Amazon Kindle Fire HD vs. iPad Mini

Amazon, not surprisingly, says it's advantage Kindle Fire HD, in a comparison with the iPad Mini.(Credit: Amazon/Screenshot by CNET's Jonathan Skillings) Amazon is understandably partial to its Kindle Fire HD. And it surely wants you to feel the same way, especially given the splashy arrival of a new kid tablet in town.The e-commerce giant with the tablet business sideline today spruced up its home page with a big, blatant comparison of the Kindle Fire HD against the iPad Mini, unveiled just days ago by Apple. There's no mistaking the conclusion Amazon wants to leave in your mind, what with the supersize typeface proclaiming "Much More for Much Less." That would be the Kindle Fire HD, of course. In Amazon's estimation, it's pretty much all about the visuals. (Well, and the price tag, too.) The "stunning" display of the Kindle Fire HD has "30% more pixels" than the iPad Mini and its "standard definition, low-resolution" display. The pixel count, Amazon helpfully makes explicit, is 216 per inch for the Kindle Fire HD, 163 per inch for the iPad Mini.

To bring things off the spec sheet and more into your living room, Amazon comes right out to say that its tablet lets you "watch HD movies and TV." The iPad Mini? Not so much, Amazon declares. The Kindle Fire HD also has the advantage in speakers and Wi-Fi, according to its maker.

Amazon provides a link that lets you "shop now" for the $199 Kindle Fire HD, but the e-tailer provides no such service for the $329 iPad Mini. (The prices are shown in large type, lest you miss the big differential.)

For a more complete comparison, and one with less of a vested interest, I would point you to a very thorough rundown done by my colleague Jessica Dolcourt, which also throws Google's Nexus 7 in for good measure: "iPad Mini vs.Google Nexus 7 vs. Amazon Kindle Fire HD."

Just the other day, Amazon, while reporting its rather troubled third-quarter earnings, declared the Kindle Fire HD to be its best-selling product. Meanwhile, the urge to buy the iPad Mini seems to be a strong one, as shipments for some models slipped to 2 weeks within minutes of the Apple device going on sale.

Windows 8 - Its It Your Choice?

Windows 8 New Release Just Came Out. A Lot

Of People Are Wondering If Its For Them. Well In

This Article We Break Down The Two Differences 

And What Windows 8 Has To Bring To You And

Your Computer. 

Windows 8 began selling on Friday, Oct. 26. Now that the latest version of Windows is on the market, is it time for you to upgrade?

Have you decided if you will upgrade yet, or are you interested in a new Windows 8 PC or tablet? Microsoft has been preparing the marketplace with advertising and TV commercials. Now that it's here, the advertising is likely to increase heavily. Here are some important things you should be clear about before making a purchase.

First and foremost, Windows 8 is a dramatic departure from previous versions of Windows. Some may view this as a good thing and some may not. The look and feel of your computer has become a very personal thing, and technology enthusiasts are likely to embrace the challenge of a completely redesigned operating environment. Those who do not like change may wind up loathing the new interface. Only time will tell. Because the user experience has changed so significantly, I'm beginning to develop an impression that Windows 8 will be far more of a consumer product than a business product, but as I just said, only time will tell.

So why do I say this? Let's first look at the current landscape. Windows 7 has become a familiar desktop operating environment that both businesses and consumers have come to rely on.

We all know how to navigate our Windows Desktop and the Start Menu to find our files and programs.

Windows 8 introduces a new desktop environment called the Metro Interface, which is a tiled interface characterized by numerous square tiles across what has been the traditional Windows Desktop.

The Desktop still exists, but it is accessed from a tile and once there, the Start Menu is no more — the tiled interface is your new start menu, if you will.

This fundamental change is likely to cause some anxiety among those who are quite comfortable with the traditional Windows Desktop.

The other significant change is that there are now two very different versions of Windows 8. Windows 8 RT is a somewhat limited version of Windows 8 that will run on Microsoft's new Surface tablets.

You are likely seeing a lot of advertising for these new Surface tablets this weekend, as this will be the first major Windows 8 hardware and software device to hit the market.

While the Surface tablets run Windows 8, it's very important that you understand they are running Windows 8 RT, which is not the same as Windows 8. Windows 8 RT will not run traditional Windows applications.

You will not be able to install Microsoft Office or QuickBooks on Windows 8 RT, as an example. All apps for Windows 8 RT will have to be purchased from the new Windows Store, no differently than how iPad applications have to be purchased from the iTunes store.

However, just because an app is in the Windows Store, does not necessarily mean it will run on a Windows 8 RT Surface tablet.

You will have to make absolutely certain that the app will run on Windows 8 RT. There will be a version of Microsoft Office for Windows 8 RT, however, it will not be ready for a few more months.

Surface tablets will initially come with preview versions of the software.

There will be a Windows 8 version of the Surface, called the Surface Pro Tablet, which will run Windows 8 and any Windows application, so if you intend to get a Surface tablet to run Microsoft Office and QuickBooks, you will have to wait until January when the Surface Pro is set to release.

The Surface tablets available with Windows 8 RT today will not do what you want.

This is where things are not as clear as I would have liked to see, especially for business customers.

Windows 8 presents such a dramatic change that I don't see many businesses wanting to adopt the new operating system until sufficient time passes to allow the manufacturers of critical business systems software to test their applications on the new operating system and resolve any issues that may exist.

Fortunately, when it comes to things like printers and other peripherals, all the devices that work with Windows 7 are supposed to seamlessly work with Windows 8, as the drivers are all compatible.

This has been a major hassle in prior introductions of new operating systems, as the software drivers that control the interaction with the hardware had to be completely re-written and there were lots of compatibility issues.

We should not have to confront that issue this time, however, on the pure software side, the new Metro user interface will require software companies to redevelop their software to support this new operating environment.

Windows 8 is likely to be a success, but the adoption in the business world will almost certainly trail that of the consumer space. The focus on touch technology, at this point, is not as widely used in the workplace as it is at home. If you're thinking about new computers that may come with Windows 8, a new Surface tablet or an upgrade to your existing computer, be sure you do your research or consult with an expert to help you make informed decisions that you will be pleased with.

Looking To Buy A New iPad Mini For The Holidays?

Apple has been selling the new iPad and iPad Mini faster than they can say the word iPad. There's no doubt that their sales will increase for the holidays, but are you one of those people that contribute, or are you going to veer off into the nexus 7 or kindle fire category? 

The iPad mini has a ton of great features and specs for a higher starting price 
16GB model is $329, 32GB model is $429, 64GB model is $529, but excellent quality.
We Will Update The iPad Mini With A Review When It Is Released On November 2!


Kindle Fire 

PROS

• Great-looking IPS screen
• Much-improved design
• Strong WiFi performance
• Extensive content selection

CONS

• Occasionally sluggish performance
• Constant sales pitches

BOTTOMLINE

Amazon's Kindle Fire HD is a big step forward over the original Fire, but still a little too customized to appeal to more serious tablet users.

ASUS Nexus 7  

PROS

• Quality look and feel
• Great display
• Solid performance
• Killer price

CONS

• Limited storage

BOTTOMLINE

Google's first Nexus tablet is a home run, besting the Kindle Fire and handily securing the position of the best budget 7-inch tablet.

Apple's iPad Mini - Has Microsoft And Amazon Scrambling

Despite it's higher-than-expected price of $329, the debut of Apple's new smaller iPad, the iPad mini, this week looks to have created the kind of frenzy the company is famous for. Apple has already sold out of the white ipad mini during the pre-order period, and now the company is readying a 4G LTE version of the tablet for release on Nov. 21, according to tech blog 9to5Mac.

A report in the Apple-centric blog indicates Apple may start shipping iPad Mini tablets with 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless connectivity sooner than expected, arriving to customers on Nov. 21 with expedited shipping. The LTE-ready version starts at $459, while the WiFi-only iPad Mini starts at $329.

While Apple itself hasn't commented, it's possible the early sell-out of the devices was due to issues with the iPad mini's display panel. An NPD DisplaySearch report by Senior Analyst Richard Shim, said that although Apple is expanding its partner base for the iPad Mini, issues with the display panel would limit initial shipments.

Either way, the iPad mini is already off to an impressive start, and if analysts' predictions for the device are correct, this is the start of even bigger sales figures to come. According to research firm IHS, the iPad Mini could help the 7-inch tablet market double in size in 2012 and 2013. IHS noted that the report's projections were conservative figures that could be affected not only by demand for a smaller Apple tablet, but how well Apple would be able to meet demand.

Tech site Eweek also notes that, "Expected high demand for the Apple tablets in Asia could also drive sales to extraordinary levels."

The debut of Apple's iPad mini has left Amazon and Microsoft both scrambling to make cases for its tablets, in many cases by disparaging Apple's new tablet.

According to The Unofficial Apple Weblog, Amazon reportedly e-mailed a select group of customers a survey about the iPad Mini, shortly after its announcement this week.

The highly technical questionnaire, which is similar to surveys the company has sent on other topics in the past, asks customers to rate how Amazon's $199 7-inch Kindle Fire HD stacks up next to 7.9-inch tablet Apple unveiled Oct. 23.

"The new iPad Mini screen has a resolution of 1,024 by 768, corresponding to 163 pixels per inch," the questionnaire says. "If another device offered a detail of 216 pixels per inch, how would you rate it compared to the iPad Mini?" The comparison is a reference to the Kindle Fire HD - which offers just that resolution - according to The Unofficial Apple Weblog, which published Amazon's questionnaire.

"It looks like Amazon is trying to figure out if customers want an iPad," says Rishi Shah, a marketing consultant and blogger.

The questionnaire tries to gauge how the Kindle matches up against the new competition, he says, and even offers a $5 Amazon gift card as a reward for returning it.

There's nothing "clandestine" about such market research, says consumer advocate Edgar Dworksy. "Maybe they want to get a sense of new features that would be of the most interest," he says.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos also spent a good amount of time on a quarterly earnings call Oct. 25 comparing the Kindle's specs to those of the iPad mini, which suggests Amazon is very anxious about Apple's new smaller tablet and wracking its brain to come up with a solution, says Peter Hildick-Smith, president of market researcher Codex Group. "Amazon is clearly concerned about its growing, direct competition with the world's most highly valued company," he says.

Amazon's consternation with Apple's iPad mini could be a sign Amazon knows its fighting a losing battle in terms of the higher-end tablet market, studies suggest.

The iPad Mini has many advantages over other 7-inch $199 tablets, according to a report this week by JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowtiz. The larger screen size, faster iO6 software and "look-and-feel" give it an edge over cheaper rivals, the report says. Since the price gap is also closing between the Kindle and the iPad, "Amazon is gearing up for a features war," says tech expert and blogger Jakob Nielsen.

Microsoft has been more brazen and direct in taking shots at Apple's iPad Mini. President of Windows and Windows Live, Steven Sinofsky said that Microsoft and its PC-making partners have found a way to deliver modern computing at a price far less than Apple.

He noted that there are full-featured Windows 8 laptops that sell for $279. "These are fantastic machines," Sinofsky said at the Oct. 25 launch of Windows 8 and the Surface tablet. At the iPad mini's price you can get a computer good enough to last a student through college, he said.

"It's $279," he said referring to some Windows 8 laptops. "Here we are, talking about seven-inch recreational tablets for $329."

Sinofsky said he is very pleased with the range of computers produced by the likes of Acer, Lenovo and Dell. He emphasized that there are numerous thin, light, touch-screen Ultrabooks that sell for hundreds less than Apple's $999 MacBook Air.

"It's not just discounting," Sinofsky said. "It's engineering work that drives the cost down."

iPad Mini Specs

You'll be able to get an iPad Mini Wi-Fi model in three memory configurations starting on November 2: $329 for 16GB, $429 for 32GB, and $529 for 64GB. Two weeks later on November 16, we'll see Wi-Fi + 4G models hit the shelves at $459 for 16GB, $559 for 32GB, and $659 for 64GB.

The 1,024x768-pixel resolution matches that of the iPad 2, but on a 7.9-inch display. "This definitely isn't Retina Display, but it's better-than-iPad-2 display. Videos look excellent, and the IPS screen has great wide-viewing angles," said CNET.

Includes a front-facing 720p-capable FaceTime camera, and a 5-megapixel back camera, and also supports 4G LTE, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi at 5.2Ghz, Bluetooth 4.0, and will use Apple's Lightning connector, first seen on the iPhone 5.

Apple claims that the Mini has a 10-hour battery life.

iPad Mini Review And Reasons To Buy

Don't know if you wanna get the iPad Mini or not, well hopefully this awesome video will help you lean towards a direction. 

 Credit for video goes tovalsartdiary  Check out her channel for more GREAT reviews!

Apple Already Sold Out of White iPad Mini

Apple started pre-orders for the iPad mini and 4th Generation iPad early this morning at 3AM Eastern / 12AM Pacific. As noted in our forums, the initial stock of White iPad minis sold out quickly in the U.S. Within the first 17 minutes, ship dates for the white iPad mini slipped to 2 weeks from the original "Delivers 11/2". The black Wi-Fi iPad mini remains available for delivery by November 2nd.

Of course, its hard to tell how much of the stock out is related to high demand vs. low supply. We suspect stocks may have been low as others have noted that countries outside the U.S. listed "2 week" delivery times from the first moment the white iPad minis went on sale. 

As typical, Apple will also offer the iPad mini in retail stores on launch day. Apple keeps a sizable stock of devices to be available on the official launch day of products. The Wi-Fi iPad mini will be available in retail stores starting on November 2nd. Meanwhile, the cellular version is promised by mid-November.

Apple’s iPad Mini Now Available For Pre-Order

Time has come to finally pre-order your iPad Mini after the big anticipated release date. Apple has now launched the official pre-order on the mobile app, and in  the online store. Customers can now pick any version of the 4th generation iPad or iPad mini for the first batch of orders. If you're looking to have the iPad mini in your hands by november 2nd, You'll have to get the Wi-Fi only versions. The Wi-Fi with cellular will be available a couple weeks later. Which was mentioned in apples speech on tuesday. Shoppers in the U.S will be able to get the LTE versions shipped by mid november. Other markets including canada shows estimated shipping in late November, as well as the 4th generation iPad. Apple hasn't yet listed why the Wi-Fi with cellular versions are being shipped out two weeks later. CEO Ted Cook talked about the challenges of the ipad Mini manufacturing process. That Could Be The Main Reasoning Behind The Delay. You have to live in one of the launch Countries to be able to pre-order today. Included Countries Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. A few other regions, including Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Liechtentein, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. also on sale November 2 at select retailers, but customers in those locales won't be able to pre-order. Thats much more of a launch pool than the 3rd gen ipads 12 kick off markets. 

What i wanna know is who’s getting the iPad mini and or the 4th generation iPad this morning or if your not going to,what’s your reason for doing so?

Is The iPad Mini A Bust?

So when Apple announced their latest products. A new, extremely thin iMac, a 13" Retina Macbook Pro, and, perhaps the most interesting; the iPad Mini. You might be thinking the same thing I was. An iPad Mini? Isn't that just an iPod? Well, you might be right... 

In true Apple fashion, the details that were released were mostly marketing guff. It looks like it's literally just a smaller iPad. The new iPad Mini is intended to compete with the wide range of ultra-cheap android tablets. The iPad is a fairly high end device in relation to the rest of the tablet market, but you are getting what you pay for. The iPad is, without discrepancy, the best option in the tablet market. Although android is developing, it still cannot compete with the simplicity and power of iOS. The problem with making something cheaper is, you often have to sacrifice the amount of hardware in a device, or the quality of the hardware. This is something which Apple has been meticulous about in the past: quality. So, we can assume that if the iPad Mini really is as cheap or cheaper than some of it's competitors in the Android market, it will either be lacking performance, or quality. A bad quality Apple product...? So, a smaller, cheaper iPad; an ultra thin iMac, and a 13'' Retina Macbook. Nothing much on the innovation side of things. We could be seeing the beginning of the end for the (current) largest company in the world. The only thing it seems like they're doing is making things smaller and lighter. Things can only get so small and so light. Only Time Will Tell !

iPad Mini’s Gross Margin Is a Little Lower Than The Rest

The iPad mini’s gross margin is a little lower than the rest of Apple’s products at $329,CFO Peter Oppenheimer From Apple said on the company’s conference call today. He said that’s driving lower guidance for the upcoming quarter despite of Multiple new products Recently launched across its lineup.

“We’re unwilling to cut corners in delivering the best experiences in the world,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. He stressed that the company is all about setting the bar high, perhaps implying that that’s what’s making gross margins slimmer on the iPad mini.

Oppenheimer added that the company hopes to improve margins with further supply chain and manufacturing process optimization as its production of the iPad mini continues to ramp up and become more efficient and cost-effective.

Launching the iPad mini required being “aggressive” on pricing according to Apple on the call, which is why the company chose to go below its ordinary margins. In past articles, I estimated that the bill-of-materials and construction costs might put the iPad mini within Apple’s existing range in terms of gross margins on hardware products, but it seems like the company’s unique design is keeping the iPad mini costs above the range I’d suggested.

4G iPad Mini and fourth-gen iPad incoming

EE confirms launch of new iPads in the coming weeks As if a double-speed new iPad wasn't enough of a slap for recent purchasers of the erstwhile 'new iPad', it's now confirmed that  fourth-gen iPads will now be available on the super-fast 4G airwaves in a matter of weeks. EE has announced it will carry both this new iPad and the iPad Mini, with 'a range of attractive data plans' to boot. Social media is currently awash with consumer outrage at EE's 4G tariffs that start at £21/month (SIM-only) for 500MB, while Apple has already had to defend its £269 price tag for the 16GB Wi-Fi only iPad Mini - not exactly pocket change compared to the £159 five-star Nexus 7 by Asus.

EE's Orange and T-Mobile networks will also carry the two new iPads on HSPA+ networks.

EE's 4G service will be available from 30 October, while the shelf date of the iPad Mini and fourth-gen iPad is yet to be announced.

Editor: Natasha Stokes

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iPad Mini

Cook said this week there are over 700,000 apps in the App Store, including 250,000 mainly designed for the iPad. People with Apple’s iOS mobile devices -  iPhone, iPad and iPod have downloaded Over 35 million apps. Apple said they kept the pixel resolution the same on the iPad mini as on the regular iPad, which means existing apps should run without any modifications on the mini’s 7.9-inch screen. 

“This software strategy enables a distinctive ‘stickiness,’ which should enhance customer loyalty/retention over the long term as apps personalize devices to levels that competitive imitations cannot match,” Reitzes told investors in a note yesterday.

He’s also banking on the iPad mini to win over new buyers, and lift Apple’s sales next year. “The iPad mini is one of the best ways for Apple to expand the [total addressable market] for the iPad,” Retizes said. “Given Apple’s reputation for superior design, software, content delivery and overall brand the iPad seems like a market where its share could arguably be permanently higher than that of the iPhone’s.” 

He’s also banking on the iPad mini to win over new buyers, and lift Apple’s sales next year. “The iPad mini is one of the best ways for Apple to expand the [total addressable market] for the iPad,” Retizes said. “Given Apple’s reputation for superior design, software, content delivery and overall brand the iPad seems like a market where its share could arguably be permanently higher than that of the iPhone’s.”

Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray, who has a $910 price target on the shares, says investors should look beyond today’s report, saying he expects the company to outperform in 2013 on continued demand for the iPhone and iPad mni. “While the September quarter and December guide may be disappointing compared to historical trends, we remain positive on Apple given that we expect a significant ramp in iPhone 5 sales as supply issues resolve,” Munster told investors in report today. “We continue to believe that Apple will launch a TV in mid-to-late 2013, which should be positive for investor psychology around Apple’s ability to innovate.” 

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iPad Mini: Top 10 features

1. Size: The tablet is, as the company stated in its introduction, ‘as thin as a pencil’. Given its sleekness, the new ‘mini’ iPad can be held in just one hand and carried around with ease anywhere and everywhere.

2. Weight: The iPad Mini is 0.68 lbs lighter than the iPad. In fact, according to Apple, it is as light as ‘a pad of paper’. Users will have no problem holding it and using it for hours on end, even in just one hand.

3. Display Size: an ideal size for watching videos, surfing the web and checking email on the go. The screen is not too big to be inconvenient to carry around, yet not small enough to take the joy out of watching high resolution videos. 

4. Screen Resolution: By giving the iPad Mini a display resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, Apple has ensured that all of its popular apps and software work flawlessly on its new slate. Users can enjoy all of their favourite apps on the tablet right from the minute they unpack the device, without having to wait for newer versions to come up.

5. Display Area: In a comparison between an Android tablet and the iPad Mini, Apple pointed out the benefit of the larger surface area on its latest offering. With 29.6 square inches in display area, the iPad Mini offers users 35 per cent more surface for users to watch videos and play games on. Surfing the web is a delight on the tablet with 49 per cent more surface area in portrait and 67 per cent more in landscape modes. 

6. Casing: Apple has designed its latest tablet with an aluminum and glass casing that makes it durable and gives it a premium feel. We just hope the aluminum doesn’t come scratched straight out of the box like it did in the case of the iPhone 5.

7. Processor: The iPad Mini is powered by an A5 dual-core processor which is capable of rending quad-core quality graphics. Apple is confident that the chipset is well enough equipped to handle all of the iPad Mini’s complex multi-tasks with ease.

8. Operating System: As the tech world has long been expecting, the iPad Mini runs on the new and improved iOS 6 operating system. Apple’s best platform till date, it promises to take entertainment to new heights on the slate with its ever increasing collection of apps.

9. Battery: The iPad Mini is powered by the largest, thinnest single cell battery ever designed by Apple. In fact, the tech giant promises 10 hours of usage on the tablet on a single charge.

10. Cameras: One of the biggest additions on the iPad Mini is of the front facing HD Face Time camera. Users can finally enjoy video calls in high definition, something tablet enthusiasts have been seeking for a while now. Even the primary rear facing camera on the slate is a 5-megapixel iSight one, capable of recording HD video.  

The iPad Mini is designed in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB variants with both Wi-Fi and LTE versions. Prices start at $329(approx. Rs. 17,000) and go up to $659 (approx. Rs. 34,000). For more news and analysis of Apple’s latest offering, including its availability in India, stay tuned to KYMI

Latest 12W iPad Charger Will Charge Older iPads Quicker

iPad Mini Release Date Friday, November 2nd

Apple released the iPad Mini (along with other gadgets) today, after we have Waited months and months . The Ipad Mini will hit the markets on Friday, November 2nd colors include black & slate and white & silver models in the U.S.

16GB model is $329.

32GB model is $429.

64GB model is $529. 

The devices are be sold through the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores, and select Apple Authorized Resellers in the following countries: US, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular models will start shipping a couple weeks later, beginning in the U.S. on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. Pricing for these models are as follows: $459 for the 16GB model, $559 for the 32GB model and $659 (US) for the 64GB model.

                       Pre-orders begin Friday, October 26.

“iPad mini is every inch an iPad. With its gorgeous 7.9-inch display, iPad mini features the same number of pixels as the original iPad and iPad 2, so you can run more than 275,000 apps designed specifically for iPad,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPad mini is as thin as a pencil and as light as a pad of paper, yet packs a fast A5 chip, FaceTime HD and 5 megapixel iSight cameras and ultrafast wireless―all while delivering up to 10 hours of battery life.”