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TidBITS#1148/29-Oct-2012

Clear the decks, because we have a double-sized issue for you this week, thanks to Apple’s announcements and other happenings in the Mac world. The big news is of course the release of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad, plus the new iMac, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and the speed-bumped Mac mini. Apple also released iBooks 3.0 and iBooks Author 2.0, plus held its regularly scheduled earnings call to report $8.2 billion in profit for Q4 2012. We have all the details of those announcements, plus a DealBITS drawing for Art Text. Changing gears, Adam shares what’s new in our favorite calendar program — BusyCal 2 — and unveils our latest free book: “Take Control of Calendar Syncing and Sharing with BusyCal.” Then Matt Neuburg tracks down everything that’s known about how iOS 6 mysteriously consumes massive quantities of expensive cellular data for some users. Finally, don’t miss ExtraBITS, since we point to three of our own articles that we simply couldn’t fit into this issue, along with breaking news (shortly before we published) of an Apple management shakeup that sees senior vice presidents Scott Forstall and John Browett leaving the company. Notable software releases this week include FileMaker Pro 12.0.3, Skype 6.0.60.2946, and DEVONthink and DEVONnote 2.4.3.

Tonya Engst 14 comments

Apple Introduces the iPad mini and Fourth-Generation iPad

Apple has revealed the long-rumored iPad mini, along with making a surprise announcement of a new fourth-generation iPad. Both models ship in November, but can be pre-ordered now. Before you pull out your credit card, read on to find out what’s new and which iPad model has been discontinued. Tonya Engst runs down the details.

Michael E. Cohen 12 comments

Apple Releases iBooks 3.0 and iBooks Author 2.0

Amidst all the hoopla about new hardware, Apple last week also revved iBooks, the company’s flagship ebook-reading iOS app, to version 3.0 and updated iBooks Author, the company’s proprietary ebook-creation Mac program, to version 2.0. Michael Cohen tips you off to what’s new in iBooks and then details the improvements in iBooks Author.

TidBITS Staff No comments

ExtraBITS for 29 October 2012

With all of Apple’s announcements last week, our issue became too big! But we have even more great content for you, which we’ll run in an issue soon. In the meantime, we lead with breaking news of a management shakeup at Apple, with Scott Forstall and John Browett leaving the company. Next, hear Tonya Engst deliver verdicts on the new products with the rest of the MacJury, read Steve McCabe’s critical take on the iPhone 5, read an explanation of why Apple’s faster Wi-Fi may be just hot air, and get Glenn Fleishman’s firsthand look at what it’s like to be a winner (briefly) on the long-running game show Jeopardy!