iPad Pro outsold Microsoft's Surface lineup over the holidays, according to IDC

According to new estimates from IDC, Apple's iPad Pro outsold Microsoft's Surface line during the holiday quarter. The analysis firm projects that Apple sold just over 2 million iPad Pros in the last quarter, with Microsoft thought to have sold 1.6 million Surface devices. Both the iPad Pro and Surface are in what's known as the "detachable" category, which features tablets that can detach from physical keyboards.

Overall, detachable tablets are said to have been the most popular this holiday season, with IDC attributing this to their ability to replace more traditional PCs.

"One of the biggest reasons why detachables are growing so fast is because end users are seeing those devices as PC replacements," said Jean Philippe Bouchard, Research Director, Tablets at IDC. "We believe Apple sold just over two million iPad Pros while Microsoft sold around 1.6 million Surface devices, a majority of which were Surface Pro and not the more affordable Surface 3. With these results, it's clear that price is not the most important feature considered when acquiring a detachable – performance is."

While Apple was the top-selling tablet manufacturer last quarter, it's shipments are down from the same time a year ago. Apple reported last week that it sold 16.1 million iPadsduring the quarter, down from 21.4 million from the same quarter in 2015. It should be noted that Apple did not break down iPad sales by model.

iPad Air 3 will pack the same powerful processor as iPad Pro

Apple isn’t skimping on processing power when it comes to the iPad Air 3 and iPhone 5se that are expected to be revealed next month.

Even though the new 4-inch iPhone is being aimed as a mid-range smartphone, Apple reportedly plans to include the same A9 processor found in the iPhone 6s, while the iPad Air 3 will pack the A9X processor found in the iPad Pro.

In its recent profile on Apple’s chief chipmaker, Johny Srouji, Bloomberg’s sources revealing “Apple intends to announce an updated iPad and smaller-screen iPhone featuring the latest A9x and A9 chips.”

The iPad Air 3 is shaping up to be an mini iPad Pro in almost every way possible. To go with the A9X processor, the company is also adding 4 speaker audio, a Smart Connector, and possibly support for the Apple Pencil as well.

A rumor earlier this year claimed Apple was leaning toward using the A9 processor in the iPhone 5se, but this is the first report confirming Apple’s plans. Both new devices are expected to be revealed at an Apple keynote on March 15th. Other big announcements could include some new Apple Watch bands and the public release of iOS 9.3.

Via: The Verge

Best drawing apps for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil

The age of the digital sketchbook has arrived.

I've been wanting a true digital sketchbook ever since I first discovered you could (poorly) draw circles on the Newton. Almost two decades later, I got my wish: The iPad Pro andApple Pencil are just about the nicest tools for digital sketching I've ever tried. (And I've tried a lot of styluses, computers, and Wacom tablets.)

Even if you've never had an art background, the iPad Pro and Pencil make it pretty easy to start sketching — and better, continue sketching. One of my first friends in comics told me that the only way you gained drawing skill was by doing it over and over and over and over again; the iPad Pro is a pretty great tool with which to do that. (And you don't have to spend continuous money on ink, pens, and sketchbooks!)

I've gotten quite a few requests from people on how to get started drawing with their iPad and Pencil, so this week, I'm doing a sketch series on the iPad Pro. We're going to talk Pencil technique, the best way to start learning to draw digitally, how to save and export your artwork and sketches, and how to use the iPad Pro as a drawing tablet with your Mac.

The best sketching, illustration, and vector apps for the iPad Pro

If you want to use your iPad Pro to make some digital artwork, these are the best of the best.

For starting out: Notes

Apple's default Notes app is limited in both tools, canvas textures, and color picking, but it's a nice starter app for anyone looking to have a little fun with their Pencil without picking out a paid application. Notes's digital pencil tool is one of the best in any app, and the drawing lag is next-to-nothing. (Surprising no one, it helps to have your app, device, and accessory all designed to work together from the start by Apple.)

For all-purpose sketching: FiftyThree's Paper

Paper is my favorite sketching app on the iPad Pro: It's not a one-size-fits-all-projects program, but it's the first thing I use to draft out anything, whether I'm taking notes or doodling during a TV show. Paper has a wonderful assortment of tools for starting a pencil, ink, or watercolor sketch, and works beautifully when paired with the Apple Pencil. Better still, Paper can sort all these doodles in separate digital sketchbooks, and you can even share certain drawings to the public Paper feed, or to Adobe's Creative Cloud or OneNote. (You can also export Paper sketches to a Photoshop or Illustrator document on your Mac's desktop.)

For print-ready art: Procreate

While I love Paper for fleshing out ideas, Procreate is the master and commander of actually making those ideas reality. The app offers a truly ridiculous number of layers, customizable brushes, and templates; for specific projects, you can even create your own tools, as my pal Jessie Char is doing for her makeup blog:

Procreate can export truly large images as PSD, JPG, PNG, or in the Procreate file format, where you can then send or share them with your friends, clients, or web pals.

For vector illustrations: Graphic

I'll be honest: Until Autodesk's Graphic showed up on the scene, I hadn't worked with vector illustration since the death of Macromedia FreeHand in the early 2000s. Illustrator makes me want to throw things at my computer, and since my art hobby was just that — a hobby — I left it well enough alone.

But Graphic makes vector art fun for me again, and it does so in a completely approachable way. You can draw vector lines directly with the Apple Pencil or place nodes by hand, or combine both. You can change fills, colors, and group vector pieces. All of the fun of drawing with vectors, none of the Illustrator stress. Graphic isn't perfect for professional work, but it's a pretty darn good start.

For animation: Animation Desk Cloud

Disclaimer: I am a terrible, terrible animator. But the animation folks I trust put Kdan's Animation Desk at the top of their list, and it's not hard to see why. Most of the other animation apps available on the App Store are too limited for budding artists — unless you want to make clip-art dance — and the few that do offer traditional animation tools have user interfaces that predate iOS 7, or aren't optimized for the iPad.

Kdan's Animation Desk Cloud is the company's iPad Pro successor to Animation Desk, and it strips the clunky skeuomorphic interface while keeping a bevy of tools for animating pros. Like Graphic, there's a huge opportunity for Kdan — or another company — to improve upon the app's foundation and add key tools, but if you want to animate something by hand on your iPad, this is the app to do it with.

For 3D modeling: uMake

Like animation, 3D modeling is not, shall we say, my forté. But if you want to build some 3D models on the iPad Pro, uMake has very quickly made a name for itself as one of the best programs on the App Store. It offers extensive tutorials on building custom 3D shapes or importing 2D images and making them into 3D models; while I haven't had time to study more than a few of them, they're incredibly detailed and helpful. If 3D modeling is a skill you'd like to learn, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better app for it on the iPad.

For coloring books: Pigment

When I was in high school, I had a pretty standard "keep myself from falling asleep in class" routine: I'd doodle vast webs of intercrossed dark lines, then slowly color them in. It was usually good for an hour of entertainment, and provided my brain just enough stimulation to remain awake while listening to lectures.

Pigment takes my high-school doodling to an extreme, offering thousands of pages of intricately-drawn shapes for you to color in — whether you're listening to a lecture, or just want something to do with your hands while watching TV. The app is free to download and view, but you'll need a monthly in-app subscription to actually sketch on the patterns.

For Mac companion work: Astropad

If you've drawn digitally before the iPad Pro, you've probably used a Wacom tablet at least once in your life: The tablet and pen let you draw naturally within apps like Photoshop, either by using a plastic tablet or drawing directly on the screen with the company's more expensive Cintiq line.

Astropad essentially lets you turn your iPad Pro and Pencil into a Wacom Cintiq — with or without wires. A wired connection to your Mac results in almost no lag, and a supremely comfortable sketching experience, but going wireless is also fantastic: I have a couch set up across from my iMac and standing desk, and with Astropad, I can sketch in Photoshop on my retina iMac from 4 feet away. If you want to use your iPad on-the-go but also integrate it into your desktop drawing workflow, Astropad is an incredible resource to have in your app library.

'Ellipsis' Review - More Than Meets the Eye

Ellipsis [$2.99] feels at first like it should be a tilt game, taking place in a small arena and with all sorts of abstract shapes. Thankfully, it doesn't – it would be awkward if it and Abzorb[$2.99] came out the same week – but instead is a touch-based game. And the touch part of the experience plays a major role. You move your blue circle around, trying to hit the blue targets, while dodging anything that's red. Blue = good, red = deadly. But the game is all about dodging hazards while collecting the things you need to unlock the exit, while trying to perform as well as possible. It's a game whose quality is pretty solid, but it reveals some clever things and does small things well. Ellipsis is a tough game to evaluate, because it might not reach the dizzying heights of the absolute best games, but its design is subtly brilliant, with few demerits.

Ellipsis provides a fantastic amount of variety in its levels. The levels are all single-screen (with seamless aspect ratio changing) and small enough to be perfect for pick-up-and-play bursts. Some require more in the way of twitch reactions and fast movements, but the occasional time vortext levels prove to be rather challenging as well, as everything only moves when you move. The 120 levels should last you a decent amount of time, too. Ellipsis throws the occasional branching path in the world map at you. While they all get back to the main path in short order, they have a subtle but powerful effect on the game. They break up what could otherwise be a monotonous progression by giving the player a choice on where to go. It's easier to explore more challenging level designs early on when players can avoid frustration by going to an alternate choice. Some branches give players the choice between one difficult level to progress through, or two less-challenging levels.

But the game does a great job at avoiding frustration by providing for instantaneous restarts when you die. You just tap and hold the origin point again, and you're off. This also means that the game can throw surprise attacks right at the start without it feeling bad. It's a balance: the game never asks for too much from the player. It's self-aware of what it is and capable of.

The scoring and star system is unorthodox but works well. Each of the targets you go toward drops blue dots, and if you don't hit the target exactly, the dots will go spread out in all directions. You will have to go back to pick them up, which is not possible in some levels with tight timing windows. So, you have to be quick, but accurate. Getting the first four targets opens up the exit, but there's a tough fifth target to get. Plus, once you beat a level, then the fifth star opens up, earned by completing the level in a certain amount of 'time'. Or, in this game, how far you move in the level. But it has the same practical effect as moving fast in real time.

I do wonder if the time star would be better if it was just a separate star, though this system does challenge you to get all the dots in the most efficient manner. If you get perfect on the first four targets but skip the fifth one, you only get two stars, which feels a bit silly. The third star only is for doing well but messing up. Maybe the system could be simplified down to 3 total stars. But hey, this means that there's like 600 stars to earn in total. Hard to go wrong with that.

Ellipsis features fantastic iCloud support, and I'm starting to think that maybe iCloud doesn't suck any more. I've seen iCloud have all sorts of wonkiness over the years, and I rarely expect games with it o work well. But I've played several games now where the iCloud implementation is flawless, like this is the future and my progress shouldn't be stuck on just one device. Ellipsis joins the crowd of games that do things right. And maybe it's just developers figuring out what breaks iCloud syncing and what makes it work, but I'm getting to the point where I expect developers should include it. Of course, something will come along that is wacky with iCloud, but Ellipsis gives me hope.

The iCloud support means that I was able to test the game out on several different devices. Play this on your iPad if possible. It's playable on iPhone, featuring 1:1 movement, but the levels take up a lot of the screen, so the game feels a bit easier when you're not blocking large swaths of the iPhone screen. Still, it handles quite well no matter what, thanks in part to the game only moving when you move. There's no twitch reactions, just smart paths.

The visuals in Ellipsis are of a minimal glowing style, but they look quite good. Visual effects that come into play the further you get into levels takes the style from being just utilitarian to being quite good, a skilled design. And that's representative of the whole package. What seems utilitarian on the cover is deep down made with great care, and it shows as you play it. Ellipsis has few notable flaws, and you'll have a good time if you play it.

Should Apple bring the Smart Keyboard to iPad Air 3?

Apple's Smart Connector transforms keyboards from pain to pleasure. But would it work at iPad Air 3 scale?

When Apple introduced the iPad Pro, the company introduced the Smart Connector along with it. A single magnetic port that carriers power, data, and ground, while not as positionable as Bluetooth, has proven much more reliable. With the iPad Air 3 rumors heating up, it's only natural to wonder if Apple would bring its smart new connector to the 9.7-inch screen size. 

Better than Bluetooth

Bluetooth Keyboards, which pair and communicate wirelessly, do have some advantages. They can be positioned anywhere, so you can place both your hands and your iPad where it's more ergonomically advantages. That makes them great for standing desks and some table layouts alike.

Pairing doesn't always work, though, and communicating wirelessly isn't without its interruptions. Hence, the Smart Connector. Bluetooth Keyboards also have to be powered independently, which means another battery and charging cycle to manage.

It's physical, so the keyboard does have to be stuck directly onto the iPad, which does limit the flexibility. But when it connects it's rock-solid. Since it carries power as well as data, it runs off the iPad's charge. That might put a small — very small — dent in your iPad's battery life, but it also means you never have to worry about not having the keyboard charged.

Having used the Smart Keyboard since November of 2015, I can attest to how liberating that is. Just flip down, notch in, and start typing.

Although some don't like the Smart Keyboard because of how it works — laser-ablated fabric over MacBook-style domes — I've been loving it. I tend to adapt quickly, but a few minutes in I forget what I'm typing on and just keep typing away.

That's on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, though, where the keys are functionally full size. I'm not sure how I'll feel on a Smart Keyboard scaled down to 9.7-inches.

The keyboard on the 12-inch MacBook, which I've used a lot, also has keys that are functionally full size — even if they go edge to edge. I've only used the 11-inch MacBook Air a few times, but it has never seemed too small to me. But those are 12- and 11-inches. This would be 9.7...

Apple famously never made a netbook — many of which were tiny — because the company said it didn't know how to make one that would be any good. When Apple introduced the first 9.7-inch iPad, the keyboard stand the company shipped with it was still almost comically full size.

That doesn't mean Apple will never make a small keyboard, but it does show the company's leaning.

Third parties

While Apple has no history of making smaller keyboards, several third-party accessory vendors do — both for the iPad Air and the tiny iPad mini. The iPad Air keyboards have all been perfectly good. The iPad mini ones haven't been ideal, but have at least been usable.

More importantly for our purposes, they show what's possible even at the 9.7-inch size. They're just currently constrained to Bluetooth.

With a Smart Connector, 9.7-inch third-party keyboards will be just as reliable as the third-party keyboards on the iPad Pro. (Well, hopefully more reliable....)

When the iPad Pro launched, the Logitech Create launched with it. It's not impossible to imagine an iPad Air 3 could launch with third-party keyboards of its own.

iPad Air 3 + Smart Keyboard

Whether or not Apple decides they can make a small keyboard good enough to bear the company brand, I hope the rumored iPad Air 3 includes a Smart Connector. It makes for a much better keyboard experience, and companies including Logitech have shown they can make usable keyboards at any iPad size.

What's the best way to sell my iPad?

There are a few different ways to sell your iPad, but the two main categories are selling it to a reseller or selling it yourself. A reseller will be much easier but you'll get less money. Selling it yourself will take more work but has the potential to net you more cash. Figure out what's more valuable to you — time or money — and then you'll know what to do.

Gazelle

Gazelle is simple and easy to use. Tell them what you have and they'll tell you what they'll give you for it. If you accept the offer, you have 30 days to send in your old phone. Gazelle will check your old phone when it arrives. If there's anything different, they'll let you know and give you an updated offer. If you decline, they'll ship it right back to you free of charge. If everything looks good, or if you accept an updated offer, they'll pay you by check, Amazon, or PayPal.

Because of the 30-day window (and they've sometimes increased it to 50 days when new iPads are on the horizon), Gazelle is a good way to lock in a price before the market is glutted. Just make sure the condition doesn't change between when you get the offer and when you send it in, or the price will change as well.

Swappa

Swappa is a way to get more money for your old iPad than typical services provide, but in a way that's easier and more civilized than selling directly. You do have to have reasonable expectations and some patience. 

eBay

eBay can net you more money for your old iPad but requires you to do a lot of the work and take some of the risk. If you're comfortable handling your own sales, and have the time to invest, you can get a better return than trade-in services. Just make sure to:

1. Only ship to the buyer's confirmed Paypal address if using Paypal.
2. Price competitively, especially if you're using Buy It Now as an option.
3. Take great pictures but show any defects or damage so potential buyers knows what they're getting.
4. Use a fast shipping service and make sure you include that in your item description.
5. Use keywords in your title and in your item description to attract more potential buyers.
6. You may also want to consider insuring your item in case anything goes wrong during shipping.
7. Watch out for low-feedback buyers and also keep in mind that Paypal charges processing fees as well.

Craigslist

Craigslist is the old classified ads in new digital form, and all the wonder and dread that entails. The advantage of Craigslist is that you can sell locally, face-to-face. That greatly speeds up transactions and reduces overhead like shipping. Just make sure to:

1. Never put your personal or home address in an ad. NEVER.
2. Price your iPad competitively. Find existing ads on Craigslist in your area for iPads that are the same model, capacity, and condition as yours and price accordingly.
3. If you're comfortable, include a number for potential buyers to call or text. It can increase the likelihood of a quick sale. (If you have a virtual number, use it.)
4. Meet in a public place, preferably in the daytime. A coffee shop like Starbucks is ideal. Bring a friend with you, just in case.
5. Watch out for email scams. If someone offers a lot more money to encourage you to ship them your iPad, they're just trying to rip you off.

How to sell your iPad

Want the latest and greatest iPad? Sell your old one to help you buy the new!

Looking to sell your old iPad so you can more easily afford that hotly rumored iPad Air 3? Maybe an iPad Pro or iPad mini 4? iPads aren't usually available with subsidies or leasing programs, especially not the Wi-Fi versions. So, one of the most popular strategies for those who want to reduce the cost of upgrade — especially frequent upgrades — is to sell an old iPad to pay for a new. Here's how!

When should I sell?

The best time to sell your old iPad is typically just before Apple announces a new one. Once the announcement is actually made, more people want the new model and so start selling the old. That leads to a lot of supply, which reduces the potential price you'll get.

Apple originally released new iPad models in the spring. The original iPad, iPad 2, and iPad 3 all went on sale during that time. More recently, Apple has been releasing new iPads at the end of the year. From the iPad mini and iPad 4 to iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro, fall and sometimes almost winter has been the window.

For most people, tablets aren't as necessary as phones. So, if you can sell a bit early, even if you have to do without for a few weeks, you might get a better price.

Anything I should do before I sell?

There are a few things you'll want to do before selling!

1. Back up your iPad

Before you do anything else, make sure you have an up-to-date backup of your iPad. That way all your data is safe and secure and you'll be able to easily restore it to your new iPad when you get it. iCloud automatically makes a backup overnight, as long as you're plugged in, but a manual backup will make sure you're absolutely up to date.

1. Make sure your iPad is connected to Wi-Fi. (If you're low on power, plug in as well.)
2. Launch Settings from the Home screen.
3. Tap on iCloud.
4. Tap on Backup.
5. Tap on Back Up Now.
   

If you prefer to use iTunes, you should also trigger a manual update to make sure you have all of your recent data backed up.

1. Plug your iPad into your Mac or Windows PC.
2. Launch iTunes.
3. Click on the iPad icon in the menu bar when it appears.
4. Click on Back Up Now. (Click on Encrypt Backup and add a password— you want the security.)
5. Back up Apps, if asked.

2. Erase your personal data

Once your data is safely backed up, it's important to wipe it from the iPad you're selling so your personal photos, files, messages, etc. don't end up as a surprise bonus for the new owner.

1. Launch the Settings app from the Home screen of your iPad.
2. Tap on General.
3. Tap on Reset at the bottom.
4. Tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
   
5. Enter your Passcode.
6. Tap on Erase to confirm.
   

You'll need to enter your Apple ID password to turn off Activate Lock and remove the device from Find my iPad, and you may need to enter your iPad passcode again to double-confirm.

That's because once the wipe is done, it's done. If you change your mind, you'll need to restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup.

Cleaning your iPad isn't just about removing data, it's about removing dirt. Even if you've run it hard, you should still take a few minutes to wipe it down and make sure it's free from dust, grime, oil, lint, and even fingerprints. Pay extra attention to the grooves and ports. If it's particularly nasty, a dab of isopropyl alcohol and some elbow grease will do the trick.

This is especially true if you're selling your iPad yourself and need to take pictures to show potential buyers. Of course, it's also the right thing to do — nobody wants to buy a dirty iPad.

4. Collect up the cables and cases

Make sure you include the Lightning or 30-pin Dock cable that came with your iPad, as well as the AC Adapter. If you have all that, and the original box, it can make sure you get the most money possible.

If you're selling your iPad yourself, including any accessories you'll no longer need can also sweeten the deal. Old cases, cables, chargers, and more won't just attract buyers, it will help declutter your collection as well.

Once you have everything, put it all, nicely and cleaning in the box, and set it aside, so it's all safe and ready to ship.