The iPad mini clone from Acer, and why I don't cover CES

January 05, 2014 by David Johnson

Is anyone else a little embarrassed by this, or is it just me? First, the stickers; oh my god, the stickers! Engadget has had some hands-on time with this device, and this is what the device actually looks like, not the sanitized press photos Acer has put out. Even the small space below the camera gets a sticker. It is like trying to see the sky in downtown New York. Forget about it. There are nothing but billboards as far as the eye can see. If there is even a small space, don't worry; they will quickly put up a small billboard to fill it. Second, they are no longer even trying to conceal the fact that what they are making is an iPad mini clone.

How did the iPhone conquer Japan? Part Two

December 14, 2013 by David Johnson

Although this is a continuation of a piece on the iPhone's success in Japan, I thought it appropriate to start with the success of the iPad. Japan has proven to be a fertile market for iDevices despite the counter-indicators. For anyone thinking that the iPhone's success in Japan was a fluke, the success of the iPad should abruptly cut off that line of thinking.

ZaggKeys Folio for the iPad Air review

December 05, 2013 by David Johnson

There's a new, iPad Air keyboard in town, and its worth writing home about. If you, like me, treat your iPad like a laptop, then you are going to want to take a close look at the ZaggKeys Folio for the iPad Air.

If Black Friday is any indication, it really is going to be an iPad Christmas

November 30, 2013 by David Johnson

On the last conference call, Tim Cook said that he thought it was going to be an iPad Christmas. Using Black Friday sales as a leading indicator, it looks like he was spot on.

Black Friday at Apple brings gift cards instead of discounts

November 29, 2013 by David Johnson

Apple's marketing team declare this to be the Friday you've been waiting for. However, there is a good chance the deals Apple has on offer are not the deals you were looking for. They are not exactly placing a lump of coal in your stocking. But they are also not reducing prices on, what will surely be the most popular gifts of the year. Instead, they are offering gift cards so that you can buy even more Apple products.

iPad mini with Retina display review: not much more to say

November 14, 2013 by David Johnson

When I picked up the Retina mini, I immediately remembered why I sold my 3rd gen. iPad last year. It was so cute. It felt so nice in the hand, just one hand was sufficient. But this iPad wasn't for me; it was for the other member of my household. And though I did recall why I dumped the full-sized model for the mini, what a difference a year makes.

Walmart bets on iPhones and iPads for Black Friday

November 13, 2013 by David Johnson

MacRumors provides the following breakdown:

Black Friday cometh, and Target is ready: It's gonna be an iPad Christmas

November 12, 2013 by David Johnson

On the last earnings call, Tim Cook told us that it's going to be an iPad Christmas. Target is doing its best to make sure that prediction comes true.

Smaller or lighter: the iPad dilemma

November 11, 2013 by David Johnson

2012 was the first year that Apple introduced two iPads at the same time. The fourth generation iPad was debuted alongside the iPad mini. There was no ambiguity between the two products. One was big and bold with all the power and features you could hope for in an iPad, the other was iPad light with slightly less functionality, and a lot less iPad.

Anticipation in the Air

October 31, 2013 by David Johnson

I'm not going to lie. I am more excited about the release of the iPad Air than I thought I would be. I always go through a particular kind of madness during iPhone and iPad season. This time, however, there is less to be excited about. Isn't there? Despite the changes to the formfactor and internals, this iPad will allow me to do exactly the same stuff as the last one. So why is it that I find myself to be as giddy as a schoolboy anticipating his first kiss?

Time to buy a new iPad, here's what you need to know

October 29, 2013 by David Johnson

Last Tuesday, Apple announced new iPads. That is always a good time to take a long, hard look at your current iPad, and reevaluate your life. Personally, my decision is easy. I made it a while back, even before the announcement. As much as I like the mini, I've decided that I like the bigger screen even better. I have already sold the household's two, iPad minis. I was prepared to buy the base model of whatever full-sized iPad Apple announced. If the decision is not quite as easy for you, read on.

Here are my predictions for Apple's iPad event

October 21, 2013 by David Johnson

During the run-up to last month's iPhone event, I posted a number of stories and predictions that turned out to be spot on. I have been an industry watcher for years, so I have learned to spot the difference between real information and fakes. The iPad event is almost upon us, and it is time for me to gaze into the future and tell you what is about to be wrought upon the world.

Bloomberg: The iPad mini with Retina Cometh...

August 13, 2013 by David Johnson

I have been somewhat hesitant to post this rumor because there are a ton of technical challenges to overcome for this to come to fruition. However, there are also a few reasons to believe that the iPad mini is going retina as early as next month...

Make Your iPad mini More Productive with the Zaggkeys Cover Mini

August 10, 2013 by David Johnson

No one needs to tell me. I fully understand the absurdity of using a keyboard with an iPad mini. That said, I have been rocking the Logitech Ultra-thin Keyboard Mini for several months... and loving it. But I fully realize that I am well outside the norm...

Microsoft Targets the iPad mini in the Latest Attack Ad

August 09, 2013 by David Johnson

Microsoft just can't seem to get enough of advertising the iPad. In their clumsy attempts to poke fun at it, they just make themselves look even more pathetic.