Hey Spec Tech readers. Welcome to a new week with shocking news from Apple and Android about launching some new devices.
This week Apple gave another press conference where they announced the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display for $1699. It has a 2.5GHz dual-core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB flash storage. It also has a FaceTime HD camera. You can purchase it now at Apple’s website.
Apple also announced the new iMac which is only 5mm thick! The 27-inch iMac comes with a 2.9GHz quad-core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and a 1TB hard drive. It starts at $1799 and ships in November. There is also an i7 processor version as well as a 21-inch version.
Apple has revealed some shocking news. Apple typically updates products once a year-- but not this time. Apple has killed the 3rd generation iPad after only six months! The 4th generation iPad—now called iPad with Retina Display-- will have an A6X processor, a FaceTime HD camera and have the new Lightning connector. You can pre-order tomorrow and it ships Nov. 2. The iPad 2 will continue to sell at $399.
Apple didn’t announce one iPad, but two! The rumored iPad Mini is here. It sports a 7.9-inch screen, an A5 processor (same as iPad 2), 4G LTE, the lightning connector and comes in slate black and silver.
Sprint is also a new 4G LTE carrier for both of these new iPads. AT&T and Verizon continue to provide service as well.
Apple compared it to the Google Nexus 7 proving how much better the Mini is than the Nexus--but the price is not right. You can pick up a 16GB Nexus for $249 or the new iPad Mini for $329! You can pre-order the iPad Mini tomorrow and it ships Nov. 2.
On Oct. 29 Google will hold its own conference where it is expected to announce the Nexus 10 from Samsung, Android 4.2 and the LG Nexus 4. The Nexus 10 will compete directly against the new iPad, with a screen better than Apple’s Retina Display.
Lastly, Microsoft has revealed that Xbox SmartGlass will launch tomorrow. This is an App that you can use with your PC, tablet, or smartphone to control the Xbox 360. It will also become a second screen with extra content. Some content that will use this feature are Dance Central 3, Halo Waypoint, ESPN, HBO GO and Univision.
That’s it for this week. Come back next week for an update on Google’s announcements
Question: Would you buy the new iPad or the iPad Mini? Email your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Top 5 Favorite Video Games (#3)
Gotta go fast!!!!!
Come back November 8th for my 2nd favorite video game of all time!
Xbox sends out updates, Best Buy announces tablet
I hope everyone had a great Fall Break. It is a big week for Microsoft, Apple sets a
date, and the Galaxy Note II finds a carrier.
Xbox is
now starting to ship out its Xbox Dashboard update. Those who were in the best, like myself, have
received the update first. It will roll
onto other consoles within the next few weeks.
It is odd that Microsoft did not update all consoles like in the
past. The update included the ability to
PIN videos, games, or other content, as well as including Internet Explorer.
The
Windows Surface RT tablet has a price and launch date! A 32GB version without a touch cover will
cost $499, but with a cover it will cost $599.
A 64GB version with a touch cover will cost $699. You can pre-order all of these models
now. They will ship out October 26th
with the launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT.
The $499 delivery date has been pushed back to 3 weeks because of the
amount of pre-orders at the time this article was written.
Apple
doesn’t like Microsoft having all the spotlight, so Apple sent out invites to
an event next Tuesday, October 23rd
with the tag line, “We’ve got a little more to show you.”. Apple is likely to announce the iPad Mini and
a 13-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro.
The
Samsung Galaxy Note II has found a home on Sprint’s network. It is expected to launch October 25th
with a $299.99 price tag. It will launch
with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and sport a hug 5.5-inch display.
Best
Buy has announced its own 9.7-inch tablet.
It will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a dual-core 1GHz
processor. It will launch on November 11th
with a $239 or $259 price tag.
That’s
it for this week folks. Check out the
Spec Tech Blog this weekend for the video for my #3 favorite video game of all
time.
Question
of the Week: Would you buy an iPad now or wait for the Windows Surface RT?
Email me at smsetser@valdosta.edu
New iPod Touch arrives, PETA against Pokemon features
Welcome to another weeks of rumors, new phones, and odd
news. This week, Nokia chooses a carrier
for the Lumia 920, the iPod Touch launches, and PETA launches a campaign
against Pokémon!
The new
iPod Touch seems to be shipping its pre-orders to customers before giving an
official release date. These new iPods
should arrive around October 15th.
The new iPod Nano’s still have no release date and have not shipped.
An analyst
has reported that a new BlackBerry 10 device will not release until March of
2013. RIM was suggesting a January
release, but it looks like it will be a while until the new phones
release. RIM has had phone troubles for
a long time and BlackBerry 10 is its last hope to survive.
The
highly anticipated Nokia Lumia 920 will release exclusively with AT&T-much
like the Lumia 900 did. The phone is
reported to have a November release date.
It will be running Windows Phone 8.
Speaking
of Windows Phone 8, AT&T will reportedly offer pre-orders for its Windows
Phones- the HTC 8X and Nokia Lumia 920.
It will also hold pre-orders for its Windows 8 and Windows RT devices-
the Samsung Ativ Smart PC and Asus Vivo Tab RT.
In the weirdest
news, PETA, the animal rights group, is going after Nintendo’s Pokémon series
for animal abuse. PETA says that even
though Pokémon are virtual animals, they are still very real. A Pokémon in a Pokéball is the same as an
elephant chained up in a cage. PETA has
created a spoof of the game called Pokémon Black and Blue: Gotta Free ‘Em All
on its website.
This is
not the first time PETA has attacked Nintendo.
A few months ago they attacked Mario for the tanooki animal skin that
Mario uses to fly.
Windows
Phone 8 might finally have a device for Verizon customers. A leaked image of the Nokia Lumia 820,
renamed the Nokia Atlas will sell as a mid-range phone for Verizon sometime
after October 29th.
Lastly,
a Samsung executive let slip that a Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is coming soon. It will have a 4-inch screen to directly
compete with the iPhone 5.
That’s
it for the week, I hope everyone has a fun and safe fall break! Let’s hope the
weather finally cools down.
Questions
of the week: Are you interested in a
Windows Phone 8 handset? Post your answers on http://vsuspectech.blogspot.com/ or
email at smsetser@valdosta.edu
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