Tag Archives: iPadOS

Apple Quietly Releasing New iPad Models In October 2023?!

Is Apple about to quietly release new iPad models in October 2023?! Take a look at the new rumours!

Claim : Apple Is Releasing New iPad Models In October 2023!

The Internet is abuzz with rumours that Apple is about to quietly release new iPad models this week, in October 2023!

It started with a report by SuperCharged that “sources familiar with Apple’s media plans” told them that Apple will announce new iPad models “as soon as Tuesday, October 17”, and the new iPads will have these improvements:

iPad Air : upgraded with M2 chip, up from M1
iPad mini : upgraded with A16 Bionic chip
entry-level iPad : unknown, possibly A16 Bionic chip

Apple will announce updates to its iPad lineup this week, according to sources familiar with Apple’s media plans who spoke to Supercharged. Apple is planning briefings with select media personnel scheduled for later this week specifically focused on the iPad.

The sources added that the announcements could happen as soon as Tuesday, October 17.

The updates will feature minor spec bumps, bringing the models in line with faster and more efficient chips. The iPad Air will gain the M2 chip, an upgrade from the current M1 chip, while the upcoming iPad mini will feature the A16 Bionic chip.

The announcements will take place on Apple’s website and its YouTube channel and will not include a flashy hybrid event for significant product announcements.

This report was later corroborated by 9to5Mac, who spoke to their own sources:

Via Supercharged, Apple is set to announce new iPad updates this week, likely on Tuesday October 17. 9to5Mac has corroborated the report with our own sources.

The iPad Air, iPad mini and the base model iPad are expected to be refreshed. These updates will likely comprise smaller spec bump updates rather than significant design changes.

Doubts Apple Is Releasing New iPad Models In October 2023!

While that seems exciting news – finally we get updated iPads! – there are already doubts circulating around these rumours.

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, for example, is well-connected and quickly casted doubts on these rumours:

More often than not, the company debuts new laptops and iPads in October — about a month after the latest iPhone and watch get out the door.

And while I reported in July that Apple was planning such a release this year, the latest indications are that it won’t happen this month.

A new entry-level iPad, iPad Air and iPad mini are all in development with faster chips, but I don’t believe updates of any significance are imminent

Apple supply chain analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, also said last month that “new iPad models are unlikely before the year’s end“.

Recommended : How To Link Multiple Phones On WhatsApp!

Now, I’m no Mark Gurman or Ming-Chi Kuo, and Tech ARP is no 9to5Mac or SuperCharged, but I did break the news on Apple’s new MagSafe connector and the SD card reader’s return in the 2021 MacBook Pro.

I actually heard from a source a couple of weeks earlier that Apple will not release any new entry-level iPad models this year. Rather, the new entry-level iPad is slated to debut in April 2024.

This, of course, only addresses the entry-level iPad models. It is possible that Apple will announce updated iPad Air and iPad mini models this week, while leaving the entry-level iPad for April 2024.

However, my money is on Apple not releasing any new iPad models this year, and my source is correct about the April 2024 date. In fact, I literally bet my own money on my source’s information, by purchasing an iPad yesterday for my parents.

In any case, I don’t think Apple will wow anyone with the new entry-level iPad model. It’s all about incremental changes these days. In fact, Apple has already been shifting away from a yearly update cycle, as it gets harder to deliver any exciting updates for these tablets.

On top of that, the entry-level iPad was completely redesigned just a year ago – in October 2022. Most likely, the new entry-level iPad will feature the A16 Bionic chip, with maybe a new colour or two. Is that exciting? I don’t think so.

The truth is – even the 7th Generation iPad that I currently own is fast enough for most people. I personally don’t see a real need to upgrade to the 11th Generation iPad when it arrives, whether it’s this week, or in April 2024.

So yes, I think Apple will quietly update its iPad line-up through a simple and cheap press release and YouTube announcement. I just don’t think it’s this week, or even this year.

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Apple Education Discount Now Requires UNiDAYS Verification!

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The little loophole is now closed – Apple education discount now requires UNiDAYS verification!

Here is what you need to know…

Apple Education Discount : Formerly Based On Trust + Audit

For many years now, savvy parents and techies have counted on the Apple education discount to get some financial relief on Mac computers and iPad tablets.

Ostensibly limited to teachers and staff of educational facilities, as well as college and university students, the Apple education discount programme was based on trust.

Anyone can go to the Apple Education page, and order a Mac computer or iPad tablet with (usually) a 10% discount. Apple doesn’t even ask you to prove your qualification for the education discount.

Instead, Apple performs random audits. If you cannot prove that you are an educator, or a college/university student, then they have the right to charge your credit card for the education discount you (illegally) received earlier.

Apple Education Discount Now Requires UNiDAYS Verification!

Sadly, it appears that Apple is moving away from the trust system, and is requiring verification through UNiDAYS in certain countries.

France
Germany
India
Italy
South Korea
Spain
Malaysia : Started on 15 December 2021
United Kingdom

Unlike the earlier Apple education discount programme, UNiDAYS verification greatly limits those who qualify for discounted Apple Mac computers and iPad tablets :

Students who are 16 years and above
Must be currently enrolled in the Sixth Form, a college or a university
Must have a personal institution email address (.edu email, for example), or a credit card-style student ID, issued by the school / college / university

The Good

Signing up for UNiDAYS has some advantages. It gives you access to discount programmes for other companies.

And students who sign up for UNiDAYS will get a free Apple Music student subscription in certain countries, which may even include Apple TV+ access!

The Bad

Parents cannot sign up and purchase for their children. Each student must sign up for their own UNiDAYS account.

If UNiDAYS cannot automatically verify your student credentials, it has a manual process but that could mean several days of delay to verify your account.

The Ugly

The UNiDAYS verification process blocks parents of younger students from getting the education discount.

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are forced to purchase tablets and laptops for their children’s online classes. While not entirely legit, the Apple education discount has helped many parents alleviate the high cost of providing each child with a tablet or computer.

While this verification process will help Apple cut down on fraud, I wish they would take the opportunity to open up the education discount programme to younger students.

That would really be a win-win situation – parents get a small but much appreciated discount, and Apple gets a head start on developing the next-generation of Apple users.

Until then, parents of younger children can “work around” this limitation, by asking a college / university student to help them make the purchase.

Countries Where Apple Education Discount Do Not Require UNiDAYS!

This switch to UNiDAYS verification for the Apple Education Discount programme appears to be a gradual process.

For now, these countries still do not require UNiDAYS verification :

Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
Hong Kong
Ireland
Japan
Mexico
New Zealand
Philippines
Russia
Singapore
Taiwan
Thailand
United States

So parents of younger children in those countries can still get the Apple Education discount, without jumping through the UNiDAYS hoop.

Pro Tip : When purchasing any Mac computer or iPad with the Apple Education discount, make sure you grab all the accessories you need at the same time, to get the discount as well.

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Safari CVE-2021-1844 Bug : Fix It Now!

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Apple just rushed out macOS Big Sur 11.2.3, iOS 14.4.1, iPadOS 14.4.1 and Safari 14.0.3 to patch a critical security bug.

Find out what they fix, and why you need to update your MacBook, iPhone and iPad right away!

Apple Rushes Out macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Safari Critical Bug Fixes!

Released on 8 March 2021, macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 patches only one bug, which may mislead users into thinking that it’s not very important.

WebKit

Available for: macOS Big Sur

Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution

Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.

CVE-2021-1844: Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research

On the same day, Apple also released iOS 14.4.1 and iPadOS 14.4.1 – both patching the same CVE-2021-1844 vulnerability.

WebKit

Available for: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)

Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution

Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.

CVE-2021-1844: Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research

Apple also released Safari 14.0.3, which patches the same vulnerability for macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave :

WebKit

Available for: macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave

Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution

Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.

CVE-2021-1844: Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research

Why Install These macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Safari Bug Fixes ASAP?

While they appear to only patch WebKit in macOS Big Sur, iOS, iPadOS and Safari, they are CRITICAL bug fixes that you need to install right away.

They patch the new CVE-2021-1844 vulnerability, which was discovered by Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group and Alison Huffman of Microsoft Browser Vulnerability Research.

This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to trigger a buffer overflow when the victim opens a specially-crafted web page, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

It is not known if this vulnerability has been exploited yet, but it is critical to install the new updates to prevent that from happening.

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Apple iPad 7th Gen vs Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 : Who Wins?

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After a hiatus of 18 months, Apple finally launched the 7th Generation iPad – at around the same time Samsung released their Galaxy Tab S6.

So how do these two tablets compare against each other? Let’s pit the 7th Gen iPad against the Galaxy Tab S6 and find out!

Note : This is not a fair comparison because the 7th Gen iPad is a mid-range device, while the Galaxy Tab S6 is a flagship device. Yet, there are people who are actively considering these two options – this comparison is for them.

iPad 7th Gen vs Galaxy Tab S6 Compared!

Display : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

They both have similarly-sized display – the 7th Gen iPad has a 10.2-inch display, while the Galaxy Tab S6 has a slightly larger 10.5-inch display.

The 7th Gen iPad has a resolution of 1620 x 2160 pixels, with a pixel density of 264 ppi. The Galaxy Tab S6, on the other hand, has a wider display with a resolution of 1600 x 2560 pixels and a slightly higher pixel density of 287 ppi.

But what won us over was the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6’s Super AMOLED display, which is certainly superior to the iPad’s IPS display.

Design : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Design-wise, they are very similar – large slabs of glass and metal. However, the Galaxy Tab S6 has a far more refined design with narrow bezels, while Apple maintained the iPad’s classic large bezels.

This allows the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 to give you a larger display in a 11% smaller form factor than the 7th Gen iPad.

Performance : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150 – a 2018 flagship mobile SoC (like the Kirin 980 used in the new HUAWEI MediaPad M6).

So it runs rings around the Apple A10 Fusion, which was introduced in September 2016, as these results show!

Benchmarks	Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Apple iPad 7th Generation	Difference
AnTuTu	441,406	260,080	+69.7%
Ice Storm Unlimited	78,767	38,262	+105.9%
Sling Shot	7,051	3,464	+103.6%
Sling Shot Extreme	5,277	2,559	+106.2%

RAM + Storage : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 comes with a base configuration of 6 GB RAM + 128 GB of storage, with the option for 8 GB RAM + 256 GB of storage. It even comes with a microSD card slot, so you can add up to 1 TB of additional storage!

The Apple iPad 7th Gen tablet, in contrast, only comes with 3 GB of RAM, and either 32 GB or 128 GB of storage. Needless to say – the iPad does not come with any microSD card slot, or any other external storage option.

Cameras : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Unbelievably, Apple continues to use the ancient 1.2 MP front camera in the 7th iteration of the iPad. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 has a far superior 8 MP front camera, with a brighter f/2.0 aperture.

In the back, Apple retained the old 8 MP camera with f/2.2 aperture. The Galaxy Tab S6 offers a dual-camera system – a 13 MP main camera, and a 5 MP ultra-wide camera.

This is an easy win for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 over the Apple iPad 7th Gen.

Stylus : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Both the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 and the Apple iPad 7th Gen support the use of a stylus.

Apple has repeatedly declined to reveal the pressure sensitivity of their Apple Pencil, even while Samsung proudly declares that their S Pen supports 4,096 pressure levels.

On top of that, the Galaxy Tab S6 ships with the S Pen included, while the iPad does not – you need to pay an extra $99 for the first-generation Apple Pencil.

Connectivity : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Because it’s built around a newer platform, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 supports up to LTE Cat 20, WiFi-AC and Bluetooth 5.0.

The Apple iPad 7th Gen supports WiFi-AC as well, but falls short in LTE and Bluetooth connectivity – it only supports “Gigabit-class LTE”, and Bluetooth 4.2.

Audio : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 comes with a quad speaker system tuned by AKG, as well as support for Dolby Atmos. The Apple iPad, on the other hand, only comes with stereo speakers.

Fingerprint Sensor : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 has an optical fingerprint sensor placed under the display, while the 7th Gen iPad continues to use the same old Touch ID sensor that is integrated into the Home button.

Functionally, they are similar, but the more expensive optical in-display fingerprint sensor allows for a more compact form factor.

Battery : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 comes with a large 27.11 WHr battery, while the Apple iPad 7th Gen has a 19.5% larger 32.4 WHr battery.

But in our test, running full-screen YouTube through Wi-Fi with the display set to 50%, the Galaxy Tab S6 ended up with a longer battery life :

Battery Life	Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Apple iPad 7th Generation	Difference
Full Screen YouTube	12.5 hours	10.7 hours	+16.8%

Weight : Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 weighs just 420 g, while the Apple iPad 7th Gen weighs 483 g (WiFi-only) or 493 g (LTE).

Price : Apple iPad 7th Gen

The biggest advantage the Apple iPad 7th Gen has over the Galaxy Tab S6 is its much lower price tag. Here’s a price comparison of the Wi-Fi only models of both tablets, with 128 GB of storage :

128 GB (Wi-Fi)	Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Apple iPad 7th Generation	Difference
Malaysia	RM 3,099	RM 1,849	+67.6%
Singapore	S$908	S$649	+39.9%
United States	$649.99	$429	+51.5%
United Kingdom	£619	£449	+37.9%
Australia	A$1,099	A$689	+59.5%

Of course, the 7th Gen iPad does NOT come with an Apple Pencil, which adds RM 419 / S$138 / US$99 / £89 / A$145 to the price tag.

128 GB (Wi-Fi)	Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Apple iPad 7th Generation + Apple Pencil	Difference
Malaysia	RM 3,099	RM 2,268	+36.6%
Singapore	S$908	S$787	+15.4%
United States	$649.99	$528	+23.1%
United Kingdom	£619	£538	+15.1%
Australia	A$1,099	A$834	+31.8%

iPad 7th Gen vs Galaxy Tab S6 : Which Should YOU Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 was always going to win over the Apple iPad 7th Gen, in all aspects except price. After all, it is Samsung’s flagship tablet.

However, not everyone needs a Porsche like the Galaxy Tab S6. A minivan like the 7th Gen iPad may better suit your needs. So here is our advice :

If you want a powerful tablet, with the best possible performance, with the option to add storage through a microSD card, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 is worth considering.
If you want a cheap tablet to view photos and videos, and play simple games, nothing beats the Apple iPad 7th Gen.

iPad 7th Gen vs Galaxy Tab S6 Specifications

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Apple iPad 7th Generation
Operating System	Android Pie	iPadOS 13
Display	10.5-inch Super AMOLED	10.2-inch IPS
Display Resolution	1600 x 2560 pixels	1620 x 2160 pixels
Display Pixel Density	287 ppi	264 ppi
System Platform	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150	Apple A10 Fusion
Memory	6 GB / 8 GB LPDDR4x	3 GB LPDDR4
Internal Storage	128 GB / 256 GB	32 GB / 128 GB
External Storage	microSD card (up to 1TB)	None
Front Camera	8 MP camera (f/2.0)	1.2 MP camera (f/2.2)
Rear Camera	13 MP main camera (f/2.0) 5 MP ultra-wide camera (f/2.2)	8 MP camera (f/2.4)
Stylus	S Pen (Included)	Apple Pencil 1st Gen (Not Included)
LTE Network	LTE Cat20 – DL : 2.0 Gbps – UL : 150 Mbps	Gigabit-class
Wi-Fi	WiFi-AC (dual-band)	WiFi-AC (dual-band)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 4.2
Connector	USB 2.0 Type C	Apple Lightning
Speakers	Quad speakers – optimised by AKG – supports Dolby Atmos	Stereo speakers
3.5 mm Audio Jack	Yes	Yes
Fingerprint Sensor	Optical In-Display	Touch ID
Other Sensors	Pressure, Gyroscope, RGB light, Geomagnetic, Hall	Three-axis Gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer, Ambient light
Battery	27.11 Whr lithium-polymer battery	32.4 Whr lithium-polymer battery
Dimensions	159.5 mm wide 244.5 mm tall 5.7 mm thick	174.1 mm wide 250.6 mm tall 7.5 mm thick
Weight	420 g	483 – 493 g
Price (128 GB)	RM 3,099 (with S Pen) S$908 (with S Pen) $649.99 (with S Pen) £619 (with S Pen) A$1,099 (with S Pen)	RM 1,849 (w/o Pencil) S$649 (w/o Pencil) $429 (w/o Pencil) £449 (w/o Pencil) A$689 (w/o Pencil)

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