Potentially signaling its belief that the launch of the iPad 3 is imminent, Best Buy is now offering $50 discounts across the entire line of iPad 2 models, with pricing now beginning at $449.99 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi model.
Furthermore, Engadget reports that Best Buy has begun updating its internal inventory management systems to reflect a "deleted" status for iPad 2 models.
Best Buy generally does not have advance notice of new Apple products, especially those that are anticipated to appear as part of a major media event. Consequently, Best Buy's moves should not be taken as specific indicators of an iPad 3 launch, although numerous sources have indicated that a debut is near, with March 7 rumored for the planned media event.
But Best Buy certainly appears to be adjusting its offerings to make way for the updated model, and the company is not alone in that regard. Grocery and retail store chain Meijer earlier this month offered the entry-level iPad for $429, a $70 discount from the regular retail prices. Meijer's pricing has since returned to normal, but indications are that retailers are anticipating the arrival of the iPad 3.
Apple has stopped signing several older versions of iOS for a group of legacy iPhone and iPad models, cutting off the paths to reinstall or downgrade the affected software.
Apple will no longer validate over-the-air (OTA) or direct IPSW installs of the builds in question. Once a version is unsigned, there is no longer a way to restore or install it through Finder or iTunes.
The change is...
Apple has introduced 36-month financing for cellular iPad purchases through AT&T and Verizon, adding to the 12-month option previously available via Apple Card.
The new financing, first reported by 9to5Mac, replaces Apple Card Monthly Installments as the sole route to spreading out a cellular iPad purchase. That plan paid off the balance interest-free over 12 months; the new carrier options...
In March, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said a new entry-level iPad was "still coming this year," but apparently this is no longer the case. Today, he reported that the device is slated for release in the first quarter of 2027 at the earliest.
The main new feature will be a faster processor rather than major design changes, he said, so it sounds like nothing more than a spec bump. While the next...
If 4g is already built in, and no wifi option is available, it's pretty much guaranteed to have a higher price point.
This is before even accounting for a higher resolution screen
There has to be a WiFi model though for European markets. No one in the UK uses 4g/LTE networks, so the inclusion would be pointless. There is however, strong HSPA+ coverage.
Plus they'd have to look at the market anyway. Over here, the most popular model by a mile is the 16GB WiFi option. If consumers were forced to pay extra for things like 4g and modem capabilities, they'd just stick with an iPad 2.
Personally I dont see the point in having a 3g/4g enabled iPad. I always have my phone with me, and most phones support tethering or can be used as WiFi hotspots, so an extra data plan is pointless. But thats just me though.
The CIA and FBI should be hiring these bloggers that ferret out Apple rumor stories. A deleted item in inventory in a retail chain database, a shipping manifest of air cargo carriers pointing to a change in schedule, the sudden shift in the trade winds - all pointing to an all-out iPad3 launch next week. :rolleyes:.
Apple's first foldable iPhone, with a book-style design featuring a ~5.5-inch outer display and a ~7.8-inch inner display with a minimal crease down the middle.
