new iPad

How to set up your new iPad the right way

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Set Up Your New iPad
Let's get your new iPad up and running.
Photo: Apple

Congratulations — you got a new iPad! Whether it’s the entry-level iPad that brings the essential features to an affordable price, the iPad Air with the powerful M1, the pocketable iPad mini or the top-of-the-line iPad Pro, you’ll want to set up your new device with the least amount of fuss.

We’re here to help you do just that with a ton of little tips and tweaks that will make sure you’re off and using that new iPad as quickly as possible. From backing up your old iPad (if you had one already) to getting up and running with a brand-new iPad from scratch, we’ve got you covered.

As Expected, iPad’s Retina Display Offers Better Color, Sharper Text Than Microsoft Surface RT

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We had a feeling Microsoft was a little optimistic about the Surface RT's display.
We had a feeling Microsoft was a little optimistic about the Surface RT's display.

Shortly before Microsoft began shipping the Surface RT tablet, the company claimed its ClearType display was superior to the third-generation iPad’s Retina display. We had our doubts, and now Dr. Raymond Soneira of DisplayMate Technologies has confirmed we were right to dismiss Microsoft’s claims.

In a display comparison between the third-generation iPad, the Surface RT, and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, Soneira found that Apple’s device offers significantly better color saturation and color accuracy, and sharper text. 

iPad Mini Goes Up Against New iPad, Google Nexus 7 In Drop Test [Video]

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The iPad does not like being dropped on its face.
The iPad does not like being dropped on its face.

Now that the iPad mini’s been on sale a few hours, it’s time to address the issue you’re all itching to know about. I’m talking, of course, about the drop test. Apple’s new tablets have been put to the test against Google’s $199 Nexus 7, and the iPad mini does surprisingly well, only sustaining any real damage when dropped on its face onto concrete.

iFixit Tears Down The 4th Gen iPad: Spot The Difference

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The 4th gen iPad looks almost exactly the same as the 3rd gen iPad — inside and out.
The 4th gen iPad looks almost exactly the same as the 3rd gen iPad — inside and out.

iFixit has now performed its customary teardown on Apple’s fourth-generation iPad, and it seems like a lengthy case of déjà vu. While there are some differences between this model and its predecessor, such as the introduction of Apple’s new A6X processor and Lightning connector, it seems the device remains largely the same — inside and out.

Some Apple Stores Will Let You Swap Your 3rd Gen iPad For The New 4th Gen Within 30 Days

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Pick up a new iPad within the last 30 days? Ask Apple to swap it for the latest model.
Pick up a new iPad within the last 30 days? Ask Apple to swap it for the latest model.

While some companies churn out new smartphones and tablets every month, Apple has traditionally given us at least 12 months with our iOS devices before replacing them with newer models. So it was a big surprise to us all when it announced a new and improved fourth-generation iPad on Tuesday, just seven months after the third-generation iPad went on sale.

If you bought a “new” iPad within the last 30 days, however, don’t be too miffed your device is already obsolete — because you could be one of the lucky ones. If you take your device into an Apple Store, there’s a chance you’ll be able to swap it for a brand new, fourth-generation model free of charge.

Why The Microsoft Surface RT Probably Won’t Have A Clearer Display Than The New iPad

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Don't be fooled by Microsoft's claims just yet.
Don't be fooled by Microsoft's claims just yet.

Microsoft claims its new Surface RT tablet, which begins shipping later this month, has a display that’s superior to the Retina display in the third-generation iPad. But according to DisplayMate CEO Dr. Raymond M. Soneira, that may not be the case. After some basic comparisons, Soneira found the Surface tablet’s display is “significantly less sharp” than the new iPad’s.

Do Not Adjust Your Set: We’ve Gone Retina!

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CultofMac_retina1
We've updated the Cult of Mac website for Apple's latest devices with high-resolution Retina displays.

If you’re reading this website on a new iPad or MacBook Pro with a Retina display, you may have noticed how crisp the logo is. Go on; take a good look. Zoom in with your fingers. Also check out the navigation bar, and the graphics for Reviews, Tips and How-Tos. See how clear and crisp they are?

That’s because we’ve upgraded the site to Retina — Apple’s marketing term for screens that are so dense with pixels, they’re practically invisible.

We think it looks really sharp. And next week, we’ll be giving the mobile site a complete overhaul to make it pretty for the iPhone 5.

Here’s what the site looks like on Retina and non-Retina devices.

The Cult of Mac logo on non-Retina devices (left) and on new Retina machines like the latest iPad and MacBook Pro (right).

Hit the jump for some of the geeky details:

Verizon iPhone 5 Gets New Update To Fix Frustrating Wi-Fi Bug [Updated]

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The iPhone continues to do well on Verizon.
Update your Verizon iPhone 5 now to save your data.

Apple has issued its first software update to the iPhone 5 just over a week after the handset was released — but you’ll only see it if you’re on Verizon. No, the update doesn’t make Maps work. Instead, it “resolves an issue in which, under certain circumstances, iPhone 5 may use Verizon cellular data while the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.”

iOS 6 Users Experiencing Wi-Fi Connectivity Problems On iPhone 4S, New iPad

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ipad-wifi
Struggling to turn this on? You're not the only one.

It seems Apple’s new Maps app isn’t the only thing frustrating iOS 6 users right now. A 91-page thread on Apple’s Support Communities forum is full of users who are also complaining about Wi-Fi connectivity issues, which are said to be plaguing the iPhone 4S and the new iPad after upgrading. It’s not just that Wi-Fi performance is poor; some users can’t enable it at all.

What The iPhone 5 Tells Us About The iPad 4 [Feature]

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The iPhone 5 is here. What does that mean for the next iPad?
The iPhone 5 is here. What does that mean for the next iPad?

 

The iPhone 5 is a cutting-edge device with a lot of impressive new technology, from Apple’s incredibly fast new A6 chip to impressive new in-cell touch display technology and a brand new Lightning dock connector. It’s a certainty that Apple will use some of this technology in the fourth-generation iPad, which is likely due in March of next year. Here’s what the iPhone 5 tells us about what the iPad 4 will be.

EA Sports Brings FIFA 13 To The App Store With Online Multiplayer

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FIFA 13 promises
FIFA 13 promises "groundbreaking visuals" and the most responsive control system yet.

As a massive soccer fan, I love EA Sports’s FIFA Soccer series. So imagine my delight when I opened up the App Store this morning to find FIFA 13 staring back at me. This is the FIFA game I’ve been waiting for for iOS. Why? Because it’s the first to boast online multiplayer, allowing you to play against your friends over the Internet.

New iPad Case from Rokform Has More Mounting Options than The Kama Sutra

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We’ve seen how fanatical the people at Rokform — an offshoot of Southern California-based motorcycle aftermarket outfit Two Brothers Racing — is about building the ultimate device case; back in 2011 we tested their aluminum Rokbed iPhone case and came away with the impression it was a hyper-engineered beauty.

For their new Roklock v3 iPad case, they’ve ditched the alloy in favor of polycarbonate and added more mounting options than…well, you read the headline.

iPhone 5 May Not Have A Quad-Core CPU, But It’s One Of The Fastest Smartphones Money Can Buy

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That's a fast smartphone.
That's a fast smartphone.

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 5 last week, the company promised that its custom A6 chip deliver performance twice as fast as its predecessor, the iPhone 4S. But according to the handset’s first benchmarks, this isn’t just the fastest iPhone yet — it’s also one of the most powerful smartphones money can buy.

Revised Third-Gen iPads Could Be On Their Way Next Month, And Might Mean No iPad 4 in 2013

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sharp-igzo-panel-ipad-648x423

Over the course of the last few months, we’ve heard a lot of rumors that Apple intends on releasing an updated version of the third-generation iPad later in this year to improve the device in a number of ways: namely, to fit it with better efficiency Sharp IGZO panels and give it a new, smaller 9-pin Dock Connector.

Now a new report from research firm DisplaySearch claims that a new iPad is indeed scheduled to arrive alongside the iPad mini, which will be lighter and cooler. We’re starting to think this makes sense.

iPhone 5’s Logic Board With Possible A6 Processor Revealed?

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Is that an A6 chip I see?
Is that an A6 chip I see?

I’ve lost count of the number of iPhone 5 parts that have leaked out of Apple’s Chinese factories. But one thing that’s been notably absent from those leaks is the device’s new processor. We’ve questioned whether it will use the same A5X chip that features in the new iPad, or whether it will get an all-new A6 processor.

Thanks to the latest leak, that has become a little clearer.

Some Apple Stores Now Use Special Dock Connectors To Stop iOS Devices From Being Stolen

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This dock connector will prevent iOS devices from being stolen from the Apple Store.
This dock connector will prevent iOS devices from being stolen from the Apple Store.

Apple retail stores are now installing special dock connectors to prevent iOS devices from being stolen. They look just like the regular USB cable that ships with every iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, but they feature a nifty anti-left lock that prevents them from being removed from the device — essentially tethering the unit to the table.

The Speck MagFolio Lounge Is An iPad Case That’s Ideal In An Armchair [Review]

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Works wonderfully on your lap.
Works wonderfully on your lap.

The Speck MagFolio Lounge is a slim-fitting iPad case that’s designed for use outside of the office. Its “lap-perfect” design promises to nestle perfectly on your thighs while you reply to your emails or catch up with your favorite shows from the comfort of your living room chair.

Like the rest of Speck’s new iPad cases, the MagFolio Lounge features sleep/wake magnets inside its front cover, and a handy magnetic tab that keeps the case closed when your iPad’s not in use.

This case combines a hard plastic cradle with a soft, “vegan leather” cover to provide you with strong impact protection and a folding stand that boasts two viewing angles. It also offers access to all of your iPad’s ports, buttons, and switches.

The MagFolio Lounge sounds like the perfect case for a couch potato, but is it worth its $50 price tag?

Apple Sued By Former Keynote Producer Who Claims Steve Jobs ‘Promised Job Security’

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Jobs wanted Google out of the iPhone altogether.
Goodrich was the executive producer behind major Apple keynotes like this one at Macworld in 2007.

Wayne Goodrich, a former Apple employee who produced and coordinated the company’s hugely popular keynote presentations, is suing the Cupertino company for wrongful termination after he was fired for “business reasons” — despite being promised job security by former CEO Steve Jobs.

Korean Carriers Hoping To ‘Persuade’ Apple To Expand iPhone 5’s LTE Support

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Korean carriers are in talks with Apple over the iPhone 5's LTE support.
Korean carriers are in talks with Apple over the iPhone 5's LTE support.

Korean carriers SK Telecom and KT have revealed that they are currently in talks with Apple over supporting the next iPhone on their 800 MHz and 1800 MHz LTE networks. Although it seems inevitable that the handset will indeed boast LTE connectivity, as we know from the new iPad, different carriers use different frequency bands all around the world, and so not every LTE network will be supported.

If you’re in Korea, however, it seems there may be support for you… though it may not be available from launch.

FCC Reveals Amazon’s Next Kindle Fire Could Match iPad’s 9.7-Inch Display

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The Kindle Fire 2 may not look this small up against the iPad.
The Kindle Fire 2 may not look this small up against the iPad.

Despite being labeled an “iPad killer” prior to hitting the market, Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire never really gave the iPad anything to worry about. However, it’s going to come back and take a second shot at Apple’s hugely popular tablet, and this time its chances could be improved by a larger display. If a recent FCC filing is anything to go by, the Kindle Fire 2 will be significantly larger than its predecessor.