Tag: ipad mini

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A deluge of new products

Over the last two weeks, Apple have released a range of new products.

I mentioned the new Apple TV last week. Alongside that release, Apple brought out the HomeView and new HomePod mini smart speakers.

Though many of my Apple purchases are because I am embedded into the Apple ecosystem, one reason I have an Apple TV, I never bought the Homepod. I think the core reason was that it was E319 when it was launched. The Amazon Echo was just £150, much cheaper. I also didn’t subscribe to Apple Music, and Prime Music from Amazon was included with my Prime subscription. I had gone with the Echo as my smart speaker. I still have and use that speaker.

The HomeView looks interesting, but not sure if I would find a use for it.

Then Apple released a new iPad mini with an 8.5-Inch OLED Display and A20 Pro Chip. I’ve never had an iPad mini, but I do quite like the form factor. As I mentioned in a previous blog post – I think even if I had a persuasive use case for the iPhone Duo I am probably more likely to keep my current iPhone and get an iPad mini to use alongside my phone.

They also released an updated iMac. Still has the 24” screen, I wonder if they will ever do a bigger 27” iMac like they use to. I might then be tempted. I really did like my 27” iMac computer and was disappointed when it became obsolete. I do like the form factor of the new 24” iMac, It’s just that I would prefer a 27” screen.

Their latest new item was an OLED MacBook Pro With Touch Display.  That is probably worth a whole blog post to itself, however at the    price Apple are charging, it’s not in my ballpark.

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iPad mini, take two…

iPad mini, take two...

So it was only a week or so ago that I said:

I don’t think I will be getting an iPad mini

Well… I might now…

You see I popped into the Apple Store at Cabot Circus in Bristol and had a quick look at the iPad mini.

I was really impressed (and remember I do have a Google Nexus 7) the size and weight felt just right and it was very responsive. Well it should be as it is basically an iPad 2 and that was a good piece of kit.

I really did like the feel of the device and the screen wasn’t too small (which was one of my worries). I didn’t have a lot of time with it, but trying out the e-mail and web browsing felt okay. This was a device I could work with.

There was the issue of size and I don’t think it will fit in my coat pocket as the Google Nexus 7 can. Also the price… at £239 it is a lot more money than the £159 Google Nexus 7 and £70 would buy a lot of apps and content. Of course I have already made an investment in the apps and content for my current iPad, so that isn’t really too much of an issue.

Overall if price is a real issue then I would recommend the Google Nexus 7. If this is your first tablet then I would again go for the Google Nexus 7, as if it doesn’t work out, you’ve not lost too much money. However if you have already invested in iOS apps, have a lot of content on iTunes, and you are not that price sensitive, then I think the iPad mini is probably a better deal.

I am seriously thinking about selling the Google Nexus 7 and getting the iPad mini.

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I don’t have an iPad mini

iPad mini

I don’t think I will be getting an iPad mini, not that I don’t like the idea behind the product, but I already have the iPad (third generation) and a Google Nexus 7, I am not quite sure where the iPad mini would fit into my life. Then again I thought the same about the iPad when it first came out (got a laptop and a desktop, why do I need a tablet?).

If I didn’t have the Nexus 7, then I might seriously consider the iPad mini. The form factor of the Nexus 7 is really nice and portable, much more than the big iPad. Unlike a phone though, the larger screen size makes stuff like web browsing work.

Early reviews of the iPad mini say that, though it is smaller than the iPad, due to the 1024×768 screen resolution it is too wide! Making it difficult to put in your pocket. I also wonder if the small screen would make it challenging to type on. I do a fair bit of typing on the screen of the larger iPad, but have found it not so easy on the Nexus 7 screen.

I am less bothered about the “lack” of a retina display. Don’t get me wrong I really love the retina screens on the iPad (third generation) and my MacBook Retina, but it isn’t always a deal breaker; I can always get my glasses out.

One of the reasons I might get an iPad mini is that I have a large investment in iOS apps and as a result it would be quite quick and easy to get it into my workflow. Another reason would be 4G, but as the current status of 4G in the UK isn’t exactly attractive, what with limited coverage and high tariffs, I am not sure that is a valid reason (at this time).