iPads Stealthily Get Price Cuts And Increased Storage

Apple has stealthily updated its site to show a refresh of its iPad lineup by updating storage capacities to mirror that of the iPhone 7, 32GB, 128GB and 256GB tiers rather than 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro models now cost $599 for 32GB, $699 for 128GB, and $799 for 256GB. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro now costs $799 for 32GB, 128GB for $899 and 256GB for $999.

The iPad Air 2 is now available in 32GB and 128GB storage options for $399 and $499 respectively. The iPad mini 4 is the same storage options and the same price points. The iPad mini 2 is now only offered in a 32GB configuration for $269.

Get A Samsung 40" TV With An Xbox One On Black Friday At Best Buy

Black Friday is fast approaching and Best Buy has an interesting lineup. One of the featured deals is a bundle that includes a new Xbox One and a Samsung 40" 1080p HDTV for $500 (In stores only). Some of Best Buy's other Black Friday deals include and Xbox One Gears of War Ultimate Edition and PS4 Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection bundles which are both for $300. Other deals include games such as Grand Theft Auto V, Need for Speed, and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain for $35. Another featured deal is that you can save up to #125 on the iPad Air 2. You can check out Best Buy's complete Black Friday ad here. Best Buy stores across the US open on Thanksgiving Day at 5 PM local time. They close at 1 AM on Black Friday and then re-open at 8 AM. 

The iPad Mini 4 Isn’t How Apple Advertised

When Apple announced the iPad mini 4 they advertised the device as a scaled down iPad Air 2, although the device has an A8 chip rather than the A8X found in the iPad Air 2. According to Ars Technica the A8 runs at 1.5 GHz, slightly faster than the 1.4 GHz A8 used in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Like the iPad Air 2, the iPad mini 4 also carries 2 GB of RAM. With the iPad mini 4 using a slower chip than the iPad Air 2 while still driving the same display resolution and similar other internals, performance won't be quite as good on the iPad mini 4. (The chart below is from Ars Technica)

The iPad Mini 4 To Be A Smaller Verison Of The iPad Air 2 ?

The iPad mini 4 could be a mini version of the iPad Air 2, according to Mac Otakara. The report claims that the iPad mini 4 will adopt a few features and specifications as the iPad Air 2, including an 8-megapixel rear facing iSight camera, ultra thin 6.1mm design and possibly a fully laminated display with anti-reflective coating. Its also rumored that Apple is set to release the “iPad Pro” later this year along side the other iPads. Apple releasing 3 new iPads later this year, this being the iPad Air 3, iPad mini 4 and "iPad Pro" could help the company come back from 5 consecutive quarters of declining iPad sales. We’ll just have to wait and see what actually gets announced when Apple holds there iPad event in the fall. What do you think ? 

Leaked Images Of The iPad Mini 4 Looks Like The iPad Air 2

New alleged photos of what looks to be an “iPad mini 4″ chassis, packing a design that looks closer to the iPad Air 2. In a push to be more like the iPad Air 2, the photos show an iPad mini 4 with a removed orientation lock/mute switch from the right side of the device that’s been above the volume buttons on previous versions of the smaller tablet. It has also been reported the iPad mini 4 will feature an A8 processor and 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which is the same specifications found in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but a step down from the speedier A8X chip found in the iPad Air 2. iPad refreshes typical happen around October, will just have to wait and see about an announcement. 

Is Apple Pay Coming To The Mac ?

Apple Pay could soon be making the move to the Mac if recent rumors are to be believed. Future MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad will all offer the Touch ID functionality needed to support the system. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are currently the only devices that can be used for in store and online purchases. The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 support only online Apple Pay use. Allowing the Mac laptop and desktop users to shop securely online using Apple Pay could easily add another spark to the initiative.

Cellular Version For The iPad Air 2 And iPad Mini 3 Are Coming To China

Apple has announced that cellular versions of the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 will be available in China this week. Wi-Fi only models of the 2 tablets have been in the country since launch. The 2 new iPads will support TD-LTE and FDD-LTE standards, as well as TD-SCDMA, DC-HSDPA, HSPA+ and other network technology.

Best Buy Cuts The Price Of The iPad Air 2 And iPad Mini 3

If you weren’t able to get a great deal for iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 during the Black Friday, Best Buy is heavily discounting iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 models by $50 to $100. All iPad Air 2 models are discounted by $50. 16GB iPad mini 3 models are $50 off, 64GB are $75 off, while all 128GB models are $100.

Apple SIM Could Change The Way You Use Your Data Plan

Previously, users purchasing cellular versions of iPads would have to choose their carrier at the time of purchase, with Apple shipping a device specifically for use on that carrier. But with the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, Apple is launching a new "Apple SIM" included with devices purchased in the US and UK. For U.S. users in particular, the Apple SIM allows users to easily move among AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint by taking advantage of short-term data plans as needed. UK will use EE, even access while abroad is simplified. And of course the system should work equally well for UK customers traveling abroad to the United States. Apple notes in an explanatory pop up on its iPad Air 2 store page that Verizon is not a participating carrier and Verizon customers will need to visit Verizon stores to activate cellular service on their devices. The new Apple SIM is preinstalled on iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi + Cellular models. The Apple SIM gives you the flexibility to choose from a variety of short term plans from select carriers in the U.S. and UK right on your iPad. So whenever you need it, you can choose the plan that works best for you with no long term commitments. And when you travel, you may also be able to choose a data plan from a local carrier for the duration of your trip.

Apple Announces iPad Air 2

Today Apple announced the iPad Air 2, which uses 2nd generation 64 bit architecture, with the equivalent of 3 billion transistors, resulting in a 40% faster CPU and 2.5 times faster GPU. New features of the iPad Air 2 include a new motion sensing and a barometer. The camera is also updated, with an 8MP iSight camera, 2.4 aperture, and faster processing in the M8 chip. Also time lapse and slow motion get added to the iPads camera. The iPad Air 2 also has a new front facing camera, with HDR, improved face detection, and HDR photos. Wi-Fi has been upgraded as well, and faster LTE has been added also.Touch ID will also be coming to the iPad Air 2, letting this new iPad work with Apple Pay for online purchases and the iTunes and App Store. The iPad Air 2 prices are the following, $499 for 16GB, $599 for 64GB and the 128GB model is $699. Cellular versions are $629 for 16GB, $729 for 64GB and $829 for 128GB. You can order the iPad Air 2 on October 17

Apple Could Have An iPad Media Event In October

While the rumors suggesting the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be coming in the second quarter of 2015 is in line with previous rumors, there has been no prior indication that second generation iPad Air and the next generation Retina iPad mini will see separate launch timelines. Previous rumors have indicated that both the Retina iPad mini and the iPad Air 2 will be introduced simultaneously at an event in October. Recently, a rumor suggested the two tablets could be introduced at an October 21 media event. Both the next generation iPad Air and Retina iPad mini are expected to gain updated A8 processors, camera improvements, and the Touch ID fingerprint sensor first introduced with the iPhone 5s. Apple's iPad Air 2 may also gain an anti-reflective screen coating and it may also ship in gold, silver, and space gray, much like the iPhone.