Hasta La Gadget!

The iPad mini is likely to be WiFi-only, sources claim, and accompanied by a refreshed iPad 3 with Lightning connector and broader LTE support, though last-minute design changes could shake up Apple’s launch. Tipped to be a 7.85-inch slate hoping to bring Apple’s tablet success to a mid-point between the existing new iPad and the iPod touch, the iPad mini will lack 3G/4G, according to the Guardian‘s insiders, so as to help keep prices down and maintain the larger model’s halo.

That would mean the only way for iPad mini owners to get online with their slate would be to find a WiFi hotspot or tether it to their phone. Still, it’s a sensible way for Apple to cut costs: the 4G 9.7-inch iPad, for instance, carries a $130 premium over its WiFi-only sibling.

As for that larger iPad, according to the newspaper’s sources, Apple is indeed preparing a minor refresh to the third-gen model. That’s believed to include a new version of the Apple A6 processor but also switch the tablet from the old-style 30-pin Dock Connector to its new Lightning port.

It would also allow Apple to tweak the 4G radio in the larger iPad to support the new EE LTE network in the UK, it’s suggested. EE will be the only UK network to support LTE in the iPhone 5, at least for the time being.

Meanwhile, current leaked images purportedly showing the iPad mini may not be as accurate as once believed, with whispers that a “major accessory company” has ceased case production at the last minute. Sources close to the unnamed firm told Macotakara that production of the cases had been frozen after Apple changed the rounded shape of the smaller tablet, though it’s not clear exactly how it has been modified.

Leaked case designs have circulated for some time now, including examples suggesting a cellular model was, indeed, on the cards. Apple is believed to be holding a launch event for the next iPad mini later this month.

Design-tweaked iPad mini WiFi-only tip insiders while iPad 3 gets Lightning is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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With the new iPad’s pretty amazing display resolution, watching movies and videos on it is probably a pretty different experience when compared to the iPad 2. If that’s what you use your iPad primarily for, then this V-luxe iPad stand might be worth checking out. As you can see in the photo above, the stand transforms your iPad into a retro-looking television set, although its price tag of $1,500 might put many off.

The V-luxe stand is compatible with all three generations of the iPad and will come with a speaker cabinet at the bottom. So what is it about the V-luxe that justifies its price tag? It is made from hardwoods such as mahogany, walnut and cherry which we expect will last you a good while. If you have the spare cash, pop on over to BKNYdesign’s Etsy page to order one for yourself.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Hampton Roads McDonald’s come with iPads for customer use, This iPad Guitar Simulating Tutor will teach you the guitar in a high-tech way,

If you’re planning on picking up a Windows Phone device, you might be interested to learn that according to a fresh set of rumors, it seems that come October 21^st, AT&T will be taking pre-orders for Windows Phone devices. Given that Microsoft will be hosting a Windows Phone 8 event in San Francisco come 29^th of October, it’s not a stretch of the imagination to think that AT&T could be getting a head start on the pre-orders before.

Supposedly AT&T will also be taking pre-orders for Windows 8 devices like the Samsung Ativ Smart PC and the ASUS Vivo Tab RT, which coincidentally is near Microsoft’s Windows 8 event on the 25^th of October. The devices are said to be made available the next day, while the Windows Phone 8 handsets should be available in early November. We’ll take this with a grain of salt for now but we’ll keep our eyes peeled nonetheless, so be sure to check back with us then for the updates!

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Windows Phone 8 handsets to be offered by AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, Nokia reportedly preparing “Prodigy” and “AC/DC” Windows Phone 8 devices for AT&T,

Earlier this year there were rumors of Apple’s HDTV, or also known as the “iTV”. Those rumors have since died down lately, but what’s Apple’s “next big thing”? Well it seems that it won’t be the HDTV, but rather an iDevice television remote. This is according to Barclays analyst, Ben Reitzes who believes that television remotes will be Apple’s next big thing, as opposed to a HDTV set. This remote however is not expected to be a new product – instead it will rely on existing iOS devices like the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

In fact, Reitzes believes that the rumored iPad mini could be the perfect device to get the job done. At the moment Apple’s iOS devices can double up as a remote, although they do have limited functionality such as using it with the Apple TV or with AirPlay devices. However with this expanded remote functionality, all the user would have to do is purchase an Apple TV streamer and Reitzes believes that this is all Apple needs to begin dominating the living room. Could this be what Steve Jobs might have meant when he was quoted as saying as having “cracked” the television market? Sounds possible but we won’t read too much into it for now, but what do you guys think?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google+ app update supports iPhone 5 now, delivers new Android widgets, iOS 6 WiFi issues persist?,

While HTC and Samsung could be thought of as allies in the whole iOS versus Android debate, they are also competitors within the Android ecosystem as they fight to sell more smartphones than the other. Unfortunately despite HTC’s recently launched products like the HTC One X that was met with pretty good reviews, the company has fallen on some hard times lately with the last quarter not doing as well as they expected. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: HTC and Samsung already taking legal action against Apple’s iPhone 5, HTC May Be Working On A Galaxy Note Competitor,