iPad

WWDC 2018 has come and gone without any new hardware announcements. Still, features revealed about Apple's latest iPhone and iPad operating system, iOS 12, give us tantalizing hints about the iPad(s) that are sure to come later in the year. The first iPad was released on April 3, 2010, and Apple has since released five more generations of the tablet, as well as four generations of the iPad mini, two generations of the iPad Air, and two generations of the iPad Pro. Apple currently offers three different iPad models: the recently announced 9.7–inch iPad 2018, a 10.5 and 12.9–inch iPad Pro, and a 7.9–inch iPad mini. We're expecting the announcement of new hardware this year, including a few new iPad Pros, and hoping for several long-awaited features to be incorporated into the tablet. There's also a hint at an iPad mini 5, although I'm not so sure about that. Let's discuss when the new Apple products may be released, which upgrades and improvements to expect, and all the other iPad hints and rumors we've been collecting for the past several months. There's no way to know exactly what Apple has in mind until an official announcement, but we can have fun piecing together clues and making educated guesses in the meantime! 

Apple unveiled iOS 12 today at the WWDC 2018 Keynote, and we can expect exciting improvements and features when the iOS update is released in the fall. From overall upgrades to performance, privacy, and security, to app overhauls for the News and Stocks apps, to fun additional Animoji choices, as well as the brand-new Memoji option, Apple engineers have put together a well-balanced crowd-pleaser of an operating system that we can't wait to upload to our devices! Let's go over which devices are compatible with iOS 12, discuss all the new iOS features, and learn how to sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program to try out iOS 12 before the official release date. 

How much data does YouTube use is an important question to answer if you have limited data on your iPhone or iPad. If you often enjoy streaming YouTube videos within the YouTube app on your device, your YouTube data usage can quickly get out of control. We’ll answer the question how much data does YouTube use per hour, which makes it easy to answer the question how much data does a YouTube video use. Remember, if you’re streaming YouTube on Wi-Fi or watching offline content you’ve downloaded over Wi-Fi from YouTube, there’s no reason to be concerned over YouTube data usage, unless you have very limited bandwidth with your internet provider at home. The YouTube app does use a decent amount of data when you’re streaming long videos or watching multiple videos over a period of time, but there are still things you can do to control how much data YouTube uses on your iPhone or iPad. Let’s jump in: here’s how to find out the answer to the question how much data does YouTube use on your iPhone or iPad and what to do about it.

Jabra, one of the early market leaders in the Bluetooth wireless headset space, has manifested its wealth of audio engineering and communication expertise in the Elite 45e Wireless Stereo Headset ($99.99). How does this high-end headset compare to the sea of other wireless stereo headsets on the market? Read on to find out.

If you weren’t able to tune-in live or if you’d like to watch it again, here’s the workshop replay for iCloud Photo Library versus Google Photos. This workshop focuses on giving you the information needed to make an informed decision on which cloud-based photo storage tool is right for you. Thank you to everyone who joined us and all of you who watch it now. This was our second ever workshop, and we are thrilled with your feedback. We had almost 400 of your join us live! So again, thank you! Learn more on what we covered and watch the full replay below.

The 29th Annual Worldwide Developers Conference is taking place June 4–8 in San Jose, and Apple enthusiasts the world over are excited to hear whether rumors about software, tech, and services will be met, or even exceeded. The annual Apple conference features over 100 seminars and hands-on labs presented by Apple engineers, as well as special events including the WWDC Bash, an epic party and concert on the final night. Only Apple developers were allowed to enter the lottery for a chance to pay $1,599 for a WWDC ticket, and a select group of 350 students and STEM teachers earn a full scholarship to the event each year. For those of us who can't make it to one of the biggest Apple events of the year, the keynote address is the highlight of WWDC. This is because the Keynote speech is when we'll all finally learn about upcoming versions of iOS, macOS, and other Apple software, as well as rumored new devices like the AirPods 2, StudioPods, and 2018 iPad Pro. Let's round up all the 2018 WWDC rumors and make some educated guesses about what the Keynote will bring this year! 

You may have heard or read the acronym VPN in recent news stories about internet privacy and security and wondered, "what is VPN?" VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, an extension of a private network over a public one that allows users to send and receive data safely, securely, and anonymously so that hackers, websites, and advertisers can't access it. In addition to addressing privacy concerns like hacking and malware, a VPN allows users to remotely utilize the private internal systems and features of workplace and other networks without being on site. If you work from home, travel, or enjoy taking your tablet or laptop to the coffee shop to catch up on emails, social networking, or banking, it's time to join a Virtual Private Network! Before picking the best VPN service for your needs, there are a few things to learn. Let's get started familiarizing ourselves with Virtual Private Networks. 

People with a lack of patience or itchy twitch fingers will likely declare The Pillars of the Earth Game Book one: From the Ashes ($4.99) to be a drab and painfully boring game. But for those seeking an engaging, stress-free gaming experience, Pillars is an enthralling graphic adventure that will soothe and inspire. If you are the latter, read on to find out if this gaming experience is worthy of the purchase price.

There are a lot of different apps you could use to learn a language, but not all language apps give you the tools to truly become fluent in a language. Babbel offers language learning at a classroom level from the comfort of your smart devices. The app offers fourteen different languages and more than 8500 hours of learning content across them. I chose this app to feature because of the way it engages the learner; it immediately felt different to me than the numerous other language apps I’ve tried. We’ll go over more on what it does and why we love it below.

I have always been leery of adhering a cover to my iPad. It isn't that I'm worried the adhesive will damage the device or leave it marred, it’s more about convenience. When you review cases you need to take them off with some frequency so you can test the next one. Well, I bit the bullet when two different cases arrived, both with adhesives. Here are my experiences and thoughts about the Twelve South SurfacePad and the Toast for iPad Pro.

If you like PopSockets but wish there was a larger version for iPads and other tablets, there is good news from Safetray Products. The G-Hold iPad Holder ($29.95) is similar to a PopSocket, but it is larger and it can be more easily repositioned because it uses Micro Suction not adhesive. Safetray, as its name suggests, is known for similar adapters to help waitstaff keep a grip on serving trays; so this is right up the company's alley.

The solar-powered Rock Out 2 ($99.95) from Goal Zero is the flagship Bluetooth speaker from a company perhaps better known around the world for providing sustainable and efficient energy options to both intrepid adventurers and also to many impoverished people living without reliable or clean energy sources. 

The Polk MagniFi Mini ($299.95) is a robust yet minimalist, two-piece sound system that works via several connectivity methods, including both Bluetooth and a 3.5mm input. Don’t let its small size fool you; the MagniFi Mini can keep pace with soundbar systems almost twice its size, and its diminutive size allows you to place it either discreetly or prominently in any room. The Polk MagniFi Mini is one of the best soundbars you can get for the money.

Of all the varieties of home automation I have explored, none have matched the elegant simplicity of Apple HomeKit-compatible devices. Elgato has taken this design principle to the extreme with its Eve Button ($49.95) smart home appliance. But does such a button warrant a fifty-dollar price tag? Read on to find out.

If you love podcasts, and also love iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices, you've probably heard that you can sync your podcasts across your devices. Once your devices are synced you can use the Podcasts app to listen to a podcast on your iPhone, then pick it up right where you left off on your iPad. Syncing across Apple devices includes not only podcast playback positions but also your podcast subscriptions and stations. If this sounds like podcast heaven to you, follow the steps below to sync up your devices and start listening.

Remember Filofax? For a long time, they were the main way to keep track of your schedule. Everybody had one. Then Personal Digital Assistants took over, and then the iPhone and iPad came along. Well, Filofax is back. I got to see them at CES 2018 and they are embracing the modern era. In addition to Filofax binders that can incorporate a tablet, they have the eniTAB 360 ($19.99). 

I love gaming on my iPhone, and I am happy to pay for an app. But too often, I’ll get into a ‘free’ game only to end up spending more on in-app purchases than I ever would have on a single game for any regular gaming console. Which is why Riptide GP: Renegade is such a refreshing surprise. I spent $2.99 for the initial game, which is a great price considering the developers don’t upsell you within the app at all. The graphics are beautiful, the racing controls are the smoothest I’ve ever tried, and it feels like a normal game because once I buy it, it’s fully-featured and ready to play. All of this combined makes Riptide GP: Renegade the best racing game on the iPhone. We’ll cover more on what this game offers and why I love it below.