Apple’s iPad Announcement Recap: It’s more than just iPads

By Rich W Woods

Today, Apple had their third annual event behind WWDC and the annual iPhone event. As usual, iPads come in October; however, Apple announced quite a bit more. We heard a lot about iOS 8.1, Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, the iPad Air 2, the iPad Mini 3, a Retina iMac, and a brand new Mac Mini.

Before you read any further, you may want to know that there were no Retina MacBook Airs, Apple TVs, or larger screen iPads.

Finally, a new Mac Mini

By Rich W Woods

Apple announced a whole bunch of new products today. Those include the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3, and a Retina iMac. There was one more thing that they brushed on. One more thing that hasn’t been updated in years. It’s a new Mac Mini.

There isn’t a whole lot that’s new about the Mac Mini. Mostly, they replaced the third generation Ivy Bridge processors with the fourth generation Haswell processors. Still no mention of Broadwell.

Oh yea, they also dropped the price by $100 so it comes in at $499.

Apple announces a Retina iMac

By Rich W Woods

Apple today has finally announced a long awaited Retina iMac. They boast a 5K display that comes in at 2880p. In case you’re wondering, 4K is 2160p.

The Retina iMac will be 5 mm think. That’s right. It will be a desktop computer that is thinner than an iPad Air 2. The base model will use a 3.5 GHz Core i5 and the high end model will  use a 4 GHz Core i7, so these machines are work horses.

The iMac will start at $2499.

What to Expect from Apple’s iPad Event on Thursday

By Rich W Woods

Apple has sent out invitations to an event for this Thursday. They said one thing: It’s been way too long. This could mean anything. There are tons of Apple products that desperately need to be updated. Well, by tons I mean two.

So what should you expect from the iPad event? An iPad, of course. There will be some other stuff as well. Read on.

Apple Releases Third Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite GM

By Rich W Woods

When Apple releases so many GMs, one really begins to question the difference between a GM and a beta. After all, GM stands for gold master. A GM seed is the full release and a GM candidate is a candidate for the full release. Today, Apple released their third GM candidate for Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite.

We hear a lot of stories about how Apple is delayed although Apple hasn’t announced anything. iOS 8 is the first time I have ever seen Apple release something before it was ready to use. It feels incomplete when you try to use certain continuity features.

Apple has Sent Invitations for an iPad Event October 16

By Rich W Woods

Well, it’s official. Apple has announced an event for October 16. While an iPad launch is still a rumor, this is the time that Apple would typically release the iPad.

The things that we are sure about is that there will be a second iPad Air, Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, and iOS 8.1 which will include Apple Pay and the ability to send and receive SMS from an iPad and Mac.

The next iPad Air will use Touch ID and it will be available in gold. That will likely be the only physical changes to the iPad Air. It is also possible that they may include Beats Audio in the next iPad.

Apple Seeds Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite GM Candidate 2

By Rich W Woods

Last week while Microsoft was announcing Windows 10, Apple seeded Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite GM Candidate. Being called a GM candidate, we knew it was possible that there would be further updates.

Today, Apple seeded Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite GM Candidate 2 along with Apple TV Beta 2, iOS 8.1 Beta 2, and Xcode 6.1 GM 2.

Xcode 6.1 GM 2 is now being Seeded to Developers

By Rich W Woods

Yes, you read that correctly. Xcode 6.1 GM 2 is being seeded to developers. This is strange because typically GM means that it is the final release that gets seeded to developers before the public release.

Normally, beta means that there is work to be done. As we have seen with Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite, GM Candidate means that it might be the final version, but typically, GM Seed means that it is the final version.

Why I Switched Back to Apple

By Rich W Woods

First, let’s be fair. I go through more phones than the average Joe. Probably even more than an extraordinary Joe. Over the last month, I’ve had shipped to me the Moto X, Moto G, iPhone 5S (I had Apple send me one to compare to the iPhone 6), iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. Over the next month, I expect to be using the Sony Xperia Z3, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, HTC desire 820, and Nokia Lumia 530, 730, 735, and 830.

This is true of any tech journalist. We all get tons of new stuff to try out and to ultimately review; however, if you ask any tech journalist what kind of phone they use, there is only one. There is a single phone that they prefer to use for personal use.

While Microsoft is Announcing Windows 10, Apple Seeds Yosemite GM Candidate

By Rich W Woods

As I type this, Microsoft is announcing Windows 10 (because Windows 9 wouldn’t be far enough from Windows 8), but Apple doesn’t adhere to other companies’ schedules. Apple has finally seeded Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite GM Candidate to developers a day after they seeded iOS 8.1 Beta.

It is likely that iOS 8.1 and Yosemite will be publicly released at the same time as they have many continuity features such as the ability to see SMS messages on all devices. The lack of this feature left iOS 8 feeling incomplete.