iPad Mini: $329, 7.9-inch screen (hands-on)

Apple has finally officially unveiled its iPad Mini and it is, indeed, extremely light. The iPad Mini sports a 7.9-inch screen and it feels as airy as the iPhone 5, though maybe a tad wide for some jacket pockets. Nonetheless, the iPad Mini feels solid for reading with one hand -- it's lighter than most books you own. It's also relatively expensive at $329.

 

You'll be able to get an iPad Mini Wi-Fi model in three memory configurations starting on November 2: $329 for 16GB, $429 for 32GB, and $529 for 64GB. Two weeks later on November 16, we'll see Wi-Fi + 4G models hit the shelves at $459 for 16GB, $559 for 32GB, and $659 for 64GB.

The 1,024x768-pixel resolution matches that of the iPad 2, but on a 7.9-inch display, text is more readable at smaller fonts. This definitely isn't Retina Display, but it's better-than-iPad-2 display. Videos look excellent, and the IPS screen has great wide-viewing angles.

An A5 processor means it'll be similar to the fifth-generation Touch. The important part of this iPad is that it feels as light as a Kindle, even if it's not as tiny in width and height.

Thumb access on the sides is definitely easier, too. One-thumb operation is theoretically possible, and I found I could do it for basic scrolling and page turning.

Other specs include a front-facing 720p-capable FaceTime camera, and a 5-megapixel back camera. The Mini also supports 4G LTE, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi at 5.2Ghz, Bluetooth 4.0, and of course will use Apple's Lightning connector, first seen on the iPhone 5.

Apple claims that the Mini has a 10-hour battery life, but we'll have to put it through our own testing to confirm when we get one in on November 2. Preorders for the iPad Mini in all its forms start on Friday.

Apple iPad 3 Debut: Inside the New Features

As rumors swirled and investors got giddy, Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stage on Wednesday to announce a brand-new iPad. From a sharper camera to a pared-down Siri, The Daily Beast runs down the features.

Retina Display

The centerpiece of Apple’s announcement today is, of course, the new iPad, and the biggest news about it is its new supersharp screen. Current iPads have a display resolution of 1024x768. The resolution of the new iPad is 2048x1536—double the resolution, bringing the new iPad in line with the iPhone 4’s retina display. “Put another way, you all have an HDTV at home, 1080p—an iPad has more pixels. That’s incredible,” says Apple’s Phil Schiller.

A Sharp New Camera

The new iPad has a slightly better camera than the iPhone 4. It has a five-megapixel sensor and captures 1080p video.

4G LTE 

The new iPad will have 4G LTE connectivity on AT&T or Verizon networks—but not both on the same device. It’s Apple’s first LTE-capable device, and Schiller says it “has the most wireless bands that has ever shipped.” It’ll also have 3G that works around the world.

A5X Chip

The new iPad is faster—it has to be in order to manage the new screen. According to Apple, it’s twice as fast as the old Tegra 3 chip and has four times the graphics performance.

Siri’s Back … Almost

The new tablet sort of has Siri, albeit only in the form of voice dictation, not the full voice assistant.

Apple TV

The other big announcement today was an update to Apple TV. It will now support 1080p, and all iTunes movies are jumping to 1080p too. Apple’s Eddie Cue says that TV shows will pop up in 1080p on iTunes the day after they’re released. The new Apple TV looks different, too. The new user interface looks like iOS, with thumbnail buttons for movies, shows, podcasts, and other programs appearing on the screen.

But How Much Does It Cost?

The really important numbers: Both the new iPad and revamped Apple TV will be available on March 16, though preorders start today. The iPad will sell for $499, $599, and $699 for 16, 32, and 64GB respectively. 4G LTE costs a bit more: $629, $729, and $829 for the respective models. The new Apple TV will be available March 16 as well, for $99.

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