Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 17:54, 28 October 2013

iPad Mini (2nd generation)

Developer	Apple Inc.
Manufacturer	Foxconn
Product family	iPad
Type	Tablet computer
Operating system	Original: iOS 7.0.3
System on a chip	Apple A7
Storage	16, 32, 64 or 128 GB flash memory
Display	7.9-inch (200.66 mm) diagonal LED-backlit Multi-Touch display with IPS technology 2048 x 1536  px at 326 PPI 4:3 aspect ratio
Input	Multi-touch screen, M7 motion co-processor, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, digital compass
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Bluetooth 4.0 GSM UMTS / HSDPA 850, 1900, 2100 MHz GSM / EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz CDMA CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A 800, 1900 MHz GSM LTE 700, 2100 MHz UMTS / HSDPA/HSPA+ / DC-HSDPA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz GSM / EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz CDMA LTE 700 MHz CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A 800, 1900 MHz UMTS / HSDPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz GSM / EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
Online services	App Store, iTunes Store, iBookstore, iCloud, Game Center
Weight	Wi-Fi: 331 g (0.730 lb) Wi-Fi + LTE: 341 g (0.752 lb)
Predecessor	iPad Mini
Website	http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini/

The second-generation iPad Mini (marketed as the iPad mini with Retina display, colloquially referred to as the iPad Mini 2), is a tablet computer produced and marketed by Apple Inc. It has an almost identical design to its predecessor but features an internal revision such as the addition of the A7 system-on-a-chip and 2,048 x 1,536 resolution Retina Display. Internally, the iPad Mini 2 has nearly the same hardware as its sibling device, the iPad Air. Apple is planning to release the iPad Mini 2 in late November 2013.

History

The iPad Mini 2 was announced at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on October 22, 2013.

Features

Software

The iPad Mini 2 comes with the iOS 7 operating system, released on September 18, 2013. Jonathan Ive, the designer of iOS 7's new elements, described the update as "bringing order to complexity", highlighting features such as refined typography, new icons, translucency, layering, physics, and gyroscope-driven parallaxing as some of the major changes to the design. The design of both iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks (version 10.9) noticeably depart from skeuomorphic elements such as green felt in Game Center, wood in Newsstand, and leather in Calendar, in favor of flatter graphic design.

It can act as a hotspot with some carriers, sharing its Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, and also access the Apple App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS. The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with Xcode and the iOS SDK and were published through Apple. From the App Store, GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, and the iWork apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) are available.

The iPad Mini 2 comes with several pre-installed applications , including Siri, Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts. Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes, although iOS 5 and later can be managed and backed up without a computer. Although the tablet is not designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone to place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype. The device has a dictation application, using the same voice recognition technology as the iPhone 4S. This enables users to speak and the iPad types what they say on the screen, though the iPad must have an internet connection available (via Wi-Fi or cellular network) due to the feature's reliance on Apple servers to translate the speech.

The iPad Mini 2 has an optional iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore. Several major book publishers including Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have committed to publishing books for the device. Despite being a direct competitor to both the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook, both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble offer e-reader apps for the iPad.

Siri, an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator, is included. The application uses a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Web services. Apple claims that the software adapts to the user's individual preferences over time and personalizes results. iOS 7 adds new male and female voices, new system setting functionalities, a redesign to match the rest of the operating system, and integration with Twitter, Misplaced Pages, Bing, and Photos. Facebook comes integrated through Apple's native apps. Facebook features can be directly accessed from within native apps such as Calendar which can sync Facebook events, or use Facebook's like button from within the Apple App Store. iTunes Radio, an internet radio service, is also included on the iPhone 5S. It is a free, ad-supported service available to all iTunes users, featuring Siri integration on iOS. Users are able to skip tracks, customize stations, and purchase the station's songs from the iTunes Store. Users can also search through their history of previous songs.

Design

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2013)

The iPad Mini 2 largely has the same design as the first iPad Mini, with the notable change of the Retina Display.

Hardware

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2013)

The iPad Mini 2 inherits hardware components from the iPhone 5S, such as its 64-bit Apple A7 system-on-chip and Apple M7 motion processor. It also includes a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.2 MP FaceTime HD front-facing camera, support for 802.11n, and an estimated 10 hours of battery life.

As with all previous generations of iPad hardware, there are four buttons and one switch on the iPad Mini 2. With the device in its portrait orientation, these are: a "home" button on the face of the device under the display that returns the user to the home screen, a wake/sleep button on the top edge of the device, and two buttons on the upper right side of the device performing volume up/down functions, under which is a switch whose function varies according to device settings, functioning either to switch the device into or out of silent mode or to lock/unlock the orientation of the screen. In addition, the WiFi only version weighs 331 grams while the cellular model weighs 341 grams – slightly more than their respective predecessors. The display responds to other sensors: an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness and a 3-axis accelerometer to sense orientation and switch between portrait and landscape modes. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch's built-in applications, which work in three orientations (portrait, landscape-left and landscape-right), the iPad's built-in applications support screen rotation in all four orientations, including upside-down. Consequently, the device has no intrinsic "native" orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes.

The tablet is manufactured either with or without the capability to communicate over a cellular network. All models can connect to a wireless LAN via Wi-Fi. The iPad Mini 2 is available with 16, 32, 64 or 128 GB of internal flash memory, with no expansion option. Apple sells a "camera connection kit" with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos.

References

1. Apple iPad Mini gets Retina Display
2. "Apple decks out venue for iPad event next week". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
3. Souppouris, Aaron (September 10, 2013). "iOS 7 will come to iPhones and iPads on September 18th". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
4. ^ Cue, Eddy; Cook, Tim; Federighi, Craig; Ive, Jony et al. (June 10, 2013). WWDC 2013 Keynote. Moscone West, San Francisco, California: Apple Inc. Event occurs at c.1h 25min, to end. Retrieved October 22, 2013. {{cite AV media}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |authors= (help)
5. Ankan Deka, Jim (September 14, 2011). "iPad – the Musician's Genie". EF News International. Eastern Fare Music Foundation. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
6. "The new iPad – Amazing iPad apps, built right in". Apple. March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
7. Sarno, David (January 29, 2010). "Apple confirms 3G VoIP apps on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Skype is waiting". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
8. "The new iPad: It's a Breakthrough because it features are". Apple. March 7, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
9. Patel, Nilay (January 27, 2010). "The Apple iPad: starting at $499". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
10. Topolsky, Joshua (January 27, 2010). "Live from the Apple 'latest creation' event". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
11. Electronista Staff (December 9, 2009). "Apple tablet due March, to get Kindle-killer book deal?". Electronista. MacNN. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
12. "Free Kindle Reading Apps". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
13. "Free NOOK app for iPad, Download eReader app – Barnes & Noble". Barnes and Noble. April 20, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
14. "Apple – iOS 7 – Siri". Apple Inc. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
15. "iOS 7 Features". Apple Inc. June 13, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
16. Clark, Jason (August 28, 2013). "Platform Updates: Facebook SDK for iOS 7 and Promotions Updates". Facebook. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
17. Davies, Chris (September 18, 2013). "Facebook and Twitter get iOS 7 app refresh". SlashGear. R3 Media. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
18. "Apple - iTunes Radio - Hear where your music takes you". Apple Inc. June 10, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
19. ^ "iPad Mini– Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
20. "Apple's got it wrapped up for Christmas!". The Daily Mail. October 23, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.

External links

• iPad Mini – official site

• IPad
• Apple Inc. hardware
• IOS (Apple)
• Tablet computers
• Touchscreen portable media players
• Products introduced in 2013