Size and weight

Both the Apple iPad mini and Amazon Kindle Fire HD fall into the 7in tablet category. Apple’s reduced form factor offering has nearly an inch more screen real estate, measuring 7.9in, while the the Fire HD falls more stiffly in line with its segment, sizing up at exactly 7in. The iPad mini’s classic minimalist design is typical of its iconic manufacturer: measuring just 7.2mm in depth and weighing just 308g, it’s the kind of super-svelte product we expect from Jony Ive and his team. The more utilitarian Fire HD is a fair bit chunkier, with a girth of 10.3mm and a weight of 395g – extra heft that could prove a bit taxing if you’re planning long reading sessions.

Display

Apple’s iPad mini has been roundly hailed as an instant classic since its October 2012 launch, though its display has attracted some muted criticism. Fanboys clearly hoped the device would feature the Cupertino-based firm’s famed Retina standard - an iPad mini with Retina is rumoured for later this year – but it falls short of this expectation with a resolution of ‘only’ 1,024 x 768 pixels at 163ppi. The Kindle Fire HD’s smaller screen packs superior specifications: its 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution features a density of 216ppi. Both displays are built on IPS LCD technology.

Storage and memory

Apple’s iPad mini features a full range of options for content hoarders: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models are available. The Kindle Fire HD comes in 16GB and 32GB iterations. Neither device features a memory card slot, so media-first consumers are advised to consider their on-board storage needs wisely and purchase accordingly, though price obviously becomes an issue with the more capacious Apple products. With regards to memory, teardowns of the iPad mini have put its RAM at just 512MB. Although that’s not not much memory compared to most Android tablets, our iPad mini review notes that it “never feels slow or underpowered.” The Kindle Fire HD packs a more standard 1GB of RAM that should confidently handle most tasks.

Processor and battery

Apple’s A5 chipset, as used in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, features a dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU with an estimated clock speed of 1.5GHz, complemented by a PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU. The Kindle Fire HD sports a TI OMAP 4460 SoC under the hood, also based around a dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU, though with a lower clock speed of 1.2GHz. The Power VR SGX540 GPU used in the Fire HD is outdated to say the least – it’s found on ancient smartphones like 2010′s Samsung Galaxy S and 2011′s Galaxy Nexus. Actual performance obviously can’t be measured by specifacation alone, but on paper this is a clear win for the iPad mini – even though its processor is nearly two years old itself. With regards to battery life, there’s little to choose between the two: both devices are thought to pack 4,440 mAh batteries, with run time of up to 10 hours and 11 hours for the iPad and Kindle respectively.

Software

Apple’s latest mobile platform, iOS 6, seems to have found its feet after a disasterous debut headlined by the Apple Maps debacle. The new OS is every bit the slick, user friendly experience people have come to expect, and one of the benefits of Apple’s fiercely proprietary ecosystem is that updates come instantly. The Kindle Fire HD is a very different proposition, running a heavily modified version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s unrecognisable from stock ICS and features a bevy of potential annoyances: unless you buy your way out of it, advertising is fed to you at a number of turns, including the lock screen. You’re tied to the Amazon ecosystem, too, so there’s no Play store access, and the hugely customised nature of the Fire HD’s OS means that updates are going to be scarce, if they exist at all. Android fans are certainly going to find plenty to take issue with on the Kindle Fire HD and should probably stick with the Nexus 7, but even non-nerds are likely to find iOS 6 a more pleasant overall experience.

Camera

The Kindle Fire HD provides a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera capable of 720p video. Apple’s iPad mini ups the ante considerably, packing in a 5-megapixel rear camera in addition its 1.2-megapixel front snapper. The rear camera can shoot Full HD (1080p) video, and while a device nigh on 8in isn’t the most appropriate photography device in our opinion, users who see the additional capabilities as important will probably lean towards the Cupertino firm’s offering.

Connectivity and wireless

If it’s cellular connectivity you’re after, the iPad mini is the only way to go: not only will Apple’s mini-tablet link you up with 3G networks, but you’ll also be able to enjoy high-speed 4G LTE if you sign up with EE - £15.99 a month on a rolling contract with 5GB data allowance. The Kindle Fire HD is tied to Wi-Fi for the time being, but comes up trumps with regards to input/output offerings, sporting a micro-USB port and an HDMI socket. Apple favours its proprietary Lightning port over the former and lacks the latter entirely. Extras like NFC, which are increasingly common on smartphones, aren’t really as relevant on tablets and both devices lack the technology.

Price and opinion

There’s little question that the iPad mini is a superior product compared to the Kindle Fire HD, featuring a nippier processor, two cameras, better software, and 4G LTE compatibility. Given it’s an Apple product, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that these features – especially 4G – come at a premium. For £269, you’ll get a basic Wi-Fi-only iPad mini with 16GB of onboard storage, with a £100 jump to £369 if you want cellular connectivity as well. A fuller package featuring 32GB of onboard storage and the option of 3G and 4G clocks in at the considerably dearer sum of £449, while the full monty – 64GB and cellular –  will run you £529. It’s definitely tagged well ahead of the competition and only Apple could get away with this kind of borderline charlatan approach to pricing. Ethics aside, it’s still probably worth it.

The Kindle Fire HD, on the other hand, falls in line with the Android competition at a budget-friendly £159 and £199 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively. It’s not without its merits – its sharp display is a particular strength, and an HDMI port is hugely desirable – but for us it’s difficult to look past the deficiencies in the software department. Frankly, we just wouldn’t pay be tied to ICS forever, have no Play Store access, and be held to ransom by advertisements. Critics who claim the Kindle Fire HD is little more than an Amazon store you can physically hold are being unkind – but they’re not far wrong, either. As far as Android tablets go, the Google Nexus 7 is still top dog.

	Apple iPad mini	Amazon Kindle Fire HD
Display
Screen size	7.9in	7in
Resolution	1,024 x 768 pixels	1,280 x 800 pixels
Pixel density	163ppi	216ppi
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD
Processor and battery
Family	Apple A5	TI OMAP 4460
CPU	ARM Cortex-A9	ARM Cortex-A9
Cores	Dual-core	Dual-core
Clock speed	1.5GHz	1.2GHz
GPU	PowerVR SGX543MP2	PowerVR SGX540
Battery	4,400 mAh	4,400 mAh
Claimed life	Up to 10h	Up to 11h
Storage and memory
RAM	512MB	1GB
Internal storage	16GB / 32GB / 64GB	16GB / 32GB
Card slot	No	No
Camera
Rear	5-megapixel	No
Front	1.2-megapixel	1.3-megapixel
Video	1080p	720p
Wireless
Cellular	4G LTE	No
Wi-Fi	802.11 a / b / g / n	802.11 a / b / g / n
NFC	No	No
Bluetooth	v4.0	v3.0
Connectivity
Charging	Lightning port	MicroUSB
HDMI	No	Yes
Dimensions
Size	200 x 134.7 x 7.2mm	193 x 137 x 10.3mm
Weight	308g / 312g	395g
Operating System	iOS 6	Android 4.0
Price	Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi + Cellular 16GB: £269 / £369 32GB: £349 / £449 64GB: £429 / £529	16GB: £159 32GB: £199

by James Laird,

“We are looking at doing more manufacturing in the US because, in general, customers want more to be done there,” Louis Woo, a Foxconn spokesman, told Bloomberg Businessweek in a phone interview. He did not elaborate about which clients made the request, or reveal any specific plans.

The news comes after Apple chief Tim Cook confirmed this week that some parts of Mac production will come to the US starting next year. He conceded that Apple won’t be working alone, and would be investing more than $100 million (£62.4 million) as part of the effort.

Word first spread back in November that Foxconn was mulling US.-based factories. The company was reportedly evaluating the possibility of setting up shop in several US cities such as Detroit and Los Angeles.

At the time, a Foxconn spokeswoman said that the company’s chairman and CEO had only floated “the possibility of Foxconn providing opportunities for engineers in the US to visit the company’s facilities in China for technical exchanges as part of a larger program to further develop and promote automation in the manufacturing sector.”

The Taiwanese company, which has come under fire in recent years over labor rights issues, employs 1.6 million workers globally, and already has factories in California and Texas.

“Supply chain is one of the big challenges for US expansion,” Woo told Bloomberg Businessweek.”In addition, any manufacturing we take back to the US needs to leverage high-value engineering talent there in comparison to the low-cost labor of China.”

Foxconn as of late hasn’t exactly been depicted as a wonderful place to work, with various groups accusing the firm of worker abuses. Earlier this year, Apple ordered an audit of the Foxconn factories that produce its products, which showed excessive overtime and unsafe working conditions. Over the summer, it was reported that Foxconn was taking steps to rectify the problems.
Published under license from Ziff Davis, Inc., New York,

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The tablet wars are hotting up ahead of Christmas 2012, and not just in the hugely competitive 7in segment, where the iPad mini and Google Nexus 7 are battling it out for holiday supremacy; there’s more choice than ever in the full form factor market as well.

A raft of recent products – including the Microsoft Surface, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, and the Asus Transformer Infinity - are all staking their claim for buyers’ hearts and wallets this festive season. Yet at the end of the day, the 10in category, too, is an Apple vs Google dogfight. The iconic Cupertino-based firm refreshed its iPad line-up with a fourth-generation offering featuring its famed Retina display this October, while the Internet search giant added to its increasingly influential Nexus oeuvre with the Samsung-made Google Nexus 10 tablet. So how do the two devices compare?

1

Size and weight

The dimensional differences between the two rival tablets may seem subtle on paper, but are in fact relatively pronounced. Measuring 263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9mm, the Google Nexus 10 is a more elongated device that could favour horizontal usage, while Apple’s iPad 4 measures the same as its third-generation predecessor at 241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4mm and is more square-like and evenly proportioned.

Display

Both the Nexus 10 and the iPad 4 slot neatly into the 10in category, with the former Samsung-manufactured device sporting a 10.1in screen, and Apple’s new tablet offering a marginally smaller 9.7in display. The Google device comes up trumps with regards to pixel density: the Nexus 10 boasts a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution at 299 PPI, while Apple’s iPad 4 is a still-stunning 2,048 x 1,536 at 264 PPI. Apple’s famed ‘Retina’ display doesn’t get bested often, but it’s the inferior proposition in this instance.

Storage and memory

Neither the iPad 4 or the Nexus 10 offers anything remarkable with regards to storage. Both lack a memory card slot, with Apple’s latest full-form factor tablet providing the greatest choice for media buffs, coming in a 64GB iteration in addition to 16GB and 32GB flavours. The Nexus 10 comes in two variations, 16GB and 32GB, but offers an impressive 2GB of RAM where the new Retina-display iPad offers a more standard 1GB of memory.

Processor and battery

Based on ARM architecture, Apple’s custom-built dual-core A6X chipset features a Swift CPU – a kind of halfway house between a Cortex A-9 and A-15 – thought to be clocked in the region of 1.4GHz and complemented by a quad-core PowerVR SGX543 graphics set-up. The Nexus 10′s Exynos 5 SoC is formed of a Cortex A-15 CPU clocked at 1.7GHz and supported by Mali-T604 graphics. The iPad 4 bests its Google rival in terms of battery performance, packing a powerhouse 11,560 mAh (vs. the Nexus 10′s 9,000 mAh driver) with a claimed battery life of 10 hours.

Software

With regards to software, Nexus 10 vs. iPad 4 is a straight-up Android vs. iOS grudge match. Google’s new 10in category tablet runs the latest version of its native mobile OS, version 4.2 Jelly Bean. The new platform continues to build on the breakthrough Ice Cream Sandwich system, offering a number of improvements aimed at furnishing a more user-focused experience: PhotoSphere, the Swype-style Gesture Typing, and a deeper, better integrated Google Now are some of the features that make up this impressive update.

Apple’s iOS 6 is a more complicated proposition. Some new features, like Passbook, look set to be hugely useful when more companies in the UK and Europe are integrated into the fold. There’s some neat new call handling options too, and Siri finally seems to have blossomed into the kind of enchantingly helpful personal assistant we always knew it would. Unfortunately, the iOS 6 Maps debacle seriously undermines the overall usefulness of the platform, so while Apple undoubtedly boasts a superb ecosystem, iOS 6 is still a future upgrade in many people’s mind.

Camera

There’s not much to choose between these two sure-fire Christmas stocking stretchers in the camera department. If you’re the kind of oddball who regards a full form-factor tablet as a legitimate photography device, then both offer you a 5-megapixel primary camera complete with 1080p HD video at 30fps. The Nexus 10 offers a slightly superior secondary snapper, boasting a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera for video-calling and the like, a specification that bests the iPad 4′s 1.2-megapixel auxiliary shooter.

Connectivity

Being part of Apple’s fiercely proprietary ecosystem, the iPad 4 doesn’t boast a plethora of external outputs – in fact, the only one it has got is the infamous Lightning port. The Nexus 4, on the other hand, has sockets for both USB and HDMI cables (see images, below), making it a much more versatile partner for non-Apple fanboys. That said, the iPad 4 offers greater choice from a mobile data perspective, coming available as a ‘cellular’ model that will allow you to connect to 3G networks in the UK, and to the 4G LTE spectrum in the US. The Nexus 10 only features Wi-Fi flavours for the time being, and Apple’s latest tablet also features a more recent Bluetooth standard.

Price and availability

Along with its smartphone stablemate the LG Google Nexus 4, the Nexus 10 went on sale earlier this week – 13 November to be precise. And, like the affordable Android handset, demand for Google’s 10.1in tablet has exceeded its initial supply. The product is now listed as “sold out” on the Play Store, with the Internet search giant’s UK press office indicating to us that it was unsure when additional stock will arrive. When the Nexus 10 does become available again, it will cost £319 or £389, depending on whether you opt for 16GB or 32GB of on-board storage. It’s a price point that – while certainly at the high-end of the tablet market  - significantly undercuts an equivalent iPad 4. For more on Google’s first full form factor tablet, see our Nexus 10 review.

Yes, as ever, getting the latest Apple tablet will cost you. The current going rate is £399 for a Wi-Fi-only 16GB model, while a fully loaded fourth-generation iPad featuring mobile network connectivity and a 64GB storage capacity will drain you of £659 – a pretty whopping outlay, even at Christmas. However, in its favour, the new iPad with Retina display is currently available – or, rather, Wi-Fi-only models are. Apple has cited late-November as the due date for the 3G-ready variant, so come December it really should be a right ol’ tablet ruckus out on the high street.

	Google Nexus 10	Apple iPad 4
Display
Screen size	10.1in	9.7in
Resolution	2,560 x 1,600 pixels	2,048 x 1,536 pixels
Pixel density	299 PPI	264 PPI
Type	‘Super’ PLS TFT	IPS TFT
Processor and battery
Family	Samsung Exynos 5	Apple A6X
CPU	Cortex A-15	Swift (ARMv7s)
Cores	Dual-core	Dual-core
Clock speed	1.7GHz	1.4GHz (speculated)
GPU	Mali-T604	PowerVR SGX543
Battery	9,000 mAh	11,560 mAh
Claimed battery life (mid-heavy usage)	9h	10h
Storage and memory
RAM	2GB	1GB
Internal storage	16 / 32GB	16 / 32 / 64GB
microSD	No	No
Camera
Megapixels	5MP	5MP
Resolution	2,592 x 1,936 pixels	2,592 x 1,944 pixels
Flash	LED	No
Aperture	TBC	f/2.4
Video	1080p @ 30fps	1080p @ 30fps
Secondary	1.9MP	1.2MP
Wireless
UK Network	No	3G
Wi-Fi	802.11 a / b / g / n	802.11 a / b / g / n
NFC	Yes (Android Beam)	No
Bluetooth	3.0 with A2DP	4.0 with A2DP
Connectivity
USB	micro-USB 2.0	No
HDMI	micro HDMI	No
Dimensions
Size	263.9 x 177.6 x 8.9mm	241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4mm
Weight	603g	662g
Operating System	Android 4.2 Jelly Bean	iOS 6
Price	£319 (16GB) / £389 (32GB)	Wi-Fi only (16 / 32 / 64GB): £399 / £479 / £559, Wi-Fi & 3G: £499 / £579 / £659

by James Laird

Apple Insider has reported that Amazon has pulled a homepage advertisement that slammed the iPad mini, after discovering that its jibe was factually incorrect.

Earlier this week, Amazon posted a spec comparison between the iPad mini and Kindle Fire HD on its homepage. It touted the Kindle Fire HD’s “stunning display,” and said the Kindle Fire HD had a higher pixel density (216 PPI) than the iPad mini s (163 PPI), the ability to watch HD films, and dual stereo speakers instead of the mono ones on the iPad mini.

Not so fast, Amazon. When the first iPad mini reviews began circulating, it was revealed that the new tablet actually has stereo speakers — an upgrade from former models, all of which sport a single mono speaker.

The ad hit Amazon’s website Monday, 29 October, but was removed two days later. Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

As TUAW noted this week, Amazon also neglected to mention some features the iPad mini has but the Fire HD does not, including a rear-facing camera, a 64GB model, a 3G/4G LTE option, and 275,000 of Apple’s tablet-optimised apps.

The iPad mini starts at £269 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version, while the Kindle Fire HD costs £159 for a similarly equipped device. Customers in a hurry to start browsing their tablet may have better luck with Amazon; Apple’s new products now have a several-week wait time.

by Stephanie Mlot, 01 November, 2012

Apple’s website confirms that the Wi-Fi-only versions of the iPad will ship within one week – only several days after its expected 2 November launch. But the Wi-Fi + cellular versions of the iPad won’t arrive until mid-November.

The new iPad follows its launch day partner, the iPad mini, which sold out quickly.

The release of the fourth-generation iPad prompted complaints from new iPad owners who only purchased their tablet a few months earlier. However, the updates, save for the Lightning connector, are mostly internal, like a faster processor and updated camera. At least those with the older device can sit back and happily swipe, zoom, and surf with their tablet, while everyone else waits a few more weeks to unwrap their iPad 4.

“Complaints about fast product cycles are valid if the fast product cycle makes older products obsolete,” PCMag lead analyst Sascha Segan recently pointed out. “But that’s just not the case with the iPad 3, which will be well-supported for at least the next two years,” he said. “It is not ‘obsolete, ‘old’ or ‘out of date.’”

Apple isn’t the only retailer to watch its products fly off of the shelves. Earlier this month, Microsoft sold out of its 32GB Surface with Windows RT (without touch cover) within a day, forcing shipments back a few weeks. As of press time, all three models (32GB with and without cover, and 64GB with cover) were listed with an expected shipment date of “within three weeks.”

by Stephanie Mlot, 01 November, 2012

By Stephen Pritchard, 25 Oct 2012 at 09:28

If Apple wanted to lay down the gauntlet to its rival IT manufacturers, its latest product launch could not have been much better.

The consumer electronics giant announced new iMacs, a new laptop, new Mac Minis and two new iPads.

But it is the smallest and cheapest of these tablet devices, the iPad Mini, that is likely to generate the most interest among business users.

Apple’s little iPad will cost from £269 in the UK for the Wi-Fi model and £369 for the cellular-ready version. This is not as cheap as some analysts had predicted – and Apple fans had perhaps hoped – but it is a sufficient discount over the new fourth-generation model, at £399, to tempt tablet sceptics into trying an iPad. It may also be just cheap enough to tempt some buyers away from the cheaper Android models.

The iPad mini is slightly larger than the ill-fated BlackBerry PlayBook, and with the same screen resolution as the iPad 2, users are giving up relatively little by opting for the smaller model. Apple even claims the mini has a comparable battery life, at around 10 hours.

The idea of a tablet that can fit easily into a bag – or at a push into a large pocket – is appealing to business users, as Samsung and Google have already shown. But the advantages of smaller tablets are by no means limited to lightening the briefcases of travelling executives.

Tablets that can be used more easily in one hand are more practical for a range of field-based tasks, from market research to engineering. Smaller tablets could also find a role in healthcare and, as Apple’s Tim Cook has suggested, education. Another reason for opting for a smaller tablet is to install it in vehicles, as dashboard space will always be at a premium.

But it is in vehicles, and more generally in vertical markets, that the iPad range has one real shortcoming: the lack of any support for ordinary, GSM-based voice calls.

Of course it is possible to use Skype or other voice over IP services via WiFi, or at a push, over a 3G data connection. This is far from ideal even for knowledge workers, as it’s hardly practical to stop off at a café each time you want to make a call.

It is a much more serious barrier for task-based employees, who might need to integrate voice calls with other work being done using the tablet. In vehicles, it could be a deal breaker.

There are plenty of jobs – from couriers and taxi drivers to field service engineers and emergency services – where being able to call out from a device is very important.

Companies also want to streamline the number of devices they give staff. Without simple voice calling on the iPad, is Apple missing out?

Stephen Pritchard is a contributing editor at IT Pro.

The iPad 3 has been out for a shade over six months, but there were murmurs surrounding a 4th generation, new iPad release almost as soon as it was announced.

Details were thin on the ground regarding iPad 4 specifications and features, but this didn’t stop new iPad rumours cropping up from various sources.

And then at the iPad mini launch event on 23 October, Apple also announced the 4th gen iPad.

• Hands on: iPad 4 review

The new iPad features an A6X processor that “doubles the performance of CPU tasks,” has a battery that lasts up to 10 hours, plus an updated 720p FaceTime camera.

It will also feature the new Lightning connector found with the iPhone 5.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new iPad 4 with retina display…

The iPad 4 processor is new, and better

Apple’s latest iPad comes with its latest processor: an A6X, which Apple says delivers twice the CPU and graphics performance as the A5X. The processor also includes improved image signal processing technology, which should improve the results from the iPad 4′s updated 5-megapixel camera. Once again claimed battery life is 10 hours.

The iPad 4 has a Lightning connector

The Dock continues its disappearing act, with the fourth generation iPad dropping it in favor of the smaller, sleeker and considerably less fiddly and annoying Lightning connector.

The iPad 4 does more 4G LTE, including in the UK

The new iPad was supposedly a 4G device, but in the U.K. the Advertising Standards Authority told Apple to stop telling porkies (otherwise known as whoppers to non-British folk): we didn’t have a 4G network, and even if we did the new iPad wouldn’t have worked on it. The fourth generation iPad, or iPad 4, is a proper 4G device but has support for more LTE 4G bands including Everything Everywhere’s band 3 4G LTE.

The iPad 4 has faster Wi-Fi

The fourth generation iPad supports dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, with support for channel bonding to achieve download speeds of up to 150Mbps. The Wi-Fi also supports the older a, b and g WiFi standards.

The iPad 4 is still pretty hefty

Like its predecessor, the iPad 4 is rather heavy: the Wi-Fi only version weighs in at 652g, while the Wi-Fi + Cellular model is 662g. Dimensions are 241.2mm high, 185.7mm wide and 9.4mm deep.

The iPad 4 comes in six different models

As before, there are three storage capacities and both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular models.

The iPad 4 release date is Nov. 2

Like the iPad mini, the iPad 4 can be ordered on Oct. 26 for delivery on Nov. 2. And, 4G-enabled models will ship a few weeks later at the end of November.

The iPad 4 UK price starts at £379, US$499

The Wi-Fi-only iPad 4 starts at £399(US$499,  AU$539) for 16GB, £479(US$599, AU$649) for 32GB and £559(US$699, AU$759) for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + Cellular models are  £499(US$629, AU$679),  £579(US$729, AU$789) and £659(US$829, AU$899) for  16GB, 32GB and 64GB respectively.

Below are the iPad 4 rumours that we reported on leading up to the 4th gen iPad announcement.

iPad 4 release date: October 2012

There have been reports that Apple will launch two new tablets during 2012: the iPad 3 in March, which turned out to be the new iPad, and then the iPad 4 in October.

The news came via Digitimes which says this information was confirmed by a Taiwanese component manufacturer. The source goes on to say that the iPad 4 will come with killer applications and beefed up hardware to take on various tablets scheduled to arrive in the second half of 2012.

iPad 4 release date: March 2013

That said, Apple does like its uniform, annual releases so don’t be surprised if we the iPad 4 release date is actually March 2013, 12 months from the launch of the new iPad.

This release schedule would give the new iPad time to flourish in the market and then slowly move out of the spotlight come Christmas as various Windows and Android powered tablets are released.

This “down-time” for Apple will fuel frenzied iPad 4 rumours as fans start dreaming about what the next generation could offer, culminating in another super-hyped event next March.

iPad 4 features

Little is known about the features and specifications for the new iPad, but sources quoted by iLounge claim it’ll be a modest upgrade, with a slimmer body, smaller dock connector and internal improvements to reduce the heat which is produced by the third-gen new iPad.

A rumour that we reported on 26 September 2012 claims that the iPad 4 will feature a wider 16:9 screen (the current iPad is 4:3). Industry analyst Paul Mueller told the Examiner: “I have talked to at least three people close to Apple who say that there are new iPad prototypes that have a 16:9 aspect ratio.”

The launch of the iPhone 5 provides us with some juicy clues of what we might see in the new iPad. It’ll need a different dock, as the iPad 4 is likely to feature the Lightning connector that made its first appearance in the iPhone 5, it’ll have a better battery, a better screen and feature 4G connectivity. A Guardian report on 9 October claimed that the 4G iPad 4 would initially run on Everything Everywhere’s 4G network.

Is the iPad 4 the iPad Mini?

There is speculation that Apple’s next tablet could in fact be the iPad Mini.

Currently Apple’s new iPad dominates the high-end tablet market, leaving the likes of the Amazon Kindle Fire  and budget Android devices to swoop in and meet the needs of the more frugal shopper.

It’s thought that Apple won’t want to miss out on this low-end market, which has led to rumours that we may see the iPad Mini break cover in October – possibly sporting an 8-inch or 7.85-inch screen and sub £200 price tag.

Those rumours that the iPad 4 will be the iPad Mini gathered pace on 4 July 2012, with fresh reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal claiming that the iPad Mini would launch before the end of 2012.

On 31 July, sources quoted by iLounge claimed that the iPad Mini would launch in November with its own debut event, rather than fighting for attention with the iPhone 5.

On 9 July, we reported that Japanese blog Macotakara had cited an unknown source, claiming the new iPad Mini would be a very svelte 7.2mm thick, and come with 3G functionality, with production starting in September, and on 5 August, some supposed iPad Mini case pictures appeared on Chinese blog Sina Weibo.

As of 12 October, speculation pointed to an iPad Mini launch event taking place on 23 October 2012, while on 16 October invites were sent out by Apple confirming the 23 October event.

For the latest on the iPad Mini, check out our iPad Mini rumour roundup

iPad 4 price

The same report from Macotakara said that the iPad 4 price (assuming that the iPad 4 is the iPad Mini) would be in the region of $250-$350 (around £160-£230).

On 16 July, we reported that the The New York Times, which claimed to have spoken to sources “with knowledge of the project”, put the iPad Mini price at “significantly less” than the new iPad, which starts at £399. The same report put the iPad Mini screen size at 7.85 inches, a size rumoured by Digitimes back in March.

Two new iPads

In summary, current rumours suggest that we’re looking at the iPad Mini in October/November for $250-$350 (£160-£230), and the next full size iPad 4 in March 2013, with a price comparable to the new iPad that’s on sale now.

As we gather and analyse more rumours, we’ve also put together our iPad 4 wishlist…

iPad 4: what we want to see

By Craig Grannell

While we’re waiting for new rumours to roll in, we figured it’s time to start complaining about the current iPad and outline our demands for the iPad 4.

Despite essentially being a metal-backed pane of glass with a few  buttons, a massive battery and a smallish circuit board, we’ve  hardware-oriented wishes for Apple’s next-generation device, which we’re  assuming is probably also going to be called ‘the new iPad’, or ‘the  new, new iPad’ or perhaps Apple will return to numbering its tablets and  we’ll get an iPad 4.

1. Thinner, lighter, faster!

The new iPad  is (very) slightly thicker than the previous one (although not the  original iPad) and (very) slightly heavier. Through a combination of  amazing engineering, technical breakthroughs and unicorn tears, we’re  dreaming of an iPad 4 that would be as light as a Kindle and as thin as  something thinner than an iPad 2; we’d also like the iPad 4 to be  faster, because we’re demanding like that.

2. More storage

The new iPad has a Retina display, providing the potential for pin-sharp graphics, like those on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, but over a much bigger area.

This  comes at a cost: app file sizes. For example, the revamped GarageBand  is a few hundred MB larger than the previous version. Yet iPads remain  available only in 16, 32 and 64GB configurations. Would 128GB in the  iPad 4 be too much to ask for?

3. Thunderbolt support

Apple’s shift to wireless sync has removed one major reason for Thunderbolt,  but rumours still abound about the high-speed I/O tech coming to iOS,  providing compatibility with a new generation of peripherals. Adaptors  could be released for legacy kit, further boosting Apple’s coffers.

4. Better keyboard support

Steve  Jobs hated the idea of a touchscreen computer, because it’s an  ergonomic nightmare that rapidly makes an outstretched arm shriek with  pain. But this is what an iPad and a Bluetooth keyboard turns into.

To fix this, Apple would just need to make some extra keyboard commands baked into iOS, for example to enable app switching.

5. A truly magical screen

A Retina display? How 2010! What about haptic feedback? OK, so we didn’t seriously invest in thoserumours,  and a ‘morphing’ screen gives us T1000 nightmares, but it could be  useful for feedback when typing and playing games on the iPad 4. And  while Apple’s at it, a better oleophobic coating that eradicates  fingerprints would be lovely.

6. A smarter Smart Cover

The Smart Cover,  or Mr Flappy as we call ours, needs to be smarter. It looks very swish  and clever when the iPad wakes. It’s also a reasonably good stand. But  it’s rubbish when you’re holding an iPad and the cover’s swinging about  and then falls to the floor in comedy slapstick style.

7. Battery and charging improvements

Ten  hours of usage from the new iPad is impressive, but that’s a best-case  scenario. Play some games or watch video and that figure will fall.  Apple’s hampered by technology, but in a year, who knows? An iPad 4 that  lasts for a day on a single charge? Wireless charging? We can dream.

8. Improved speakers

If  you want a reality check about the quality of the iPad’s speaker, use  an iPod touch for approximately ten seconds. The iPad will sound like a  Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin by comparison. But with so many great  music, gaming and video apps, better speakers – More power! Stereo! – is  nonetheless something we’d love to see (well, hear) on the iPad 4.

9. Near field communication

We’re not suggesting Apple should add near field communication (NFC)  to the iPad so you can wave it around like a massive  glass-and-aluminium wallet. But NFC would enable iPads to be more  commonly used for taking payments, and NFC across iOS devices as a whole  could provide a boost to this emergent technology.

10. The same form factor (ish)

‘Thinner  and lighter’ was our first wish, but we don’t want ‘smaller’. A 7-inch  iPad? No thanks. iPad apps are designed for a ten-inch screen, and we’re  sure Apple doesn’t want the box to include iMicroscope and  iFileDownYourFingertips.

Similarly, people seem obsessed with  binning the bezel, but we like it; the bezel enables you to hold your  device without accidental touchscreen presses and without covering  on-screen content. One of the iPad’s greatest aspects has been strong  usability, and we’d hate to see anything compromise that.

By Paul Douglas and Gary Marshall    October 23rd

There are five big differences between the iPad 2 and the New iPad, all of which when considered together make for a compelling argument for the new iPad.

The screen for a start is the main selling point of the tablet. Apple crammed four times more pixels on the same surface area delivering what it calls a “retina display” experience albeit for tablets rather than smartphones. At 2,048 by 1,536 pixels, it sports by far the highest definition screen of any mobile device on the market.

Having to deliver four times more pixels means that Apple had to opt for a more powerful graphics processing subsystem and it did so by doubling the amount of cores for the GPU, from two to four. Apple has yet to confirm whether it stuck with the PowerVR SGX543 core on the iPad 2 or whether it went for something beefier.

Apple also swapped the sub-standard camera on the iPad 2 for one that can finally rival those on smartphones including the iPhone 4. The five-megapixel iSight camera includes the same improvements – such as 1080p video recording – as on the iPhone 4S with a lower pixel count.

Another significant feature added to the new iPad is the fact that it now comes with 4G LTE connectivity but with some limitations like the fact that 4G has yet to take off in the UK and that compatibility is still an important issue.

The fifth difference is pricing; that of the iPad 2 has been slashed by £70 to £329 while the new iPad costs the same as the old one, £399.