iPad Mini 4 Vs. iPad Mini 3: Is it Really Worth Upgrading?

In the Apple ecosystem, the iPad mini line holds an important spot, especially now that the iPhone Plus is out. It's designed to be a handheld pad with a bigger screen than an iPhone but more maneuverability than an iPad. The new iPad mini 4 is among the less-hyped announcements made from Apple's event that took place last September 9. The iPad mini 4 will serve as a replacement for the iPad mini 3, although the company will continue to sell the iPad mini 2. There's one main question: Is it worthwhile to get the newest iPad mini model?

When the iPad mini 3 hit the market, it included that Touch ID button that reads your fingerprint, bigger storage capacities (64GB and 128GB), and gold shell option. Other than that, it was virtually similar to the previous generation of iPad mini, which Apple is keeping in its lineup. It sports the same size and weight, as well as the same A7 chip with an M7 motion coprocessor.

Below is a comparison chart between the iPad mini 3 and mini 4.

	Apple iPad Mini 3	Apple iPad Mini 4
Price with Wi-Fi	$399 (16GB) $499 (64GB) $599 (128GB)	$399 (16GB) $499 (64GB) $599 (128GB)
Display Size (inches)	7.9	7.9
Display Resolution (Pixels)	2048x1536	2048x1536
Storage	16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB	16GB, 64GB, 128GB
Processor	A7 + M7 coprocessors	A8 + M8 coprocessors
Weight (Pounds)	0.73	0.73
Dimensions (inches)	7.87 x 5.3 x 0.29	8 x 5.3 x 0.24
Cameras (Front/Back)	1.2MP/5MP	1.2MP/5MP
Wi-Fi	802.11a/b/g/n + MIMO	802.11a/b/g/n/ac + MIMO
Battery Life (Claimed/Tested)	9:10 (tested)	10:00 (claimed)

Just a simple yet important reminder to take note of is that the iPad mini 4 is replacing the mini 3 entirely, which means the latter will be discontinued going forward. For those who are considering to purchase one, the iPad mini 3s will sell out quickly, re-sellers will probably sell them at discounted prices, and then will become very hard to find. So those are some things you need to consider if you're thinking of buying one.

iOS Support

This may not be much of a big deal as some of the hardware specifications for the mini 3 vs. mini 4, but it's still as important to note that the mini 4 will be bundled with iOS 9, whereas you have to download iOS 9 to replace iOS 8 on a mini 3.

So why does this actually matter? It's because iOS features do make Apple products a bit time sensitive. In other words, the mini 3 will no longer support some apps or features of the latest iOS in a couple of years time, while the mini 4 will still be able to offer support for the latest software. In short, if you want to have a mini that will stay in the long run, then you better go for the mini 4.

Verdict

Since almost all features including the pricing is identical between the two mini models, if this is your first time to get an iPad mini, then there's no reason not to get the mini 4. But if you're planning on going for an upgrade, or choosing between the mini and another type of iPad model, it may not be worth the money and effort. The new model's main improvement is the A8 processor, which is clearly a lot faster than the old A7, but the mini 3 is good enough to last for a couple more years with you.

Use Launchpad for OS X to Organize your Apps

Mac's Launchpad allows you to organize and manage your installed applications just as you would on an iOS device. It also enables you to see apps that are currently downloading from the Mac App Store, and you can remove apps if you would like to do so.

How to Use Launchpad

Opening the Launchpad on OS X can be done using its icon on your Dock. If you cannot find it there, you can also launch it from the Applications folder. You may also have a keyboard option that you can use to open Launchpad, depending on which Mac or keyboard you have. For example, if you have a Macbook Pro, you can open up Launchpad by pressing [F4] on your keyboard.

Once Launchpad opens, you'll see a screen similar to an iPad's that will show you all of the apps that are currently installed on your machine. For those who are using a Trackpad to navigate Launchpad and swipe through various screens, just swipe to the left or right using your two fingers. In case you are using a mouse, click and drag left or right in order to change screens.

How to Rearrange Icons

The Springboard/Launchpad's basic concept is that an icon can be rearranged once they're jiggling. In order for you to make an app icon wiggle, simply hold down on one of them until they start wiggling. Then you can start dragging and rearranging the app icons according to your preferred locations. You can rearrange them on the same screen in different order or place them on a different one.

How to Create Folders in Launchpad

Creating a new folder in Launchpad can be done by clicking and holding any of the app icons, and once they start wiggling, drag and drop any icon on top of another. This will cause a new folder to be created. The name of the folder will be automatically set to the category of the two apps that you have grouped together. If you want to rename the folder, just click on it to open the folder, and then click on the title so that you can type in the new name.

Take note that creating folders in Launchpad will not affect the directory structure of your apps in the Applications folder -- so there's no need to worry about that. OS X also allows emojis in file names, so you can include emoji icons in your Launchpad folder names. Doing this enables you to quickly identify folders with the help of these emojis.

How to Delete Apps

Apple provided an option to delete apps from within OS X; however this method has two disadvantages. One, the uninstaller won't work for non-App Store apps, and second, it won't delete application preferences from your system.

With Launchpad, you can delete an application by simply clicking and holding an app icon until it starts to wiggle. Then, click on the X icon in the upper-left corner of the icon you wish to delete. OS X will ask for your confirmation if you wish to proceed with the action, and then just respond by clicking on Delete to permanently remove the application from your Mac.

Hidden Tricks to Make iOS 7.1 Feel New While Waiting for iOS 8

Apple recently unveiled the new and improved iOS for your iPhone, iPod, and iPad devices — iOS 8. It is packed with a lot of amazing features all iOS fans will surely love. You can have firsthand account to all of these wonderful features when iOS 8 becomes available to the public this coming fall. While waiting for the public release, you can make the most out of your iOS 7.1 by checking out these hidden features that will make your iOS devices feel new again.

Number Key Shortcuts

Accessing the number keys while typing is not too taxing. However, there is a quicker way of accessing the number keys and getting back to the letter keyboard in a flash. All you need to do is tap and hold the 123 key, and then slide your finger to the number or symbol you are looking for.

Once you release your finger, the number or symbol you chose will be inserted and the letter keyboard will automatically return to the panel.

Built-in Level

The Compass app can be used as a level. Levels are invaluable, especially when hanging pictures or evening out a table. To access the built-in level, launch the Compass app to display the familiar dots at the bottom of the screen that indicates a second screen. Swipe your finger from right to left to display the spirit level.

Disable Parallax Effect

Any type of animation or moving screen wallpaper, including the parallax effect of icons and alerts, may look cool but it can put a strain to your eyes and will make you a little queasy. Not only that, it also drains the battery big time. It’s a good thing you can disable the parallax effect by turning on Reduce Motion. To do this, go to Settings > General > Accessibility, and then toggle Reduce Motion to on.

You can also go to Settings>Wallpaper & Brightness. Tap on your lock screen, and then toggle Perspective Zoom to off. Do the same thing on your wallpaper and you'll be good to go.

Improve Screen Visibility

iOS 7.1 has different options that will make your screen more visible to you. The Dynamic Type mode will make the text larger and easier to read on supported apps. Aside from adjusting the text size, you can also reduce the screen brightness, reduce transparency, darken colors, and increase the color contrast to name a few.

To adjust the font size, go to Settings > General > Text Size. Adjust the text size by moving the slider to your preference.

To increase legibility, increase the color contrast on some backgrounds. To do this, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Increase Contrast. From here you can turn on the following to further improve screen visibility:

• Reduce Transparency - removes transparency effects on the Home screen dock, folder backgrounds, Control Center, and Notification Center
• Darken Colors - darkens all colors on the display
• Reduce White Point - makes whites on the screen less bright

Web Address Shortcuts

One of the things most people miss after upgrading to iOS 7 is the absence of the .com key inside Safari. You can still access the .com key by simply tapping and holding the . (period) key, which will display .com, .net, .org, .us, and .edu keys.

Shake to Undo Deleting Email

If you are using the default Mail app to check your emails, it is now easy to restore accidentally deleted emails by simply shaking the iPhone right after deleting the message. This gesture will bring back the deleted email to your Inbox. This hidden feature is similar to the Shake to Undo typing option to clear out what you have typed in the text box.

Control Your iOS Device Through Head Gestures

iOS 7 can use the front-facing camera to detect head movements to control your device. All you need to do is to go to Settings > General > Accessibility >Switch Control.

Tap Switches, and then select Camera as the source. From there, you can set a left head gesture and a right head gesture to perform specific functions.

Bring Buttons Back

The standard buttons where replaced with the text-only labels in iOS 7. Some people may find this a little confusing simply because they won’t know which area to tap. If you are one of those people, do not fret. You can still bring back the standard buttons in iOS 7.1 by going to Settings > General > Accessibility, and then toggle Button Shapes to on.

Noise Cancellation

With iOS 7.1, the noise cancellation feature became available, not only to iPhone 5s but also to earlier iPhone models. To enable this feature, go to Settings > General > Accessibility, and then toggle Phone Noise Cancellation to on.

Tap vs Scroll

Not a lot of people know that tapping the status bar at the top of the screen of any scrollable screen on the iOS device will bring you to the top of the page. Isn’t that neat?


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