At a special October event Apple unveiled the new fifth-gen iPad which the company is calling, iPad Air. The new 9.7 inch tablet will be available on November 1.

iPad Air features an all-new design which has been inspired by iPad mini. The new tablet has thinner bezel and reduced thickness which makes it lighter and thinner. The 16GB WiFi model weights just 1 pound which is 20% lighter, 20% thinner and 24% less in volume when compared with the previous generation model.

While the retina display remains the same at 9.7 inch, the new iPad Air is smaller in height, width and depth. With a thickness of 0.29 inches it is as thick as the iPad mini. Apple has a known obsession to make its newer products thinner and refining the production process to the extreme.

The man behind this obsessive simplicity and manufacturing precision, Jonathan Ive, continues to evolve the existing product line up and make them look fantastic year after year.

iPad Air features the same diamond-cut chamfers and anodised aluminium body as the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and the iPad mini. It is not just an all-new design but it also features the latest 64-bit that Apple introduced in the iPhone 5s. iPad Air runs on A7 chip that makes its CPU and GPU performance twice as fast as its predecessor. It also includes M7 motion coprocessor which enables optimal battery performance. Even with a 64-bit iPad Air continues to provide 10 hour battery life.

Apple did not update the camera sensor in the fifth-gen iPad. It continues to feature 5MP rear camera and FaceTime HD Camera which is a 1.2MP sensor.

This year the company has added support for even more LTE bands as they prepare to launch the new device in China on the same day as the rest of the countries.

iPad Air is available in WiFi andWiFi+ cellular versions with storage capacities ranging from 16GB to 128GB.

There had been a few rumours about fingerprint Touch ID being part of the feature set however, it seems that we’ll have to wait for iPad Air 2 (?) for that.

Are you excited about the new thinner tablet from Apple? Will you be upgrading your tablet this holiday season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Apple’s iPad media event has just gone live. The company will be providing a live video coverage of the new iPad keynote event. The event is being held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will take the stage to announce new product launches and updates for this year before we enter the holiday season. The email invite sent out to the media suggests that the company will “cover” many product announcements.

Rumors and reports published in the past provide enough evidence to expect new iPad 5 (fifth gen) and second gen iPad mini. We could also get new Haswell MacBook Pro models, final release of Mac OS X Mavericks, new iLife and iWork software updates and more.

iPad 5 is widely expected to feature a thinner and lighter design inspired by the advancements made with iPad mini. Hardware specifications are expected to include new 64-bit A7 chip, improved camera and possibly new Touch ID sensor.

There have been many conflicts reports about a second gen iPad mini with retina display. It is unclear if Apple will introduce the new smaller iPad with a high resolution display.

During WWDC Apple showcased a sneak peek at the new Mac Pro. Apple could use today’s event to announce shipping date for the high end Mac for the professionals.

This year Apple is offering a live video feed of the iPad launch event. Live video stream of the event is available on Apple’s website. In order to view live video streaming of the October iPad event you’d require Safari 4 or later on OS X v10.6 or later, Safari on iOS 4.2 or later. Streaming via Apple TV requires second- or third-generation Apple TV with software 5.0.2 or later.

Apple recently sent out media invites for the new iPad launch event scheduled for October 22nd. The company is busy making preparations for the iPad event decorating the venue with huge posters resembling the invite.

This year Apple is expected to announce new iPad 5 and second gen iPad mini alongwith other product updates. The theme of the fall event is “We still have a lot to cover.” It doesn’t give us much insight into what the company has in store for us however, based on many analysts reports and rumors published in the past we certainly have a fair idea of what to expect.

The company has a history for fine tuning their products to perfect and have a certain penchant for making products thinner and lighter. Fifth gen iPad is widely expected to shed some weight it put on during its third iteration. In addition to losing some weight it will also become smaller with thinner bezel. In the past, when announcing iPhone 5 Apple in its advertisements asked how can a phone become larger yet lighter and thinner.

Second gen iPad mini is rumored to feature retina display. The smaller tablet from Apple has the same resolution as an iPad 2. iPad mini is the only iOS device that doesn’t ship with a high resolution model. Even though many rumors have suggested that we might get a high resolution display some analysts have expressed doubt over cost and product rates.

The fall event is also expected to feature OS X Mavericks, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro and other product updates as well.

{Images via Apple Spotlight and MacRumors}

Apple recently sent out media invites for the iPad keynote event. The event  will be held on October 22nd at 10 AM PT at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California.

Last week WSJ leaked the date and now the event has been confirmed by Apple. The media invite features Apple logo with leaves in the iOS 7 color palette flying in the background. The leaves signify autumn line-up of new iOS 7 devices.

The theme of the event is “We still have a lot to cover.” This clearly suggests that Apple is planning to announce more than just one product line. Rumors and reports in the past have revealed that the company is prepared to launch new iPad, second gen iPad mini, new MacBook Pro with Haswell processors and OS X Mavericks.

Apple events usually focus on one major product and try not to announce too many new products at the same event. However, as the company is offering two line-ups of iPads and other product categories also need to be updated before the holiday season, this years’ event will be packed with announcements.

The fifth-gen iPad is expected to be inspired by the advancements in iPad mini and feature a thinner bezel which will make it lighter. Rumors suggest the new iPad will feature new camera and could possibly run on the new A7 chip. It isn’t clear if we will see TouchID in the iPad as the company has experienced low product yield of the sensor in the past.

Many analysts believe the second-gen iPad mini will go retina this year. iPad mini with a high resolution screen could prove to be a big boost in terms of new hardware feature. However, there have been some doubts expressed over cost and pricing of an iPad mini with a retina display.

OS X Mavericks was announced during WWDC. The company has been busy with iOS overhaul this year and during the iPad event we may finally get a release date for the upcoming software update for Mac.

Apple teased the developers at WWDC with the all-new Mac Pro. The release date wasn’t announced and it was showcased as a work in progress. The company could use the event as a platform to release the new Mac Pro.

iMac product lineup was recently updated with the Haswell processors and MacBook Pro line up has also been due for an update. It is expected that Apple will make these available on or before October 22nd.

The fall iPad event will be packed with major announcements. Stay tuned as Touch Reviews brings you the latest information and product launches from Apple.

Apple is rumored to announce the fifth-gen iPad (5) during a keynote event later this month. Photos of various leaked parts of the new iPad suggest that the design will be inspired by the iPad mini.

The new iPad 5 (fifth gen) is expected to be lighter, thinner and feature a smaller bezel. Back panels of the rumored device have previously appeared online but now Sonny Dickson has published high resolution images of the design.

We recently reported on a rumor published by AllThingsD that speculates Apple’s next iPad event to be held on October 22nd. The company is expected to unveil the new lineup of iPads for the holiday season.

Fifth gen iPad will be available in silver and space gray finish just like the iPhone 5s. Technical specifications of the new iPad could include A7 64-bit and an improved 8 megapixel camera.

Apple has been struggling with the production rate of Touch ID sensors on iPhone 5s due to high demand. It is unclear if the company will introduce fingerprint sensor technology in the new iPad. There has been no physical evidence of Touch ID being incorporated in the new iPad as yet.

During the iPad keynote event the Cupertino, Calif., based company will also unveil the new iPad mini. The second gen iPad mini is rumored to feature retina display.

Apple hasn’t sent out any media invitation for the iPad event as yet. If the event is indeed scheduled for October 22nd then the media could expect the invite email early next week.

Apple is rumored to hold another special keynote event to announce the next gen iPad lineup on October 22. According to AllThingsD’s sources Apple will unveil iPad 5, second gen iPad mini, release OS X Mavericks and could share an update on Mac Pro’s availability.

The iPad focused event had been rumored to be held in October earlier. Apple announced the iPad mini in October last year and the iPad product lineup had been due for a refresh. The fifth generation iPad is widely expected to share the design language of iPad mini which could result in a thinner and lighter design with slimmer bezel. The new 9.7 inch iPad could run on 64-bit A7 chip that was first introduced in the iPhone 5s. Sources familiar with the matter believe that even the second gen iPad mini could feature the A7 chip.

Apple introduced Touch ID in iPhone 5s this year to encourage more customers to set a passcode and yet find it easier and very intuitive to unlock their device. It is not clear if this fingerprint technology will make it to the iPad. However, it is possible that the new iPad 5 could feature the Touch ID.

Second gen iPad mini has long been rumored to feature a retina display and many leaks in the recent past suggest that second gen iPad mini will finally feature the high resolution display.

The time and venue of the event is still unknown. AllThingsD has a good track record of predicting dates for Apple events. While there has been no official confirmation it is very likely that the iPad keynote event will be held on October 22, 2013.

New photo of iPad 5 bezel and digitizer have appeared online again. Apple.pro has published new image that appears to be of the upcoming fifth-generation iPad. This is not the first time we are seeing these images. The rumor mill in the past has leaked photos that claim to be of Apple’s next gen tablet.

The upcoming iPad 5 is expected to receive a new design similar to the iPad mini. Recent rumors and leaked images all suggest that iPad 5 will get a “narrower” bezel. The photo above was published to a Photobucket account, it shows the bezel and ribbon cable of the digitizer of the rumored fifth-gen iPad.

Apple announced the fourth-gen iPad and iPad mini in October last year and it’s likely that the company will announce the new iPad during the same time frame this year. While recent leaks all point to new hardware design for the next iPad however, the authenticity of the photo is difficult to establish.

Product leaks have become fairly common for Apple since the iPhone 4, even as Tim Cook last year during All Things D suggested he wanted to double down on product leaks, it is still an issue for Apple. With leaks about upcoming products the sales of Apple’s existing product line up take a huge hit which has been evident in Apple’s annual financial report following any major product launch.

{via MacRumors}

Update : NowhereElse.fr has revealed that the photo above is of an iPad mini part taken from a Chinese part vendor.

With rumors about a new second generation iPad mini, as well as an iPad 5, it is no surprise that Apple and authorized retailers are lowering prices on the tablet. On Tuesday, Apple cut prices on refurbished 2nd generation and 3rd generation cellular iPads, offering up to a $50 discount on the WiFi+Cellular models.

The reduced price comes just as rumors about the iPad 5 are beginning to heat up, and customers are beginning to expect a new full-sized iPad with a design similar to the current iPad mini. In early April, a refurbished iPad 2 was priced at $399, but with the discount is brought down to $349. This means that customers will be able to enjoy a total savings of $180.

If customers purchase a 32GB or a 64GB model, the iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G is available for $429 and $529, while the 32GB and 64GB models of the 3rd generation iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular are priced at $499 and $579, respectively. This is a bargain, when considering that each of the iPads will come with a standard 1 year warranty, which will cover any damage or defects caused by the company’s manufacturing process. Apple is not offering any discounts on the WiFi versions of the 2nd and 3rd generation iPads, which remain priced at $319 for the 16GB iPad 2 and $379 for a 16GB third generation iPad.

Apple’s refurbished devices are required to pass a series of stringent checks, in order for the company to ensure that customers receive a device that is fully operational. Each defective device that is refurbished receives a new shell and a new battery. The only remaining pieces of the older device are the cameras, chips, etc. Essentially, customers are receiving a brand new device, with the same 1 year standard warranty as a new iPad at a discount.

By reducing prices, Apple is likely clearing out stock before the iPad 5 arrives, which will eventually will also be sold as refurbished. It is unclear if Apple plans to reduce prices on the refurbished iPad mini prior to a refresh, however, there is some time left as the new model isn’t expected until the September timeframe.

{Via MacRumors}

On Monday, a set of photos were posted by a case company called Tactus with claims that the parts in the images belonged to the rumored iPad 5. A separate report also leaked images of what it claimed to be genuine iPhone 5S parts. Tactus had published an image earlier this week of what it claimed to be the rear shell for Apple’s upcoming lower cost iPhone.

Now, the company has posted what appears to be the rear shell of the rumored iPad 5. The shell, which has the same slate color currently seen in the iPad mini and iPod lineup suggests that this part may be genuine. For the past several months, numerous reports have claimed that Apple’s iPad 5 would have a design similar to the current iPad mini.

This would allow the company to sync up all of its devices in terms of design and use the same materials and color scheme on their entire iOS lineup. This is the first time the entire interior is seen, since the initial reports that go back as early as January. Apple has yet to set up an event or a timeframe to release the iPad 5, however, several reports are suggesting that this time frame will likely be around September. The September timeframe is in accordance with previous releases of iOS devices, including the iPod touch, iPhone 5 and the iPad mini.

Alongside the image of the claimed iPad 5 rear shell, Japanese parts shop Moumantai posted a pair of photos showing what it claims to be the nano-SIM tray from the iPhone 5S. The trays appear to be identical to those currently seen in the iPhone 5, which may suggest the screen size and depth of the device will likely remain the same in the next generation. In the report, Moumantai noted that the iPhone 5S trays were in several colors, including gray and bronze/gold colors, however, it is possible that this was done to match the Slate/Black and White/Silver colors of the iPhones themselves.

Despite the site claiming that the SIM trays are from the upcoming iPhone 5S, it is hard to tell which parts are genuine and which parts are older pieces from the current iPhone 5. Parts for the iPhone 5S have surfaced earlier this year, however, there has not yet been any solid claims that suggests that the parts may be any different than anything seen before.

{Via MacRumors}

French site Noweherelse.fr released a report with images of a purported iPad 5 screen, which shows a thinner bezel, similar to the current iPad mini. Reports and mockups from earlier this year also showed a full sized iPad next to the iPad mini with a very similar.

The new iPad 5 is also expected to use the same color scheme as the current iPhone 5, and iPad mini, with the Black bezel matching with the slate back and the white bezel matching with the silver. Case designs from early last month also suggest that the iPad 5 will be very similar to the iPad mini. It is unclear when the iPad 5 will debut, although a number of sources have suggested that an event may be held as early as this month.

Others suggest that Apple will release it during its normal Fall timeframe, as they did with the iPad mini and the 4th generation iPad. It is not surprising that Apple is adopting the IPad mini design for its iPad 5, especially when considering that it is the only iOS device that has yet remained unchanged from the black and silver design and the thick bezel.

{Via MacRumors}

According to a report from The Korea Times, Apple is now looking at removing Samsung from its upcoming A7 chip development process. This means that Apple is looking at taking its chip development for the upcoming iPad and next generation of iOS devices to another company. The report notes that Apple will be moving the development to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

Apple is sharing confidential data for its next A7 system-on-chip (SoC) with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). TSMC has begun ordering its contractors to supply equipment to produce Apple’s next processors using a finer 20-nanometer level processing technology,” said an executive at one of Samsung’s local partners in Korea by telephone, Wednesday.

Samsung is reportedly taking steps to cover the gap that Apple will leave once it removes its business, with the South Korean company looking to produce graphics chips for NVIDIA as well as its already existing handset production. Apple and TSMC are reported to be working together on a 20-nm A7 design, which will likely appear on next year’s models of iOS devices.

This year’s iPad 5 and iPad mini models are expected to receive updated versions of the company’s A6 chip with a transition from 32-nm to 28-nm. The iPad mini will likely receive the new A6X chip, which is currently in the 4th generation iPad/

{Via MacRumors}

A number of retailers are lowering prices on Apple’s iPad lineup, suggesting a possible refresh in the near future. Apple is expected to announce the release date for a brand new iPad 5 with a design similar to the current iPad mini. The company is also expected to release an iPad mini with a Retina Display, among other features. On Wednesday, Walmart lowered the price of the iPad mini to $299, offering customers a reasonable discount and matching the price of the iPad with that of the new fifth generation iPod touch.

Now, Best Buy appears to be following suit, lowering prices on older models of the iPad, specifically the third generation iPad by up to 30 percent. This means that a 16GB WiFi model will now be only $315, as opposed to the same model from Apple, which is currently being sold as a refurbished unit for $379. However, the Richfield, Minnesota based company is restricting the discount to in-store pickup only and the selection of devices is different for each location.

This likely means that the company may have a limited supply of third generation iPads and is looking towards a possible refresh. Overall, customers who purchase the older model will be able to buy a full sized iPad, running the same A5 processor as the current iPad mini, and a Retina Display as well. In terms of price, with Best Buy’s discount, the purchase is not bad for customers who don’t care for yearly software and hardware upgrades.

{Via MacRumors}

With the web abuzz with rumors of a new iPad 5 with an iPad mini-like design and even a redesigned mini with a Retina Display, retailers are beginning to slash prices on the device. On Wednesday, Walmart began selling Apple’s iPad mini for $299, marking one of the first price drops for the device since its release.

The $299 price point is only available for the 16GB WiFi iPad mini and is the same price that Apple is currently selling its refurbished units for. The iPad mini, from both Walmart and Apple still come with the Cupertino company’s standard 1 year warranty on all of its products and accessories. However, if the iPad mini is purchased from Walmart, the customer will be receiving a new device, as opposed to Apple’s refurbished units.

If a customer decides to partake in this deal, they may go through the in-store pickup process, giving them the option reserve a device online and then pick up in the store. It also appears that the “ship to home” option is also available, even though it was not when the deal originally went up. It is unclear if other retailers will begin to lower prices on Apple’s iPad. However, if other retailers do decide to follow suit with Walmart’s discount, it may be very soon, especially since Apple is expected to introduce a new lineup of iPads in the next several months.

Rumors about Apple working on an iPad 5 with an iPad mini style design have been on the web for several weeks now. However, images of a purported iPad 5 case, based off of recent rumors suggests that the updated version of the current 9.7” tablet will carry a slimmer and lighter profile as well as a thinner bezel.

The “iPad 5” case, which was created by Apple accessory manufacturer MiniSuit shows what appears to be a thinner and flatter design, similar to the rear shell of the current iPad mini. The company notes that they created the case based on specs that they received from reliable sources.

In the images of the iPad 5 case, there appears to be a hole directly in the center of the case, suggesting that Apple may have relocated the mic from the top of the iPad (where it is now) to the backside. The back of the iPad is a more convenient location, easier to build and picks up sound when talking on FaceTime or recording video.

With the iPad 5, Apple is expected to retain the same 9.7” screen, while reducing the bezels as on the iPad mini. Apple may also have to rearrange the internal components and put in smaller chips and processors in order to make the device thinner than the current generation.

It is unclear when Apple plans to announce the release date for the new iPad 5 or even the rumored iPad mini refresh, however, it is likely that the 9.7” tablet will arrive anytime between March and October of this year. Prior to this timeframe, case manufacturers will begin to develop cases based entirely on speculations and rumors. Although Apple does release the specs after releasing the device, a number of case manufacturers generate more income by selling cases on the first official day an iPad is available.

{Via MacRumors}

The web has been abuzz for the past several weeks, with reports suggesting that Apple is looking to release a thinner and lighter iPad 5. Earlier this week, photos of what was claimed to be the iPad 5 (fifth generation iPad) surfaced, with what appeared to be a nearly identical albeit larger body.

Now, a new report from Digitimes claims that Apple will be adopting the same G/F2 (DITO) thin-film display technology currently in use in the iPad mini for the upcoming refresh of the full-sized iPad. Digitimes also claims that the new displays would come from a mix of different suppliers.

The supply chain for Apple’s next-generation 9.7-inch iPad will be similar to the iPad mini’s, with Japan-based Nitto expected to supply thin-film materials and Nissha Printing touch screen modules, noted the sources. Taiwan-based TPK will be responsible for the device’s lamination while LG Display (LGD) and Sharp will provide panels.

It is likely that by ordering displays from a number of different suppliers, Apple can avoid supply constraints as with the iPad mini and delays in the event that one of the suppliers had issues with production. Supply constraints on the iPad mini, which were related to this display technology have since been resolved, however, it is unclear if the suppliers will run into further issues producing displays for a larger sized screen.

However, in the photos released earlier, the claimed fifth gen iPad appeared to be smaller than the current full-sized model, so it is unclear exactly what Apple plans to do to address any potential display issues.

{Via MacRumors}

Images of what appear to be for the upcoming ‘iPad 5’ surfaced online earlier this week. Initially reported by 9to5Mac, the images show that a redesigned iPad is all but confirmed for release at some point in the next few months.

While we cannot confirm that the above image is legitimate, it does provide a solid representation of what Apple’s next iPad will likely look like. We were told this is a prototype back piece for the fifth-generation iPad with a 9.7-inch display. We were also told that the casing is almost as thin as the iPad mini’s back (pictured to the right). As you can see at the top of the purported iPad 5 backplate, this casing would likely be for an LTE model – as the black antenna cut implies.

As 9to5Mac reported, the casing shown in the images appear to be for an LTE model, and carries the same Black/Slate design of the current iPad mini. It is unclear what the internals of the device will consist of, however, it may include a better rear facing camera and perhaps a faster A7 or A7X processor as seen in the past with the iPad 3 and 4.

According to iLounge, if the iPad 5 is to receive the Slate design on the back, it will also get the same “iPad mini-esque” chamfered edges and curves.

What does it look like? Well, it’s a lot smaller than one would guess was possible: in portrait orientation, picture a 9.7” screen with virtually no left or right bezels, and only enough space above and below the screen to accommodate the mandatory camera and Home Button elements.

Following initial reports, speculators began to suggest that based on the images of the purported ‘iPad 5’ case, it is likely that the overall device will smaller as seen in the following image, where a user overlayed the leaked image atop a current generation iPad.

Since the release of the iPad mini, many rumors have suggested that the full-sized iPad would eventually take on the look of the smaller device. Specifically, the full sized iPad is expected to take on the same rounded edges, chamfered edges, Slate back and overall design as the iPod Touch and iPhone 5 have.

(Via MacRumors}