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Find bargain prices on refurbished Mac mini models today at Apple's online store. The refurbished Mac mini with OS X Server, an Intel quad-core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and dual 500GB hard drives has been reduced by $240 to $759. For $889 is the refurbished Mac mini with OS X Server, a 2.0GHz Intel quad-core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and dual 750GB hard drives.
At Apple's online store this week, take advantage of price cuts on refurbished iPods and iPad minis. The refurbished, current-generation 16GB iPod nano has been reduced by $20 to $129, and is available in yellow, silver, slate, green, purple, blue and pink. Also available now are refurbished current-generation iPod touch models. The 32GB Touch is priced at $249 after a $50 discount, and comes in white, blue, pink, black, or yellow. The 64GB touch is priced at $349 in blue, pink, black, yellow or white.
Apple's online store currently offers a wide selection of refurbished iMacs, iPods and iPads. The 21.5-inch iMac with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive has been reduced by $200 to $1,099. For $1,269 is the 21.5-inch iMac with a 2.9GHz Intel quad-core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive.
FreedomPop, a cellular internet service provider and maker of an iPod Touch case that can turn it into a full working smartphone, has just implemented a new "data rollover" feature for its plans, which let users keep unused data from month to month. The service, which offers 500MB of monthly WiMAX and LTE cellular data for free following the purchase of one of its custom sleeves for iPhones or iPod touch models, allows users to share data with friends and earn additional free data through referrals. It provides either mobile or home internet service.
At its eBay refurb store, Apple is now selling the 13.3-inch MacBook Air for $899 -- $100 less than the price of a similarly refurbished model at the official online Apple store, AppleInsider notes. Other products are also getting unusual deals, such as 32 and 64GB iPod touches, which are going for $179 and $229 -- $30 and $50 off Apple's normal refurb costs. Verizon models of the iPad 2 are listed at $429 for 32GB and $529 for 64GB, in each case $50 less than normal.
Apple has launched a special Valentine's Day promotion for the upcoming holiday on its online store, highlighting the iPad and iPad mini as gift ideas along with an assortment of iPad accessory categories. Also featured is the company's iPod touch and iPod nano, augmented with offers of free shipping, free engraving and even a Valentine-themed Apple Store gift card good for hardware or software purchases at online and retail Apple Stores. The company has added a special webpage showing order delivery deadlines.
This week at Apple's online store, save on refurbished iPods and Retina MacBook Pros. Take advantage of special limited-time pricing on the refurbished fourth-generation iPod touch, which starts at $129 for the 8GB model, $179 for the 32GB configuration, or get a 64GB Touch for $229. The refurbished 8GB iPod nano is also available in silver for $99 after a $30 price cut.
Deals from DealNN this week include price cuts on iPods and notebooks as well as some Cyber Monday deals that are available all week. BestBuy.com's deal of the day today is on the 4th generation 32GB iPod touch in black which has been reduced by $20 from $249.99 down to $229.99, which ties Apple's price for a refurbished model. The iPod touch features 32GB of memory for up to 7,000 songs, 40,000 digital photos or up to 40 hours of video. A one year limited warranty on parts and labor is included from Apple.
The Apple iPad is far and away the most coveted product for by kids and teenagers, a new Nielsen study suggests. 48 percent of surveyed kids aged 6 to 12 would like one in the next six months, while 21 percent of those 13 and older want the device. The iPad mini is fourth place amongst the 6-12 group at 36 percent, and ninth place in the 13+ demographic, coming in at 11 percent.
The iPhone 5 and the fifth-generation iPod touch are both showing problems with handling diagonal swipes, accounts say. While the devices should work properly with regular gestures, quick diagonals can cause response to drop off. The issue is reproducible in multiple apps, and in iOS 6, 6.0.1, and the 6.1 beta. Other devices -- like the iPhone 4S and the fourth-generation iPad -- are said to be immune.
Right now at Apple's online store take advantage of special limited time pricing on refurbished 4th generation iPod touch models now starting at only $129 for the 8GB Touch in white. A $70 price drop is offered on the 32GB iPod touch making it $179, while the 64GB iPod touch has seen a $100 price break to $229, both models are available in white or black.
Apple has quietly added another Lightning adapter to its online store, this one converting the Lightning port found on the newest iPhone, iPads and iPod Touch models to a micro USB port. The adapter is capable of syncing as well as charging when used with a compatible micro USB charger of sufficient output to charge the relevant device. Apple had previously offered a 30-pin dock connector-to-micro USB adapter, but limited its sale to Europe only. The new adapter is likely to be sold worldwide and presumably meets EU criteria.
FreedomPop has launched the Freedom Sleeve Rocket, a promised case for the iPod touch. The accessory costs $99, but opens access to FreedomPop's 4G services, which run on Clearwire's WiMAX network. The first 500MB of data is free, but costs go up to $10 per GB after that threshold. The current case also only works with third- and fourth-generation Touches.
ThinkGeek is now shipping the 8-Bitty retro wireless game controller for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. First introduced at the American International Toy Fair in February, the device is now shipping for $30, slightly higher than its previously promised $25 starting point. The device is compatible with both iOS and most Android devices, connecting over Bluetooth.
Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, has reportedly responded to a customer inquiry regarding the lack of an ambient light sensor in the fifth-generation iPod touch. Surprised by the lack of auto-brightness setting for the new Touch, Raghid Harake asked for further explanation. Schiller allegedly replied, noting that the fifth-generation devices lacks an ambient light sensor and explaining that "it's just too thin!"
A teardown of the fifth-generation iPod touch reveals some key differences with the iPhone 5, with which it nominally shares a lot of similarities, according to repair outfit iFixit. The Touch has just 512MB of Hynix RAM, for instance, versus the 1GB of RAM in the iPhone. While both devices use a 4-inch Retina display, the Touch component is described as a "much simpler, cheaper design." The new Touch also uses a Home button with a rubber membrane, said to be inferior to the redesigned button in the iPhone 5.
The ad for the new iPod lineup seen at the iPhone 5 unveiling last month has now been broadcast on television, and posted by Apple on its website and YouTube channel. The spot, which showcases the colorful lineup consisting of the refreshed iPod Touch, iPod nano and iPod shuffle, uses computer graphics to have the devices bounce and dance through a portion of the song "Yeah Yeah" by Willy Moon. The ads emphasize the new colors rather than any new features, even though both the Touch and Nano received significant updates.
Sports and fitness app makers Pear Sports are now offering a free app that interfaces with a $150 kit sold at Apple retail stores to help users achieve fitness or weight-loss goals using personalized coaching from top personal coaches based on the biofeedback the kit sends the app. The product includes a Bluetooth heart monitor, a pair of Pear earbuds for listening to music and the coaching, and the app for iPhone or iPod Touch. The app provides real-time feedback and encouragement using data gained from the heart rate monitor.
[Updated with news of Nano shipments] Apple is beginning to ship the first online orders of the fifth-generation iPod touch, reports say. In general, shipments appear set to be delivered on or around October 15, in the US and some other countries as well, including Australia. The player may in fact already be available in some Apple retail outlets.
This week at DealNN find deals on iPods, MacBooks, storage and find out how you can get a FREE pair of headphones. This week JR.com has cut the price on the 4th generation 32GB iPod touch from $299 down to $259.95. The iPod touch features front and back cameras, FaceTime video, HD 720p video capture, iMessage, iCloud, iOS 5 and a 3.5-inch multi-touch LCD with 960x460 resolution. A one year warranty on parts and labor is included from Apple.
Apple is finally on the verge of shipping orders of the new, fifth-generation iPod touch, buyers say. While the player was announced at the same time as the iPhone 5, Apple originally only set a broad "October" timeframe for deliveries. Some people who preordered the Touch now report that their order statuses have been changed to "Preparing for Shipment," meaning that units should be sent to couriers within the next few days.
As it did last year, Apple is extending the Thanksgiving vacation time it gives to some of its workers for 2012, according to an email memo from CEO Tim Cook. "To recognize the efforts that made this amazing year possible, I’m happy to announce that we’re extending the Thanksgiving holiday once again this year. We will shut down with pay on November 19, 20 and 21 so our teams can spend the whole week with their loved ones," he writes.
At DealNN this week save on iPods, MacBooks and more. Today at BestBuy.com save $10 on the 4th generation 8GB iPod touch which was $179.99, but has been reduced to $169.99. That makes this around $5 less than buying this iPod brand new anywhere else. FREE shipping, a 10% off iTunes Card discount offer, and six-month financing options are available. The iPod touch features iOS5, iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime Camera, HD video recording, Retina display Wi-Fi and comes with a one year warranty on parts and labor from Apple.
Apple's new iPods and third-party Lightning adapters are now appearing on Amazon, AppleInsider observes. In terms of iPods, people can now preorder the updated Nano and Touch models, which ship in October. Amazon is also advertising the new Shuffle lineup, though the products are basically unchanged.
[update] Apple has said that Video-out Lightning cables are forthcoming. A list of supported outputs have been added. The new Lightning connector used on Apple devices like the iPhone 5 doesn't support video-out, Apple's website suggests. Product pages for the company's Lightning-to-30-pin adapters state that "Video and iPod Out" aren't supported, even though the 30-pin products they attach to should be capable.
The Panorama feature announced for the iPhone 5 will also work on other devices, Apple has indicated. The option is also being supported on two other devices, the iPhone 4S and the fifth-generation iPod touch. It's unknown why other camera-equipped devices, such as the iPad, are unsupported despite Panorama being built into iOS 6.
Apple today overhauled its iPod line, updating the Nano to the seventh generation, and the Touch to the fifth. The new Nano is switching back to a tall design, but now has a 2.5-inch multi-touch screen, with a Home button as on iOS devices. The player is almost half as thin as its predecessor, and uses the new smaller Lightning connector also seen on the iPhone 5.
Apple's website has accidentally exposed the company's plans for today's San Francisco press event, notes AppleInsider. Searching for "iphone-5" on the site points to a number of currently inactive pages, including a press release dated to September 12th with the title "Apple Introduces iPhone 5." Searching for "2012/09/12Apple" turns up a link to "Apple Unveils New iTunes," while the keywords "new iPod touch" actually bring up "Apple Introduces New iPod touch, iPod nano."
Along with the expected unveiling of the iPhone 5 today, Apple is expected to reveal its latest version of the iPod touch. According to the historically KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new iPod touch will gain a 4-inch in-cell touchscreen, a dedicated GPS receiver and a high-definition FaceTime camera. Multiple colors are also likely, dovetailing with a report suggesting a new accessory called the ‘Loop’ will be sold in multiple colors alongside the new iPod touch line.
The new iPod touch should have a 1136x640 display like the iPhone 5, and is currently using an N78 codename, reports say. Developer Will Strafach -- better known as Chronic -- is claiming that the device will get an S5L8942X processor instead of an S5L8950X, which should finally upgrade the Touch to an A5-level chip, but still leave it behind the iPhone 5 in terms of performance. 9to5Mac sources say that Apple intends to keep the same base price point for the media player, on or around $200.
Beyond the iPhone 5, Apple's September 12th event will also see updates to the iPod touch, nano, and shuffle, according to 9to5Mac sources. The Touch lineup is thought to be getting some of the more interesting changes; while there will still be three models, the sources say that the cheapest one will be a tweaked version of the current-generation design, while the other two will be more substantially altered. The latter are linked to $299 and $399 pricetags, and are expected to come in several variations, though what that means isn't explained. It could imply real color options, instead of just black or white.
A Chinese case maker -- Shenzhen Gekai Technology -- is selling what it claims are cases for the fifth-generation iPod touch, notes Giz-China. Perhaps the most noticeable trait of the cases is expanded camera hole, similar to the ones on cases for the iPhone 4 and 4S. That may suggest that Apple is adding an LED flash to the Touch, which has traditionally lagged behind the iPhone in terms of most features.
Apple is planning to update the "entire" iOS device lineup to use its new dock connector format, possibly in one shot at its September 12th event, say sources for iMore. The sources are the same who leaked some of the first information about the format in February. Specifically Apple is said to be planning new iPhone, iPod nano, and iPod touch models, as well as the rumored "mini" iPad, and an updated 9.7-inch iPad.
An iLounge source is backing claims that a new iPhone will be launched around mid-September. The person is somewhat vaguer, only hinting at a date around the third week, but that would be consistent with a rumored September 21st target. The source adds that Apple is working on two or more cases for the device: this includes one similar to the current Bumper case, expected to ship at the same time as the new phone, and another which could supposedly have a major impact on the accessory industry.
Apple is planning to announce the next-generation iPhone and a smaller iPad model at an event on September 12th, according to iMore sources. The new iPhone is then expected to launch on September 21st, but no release date has been mentioned for the new iPad. The latter is also true for a new iPod nano, which is also expected to premiere at the September 12th presentation.
The next-generation iPod touch will be upgrading to a 4-inch screen like the next iPhone, according to an Asian source for Macotakara. The same source suggests that the CPU and other specifications will otherwise be similar to the iPhone 4S -- which uses an A5 processor -- but that the back will be different from both the 4S and the fourth-gen Touch. Instead of glass, plastic, or polished metal, it will allegedly use "buffed" aluminum.
More rumors have come to light about the rumored iPad Mini suggesting that it will take its design cues from the 4th generation iPod touch. Japanese site Macotakara claims the next iPad iteration will be almost as thin as an iPod touch, according to reliable sources in China. The device will be about the same as the Google Nexus 7 in terms of height, but it will be marginally wider.
Subscription and ad-based US music-discovery service Pandora has pushed out a significant update of its self-titled universal iOS app. The update, version 3.2, mostly makes changes to the interface and functionality seen on the smaller iOS devices, the iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition to a visual overhaul, the app adds musician biographies from the iPad version, the ability to rate songs post-play, song lyrics and more.
Amazon has launched its Cloud Player app for iOS. The app (Free, App Store) allows users to download or stream music stored in the cloud locker to their iPhone or iPod touch, with options to curate existing playlists and include Amazon-stored music tracks built-in. It functions in a similar way to the Amazon Cloud Player for desktop and Android by downloading and streaming audio files from the cloud storage.
Images have leaked of what is allegedly a part for the next-generation iPod touch, according to a MacRumors source. In particular, the images show a front panel produced by an unidentified supplier. Noticeably it has room for a much larger display, which the supplier claims should measure 4.1 inches.
Facebook has updated its iPhone and iPod Touch app Facebook Messenger to version 1.7, primarily adding the ability to text friends for free using one's existing data plan. This extends the program's ability and enables messages to reach friends even if they don't have the Messenger app on their own device, either on the web or directly on their phone. The update also adds the iChat- and iMessage-like "typing indicator" that lets a user know when someone is replying.
Today at Apple's online store save on refurbished iPods iPads and more. A variety of iPod touch models start at $169 for the 8GB iPod touch and include a $120 price break on the refurb. 64GB iPod touch, now $249. A $30 price break is available on the refurb. 8GB iPod nano in green, pink, orange, blue, black, or silver, now only $99. The 16GB Nano in pink, green, silver, black, blue, or orange, now $119.
Today at Apple's online store save on refurbished MacBook Pros, iPads and more. The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.4GHz Intel dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive is now $1019 after a $180 price cut. Save $540 on the refurb. 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.2GHz Intel quad-core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, now $1659. Or for $1719, after a $580 price drop, is the 17-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
One of Samsung's lower-key introductions at Mobile World Congress was a new and still rare Android-based MP3 player, the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.2. We gave it a spin at the event, both to see how it stood up on its own and to see how it stacked up against the current iPod touch. Impressions are after the break.
In North America, iOS' share of mobile ad impressions grew a full 12.1 points between October and January, according to mobile advertiser InMobi. Traffic from iOS devices hit 35.3 percent in January, as compared to 32.7 percent for Android, and 11.6 percent for BlackBerry. Android in fact slipped 3.2 points between October and January, allowing iOS to seize leadership.
Although standard Bluetooth keyboards can also be paired with an iPad or iPhone, the process can be time-consuming for users who regularly like to switch between computers and mobile devices using the same keyboard. Often, the answer was to buy two keyboards -- but accessory maker Matias is taking its classic-style, wired One Keyboards up a notch with models that feature a holder for the iPhone or iPod Touch, and can switch instantly between the computer and the iOS device at the touch of a button.
Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on iPods, cameras, and more. Apple's online store recently lowered the cost on multiple refurbished iPods, such as the refurb. 64GB iPod touch 3G with built-in video and audio streaming support, Bluetooth compatibility, and a 3.5-inch LCD display with maximum resolution of 640 x 480. Currently featured at DealNN, this iPod touch has now dropped to $249 in price and delivers savings of up to $130.
Sports technology company Velocomp, already known for its iBike Dash housing-and-app combo, has expanded its lineup with the iBike Powerhouse [website not yet updated], a motivational and user-directed fitness program incorporated into a water- and shock-resistant casing for the iPhone or iPod Touch that includes wireless speed/cadence sensors and other detectors to measure the cyclists' "power" (level of effort in pedalling) for maximum impact according to user goals.
AOC has just introduced a new 23-inch monitor that's rare in carrying an integrated dock for the iPhone and iPod touch. The e2343Fi will stream any video content of the docked iOS device to its screen, and sound will be delivered through a pair of integrated SRS Premium speakers.
People still using versions of iOS 3.1.x on an iPhone or iPod touch have begun encountering problems with the App Store, according to threads (1, 2) on Apple's support forums. On a basic level, pages on the store may contain broken layouts and missing content. More serious are problems with actually downloading apps, such as having to use the Update All command, instead of having the flexibility of updating apps individually.
