rare comment

I have a mini 4 and it is by far my favorite Apple device (out of an X, HomePod, AppleTV, 8, AirPod and iPad Pro).  I like it so much that I was planning on buying a second mini 4 as a backup immediately upon any confirmation of the death of the mini line.  If this is true (that the mini is refreshed), that would be great news.  Even though it is old (it runs an A8!), the mini 4 still runs super fast, it weighs nothing, battery life is amazing, etc.  It's just a great blend of lots of things. Or, put otherwise, every device (even an XS) is a compromise in some dimension - the mini 4 feels like it balances qualities in a way to deliver the fewest possible compromises.

This is why Google continues to support and improve Android without charging explicit fees but requiring adherence to Play and default app rules. Imagine how much Apple could charge for this positioning if Android did not exist.

stantheman said:

“The only downsides to a loop-style band are the limitations when it comes to docks. It can't lay flat on a dock, and instead must have access for the remainder of the band to wrap around behind the charger.” Check again. You can pull the magnetized end of the strap all the way out of the loop (attached to the Watch). Then, the Watch will lay flat, with the entire band (minus the solo loop) all on one side of the charger.

Do you mean that on your band, the magnetic end fits through the slot? I don't think that is supposed to happen.

The article is weird. The breach is basically saying: "a notebook with someone's passwords was found and one of those passwords was their iCloud password. Others were their google and facebook passwords". I feel badly for them but it's got nothing to do with iCloud security. Even weirder, the breach is of a service that has a narrow audience - it's not even an available service if it's true that "Such spyware is illegal to sell in the U.S.". It's not like it was some app that was available in the App Store.

Our household is full of iDevices (1 big Pad pro), at least 5 iPads (various ages and utility), and 3 minis). I use the mini4 the most. It's a great size for reading, extremely light, etc. And the mini4 still runs quickly so I don't even know what hardware Apple would need to update to keep the form factor alive other than the processor; the camera is fine, I don't expect great sound from a small device, etc. My best guess: most buyers in the store saw the small price difference between the mini and full size iPad and opted for bigger which kept the mini from getting enough traction. I think everyone with a mini (which, obviously, is a self-selected group) loves theirs and loves theirs relative to a full size iPad.