iPad

Apple's 128GB iPad: Here's how much the bump really costs

Apple's long been at the top of the heap when it comes to making money on one key aspect of its portable devices: storage.

That trend continued with this morning's announcement of a 128GB model of the iPad, a device that costs just a steak dinner short of a full-blown Mac notebook.

The new models ring in at $799 for the Wi-Fi only, or $929 for the version with 4G LTE connectivity. That's $100 more than the 64GB model, which is $100 more than the 32GB model, which is -- you guessed it -- $100 more than … Read more

PhoneClean 2.0 reclaims storage space on your iOS device

Feeling the storage crunch on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad? A free utility may be able to help.

Last summer, CNET's Matthew Elliott took iMobie's PhoneClean for a test drive. The utility provides a "digital colonic" (Matt's words), cleansing any iOS device of useless and unnecessary files that might be consuming valuable space.

However, Matt wasn't willing to subject his iPhone 4S to PhoneClean's mysterious ministrations, only his iPad.

Wuss.

As the braver, dumber, blogger, I decided to let the newly updated PhoneClean 2.0 do its thing on my iPhone 4S. … Read more

128GB iPad should mean the end of the 64GB MacBook Air

Today's news: the iPad has hit 128GB. That's fine. But my real question is, why does the $999 11-inch Air still have only a 64GB SSD?

If you look at the world of business-targeted Windows 8 tablets, many of them have 128GB storage options...including the upcoming Surface Pro. The logic is clear, especially if you're in a business where you need to store tons of files locally and don't want to sync in the cloud. In that sense, a stepped-up storage option for the larger iPad makes obvious sense.

The real benefit of 128GB of storage, though, would be in the 11-inch MacBook Air.… Read more

Nooly weather app claims to-the-minute forecast accuracy

Can weather forecasting do better than "30 percent chance of showers"? What if it could tell you the minute it will start raining?

"Nowcasting" app Nooly claims it can tell you when precipitation will start and end with an accuracy of five minutes. It can also tell you when storms will intensify.

Nooly coverage, currently limited to the U.S. and Canada, can focus on an area within 0.4 square miles of your location.

It delivers 240 million predictions every five minutes based on a custom-designed algorithm that crunches satellite and radar data from NASA … Read more

Mysterious, maybe fake 5th-gen iPad back pops up online

It's that time of year again! The lull between Apple product releases, which means -- yep, you guessed it -- mystery parts.

The latest, courtesy of 9to5Mac, is a little more exciting than camera modules and home buttons. In fact, it may or may not be the back of the next iPad, perched next to a black iPad Mini for comparison.

Some disclaimers: The images' legitimacy is unknown, short of being from an accessory maker in China. The little scuff marks on the back and masking tape around the antennas do nothing but add to the intrigue.

Apple is, … Read more

Apple releases iOS 6.1 with additional LTE support

After five beta test versions, Apple today released iOS 6.1, the first major update to iOS 6 since September.

The software, which went out this morning as an over-the-air update as well as a download through iTunes, brings a few new minor features, along with bug fixes.

Chief among the new features is 4G LTE support for more carriers, along with a feature that lets users purchase movie tickets from Fandango after finding showtimes using Siri. Apple also returned the option for iTunes Match subscribers to download individual songs from iCloud, something that was quietly removed in a previous … Read more

New iPad 4 reportedly in the works -- perhaps a 128GB model

Are you ready for an iPad with beefier memory?

A new fourth-generation iPad with Retina display -- and perhaps as much as 128 gigabytes of memory -- is being readied for release, sources tell 9to5Mac. The upcoming slate would not be a new design but rather an addition to the current fourth-generation line, with the same color and wireless combinations as the iPad 4, these unnamed sources say.

Pricing is unknown, but the new model is described as a "premium SKU" (stock keeping unity) that would join the current lineup of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB iPads. A source … Read more

iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini rumors afoot

It's no surprise that the Apple rumor mill is already churning this year, with iLounge reporting a few tidbits today about the next iPhone, iPad, and iPad Mini.

iLounge cited an unnamed source who said he or she "suspects" the reported iPhone 5S will have an upgraded rear camera featuring Sony's 13-Megapixel sensor, along with an improved processor. The source also said Apple plans to release the phone in July and that the code names for its prototypes are N51 and N53.

The source didn't have as many details on Apple's iPads. The next … Read more

Mix up your workout with Obstacles XRT for iOS

Top reasons you skipped your workout today:

It was too dark or cold outside to run. Your hotel didn't have a fitness center. You're sick to death of the treadmill. You let that pricey gym membership expire.

Here's an easy fix for these and other excuses: Obstacles XRT, which bills itself as "extreme reality training" -- a fancy way of saying it's a fitness app. It normally sells for $4.99, but from now through January 31, you can grab it for $1.99.

Two bucks very well spent, in my humble opinion. Obstacles … Read more