Apple announced on Tuesday that they will be officially be selling 128GB versions of the current 4th generation iPad starting on February 5th. Now, the three major US carriers, AT&T, Verizon and SPrint have all confirmed separately that they will be carrying the WiFi + Cellular version of the 128GB iPad. Verizon and AT&T initially confirmed to that they would be carrying the new model, which was expected after its announcement.

AT&T is currently offering a $100 off deal for all tablets purchased with a 2 year contract. Sprint individually confirmed several hours later to iMore, that it would also be carrying the model. Apple added support for a number of new LTE carriers in its latest iOS 6.1 update, meaning that the 128GB model will likely operate on all of the new networks as well as the older ones.

Sprint currently does not have a expansive LTE network, but will allow 3G usage on the iPad in some areas as it continues to expand slowly over major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, San Antonio and Waco. The carrier says that it expects to introduce LTE to over 100 new areas in the next several months.

{Via MacRumors}

Apple’s iPad mini was announced several weeks ago and went on sale in early November. Apple promised that LTE versions of the iPad mini and the 4th generation iPad (4G) would be available in late November and held up their end of the deal. On Friday, all of the major United States carriers, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint announced they will be carrying LTE versions of both the iPad mini and fourth gen iPad.

Many U.S customers reported that they had already begun to receive their devices earlier in the week, due to shipments and deliveries coming in earlier than expected. Apple has not made any official announcement on the availability of the LTE versions of the devices, however, will likely do so soon. It appears that Apple’s retail stores are currently stocking very few LTE models of the new iPads and will ramp up availability as the demand increases.

This is not the first time that Apple’s products are delivered to customers earlier than usual, as it also happened with the WiFi models of the iPad mini, as well as the iPhone 5 and the new iPod lineup. With all three of the U.S carriers officially launching LTE versions of the iPad mini and the fourth gen iPad, it won’t be long before Apple makes an announcement on the availability of the device and begins to deliver more units to its retail stores.

{Via MacRumors}

Late last week, Apple released iOS 6.0.1 to the users of the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, adding a few new features and fixing a number of bugs. On Friday, the Cupertino company posted a iOS 6.0.1 update for the new 4th generation iPad and the iPad mini, which are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Apple promised to launch the devices in the United States in “Mid-November” and is releasing the iOS update prior to the release.

According to MacRumors, pre-orders of the device are expected to start being delivered as early as November 16th. The 6.0.1 update comes with Build 10A8426, however, it is unclear exactly what it will change or fix on the device. Apple posted the iOS 6.0 software update prior to the release of the WiFi models of the 4th gen iPad and the iPad mini on November 2nd.

The new downloads posted by Apple are:

iPad mini
– iPad2,6
– iPad2,7

Fourth-generation iPad
– iPad3,5
– iPad3,6

Normally, following the release of a new device, Apple’s iOS devices tend to have a number of bugs that surface. As a result, Apple is continuing to release updates to patch these bugs as quickly as possible.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) began selling its new iPad mini and the 4th generation iPad just last week and has already sold a record three million iPads in three days. According to Apple, this number is double the previous first weekend record of 1.5 million Wi-Fi models sold for the third generation iPad this past March.

Apple noted in the press release for the record announcement that the WiFi+Cellular versions of the iPad mini and the 4th generation iPad would be available in several weeks, in the US and numerous other countries. Apple CEO Tim Cook seemed optimistic about the new iPad mini and commented on the sale of the iPad mini and fourth generation iPad.

Customers around the world love the new iPad mini and fourth generation iPad. We set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad minis. We’re working hard to build more quickly to meet the incredible demand.

The iPad mini, with a new 7.9 inch screen, FsceTime HD camera and LTE wireless is setting up to be a big hit for Apple in the market, and the company will likely continue to sell more in volume as the holiday season approaches. Apple retail stores and the online store have been trying to keep up with demand for the iPad mini for the past several days, and will likely continue to sell them in record numbers for several months until the demand evens with the supply.

{Via Apple PR}

On Friday, Apple’s iPad mini and 4th generation iPad went on sale, and lines were shorter than other product launches. However, other retail locations experienced heavier traffic than usual and although hurricane Sandy prevented some customers from coming out to buy an iPad mini, Apple’s Fifth Ave Retail store sold out of iPad minis within two hours of going on sale. According to a report from Fortune, the Fifth Avenue store located on the East Side of Manhattan had over 800 people in line when the store opened at 10:00 AM, although the store was scheduled to open at 8:00 AM.

According to the records Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster has been keeping since 2008 (see below), that’s more customers than turned out for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S.

And by 9:56 a.m. — four minutes before the doors finally opened — I counted 801 men, women and children. Only the iPhone 4 (1,300) and iPad 2 (1,190) drew bigger crowds.

An analyst at Topeka Capital Markets, Brian White noted that all three models of the White/Silver iPad mini were sold out at the Fifth ave location in a little over an hour, followed by the black models another 2 hours later.

We are at Apple’s flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City and our checks now indicate that all of the White & Silver iPad mini models sold out at around 11:15 AM. We estimate that the 16GB and 64GB were sold out by 10:30 AM ET and the 32GB sold out at around 11:15 AM ET. […]

As of 11:40 AM ET, both the 16GB and 32GB Black & Slate iPad mini models were sold out at the Fifth Avenue NYC store; while we estimate the 64GB iPad mini sold out at around 12:10 PM ET.

Apple also experienced moderate lines at its Upper West Side store, located less than 2 miles from its flagship Fifth Ave location. The customers online at this location likely came over from the Fifth ave location, where Apple had to start cutting off lines after selling out. As customers entered the Upper West Side store with their tickets in hand, Apple employees cheered them on and then led them over to the iPad minis, stacked at the back of the store. It is unclear exactly how many of each capacity or color was available at each store, however, stocks of the new device will ease in the coming weeks, as demand meets distribution.

{Via MacRumors}

Apple’s iPad mini and 4th generation iPad was announced this past Tuesday and was available for Pre-Order 3AM Eastern / 12AM Pacific on Friday. However, within the first 20 minutes of the iPad mini being available for Pre-Order, the white/silver version of the device has already sold out. Delivery for the white iPad mini which was scheduled for delivery on the expected November 2nd date has now slipped to two weeks, although the Black/Slate WiFi iPad mini remains at the November 2nd delivery date.

According to MacRumors, supply for the white iPad mini were likely very low prior to announcement, as many countries outside of the US had the 2 week delivery date from the moment it went on sale. Those who got their Pre-Orders with the expected November 2nd date will likely have it delivered on that date.

Apple’s Retail stores will also be carrying a stock of the WiFi iPad minis on November 2nd although the white mini may be limited to a certain number with a certain capacity per store. Cellular models of the iPad mini were promised for arrival in mid-November and will naturally be available in higher quantities than the WiFi models as those will go on sale first and are generally sought after more.

{Via MacRumors}

On Tuesday, alongside the announcement of the new iPad mini and the 4th generation iPad, Apple Inc. (AAPL) also went ahead to introduce a thinner, lighter 13 inch MacBook Pro with a Retina Display. The new MacBook Pro is only 0.75 inches and 3.57 pounds in weight, making nearly 20% thinner than its predecessor and about a pound lighter and also has a FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, improved speakers, faster 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a MagSafe 2 charging port.

With the newest addition to the MacBook lineup, AAPL has made nearly all of its products into portable machines. The 13 inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display does not have an optical drive as with most of Apple’s Mac products, and instead sports a slimmer form factor with a Retina Display that has 227 pixels per inch and flash storage that is faster upon startup.

With the transition to flash storage, Apple can produce thinner and lighter machines that start up and run programs much faster than the last generation. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is now one of Apple’s base models, with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and 128GB of flash storage starting at only US$1,699. Users then have the option to configure their machines with 256GB of flash storage coming in at US$1,999.

The 13 inch and 15 inch MacBook Pros with Retina Display are on sale in Apple Stores and online with free shipping.

Are you planning to buy the MacBook Pro with Retina Display? Do you think it is worth the upgrade?

It’s only been 6 months since the introduction of the third generation iPad, and Apple has already introduced a new version of it. On Tuesday, alongside the announcement of the iPad mini, Apple introduced the refreshed iPad, calling it the 4th gen iPad instead.

The 4th generation iPad has been updated with the new Lightning connector currently on the iPhone 5, 4th gen iPod touch, and the new iPad mini as well as a new A6X processor as previously predicted, and FaceTime HD.

Until now, the FaceTime camera on the iPad was the same basic VGA camera that shipped on the iPhone 4, 4S and iPad 2. According to Phil Schiller, SVP of Product Marketing, the 4th generation iPad has expanded LTE support for more carriers around the world as well as faster WiFi speeds, twice as fast as on the third generation iPad.

Pricing for the 4th generation iPad remains the same $499/$599/$699 for the same 16GB/32GB/64GB capacities. WiFi+Cellular versions of the 4th generation iPad also remain the same, coming in at $629/$729/$829 for 16GB/32GB/64GB respectively. The 4th generation iPad will be available in stores and online for sale on November 2nd and is currently available for Pre-Order.

We’ve been tracking rumors of fourth gen iPod touch which is due this fall and among the predictable features which include higher resolution display and Apple’s A4 processor we have reported some pretty convincing reports which suggest that the new iPod touch will feature a front and back facing camera too.

FaceTime for iPhone 4 currently works between two iPhone 4 users. Apple would certainly be looking at increasing the number of devices which feature the new video calls feature so there is a strong possibility that the new iPod touch will finally feature a camera.

If you were wondering how would FaceTime calls work on an iPod touch then iOS 4.1 beta 3 provides us the details. It turns out that Apple will allow FaceTime to use email addresses to initiate video calls. This would enable iPod touch 4 users to use the service too.

MacRumors recently reported that an iPhone parts supplier sent them images of the front LCD and bezel of the upcoming 4th generation iPod Touch. The panel is labeled “Apple (c) 2010″ and has a front-sided hole which many are speculating to be in place for the camera.

iPhone and iPod accessories makers have often revealed details about upcoming Apple products and HardMac obtained illustrations of next gen iPod touch from an iPod case manufacturer. The website has claimed that their source has been very reliable in the past and the design seems to have a rounded back and will feature camera and flash too.

Do you think the new iPod touch will feature a camera to allow FaceTime calls? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Foxconn is reported as aiming to produce 24 million 4th generation iPhones this year alone. And is expecting to start shipping them in June. The suggested split for these massive volumes is around 4.5 million for the first half of 2010. With the balance coming in the second half of 2010.

Will this mean we’ll see a staged roll out, and perhaps initial supply shortages, like we did with the iPad? Higher screen resolutions and other features of the next iPhone could well compound ongoing production and supply problems that Apple has already had to endure with the iPad.

These dates and plans also tend to suggest that a roll out at WWDC is likely. Details on the new iPhone’s tech. specs. are also being fleshed out.

Apparently the new iPhone 4G will feature In-Plane Switching LCD display panels which also have Fringe-Field Switching, at a suggested resolution of 640×960. Suppliers for this component are named as LG Display and Prime View International.

FFS (Fringe Field Switching) is a feature that will improve eBook functionality by improving viewing angles and display quality in sunlight. IPS (In-Plane Switching) also helps with better viewing angles for display panels.

The processor in the new iPhone will most likely be an updated Apple A4. Which is basically an ARM Cortex A8 core which has been optimised for Apple’s needs. But one big difference will be 512MB of RAM, double that of the iPad, and definitely aimed at improving multi-tasking capabilities, with lots of spare memory space for switching, and stashing images. Something the iPad has problems with in apps like Mobile Safari, even with 256MB of RAM.

Apparently Apple has been working to allow more space for battery technology to improve battery life in the new iPhone also. Batteries are rumored to come from Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology.

Apple seems to be doubling up straight away on a lot of suppliers to stymy supply problems right off the bat. Rather than as a last minute effort, as they did with the iPad. Lets hope that extra forward planning goes better for them this time.

Are you worried about iPhone 4G supplies? Do the specs sound good to you so far? Let us know in the comments.

Earlier today Engadget reported that Vietnamese forum Taoviet published a series of leaked photos of the fourth generation iPhone and posted a video on YouTube. The teardown pics revealed that the device had an Apple branded A4 processor with the marking APL0398 which is also found inside Apple’s iPad.

The new model is reported to be different from the ‘lost’ prototype which Gizmodo bought for $5000. The device did not have any screws on either side of the Dock Connector and was running a screen diagnostic test called ‘bonfire’

The device appeared to have a cleaner design which suggests that this might be a newer prototype.

Do you think this is the next iPhone? Let us know what you think in the comments.

iPhone 4G/HD Teardown Pics

iPhone 4G Video