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iOS 13 isn't coming to the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or iPad Air
Bad news if you're still rocking an iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and hoped to install iOS 13 -- Apple won't support the latest version of the OS on those devices. Owners of the original iPad Air, iPad Mini2 and iPad Mini 3 will miss out on the swanky new iPadOS as well.
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.
Teenage paranormal thriller 'Oxenfree' now fits in your pocket
Spooky adventure game Oxenfree has made its way to mobile. Developer Night School's sidescrolling tale debuted on PC and Xbox One early last January, with a stop on PlayStation 4 last May that added, among other things, a New Game+ mode. Now it's available for iOS devices. At the minimum, iPhone 5S and iPad Air running iOS 9.1 or newer. The iTunes listing says that the game has been reworked a bit for the platforms and features "custom touch controls." Sounds like it should make working through the game's radio and cassette puzzles a little more tactile. To celebrate launch week Night School has knocked 20 percent off the regular price, bringing it down to $3.99.
Does the iPad Air have a future at Apple?
During its "Hello Again" keynote in Cupertino today, Apple debuted its newest MacBook Pro as well as an overhaul of Final Cut Pro X and an all-in-one video entertainment app simply titled, TV. But surprisingly, there was not a word spoken about iPads.
Apple drops iPad prices while bumping up the storage
While Tim Cook and Co. didn't make any iPad announcements on stage earlier, Apple's tablet range did get a few changes today. Like the iPhone line, Apple is bumping the minimum storage to 32GB across the board and keeping the same price as the previous 16GB models. The iPad Pros now top out at 256GB of storage, but you'll actually be paying less per gigabyte than in the past.
Engadget giveaway: Win an iPad Air and Qwerkywriter Bluetooth keyboard!
Need inspiration for a 1930s screenplay or just enjoy the satisfying clack of mechanical keyboards? Either way, the Qwerkywriter from Qwerky Toys could be just the thing for your writing nook. This Bluetooth keyboard and stand appears to be lovingly crafted: The aluminum exterior is coated in matte black paint and each of the 83 mechanical keys are topped with rounded vintage keycaps. There's even a working return bar to complete the look. Of course, charging it with micro-USB and connecting to a tablet via Bluetooth may break the spell, but with up to three months on a charge it could easily be overlooked. This week, the company has provided an iPad Air and Qwerkywriter Bluetooth keyboard to help one reader dial back that future-forward attitude just a touch. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at clacking away on this beauty. Winner: Congratulations to Dan L. of Morro Bay, CA!
Apple is reportedly launching a 9.7-inch iPad Pro in March
9to5Mac is reporting that Apple plans to unveil a new 9.7-inch iPad Pro at an event on March 15th, rather than the rumored Air 3. The new iPP would join its larger, 12.9-inch predecessor and incorporate support for both the Smart Keyboard & Apple Pencil. Of course, with a smaller screen, Apple will have to resize the Smart Keyboard cover accessory to make it fit. 9to5Mac also reports that the smaller iPad Pro will come with the same color and storage options as the 12.9-incher.
Apple's new 4-inch iPhone and iPad Air 3 are rumored to arrive on March 18th
The Apple rumor mill has been in full swing over the last month or so, with as-yet-unconfirmed March 15th event that's said to introduce a new 4-inch iPhone and the iPad Air 3. Those rumors are getting a little more concrete today, as 9to5Mac's Marc Gurman is saying that both of those products will go on sale on March 18th -- the Friday after the rumored event. Gurman's been posting reports about this event and what we might see for weeks now, and this just appears to be further evidence that the company's March plans are solidified. Of course, nothing's official yet, but Gurman's track record suggests these will be the big product introductions Apple has on tap.
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.
AT&T locks your new iPad's SIM so you can't switch carriers without a new one
Apple's iPad Air 2 and Mini 3 launched with a very, very pleasant surprise: If you splurged on an LTE model, you could choose whether you wanted to jump on Sprint's, T-Mobile's or AT&T's networks (along with EE's if you're in the UK), with nary a SIM card swap in sight. It seemed pretty brilliant, really: you get the ability to pick a data plan that works best for you even if it's not from the same carrier each time, and Apple no longer has to juggle different iPad models for different carrier partners. Alas, if only everyone played by the same rules. At first we thought the only caveat was that Verizon hasn't thrown its support behind Apple's split-personality SIM, but it turns out if you sign up for a spot of surfing with AT&T, you won't be able to switch to any other network without procuring another Apple SIM. Just lovely, no?
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.
A first look at the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3
Unlike last month's Apple event, today's shindig was held in a tiny auditorium on the company's campus, nary a single gigantic white box in sight. Arguably, the size of the venue matched the importance of the products being announced -- minor iPad and iMac refreshes don't exactly command the same kind of attention as revamped iPhones and Apple's introduction into the wearables market. This doesn't mean the latest version of the iPad Air and iPad mini aren't worth a closer look, of course; they may be just another iteration of the series, but if you're in the market for a new tablet, there are a few new features to be aware of.
Here's what to expect from Apple's October 16 event
Now that the dust from the launch of Apple's new iPhones has started to settle, it's time to wade into the fray one more time. It's been just about a year since the folks from Cupertino trotted out the iPad Air, and now it's going to show off its next-generation model -- along with a handful of other updated goodies -- at a big media event at its corporate headquarters on October 16. Before we descend into the depths of Apple's auditorium and liveblog our fingers off, though, let's just take a moment to suss out what Tim Cook and pals have in store for us.
The next big iPad reportedly uses a souped-up iPhone 6 processor
Last year, both the iPad Air and Retina iPad mini used nearly the same A7 chip that you saw in the iPhone 5s. That wasn't exactly a problem, but it was a bit disappointing if you were hoping for some extra oomph in bigger iOS devices. You may not have to worry about getting similar parts this year, though. Taiwanese site Apple.club.tw has posted photos that reportedly show the next big iPad's motherboard, including what looks like a shiny new A8X processor. If history is any indication, that X means that it's a tangibly faster upgrade to the iPhone CPU that could involve improved graphics, a higher clock speed or other new (though not revolutionary) tricks. The club also claims that the new board has 2GB of RAM (twice as much memory as you see in the current iPad), although it's hard to verify this without a closer look. This probably won't prompt an upgrade if you're happy with the tablet you have -- assuming it's accurate in the first place, of course -- but it may give you something extra to look forward to at Apple's October 16th event.
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]
Bloomberg: Apple's splashing gold paint on the iPad too
The nice thing about living in Apple's ecosystem is everything is consistent: the app library, the user interface and design motifs echo across all of the company's devices. Well, unless you have a gold iPhone -- then any iPad you could possibly buy just simply wouldn't match. According to Bloomberg, however, those days might be over: the usual people familiar with Apple's plans say that the company will launch a 9.7-inch iPad next month with a gold backplate. You know, in case your buying habits are governed more by fashion than new features.
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.
Costco is now selling iPads and iPhones, with a patchy selection
Costco has a rough history with Apple products; the big-box chain sold Apple goods for a while, but pulled them in a huff after it was denied a chance to sell the original iPad. Time must have healed those wounds, then, since the retailer is now selling iPads and iPhones. There are some solid bargains, depending on what you're looking for. The iPhone 5s for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon is selling for $78 on contract, a full $120 lower than the regular sticker; you can also lop $100 off the price of Verizon-ready editions of the iPad Air (now $520) and iPad mini with Retina display ($420).
Engadget UK giveaway: win an iPad Air courtesy of Misco
You lucky devils, you. Last week you were in with a chance of winning a free Galaxy S5, and today we've only gone and got ourselves an iPad Air to send someone's way. It wouldn't be possible without the generosity of our pals over at Misco, an IT service provider and online retailer of all things computing. They've supplied us with a "Space Grey," 16GB WiFi version of Apple's latest full-fat tablet, meaning you can potentially save yourself £400 with a couple of clicks. Anyone can submit up to three entries via the Rafflecopter widget below, and we'd recommend you give the rules a quick scan while you're down there. Godspeed. Winning: congrats to X. Qi from London!
