Joystiq has spotted that the pocket monster trading card game is available on the App Store now. Pokémon TCG Online is free to download, but there are a few catches. As the name suggests, it requires an internet connection to play and your Apple-branded slate needs to be of the Retina-display variety -- your first- and second-gen iPads won't cut the mustard, according to iTunes. If you're already heavily invested in the game on OSX and Windows, Time points out that progress you've made in the last three years transfers over to the mobile version as well. Handy! And just like that, a Nintendo property is appearing somewhere other than on one of its own devices. Somewhere, an investor is probably smiling. [Image Credit: Josh Wittenkeller]
Test code hints at future iPads with Touch ID and Apple Pay
There have been photos and vague rumors hinting that Apple's next iPads will involve more than just a speed bump, but there hasn't been much in the way of hard evidence... until today, that is. Hamza Sood has uncovered code in the iOS 8.1 developer beta that alludes to unannounced iPads with Touch ID fingerprint readers and, appropriately, Apple Pay support. Don't think that you'll be tapping your iPad to pay for goods at the local shop, however. From all indications, this is just for in-app transactions; there's no mention of NFC. It's also unclear when this new iOS version will arrive, although history suggests that the new iPads (and thus the finished 8.1 update) could surface in October.
Sound off! What are your favorite features in iOS 8?
iOS 8 is finally here, and it's bringing a slew of new features. It's faster, more secure, and in a lot of ways, more like Android. Out of all the new bells and whistles what are your favorite new additions? Head over to the forums and let the community know what you're digging most about iOS 8. When you're done there don't forget to write your own review! We'll be rounding up the best of the best in an upcoming post. Photos by Will Lipman.
FreedomPop's free data and voice are now available on tablets
Many people can't really justify buying a cellular-equipped tablet -- why pay for more data when your phone probably does the trick? FreedomPop is undoubtedly aware of that thriftiness, as it just started offering its namesake free service on tablets. Whether you buy one of the carrier's pre-supplied tablets or bring your own, you'll get the same gratis 500MB of LTE data, 500 messages and 200 voice minutes as a phone customer. That may not make sense at first, but FreedomPop reckons that it's important for apps that ask for a phone number. It's much easier to hail an Uber car when you can supply some digits, for example. It could also serve as a backup if your phone's battery dies, or if you're nearing your limits on a capped phone plan.
Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: winter 2014 edition
The tablet landscape is changing rapidly. It's now relatively trivial to find a cheap, full-featured Windows slate, and we've seen a number of smaller models that still manage to pack plenty of power. In light of those shifts, our tablet buyer's guide looks very different this winter. Dell and Nokia are on the list for the first time, and Windows tablets sit shoulder-to-shoulder with their mobile OS rivals. We've even brought back an older Nook that's received a new lease on life thanks to updated software and a significant price cut. Whether you're looking for a productivity machine or just something to watch movies on, we've got a tablet that should fit the bill.