Apple Announces iPad with Retina Display and iPad Mini
Posted on Oct 24th 2012
After much speculation, Apple announced its smallest addition to the iPad family yesterday, a 7.9-inch tablet dubbed iPad mini. Breaking into the 7-inch tablet market, Apple’s latest creation weighs in at .68 pounds and is .28 inches thick, making transporting and using the tablet on the go much more feasible than the larger-sized iPad models. The fourth generation of Apple's iPad model was also announced yesterday. Both iPads sport Apple's Lightning charging port.
Creating strong competition for 7-inch tablets like the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google Nexus 7, iPad mini's features include:
- 10-hour battery life
- Fast A5 processor
- Sleek glass-and-aluminum body
- Bluetooth wireless technology
- 1024 x 768 screen resolution
- Fingerprint-resistant coating
- 5-megapixel camera
The mini is expected to be a hit in the professional community, as apps like Pages, Numbers and Keynote make it simple to create compelling presentations and stay on top of budgets and other data. Third-party apps include Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, UPS Mobile, FedEx Mobile and OmniFocus.
Considering the popularity of any of Apple’s products, accessories for the iPad mini will no doubt be plentiful in only a few short weeks. CAFL plans to carry the top accessories for the iPad mini as soon as they are released. Ahead of the pack, OtterBox announced its Defender Series case for the mini the same day as Apple’s announcement. The iPad mini and the fourth-generation iPad will use the Lightning charger Apple announced in connection with the iPhone 5 last month.
For the professional on the go, CAFL carries the Arkon Tablet Vehicle Mount and Bracketron Tablet Cup Holder Mount, which secure your iPad mini in the car.
Worried about theft? CAFL carries multiple locking mounts for the car and office to protect these valuable devices.
The iPad mini is great for health professionals and retail employees because it can be carried around in one hand. However, when it’s time to sit down and create a report of the day’s activities, a ZAGGkeys SOLO keyboard comes in handy.
At $329, the iPad mini is priced higher than competing devices but Apple hopes their unique features and brand loyalty will justify the extra cost. This glass-and-aluminum device is light, portable, versatile, and connected to the vast iOS App Store, however, making it a valuable tool for any business professional. The fourth-generation iPad starts at $499. Both the fourth-generation iPad and iPad mini will be available Nov. 2.