The first update to the iPad mini will likely come right before the Fall school season begins, this lodging the tablet directly into the minds of those prospective users looking to maximize the excellence of their backpack setup. This machine falls in line with users hoping to own their own piece of Apple equipment without going full-sized with the standard iPad. The main line iPad will have reached its 5th generation, more than likely, by the end of this year.

NOTE: This analysis suggests that the report from April 29th from KGI Securities was only referring to the 3rd-generation iPad mini. We shall see!

The iPad mini will be seeing a push to a new display technology, it’s also said, including a possible inclusion of LTPS, the same technology used in the iPhone 5. LPTS is also known as low-temperature polysilicon, and it’ll be sharpening up the iPad mini significantly. The first run of iPad mini units used the same number of pixels as the original iPad, allowing it to be a bit more dense than that first-gen tablet, but still falling well below the current-gen iPad with so-called “retina” display.

This set of predictions has the iPad mini with Retina display and higher-powered processor set for the first quarter of 2014 while the end of summer will be a likely plant-point for the iPad mini with just a bit of a display boost on its own. Meanwhile it’s expected that a new low-cost iPhone may be appearing before the end of the year alongside a specifications-boosted iPhone 5S. Of course this is all speculation as Apple keeps its real plans under notoriously tight wraps.

[via CNET]

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Retina iPad mini won’t enter production until the fall, and since it takes a few months for the production to build up enough inventory to begin selling to consumers, it seems that the 2nd-generation mini tablet won’t launch until 2014 — possibly not until Apple’s next update cycle in the spring of next year.

Apple is rumored to refresh a handful of its iOS devices this fall, but the iPad mini may be one device that gets left out of the bunch. Kuo cites the difficulty of producing the smaller Retina displays as the reason behind the production timeline of October. However, Kuo says that a cheaper iPad mini could be made instead, to compete with the Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire series.

Kuo also noted that the 5th-generation iPad will come with a design much like the iPad mini, which we’re not surprised to hear since we’ve heard this on multiple occasions in the past. We’ve seen leaks recently of rear shells that are claimed to be the rear casing of the 5th-generation iPad, which resemble the iPad mini down to the finest detail.

[via iCreate]

First up is the latest gen 13-inch MacBook Pros with Retina displays. The 13-inch Macbook Pro with an i7-3540M 3GHz dual-core processor shows a 328 point increase compared to the last generation i7 13-inch MacBook. The 13-inch Macbook Pro with an i5-3230M 2.6GHz dual-core processor shows a 205 point increase from its predecessor.

For the 15-inch MacBooks with Retina displays, the 15-inch MacBook with the i7-3840QM 2.8GHz quad-core processor shows a 523 point increase from the i7-3820QM model. The i7-3740QM 2.7GHz quad-core MacBook shows a 332 point increase from the i7-3720QM model, and the i7-3635QM 2.4GHz quad-core MacBook shows a 424 point increase from the previous i7-3615QM model.

The benchmarks only show a minor performance boost for each upgrade, however some of the upgraded versions also feature a boost in either storage space or RAM. The 13-inch i5-3230M has double the storage space compared to its predecessor, and the 15-inch i7-3840QM MacBook features a whopping 16GB of RAM. Depending on your needs, if you just want a MacBook Pro that works efficiently, the previous models will do just fine.

[via MacRumors]

By analyzing the previous launch events held by Apple, Gene Munster believes that the Apple always holds a launch event in the Spring time. Combing through the 11 major product launch events held by Apple since the launch of the iPhone 3GS, Munster believes that the Spring event always centers around iPad updates, and that with it being the first Apple event of the year, it is going to feature something major. The ‘something major’ is speculated to be a complete redesign of the full-sized iPad that resembles the design of the iPad Mini. He also believes that the next iPad mini could be introduced at the event, and this time it will carry a Retina display.

Munster goes deeper into the details, and found that the average time between Apple’s launch events is 123 days, or about 4 months. He also analyzes that the longest time between events was about 216 days, or 7 months, and that was the gap between the iPad 2 launch in March 2011 and the iPhone 4S launch in October 2011. By taking those times into consideration, and also considering that every other company will be holding major launch events around that time, he believes that the event will be held in between March and April.

Apple TV is also due for an update sometime within the next 6 months, and Munster believes it will be updated to ‘prime the pump for the ultimate television’. Considering that Apple has just launched the iPad Mini and 4th gen iPad in October, there could be a change in the schedules of its launch events. We all remember how upset iPad 3 owners were when the 4th gen iPad was release just 7 months after they bought their devices.

[via AppleInsider]

The 2.5 GHz Core i5 model with 128GB SSD is selling for $1,439 refurbished, compared to $1,699 for the brand-new model — a 15% discount. The 2.5 GHz Core i5 version with 256GB of storage is priced at $1,699, compared to the same model that’s $1,999 brand new, and the 2.9 GHz Core i7 with 512GB of storage is $2,289, compared to $2,689 brand new.

All three models come with 8GB of RAM and Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, and all three are listed with a ship date of 1-3 business days. As with all of Apple’s refurbished products, these 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros have been thoroughly tested and carry a one-year warranty that equals that of brand-new MacBooks.

If you’re interested in the 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro models, a few different versions are available in Apple’s refurbished store as well, and they were first released in the store just a couple weeks before the 13-inch models landed today. However, the 13-units took a bit more time to reach the refurbished store, hinting that not too many users are returning their smaller Retina MacBooks to Apple.

[via MacRumors]

IonMonkey follows the previously-used TraceMonkey and JagerMonkey Javascript compilers, and optimizes scripts before generating the executable code. Preliminary support has been added for WebRTC (Web Real Time Communication). The biggest change is support for Retina displays for Macs running OS X 10.7 or higher.

As far as improvements go, a new HTML scaling algorithm is in place that improves overall image quality, while tab switching has also been given a performance boost. MozTouch has been swapped out with support for W3C touch events, HTTPS pages will no longer load insecure content, and the issue with poor response when using proxies has been corrected.

In addition, a new version of Firefox for Android has been rolled out featuring some new changes that will make mobile users happy. Specifically, it has made somes changes to help keep users secure by implementing the malware detection desktop users have already enjoyed. When visting a URL that has been blacklisted, users will get a “Reported Attack Page!” warning. You can nab the app over at Google Play.

[via Mozilla]

DigiTimes is reporting that market observers say it’s “highly likely” that the second-gen iPad mini will get a Retina display, which means that they’re not 100% sure if the new iPad mini will get the upgrade, but it’s pretty likely — about the same conclusion that you or I could come up with based on what we know about Apple.

Of course, we usually don’t put all of our trust into rumors from DigiTimes, but this is certainly one rumor that anyone can jot down in the “obvious” column. On top of the Retina display, though, we can also definitely expect some other spec bumps with the processor, RAM, and maybe even the two cameras for improved FaceTime quality and better photos.

The iPad mini was released earlier last month, and it was essentially Apple’s answer to the 7-inch tablet market, it has a slightly larger display with an even larger price tag. It uses Apple’s last-generation A5 processor with a surprisingly-low resolution of 1024×768. However, that certainly didn’t take away from our iOS experience. Take a look at our full review to learn more.

[via DigiTimes]

That includes the Canon EOS 6D, Nikon’s D600, and the Olympus PEN E-PL5. There are also the usual bugfixes and general tweaks across the app, as you’d expect from any new update.

The new version of Lightroom comes hot on the heels of HiDPI updates for Photoshop CS6 and Illustrator CS6, which Adobe released earlier this week. The company had previously promised to bring nine apps from its Creative Suite up to speed with HiDPI - Dreamweaver, Edge Animate, Illustrator, Lightroom, Photoshop, Photoshop Touch, Prelude, Adobe Premiere Pro, and SpeedGrade – and has so far ticked off five of the boxes (as well as the preliminary Release Candidate version of Lightroom back in November).

You can find the Windows update for Lightroom here, and the Mac version here. Alternatively, Creative Cloud customers will be able to download the new version as part of their ongoing subscription.

[Thanks Carl!]

Those nine titles included Dreamweaver, Edge Animate, Illustrator, Lightroom, Photoshop, Photoshop Touch, Prelude, Adobe Premiere Pro, and SpeedGrade, though not Photoshop Elements. Lightroom 4.3 RC got Retina support in November, though Adobe’s timescale for the other apps is a mystery at this stage. UPDATE: Per Adobe – It would appear that the team has indeed updated Premiere Pro CS6 and SpeedGrade CS6 for HiDPI displays in September and August of 2012, respectively – HD for all!

You can find the Photoshop CS6 update (13.0.2) here, where it’s a 128MB download; alternatively you can update the app directly within Photoshop itself. The Illustrator CS6 update is here (16.0.3), a 23.1MB download.

Alternatively, if you’re an Adobe Creative Cloud customer, the updated versions are now available for you to switch to as part of your subscription. Either way you get it, you’ll have a crisper interface that’s more suited to the high-power MacBook Pros or, indeed, other HiDPI displays you may have hooked up.

Digits features a new solution for glove-wearing touchscreen-loving individuals with what they call GripTalk – this is a silicone pattern that sits inside of each glove for both right and left-handed users, this working well with the gloves’ microfleece inner lining. Available in both dark gray and light gray – hot!

Next there’s the iGlaze for MacBook Pro with Retina Display. This unit you’ll recognize from our iGlaze for MacBook Air and iPad 3 review from earlier this year. This is a precision-tooled polycarbonate hardshell case made to be durable, lightweight, thin, and “nearly scratch-proof.” So they say. It’s actually rougher and tougher than you’ll be able to break through, they’re mostly just saying that just IN CASE you come in contact with a lightsaber.

Finally there’s the Overture, a fabulous protective case for the iPhone 5. This unit works with “all the functionalities of a slim wallet” including three slots for ID, transport, and credit cards as well as a full-length inner pocket for storage galore. This case comes with a “Neato” brand detachable and washable microfiber pad for cleaning the iPhone’s display. This case is made with a strong polycarbonate frame and lined with Moshi’s own proprietary Terahedron microfiber for fabulous protection.

The iPhone 5 case Overture is set to be available in Metallic Black, Sienna Orange, and Falcon Gray – all of which are rather smooth on the eyes and classy in the pocket. Have a peek at a few other Moshi posts we’ve had over the past few months to get a taste of what they’re all about.

The iPad with Retina display you’ll be able to pick up for a starting price of $458 USD – that’s $41 USD under the price you’ll have payed earlier this week and starting again on Saturday. The iPad 2 will cost you $368 USD, that being $31 under the standard price of $399. Both of the most recent iPod touch models – both the 4th generation and the newest iPhone 5-esque colorful 5th generation units are similarly discounted with $31 off the new model and $21 off the outgoing edition. The iPod nano (that being the newest model) is discounted by a fabulous $11 USD.

The MacBook Pro, the MacBook Pro with Retina display, and the MacBook Air have each been price-cut by $101 USD. The AirPort Express Base Station has been cut by $11 while the AirPort Extreme Base Station has been slashed by $21 USD. The Apple Time Capsule has been reduced by $21 USD. Each of the standard-sized Apple-made iPad covers and cases have been price cut between $11 and $21, while the Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic as well as the new Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic have been discounted $11 USD and $7 USD.

Finally there’s the Apple Magic Mouse, the Magic Trackpad, and the Apple Wireless Keyboard, each of them getting a price-cut of $11 USD. Each of these items will be discounted until 11:59 PM PST, after which they’ll be bumped back up to standard pricing – good luck!

Apple has been criticized by some for not bringing the iPad mini into the Retina fold already, with the tablet’s screen described as “just a very capable display” by some experts. However, as we highlighted in our review of the mini, by sticking with the same resolution as the original iPad, Apple has ensured all apps for the tablet work with the newest, smaller model out of the gate.

However, that Apple has Retina ambitions for the iPad mini is hardly a surprise, though technical feasibility has been a stumbling block so far. AUO’s breakthrough has been in adopting IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide), MENAFN reports, a Sharp technology we’ve seen used to prolong battery life without sacrificing brightness on the KDDI AQUOS Pad SHT21, albeit at a mere 1280 x 800 resolution.

AUO will also use Gate IC on array (GOA), it’s claimed, which will enable a thinner frame around the outside of the display. Meanwhile, the company says it has also addressed the yield issues around the current iPad mini display, cutting out the light leakage problem that has constrained supplies.

Apple’s yearly refresh cycle is apparently set to continue with the iPad mini, despite the premature replacement of the third-gen iPad with the new, Apple A6X powered model with its Lightning connector. The second-gen iPad mini isn’t expected to ship until Q4 2013, the insiders say.

Hardware and Design

Side by side, the two Retina-class notebooks are almost identical in their thickness. The 13-inch model is actually slightly thicker – we’re talking a millimeter’s difference, mind – but the disparity in weight (3.57 pounds versus 4.46 pounds), width (12.35 inches versus 14.14 inches), and depth (8.62 inches versus 9.73 inches) are the most noticeable changes. If the original Retina MacBook Pro is a long, thin slice of computer, then the smaller model is a tiny powerhouse that can easily be dropped into a bag without demanding the sort of performance compromise of, say, a MacBook Air. Next to the old-style 13-inch, meanwhile, the differences are considerably more obvious. The new Retina model is thinner, lighter, narrower, and even less deep.

Still, there are some compromises to be made for reducing bulk (and for starting $500 less) from the 15-inch Retina Pro. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina loses the discrete graphics option of its 15-inch sibling, making do with Intel HD Graphics 4000, though you can still power two external displays – via a combination of the two Thunderbolt ports and the single HDMI – and run the notebook’s own display simultaneously.

Storage starts off at 128GB of flash, with 256GB, 512GB, and 768GB options; the default processor is a 2.5GHz Core i5 dualcore, whereas the 15-inch model heads straight to Core i7 quadcores. You can pay extra for a Core i7 chip on the 13-inch, but it’s the dualcore, not the quad. Memory is a fixed 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3L, with no option to change that.

13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina: Hands-on and comparisons:

All the ports, wireless connectivity, and 720p webcam are the same as we saw on the 15-inch, as is the backlit keyboard and sizable trackpad. That means you get a pair of Thunderbolt connectors (which can double as Mini DisplayPort), two USB 3.0, a headphone jack, SDXC memory card slot, and an HDMI output. Inside there’s WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0, and a pair of microphones are on the left edge.

Apple’s industrial design continues its gradual evolution toward thinner, pared-back computing, and the new MacBook Pro is no different. From the side, it’s like the old model but flatter; you can also glimpse the new “side gill” vents which are part of the reworked cooling system. In use, it’s quiet, with the fans only rising to a concentrated hum during the heavier moments of our benchmarking. The compromise to be made is one of repairability and room for improvement: the memory is soldered to the logic board, so as to shave away bulk, as is the processor, and the flash storage uses a proprietary connector so it’s sensible to buy the biggest drive you can afford initially.

Display

The 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina display is, at 2560 x 1600, slightly lower than the 2880 x 1800 of the 15-inch, but because of the smaller size its pixel density is even higher: 227 ppi compared to 220 ppi. With both in front of you, though, you don’t see any difference – the whole point, after all, is that the pixels aren’t supposed to be individually identifiable – only the mesmerizing detail and smoothness of the graphics that leave other notebook displays, no matter how bright or colorful, looking crunchy and jagged. Viewing angles are broad enough that you might have to worry about those next to you on the plane glancing over and seeing what you’re working on.

As before true Retina mode on the MacBook Pro doesn’t actually give you 2560 x 1600 resolution. Instead, you get a simulated lower resolution which is smoother all round, since each pixel is in fact a cluster of smaller pixels.Yyou can optionally switch out of Retina mode and pick a higher effective resolution, though the 13-inch misses out on the 1920 x 1200 of the larger machine; instead, the maximum is 1680 x 1050, still impressive (and impressively detailed) for a relatively small notebook. Third party applications are available which will force the display resolution even higher, though are not officially supported by Apple.

Apple is quoting a 75-percent reduction in glare from its new Retina display, versus the previous MacBook Pro 13. In practice, there’s certainly fewer reflections, which adds up to more flexibility in where you can use the notebook. It’s not a true matte finish, mind, though by ramping up the brightness you can use it outdoors and still see what’s going on.

Performance

We actually have two new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina models on our test bench: the 2.5GHz Core i5-3210M dualcore (3MB L3 cache) and the 2.9GHz Core i7-3520M dualcore (4MB L3 cache). Each has 8GB of memory and supports Intel Turbo Boost, up to 3.1GHz and 3.6GHz respectively, and is running Mac OS 10.8.2.

We started with Geekbench, a synthetic test of processor and memory performance. The Core i5 machine scored 6507 overall, while the Core i7 pushed that to 8238. It’s worth noting that the increases weren’t solely in the processor categories: the Core i7 model also recorded better memory scores, suggesting that it makes better use of the 8GB it has. Still, each is a fair step behind the 15-inch Retina model, which scored 12,970 with its 2.6GHz quadcore Core i7-3720QM and 8GB of memory. Performance was roughly on a par with the mid-2012 13-inch MacBook Air.

MacBook Pro 13 with Retina – Core i5 – Geekbench:

MacBook Pro 13 with Retina – Core i7 – Geekbench:

We then turned to Cinebench, which benchmarks processor and graphics performance with a mixture of 3D rendering and OpenGL testing. It’s a good way of examining how a system will handle intensive tasks such as video processing, or gaming.

The Core i5 model scored 2.12 CPU points, while the Core i7 scored 2.81 CPU points, or roughly half the result you’d expect from a quadcore processor. Unsurprisingly, with no discrete GPU, graphics performance showed the biggest hit, with the Core i5 managing 14.81fps and the Core i7 squeezing out 19.69fps.

By way of comparison, the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina’s NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GPU saw it record a score of 34.30fps in the same category. The MacBook Air managed 16.41fps.

If you’re planning use your new Mac for serious graphics or video editing, our suggestion would be to stick to the larger Pro, as the standalone GPU pays dividends. Of course, it also requires more power, though it includes the same Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip for more everyday use.

Battery

While the battery in the MacBook Pro 13 Retina may be smaller than before – 74-watt-hour, or versus the 95-watt-hour of the 15-inch – the fact it’s driving a smaller screen and less extreme components means Apple rates it for the same runtime: up to seven hours of wireless web browsing, or 30 days standby. However, the 60-watt MagSafe 2 power adapter is slightly smaller and thus continues the theme of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina being easier to transport.

In practice, with a mixture of web browsing over WiFi, some music playback, a couple of YouTube videos and some emailing, and the display set to a usable half brightness, the Pro lasted just over six hours. Scaling that back to solely browsing and we broke past Apple’s seven hour estimate by a couple of minutes. In contrast, a more ambitious use of the notebook for video playback and some brief video processing in iMovie saw the battery expire in around four hours.

Wrap-Up

The $2,000 mark is an important mental barrier, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina’s $2,199 starting price put it out of consideration for many. In contrast, the 13-inch version starts at $1,699 with the 128GB flash drive, rising to $1,999 for the 256GB model.

Increasing storage isn’t cheap – you can boost the entry-level model to 768GB, yes, but it’ll cost you more than a MacBook Air to do so – but the $200 extra for the Core i7 dualcore strikes us as a worthy upgrade given the impact it has on performance overall. Apple still offers the non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro, which starts at $1,199 with the same 2.5GHz Core i5 dualcore, though to specify the same memory and a 128GB SSD you’re looking at $1,499. You also get a gigabit ethernet port, FireWire, and an optical drive, though you miss out on the lighter chassis and far improved Retina display.

While the Air might be the smallest of Apple’s notebook line-up, the 13-inch Pro hits a more palatable sweet-spot for balancing power, performance, and functionality. At $1,699 and up, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display sits at the premium end of the notebook market ($500 less than the entry-level 15-inch model, mind, although you do get extra performance for that) but it does offer features that, right now, you can’t get elsewhere. Those for whom sheer power – particularly multimedia editing – is essential should probably opt for the bigger model, but those road warriors looking to pare back weight and bulk without unduly sacrificing usability will find a lot to love in the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display.

“Introducing the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with a stunning Retina display. For the pro in all of us.” The commercial is as simple and elegant as it is effective, providing just enough taste for the sleek-looking device to catch viewers’ attention while keeping the message cryptic enough to send the curious off in search of more info. The background is dark, amplifying the laptop’s display.

This new MacBook Pro features a 13.3-inch Retina display with a 227ppi resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. To put that in perspective, the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with Retina has a resolution of 2,880 x 1,800. The display offers wide viewing angles, and is exceptionally crisp. Check out our hands-on review for more info.

Screen aside, the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro featurs a dual-core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM for $1,699. The model has a 128GB SSD drive, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, and Intel HD Graphics 4000. The device weighs in at 3.57lbs.

The screen size may be smaller – and lower resolution, too, at 2560 x 1600, though for an overall higher pixel density of 227ppi – but actually the 13-inch model is slightly thicker, at 0.75-inches. In contrast, the 15-inch Retina version is 0.71-inches thick. You don’t really notice the difference, however, and the advantage in weight, with near a full pound dropped, more than makes up for it.

We’ve been wowed before with Retina-level graphics, and the new MacBook Pro delivers the same impact. The mode most often used isn’t actually stretching things to 2560 x 1600, but instead offering an on-paper lower resolution but with smoother graphics all round. The result is clean icons and text of the sort you’ll struggle to find on a Windows notebook.

As before, those who want an integrated optical drive can still find a MacBook Pro to deliver that. The existing 13-inch model remains on sale, though you don’t get the Retina display. It’s also the cheaper option; the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina may be $500 less than the entry-level 15-inch version, but that still means a $1,699 starting price for the 128GB model, or $1,999 for the 256GB version.

Still, you’d have to really, really be addicted to CDs and DVDs to not prefer the form-factor and performance of the new Retina 13-incher. It demands few compromises in graphics processing, either, and further extends the distance between the Pro and the Air branches in Apple’s MacBook range. We’ll look forward to putting it through its paces when we have a review unit on hand.

This event showed iBooks app updated to a new version with Continuous Scrolling for the page-turn-weary. The Appstore that Apple releases this app in has reached 35 billion downloads while the Apple Mac is mentioned as taking the top spots in both notebooks and desktops across the USA.

On that desktop note, the iMac mini 2012 edition was revealed with Core i5 processors inside and starting in at $599 USD. The MacBook Pro with Retina display line was given a new Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro to take on another size market, now the 2nd highest definition display holder in the notebook segment as well. The entire MacBook family was priced as well. The iMac was refreshed with prices starting at $1,299 and busting out with a brand new super-thin body. This update works with a brand new Fusion Drive, a bit of the ol’ fabulous new-age technology on the innards.

The iPad was next on the blocks, of course with a sales number of 100 million units since the beginning. The next generation iPad 4 (or iPad 4th gen) will be working with an updated Apple A6X chip. The whole iPad family will benefit from the update to iBooks Author for authors joining the fun club.

Then of course there’s the iPad mini. This unit will be coming out for $329 for its wi-fi edition and $459 for 4G. Apple went directly for Google’s throat once the iPad mini was revealed with a straight up Nexus 7 vs iPad mini all-out fight on stage, and a full list of iPad wireless carrier partners was revealed as well.

Stay tuned to our giant Apple portal for more news as it pops up, including hands-on action with most or all of the devices listed above!

We’ll start with the all new MacBook Airs. 11-inchers come in at a pretty decent price, setting you back only $999, while the new 13-inch MacBook Airs will run $1,199. Though Apple revealed new MacBook Pros with Retina Display, the old Pros are sticking around, and as such have new prices. 13-inch MacBook Pros will cost $1,199, while the 15-inch models will come in at $1,799.

Finally, we come to the Retina MacBook Pros, specifically the the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display. Taking one of those home will cost you $1,699, while if you want the 15-inch model, you’ll have to plop down $2,199. Not too bad, but we have a feeling that some will find those prices a little difficult to swallow. Still, $1,699 was considered by many to be the sweet spot for 13-inch MacBook Pros with Retina Display, and it seems that Apple has hit it. Stay tuned for more information straight from Apple’s event, and be sure to check out our Apple hub to get all of the news from today!

The new model features some of the same features that you’ll find on the 15-inch Retina-equipped MacBook Pro, like the MagSafe 2 power connector, Thunderbolt ports (two of them on the 13-incher), HDMI output, and two USB 3.0 ports. There’s also no optical drive in this one, so if you’re still relying on CDs and DVDs to work your magic, you’ll be sadly disappointed.

Apple claims that the Retina display on its new 13-inch MacBook Pro is the second-highest resolution of any laptop display in the world — the first being the company’s 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro that they unveiled earlier this year. It offers nearly two times the resolution of a 1080p display. Plus, Apple says the screen has a 29% higher contrast ratio over the regular model and 75% reduced glare.

Obviously, the new model still has the FaceTime front-facing webcam that shoots 720p HD video, as well as a backlit keyboard, a stereo mic, and stereo speakers that are placed on the sides of the laptop instead of the back like previous models. As far as performance specs, we’re looking at up to 768GB of SSD storage, 8GB of RAM, an Intel Core i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge chips, HD 4000 graphics, and 802.11n WiFi with Bluetooth 4.0.

Battery life is expected to be around 7 hours, and the base model will cost you $1,699, which comes with a 2.5GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. Bump it up to 256GB for $300 more. The laptop will ship today and is available for ordering.

Earlier this month we mentioned the 13-inch model was on track for this year, but now it’s official. While the news is just dropping we have a few quick specs to share with everyone. This 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro comes with a 13-inch 2560 x 1600 truly impressive HD display. Being the second highest resolution laptop available. Apple’s 15-inch being the first.

Compared to the previous 13-inch MBP, the Retina MBP is just .75-inches thick, 20% thinner than the previous generation. It’s an entire pound lighter than last years, being just 3.75 lbs. You’ll get USB 20, USB 3.0, HDMI out, Magsafe, SD card reader, and 7 hours of battery life. All while being thinner, lighter, but way more pixels.

Apple’s going over all the details as we speak but options include Intel’s new dual-core i5 or i7, HD 4000 for graphics, WiFi, BT, 8GB Memory, and all models come with SSD flash storage. No old-school slow hard drives here. Stay tuned for more details. Oh and these are shipping TODAY starting at $1699.

This update to the MacBook Pro with Retina display line will have at least three different iterations, each of them with different amounts of Flash storage. The processor speed will remain constant across the two lower models, while the third will have the only processor boost. This update works with many of the same hardware upgrades that the 15-inch version has, but we’ll have to wait on the full run-down from Apple.

• 2.5 GHz, 128GB of Flash storage, 8GB of RAM
• 2.5 GHz, 256 GB of Flash storage, 8GB of RAM
• 2.9 GHz, 512GB of Flash storage, 8GB of RAM

These three models will be available for order right after the event is complete and we’ll be grabbing the full specifications right as they’re dropped by Apple. Stay tuned to our Apple portal for all the hot action, and don’t forget to check out our full Retina display-toting MacBook Pro review right this minute – that’s the larger version, mind you.

The listing also shows a Lighting digital AV adapter as well as a Lightning to VGA adapter, this likely preparing the iPhone 5 and new iPads for large-screen mirroring abilities. There’s a Lightning to USB Camera adapter also, this matching the USB Host abilities of the Lighting port on the iPhone 5 and likely the iPad 3 (and refresh) and iPad mini as well. The same is true of the Lighting to SD Card camera reader unit, this ready for SD card reading on your iPad and iPhone too – we shall see!

Apple will likely be placing this whole collection of adapters to the online Apple store later today after the main event. This event has been rumored to contain not just an iPad mini and an iPad 3 refresh (with Lighting port), but a new Mac mini and iMac as well, not to mention the first appearance of the MacBook Pro with Retina display in a 13-inch iteration.

Stick with us all day long for the big event that starts at 10AM PST. We’ve got our Apple portal ready for action and will have up-to-the-minute updates right here in the main news feed as well.

The Apple announcement for this event has many guessing that additional rainbow colors are coming to the Apple universe, but past examples of invites have shown colors regardless of the casing of the product. Also the iPod family has already brightened up once again at the iPhone 5 event, and the devices we’ll be seeing this week will much more likely be coming in any color you like – just so long as they’re black or white. Of course the aluminum family is set to get a bit denser too.

There’s likely going to be an announcement of availability for the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, an iMac with a teardrop-shaped body, and an improved Mac mini. These will each be working together – and with the new iPad mini – in a collection of ways that Apple will surely outline in many magical ways. The iPad mini is, of course, going to be the star of the show no matter what, so it’s going to be all things miniature in a bit of a dance around the tablet release.

The timeline below this post will bring you some more insight on everything this event may very well contain, from hardware to software updates. This event has most recently been tipped to be bringing an education angle in on the iPad mini, with low costs and iBook updates for the students of the planet – we’ll have to see if this tip, like the rest, pan out soon!

Check out our giant Apple portal the whole event long as well!

This new iPad mini device has been shown several times as coming in 24 iterations, that being wi-fi, 3G, and 4G LTE in several internal storage sizes, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The extra 12 comes from there being two different color combinations – white and black. This new iPad mini device will likely have a 7.85-inch display and a Lightning connector like the iPhone 5 and new iPod devices as well.

The iPad refresh – that being the Retina-display-toting 9.7-inch display on the 3rd generation model, will likely be coming with a Lightning connector and an improved processor inside. This update will allow the tablet to remain on top of the performance scale while the price remains the same across the lineup. The iPad mini will take a stab at the ever-so-slightly smaller-sized tablet range that’s currently dominated by the Kindle Fire and the Google Nexus 7, both of them priced at or below $200 USD.

We’ll be at the Apple event on the 23rd – that’s Tuesday, and we’ll be live coming at you from the SlashGear Live portal for liveblogging action all day long. Expect plenty of photos, videos, and instant updates. Also feel free to check out our Apple portal for all sorts of Apple updates before and after the event – and during it also, of course.

On Monday, we reported that it looks like Apple will be unveiling the 13-inch Retina version of the MacBook Pro on October 23rd next week, in addition to the iPad Mini. This comes after the delay Apple experienced in slowed production due to a rumored issue at Foxconn. The 13″ MacBook Pro with Retina was specifically listed as one of the devices affected.

In September, it was reported that the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina was being shipped by suppliers. Then, in October, it was said that the device was still on track for the year despite the delay. Earlier today it was tipped that the device will be priced at $1,699, which is $500 higher than the non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The images that appeared at Weiphone show the device as having a MagSafe 2 port, two Thunderbolt ports, two USB ports, an HDMI slot, and an SD card reader. The Retina display has a resolution of 2,560×1,600. The images also show 8GB of Elpida RAM, as well as a battery cell layout.

This new MacBook Pro will be significantly thinner than its predecessor. It’ll have some downward and outward-facing head vents and will be working with a Thunderbolt port, of course. You’ll be working with USB 3.0 (one or two ports, we shall see) and a full-sized HDMI port as well. This version of the MacBook Pro will be working with the newest version of the power cord that Apple presents as as the most advanced and physically sensible version yet.

You’ve also got a full-sized SD card reader and a headphone jack – and remember, all of this information comes from the look we’ve had at the MacBook Pro with Retina display we’ve already had a look at – all 15 inches of display that it is. This device has a whole new fan system inside, it’s got a whole new upgraded processor under the hood, and some lovely NVIDIA GeForce action for graphics, too. Benchmarks on the 15-inch version we’ve reviewed already showed the newer version to out-do the older version by a significant margin in several areas.

The battery time will be the same as the previous model, the design will replicate the 15-inch model, and the unit will more than likely be up for sale well in advance of the holiday season. Have a peek at our recent posts regarding this unit in the timeline below and feel free to bet on it being shown off next week. Join us on the 23rd to see how it all goes down, we’ll be covering the Apple event live!

With the iPhone 5 you’ll be able to roll out with a full display of SlashGear greatness especially here in version 2.0. This version of the iPhone side of things will work on the iPad as well as the iPhone and works perfectly well on the iPod touch as well. You’ll be able to see a straight up frontpage news feed near a collection of rotating featured stories and a set of videos as well. The videos section will keep you in the know with hands-on action and in-person event sequences galore.

This newest version also has added gallery support with a simple interface that allows you to cycle through batches of images in reviews, featured pieces, and more. With each new screen comes an optimized view of each new column complete with links to our entire archive of tech and gadget news. Up to the minute updates come in at a tap of the load button and full download/save for later, text size adjustment, and share buttons are running at full steam.

The best part about this update is an update to our comments system. You can now log in with Disqus, the same system we use in the web-based version of the site. This system allows you to log in with any of several well-known systems such as Facebook and Twitter – and of course Disqus’ own user login base too. You can grab this app right this minute by [heading to Apple's iTunes App Store] for a completely free download.

This event will likely center around an update to the whole Apple range, with the iPad mini coming with a Lightning connector and a refreshed iPad coming with Lightning as well. There have been several other rumors surrounding this event including a new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro that’s essentially the same as the one released earlier this year – but smaller. It’s not that Apple wants to get tiny here in the Autumn of 2012, but they’re certainly not going to let the competition swipe their legs out from under them.

Apple has over the past year concentrated on becoming thinner and sharper, with the iPhone 5 becoming taller yet smaller and the Retina MacBook Pro getting smaller as it gets much higher definition in its display. This event will steal some fire away from Microsoft simply based on its timing as well with the release of Windows 8 set for the 26th of this month.

Have a peek at the timeline below to track what we’ve heard and been tipped on for the iPad mini over the past few weeks, and stay tuned for the final event as well. We’ll be on-site with all the coverage you could possible want from start to finish right here on SlashGear!

Analyst Richard Shim from research firm NPD DisplaySearch says that production for the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro will be enough to warrant a launch sometime before the year is up, specifically sometime this fall. Whether or not production was actually delayed isn’t known, but apparently it won’t affect the product’s release schedule.

Shim also had some insights on a few specifications of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro model. It’s said to boast a 2560×1600 resolution, which is only slightly smaller than the 15-inch model‘s display of 2880×1800. The new 13-inch model is also said to be priced between a top-of-the-line 13-inch non-Retina model and a current top-of-the-line 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display.

Other than that, Shim thinks that the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro will be announced after the iPad Mini, but since Apple didn’t send out invitations yesterday like we thought, we’re still not sure when the company plans on actually unveiling the rumored iPad Mini. All we can say is that an impending announcement is sure to come soon (we hope).

[via AppleInsider]

It’s said that that both Foxconn and Pegatron aren’t able to get suitable yelds for the display and chassis of the iPad Mini and aren’t able to keep up with Apple’s large orders, which is the cause of the delay. Foxconn has always seen difficulties in keeping up with the demand of Apple products, but this would be the first time in a while that we’ve heard of a production delay.

The rumored 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is also said to be affected by the delay as well. Both Foxcoon and Pegatron are seeing low yields with Retina displays, and it’s said that the new laptop has already been delayed a month so far, which makes us believe that the delay is more serious than expected.

The iPhone 5 has already been rumored to be in a slower production mode, after Apple and Foxconn decided to crack down on inspection and benchmark regulations for the new device after users were complaining of scuffs and scratches out of the box. If Apple is hoping to release their new products in time for the holiday season, let’s hope they make the deadline, but delays certainly aren’t going to make it easier to do so.

[via DigiTimes]

The design of the Apple, for those of you that don’t remember all the way back to last year, comes from designer Jonathan Mak – or at least is based upon that design per their press release. This set of three notebooks is all the same, each model coming with 2.7GHz configurations, 16GB memory, and a 750GB solid state drive inside. Each model is made with essentially the same components as the normal MacBook Pro with Retina display, but the Apple logo on the top cover is laser-cut to create the face of Jobs.

The proceeds will be split between the charity Get It Done and another group by the name of SellanApp where it’ll be working with developers working on iOS apps that specifically “don’t have a direct business model, but have a clear societal value.” The bottom of the notebook will also include the following inscription laser-cut into the metal:

“When you grow up you, tend to get told that the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world, try not to bash into the walls too much, try to have a nice family, have fun, save a little money. That’s a very limited life. Life can be much broader, once you discover one simple fact, and that is that everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use. Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.” – Steve Jobs

This is just one of a vast collection of tributes that have been made to Jobs over the past year, with today’s one-year anniversary of his passing making the world once again remember his impact. Of course according to Apple, his influence doesn’t just stop at the idea that everything from his design knowledge to his leadership skills are still being studied today. His design influence in each of the major products in the field being released even today had Jobs hand in them well before they came to fruition.

Have a peek at the small timeline below for more Steve Jobs tributes and memories from the past year, and let us know if you feel that a MacBook Pro with Retina Display is a fabulous way to remember the man’s visage. Also let us know if you plan on picking up one of these three 12 thousand dollar notebooks.

Cube was the first tablet maker to release a tablet with the Rockchip RK3066 dual-core processor way back when dual-core tablets were a rarity, and today they’ve done the same with their new U9GT5 Retina Display Android tablet. This sleek little tablet rocks a similar 2048 x 1536 resolution display as the new iPad (iPad 3), which offers the same 264 pixels per inch as the all new iPad — although surely this won’t cost as much.

Under the hood however is where the large differences are. For one you’ll be enjoying the latest and greatest Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by Google, but the internal specs aren’t all that great. It uses the same aging Rockhip RK3066 1.6 GHz dual-core processor, manages 1GB of RAM, and comes with 8GB of internal storage. While that all sounds relatively nice, it certainly won’t be up to par with most tablets from Apple, Samsung, or ASUS.

It’s safe to say this tablet won’t be getting purchased by us anytime soon, but most likely they’ll be plastered across eBay in the usual Chinese knock-off tablet fashion we’ve seen for years. Pricing on the 8 and 16GB models weren’t made available but most likely they’ll be cheap. Would you buy this, or just opt for the Nexus 7 or upcoming iPad Mini?

[via Liliputing]

Gone is the chrome finish that will get scratched up within days, and instead the all new iPod has a brushed aluminum finish just like the iPhone 5. Then they’ve added the same impressive 4-inch HD Retina display for stunning visuals while you enjoy all of the latest games. Here’s the rundown:

The brand new iPod Touch is looking rather impressive dressed in white. They’re rocking out to some Foo Fighters and we’re loving the new camera. This is the thinnest iPod Touch yet being just 6.1mm thick. It’s also the lightest weighing 88 grams while still managing to get improved in all areas. We have the larger 4-inch Retina 326 ppi display, dual-core A5 processor, and of course the camera. The new iPod Touch’s 5 megapixel camera (with flash) has tons of improvements, is 25% thinner, and will have most of the features like panoramic mode and dynamic low light modes just like the iPhone 5. Oh and the new Touch’s camera can now shoot full 1080p HD video. Then the 720p Facetime front shooter is clearly present.

Apple managed to fit all of this into a super sleek iPod Touch while still boosting battery life. You can expect over 40 hours of music and 8 hours of continuous video. Those might not be amazing results but with all the boosts this device received, we’ll welcome those usage results. Whoa! The new iPod Touch has Siri but more on that is coming shortly. Enjoy all the pictures below and continue on with us at live.slashgear.com

This device has also been shown to be bringing an improved camera on the back – though it is still called 8 megapixels, it’s a big boost, as well as audio and video enhancements as well. The iPhone 5 will come with three microphones for better noise cancellation than ever before as well as an improved A6 chip under the hood. The iPhone 5 is set to bring on a new era of mobile products for Apple with its new 16-pin port plug for USB and will be coming soon to an Apple store near you.

Check the timeline below for more instant updates on the event surrounding this next-level device and of course hit our Apple portal as well for continued coverage as the device hits stores!

The iPhone 5 is pretty light too, weighing in at only 112 grams – that’s 20% lighter than the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 5 is the same width as the iPhone 4S is, but it’s a good amount taller. That change was made to accommodate the new screen, which measures in at 4-inches. That’s a pretty significant upgrade, considering that iPhone screens of the past have come in at 3.5-inches.

Of course, the iPhone 5 also features Retina Display, which will undoubtedly be a big selling point for the brand new device. All in all, Apple promises a new iPhone that feels great in your hand, and with those specifications, we don’t doubt that it will. Be sure to hit up our liveblog of Apple’s event for second-by-second updates, and check out our Apple portal for more in-depth coverage of the event!

Cook started with OS X Mountain Lion, saying that since its release, 7 million people have downloaded a copy. That makes Mountain Lion the fastest selling Apple release of all time, definitely something worth bragging about. The new MacBook Pro with Retina Display – which Apple says is the best Mac it has ever made – and the MacBook Air have been doing quite well too.

So well, in fact, that Apple says its notebooks are now in first place as far as US market share is concerned. To get specific, that’s a 27% market share for its notebooks, and Cook says that for the past 6 years straight, Mac has grown “significantly faster” than PC has. That definitely isn’t bad, and you can bet that Apple will look to keep that growth up with future Mac releases. Be sure to tune into our liveblog for up-to-the minute updates straight from Apple’s press event, and have a look at our Apple portal for more in-depth coverage!

If they’re shipping now, it seems a little hard to believe that they won’t launch until October, but according DigiTimes’ sources, Apple wants to launch both of these new computers in time to take advantage of both the back-to-school and holiday shopping rushes. Perhaps these new Macs will get a reveal at Apple’s big event on Wednesday?

Apple supposedly had three different iMacs planned for this new line, but due to production issues with the panels for “the high-end model,” Apple has pushed that one back, and will only launch the mid-range and entry-level models for the time being. Keep in mind that these new iMacs aren’t expected to boast Retina Display, but this new rumor does claim that at least the high-end model is getting an upgraded CPU along with those new displays that have caused this delay. Unfortunately, these supply sources weren’t able to give a launch window for the delayed all-in-one model.

We’ve heard rumors of a new display for the iMac in the past, so that part about the new displays causing issues seems at least somewhat plausible. As for the rest, we’ll just have to wait and see where this rumor goes. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait much longer to find out, as Apple’s event is now just two days away. With all of the rumors floating around, the event certainly seems like it will hold much more than just the introduction of the iPhone 5, so stay tuned and be sure to follow our liveblog of the event starting at 10 AM PST on Wednesday morning!

Well-connected developer Marco Arment, for instance, has heard that Retina isn’t on the cards for the iMac, at least not in this late 2012 generation. That could be an issue of price; Apple currently offers 21- and 27-inch versions of the iMac, and high-resolution panels at those sort of sizes might push the end cost of the all-in-ones too high for the target audience.

Even without Retina, there are several areas in which Apple could polish up the iMac experience. In addition to third-gen Core i5/i7 processors, there’s obviously room for new graphics chips; Apple is also likely to include USB 3.0 connectivity, just as it did in its recent MacBook Pro and MacBook Air updates.

Bigger SSD storage looks likely as well, and rumors have been circulating that the optical drives – currently situated on the side of the iMac – are also for the chop. Again, that would fit in with the all-digital direction Apple has taken its Mac mini and notebook lines.

Supplies of the iMac have been constrained for some time now, with a refresh long looking inevitable. In previous years, Apple has done that without any great fanfare, eschewing a high-profile event and instead simply pushing the new models to its webstore.

[via 9 to 5 Mac]

Whereas production of the high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display was comparatively low, in partial response to the notebook’s very high starting price, Apple appears to be aiming for the more mainstream market with the new, smaller model. “With 15.4 it’s production of a few hundred thousand units” Shin commented, “versus one to two million for the 13.3.”

That could see the smaller Retina model escape the supply order backlog that affected the original, larger model. Online orders of the notebook were prolonged to up to four weeks, with Apple surprised by the extent of demand.

Exactly which company is providing the panel is unclear, though both Samsung and LG Display are known to be working with Apple on Retina-branded screen technology, and Shin says Sharp is also involved. The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro will run at a lower resolution than the 15-inch – 2,560 x 1,600 versus 2,880 x 1,800 – but the more compact screen size will mean the individual pixels are equally as difficult to identify to the human eye.

Benchmarks for the mysterious new MacBook Pro were spotted online in recent months, fueling rumors of an imminent launch. The MacBook Pro 13 with Retina would be cheaper and likely less powerful than the current version, though likely lighter and more portable as well.

The same Intel Core i7-3520M is still present in this new model, and it’s still clocked at 2.9 GHz. This time around, however, the amount of RAM in the 13-inch MacBook Pro has been boosted from 4GB to 8GB, which is more along the lines of what we would expect with the Core i7 present. Another interesting thing to note is that new benchmark shows Mac OS X 10.8.1 as the machine’s operating system. Apple is set to begin seeding that version of the OS to developers soon, but at the moment we don’t have a clear idea of when.

For the most part, however, the Geekbench results for this machine and the one that was spotted last month are very much the same. That’s reflected in the overall scores given to both – the results for this new model give a score of 7756, a mere 50 points below the model we saw last month. It would appear that Apple is planning a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and it has locked down the specs it wants for the laptop.

Apple, for its part, has remained silent on the existence of this new MacBook. These new results reinforce the idea that it will be revealing the 13-inch laptop soon, however, so keep your fingers crossed. Perhaps we’ll get a reveal during that event Apple is planning for September 12? Keep it tuned right here to SlashGear for more information.

What we’ve got here also is WebRTC support for your devices galore as well. This upgrade means you’ll be able to use webcams as well as microphones on supported pages without the support of Flash or other plugins. That’s rather helpful for those of you looking to bust yourself from that ever-present bug.

There’s now wider support for Cloud Print as well as gamepads as well, with gaming never left too far behind in a Google release such as this as you should well know. Have a peek at our Retina MacBook Pro review from just a few weeks ago at its launch to see how Chrome performed before this upgrade – if you dare. You’ll find less than fabulous results, that’s for certain.

For those of you wishing to grab this newest version of Chrome for your OS X toting machine, head over to Google’s Chrome download page and make with the downloading. This version of Chrome is only working on Mac OS X 10.5 or later and needs Intel to run as well.

This version also brings on such innovations as the Sketchbots experiment too, a lovely strange event of a web app where you use a photo of yourself to create a robot. This robot sits in the Science Museum in London and draws out our portrait in a patch of sand in real time – we’d like to see any other web browser claim to be a part of such a strange innovation. Check the timeline below for additional Chrome bits as it continues to roll on into the future!

[via Google]