Last iMore heard, the iPhone 5 was still on track for an October, 2012 release, and since Apple has succeeded in getting a newer, smaller nano-SIM standard passed, Europeans carriers are now reportedly placing orders for the tiny new chips in anticipation of the launch. The Financial Times says it's because carriers don't want to get caught flat-footed again, the way they were when Apple switched to micro SIMs with the original iPad and later, the iPhone 4.

One informed person said that the major networks were keen to be ahead of demand this time, however. He added that the iPhone 5 was likely to be similar sized as the iPhone 4 although slimmer and with a fully metal body.

Apple fought long and hard with the likes of BlackBerry-maker RIM, Google-owned Android manufacturer Motorola, and Microsoft Windows Phone-partner Nokia to get the nano-SIM approved.

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is what's used by GSM carriers (including LTE carriers) to provide network service to a phone, tablet, or other cellular device. The nano-SIM contains the same chip as the micro-SIM found in the current iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, and all models of iPad, as well as the mini-SIM found in the iPhone 3GS and other phones. The plastic packaging around it is simply almost completely gone, which means the tray that holds it can be smaller, which means it takes up slightly less space inside the device.

That may seem trivial, but since the next generation iPhone likely won't be much bigger than the current generation, even with the rumored 4-inch, 16:9 display, Apple won't have the iPad-like space to fit all the parts into. As with the rumored switch to a micro Dock port, every millimeter of space will be vital to fitting in every milliamp of battery, not to mention an LTE radio.

Source: Financial Times

When iMore originally heard that Apple was going ahead with the 7.x-inch iPad and targeting a fall release with a $200 starting price, we also heard that it would be identical to the current iPad, only smaller. That included the interface and the cameras, and potentially the super-dense 2048x1536 Retina display. We've since heard that that Apple could wait on Retina for a future model of the iPad mini.

On one hand, it's hard to imagine Apple releasing a non-Retina iOS device at this point. The current generation iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad are all running at Retina. On the other hand, no iOS device has ever been introduced with a Retina display. The original iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad were all launched with standard displays, and later received Retina displays as part of their upgrade cycle.

We've already looked at why Apple would want to release an iPad mini, and how they could implement a 7.85-inch interface. Now let's look at how Apple could handle the iPad mini display -- Retina or otherwise.

Current iOS screen densities and display qualities

Apple currently sources 5 types of screens for iOS devices, in the following densities and quality:

• 132 ppi IPS for iPad 2
• 163 ppi for iPhone 3GS
• 326 ppi for iPod touch
• 264 ppi IPS for iPad 3
• 326 ppi laminated IPS for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

iPads, non-Retina and Retina, have lower screen densities than their respective iPhone and iPod touch non-Retina and Retina counterparts. So iPad 2 is lower density than iPhone 3GS, and iPad 3 is lower density than iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPod touch 4.

Likewise, the iPad's screen does not yet seem to be laminated in the same way the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, which makes the pixels on the latter devices seem much more like they're on the glass, rather than beneath it.

While the iPod touch nRetina display is the same density as the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, the panel itself doesn't seem to include IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology, or in general be of as high a quality.

Coincidentally (or not), reducing an iPad 9.7-inch display to 7.85-inchs reduces the iPad screen densities from 132/264 ppi to 163/326 ppi, which is identical to the iPod touch and iPhone screen densities. If we assume, as Daring Fireball's John Gruber has suggested, that Apple will have suppliers simply cut larger, 7.85-inch sections from the existing 163/326 ppi screen materials, then that still leaves a few options for the iPad mini display.

163 ppi 1024x768 non-Retina iPad mini

Using the iPhone 3GS display on the iPad mini is the most obvious solution. The 163 ppi display has been manufactured for Apple since the original iPhone in 2007, and is still being manufactured today for the iPhone 3GS launched in 2009. The economies of scale are probably huge by now, and this might well be the cheapest option for Apple. The iPhone 3GS retails for $375 off-contract, which compares to $200 for the iPod touch. Absent the phone extras, the 163 dpi panel is likely the easiest way for Apple to hit the $200 price point for the iPad mini as well, with at least some margin to spare.

The downside is, it's not Retina. However, it is denser and thus better than the 132 ppi iPad 2 display, also still on the market. The iPhone 3GS also doesn't have an IPS panel, which even the original iPad had. That means viewing angles won't be as good, and that's less than ideal for a large screened device that may be used in a group setting.

326 ppi 2048x1536 Retina, non-IPS iPad mini

Using the iPod touch 4 display on the iPad mini wouldn't be as cheap as the iPhone 3GS panel, but would be less expensive than the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S panel. The iPod touch 4 has been on the market since 2010 and while it doesn't sell in iPhone numbers, it sells enough that Apple can keep it on the market at that magic $200 starting price (and perhaps lower, come fall...). Whether or not Apple could afford adding it to the iPad mini's bill of goods, and still hit $200 is hard to say.

If Apple can, while it would be Retina, and denser and better than the 163 ppi iPhone 3GS display, the iPad mini still wouldn't be IPS like the current iPad line. It would provide a better reading experience than the non-Retina panel, but not the great group viewing experience the 9.7-inch iPad enjoys.

326 ppi 2048x1536 Retina IPS iPad mini

Using the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 panel is the premium play. Even though it was introduced in 2010, pixel for pixel it's still one of the best displays on the market. It's a denser, better display than the iPad 3 even. But it comes at a price. The cheapest product Apple sells with this display, the 8GB iPhone 4, costs $550 off contract. Even without the phone guts, it's hard to imagine Apple cutting that panel bigger, and getting it into a device they can comfortably sell for $200.

It would give the iPad mini one of the best screens in the business -- bigger than the iPhone and denser and better constructed than the iPad. With amazing clarity, color, and viewing angle, text would sharp and video would be crystal clear.

Something else

It's also possible Apple could zig instead of zag, and go with an iPad mini display that combines elements of the other displays but is unique in and of itself. Apple probably wouldn't get the benefits of the existing economies of scales, but if they're ordering tens of millions of them, they'd quickly create new ones. Since every other iOS device has unique display properties anyway, it wouldn't be unprecedented. It would still, however, challenge that absolute $200 price point , which could come down to the pennies.

If Apple does go with something custom, options could include a 163 ppi panel that is IPS, for example.

Conclusion

Apple experimented with a Retina display in the 2011 iPad 2 but due to price and yield issues, had to wait until the 2012 iPad to ship it. Arguably, 2048x1536 is still too much panel for the 9.7-inch iPad to handle, and it might take until 2013 and new chipsets before it gets really comfortable. Likewise, it's possible Apple has experimented with a Retina display for the iPad mini but not for the one that's rumored to be shipping this year.

Keeping costs down will be the primary concern for the first generation iPad mini, and there'll be plenty of time to ramp up the display later.

Additional resources

• Why Apple would release a 7-inch iPad
• Solving for 7: How Apple could implement the iPad mini interface

Did you enter our weekly photo contest yet? If not, it's not too late. We're giving away over $140 in amazing photography accessories and apps, and all we're asking you to do to enter is to take a killer photo for your avatar here on iMore! Our forums and comments section is more than just a place to ask random questions with random people and make random statements -- it's a community where people get to know each other. Every time you post something, a piece of your personality is revealed and you become less random and more human. iMore is a place to make friends. But nothing screams "anti-social" more than that silly default avatar for comments and the default iMore logo in the forums. It's like showing up to a party dressed in a hoodie and mask. That's why this week is all about avatars! Make the first step to being "someone" in our community and upload an avatar.

Although self-portraits are extremely popular for people to use as their avatar, this is not a requirement. Pick a subject that reflects you, get creative, and capture that killer image that translates into the perfect avatar for you and your personality. We respect that you may be concerned about privacy and don't want to reveal your face, which is completely acceptable! All we ask is that your avatar is photo that you took with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

The prize: Olloclip Lens System, Glif tripod mount, and $50 iTunes gift card

We're going all out this week and not only offering the winner one prize, but THREE! The winner will receive an Olloclip Lens System, a Glif tripod mount and stand, and a $50 iTunes gift card to spend on all those photography apps you've been wanting to buy! That's $140 worth of prizes!

The rules

The rules of entry are very simple. The photo must have been taken with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (we'll check the EXIF data of the original file to verify) and any edits must have been done with an iPhone or iPad app. No Photoshop CS6! If you have external lens accessories you are more than welcome to use them.

Additional Rule: In addition to the normal set of rules, this contest also requires that you set the photo as your iMore avatar and share it in the contest thread.

Resources

Now, before you run off to take your photo, remember that it's not technical skill alone that will claim this prize. Even if you're not the best photographer (yet!), a great eye and a great subject can still get you the win. However, a little help can never hurt, so make sure you check out these articles from our iPhone photography series for some tips.

• How to take great looking portraits with your iPhone camera
• How to edit portraits with iPhoto for iPhone and iPad
• How to make your iPhone photographs more powerful with negative space
• How to make your iPhone photography more striking with the "rule of thirds"

How to submit

Submitting your photo is easy. First, you must set your photo as your iMore avatar, then head over to the iMore Photography Forum and post your photo to the official contest thread. Don't forget to state which apps, if any, you used to edit your photo!

That's it! Now go out and shoot!

ENTER NOW

Apple has just released iOS 6 beta 3 to registered developers. It's available now over the air (OTA) via Settings, General, Software Update, or can be downloaded from Apple's developer portal.

It was 3 weeks from beta 2 to beta 3, a week longer than it was between beta 1 and beta 2, and a week longer than Apple's typical -- but not consistent -- 2 week beta cycle. No word yet on what, if anything, has changed between iOS 6 beta 2 and iOS 6 beta 3, and since pre-prelase Apple software is subject to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) we won't be hearing anything official from Apple.

iOS 6, with over 200 new features for users, and a plethora of new API for developers, is expected to be released alongside the iPhone 5 and perhaps iPad mini this fall.

For more on iOS 6, check out:

• iOS 6: Everything you need to know
• How to install iOS 6 with iTunes
• How to update iOS 6 over-the-air
• On iOS 6 bugs and app compatibility (or, please don't be a jerk)
• How iOS 6 compares to Android 4.1, BlackBerry 10, and Windows Phone 8

2 days down and 4 to go for incredible accessory prizes, and a bonus chance to win it all! Can you find, follow, and retweet all the Twitter Treasures?

The olloclip lens system is a compact, convenient lens system that easily slides over your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S camera and turns it into a fun, flexible, photography powerhouse. The olloclip contains both a fisheye and wide-angle lens, and you can unscrew the wide-angle to reveal a macro lens as well. That's 3 extra options in one small package. And the iMore Accessory Store has one ready and waiting to give to you for FREE -- if you can win our Twitter Treasure Hunt!

We've already revealed 2 treasures... have you found them? Here's how to enter:

1. Follow @imore, @reneritchie, @GeorgiaTiPb, @llofte, @iMuggle, @chrisoldroyd, @bla1ze, @simonsage on Twitter.
2. Watch our Twitter feeds.
3. At some point today, 1 (one) of us will tweet the Treasure Hunt accessory of the day (that's the olloclip lens system today). When that happens, retweet it!
4. Successfully retweet each and every treasure hunt accessory, and you're entered to win.

And if you want to enter our grand-prize and win all 7 (seven) Treasure Hunt accessories, simply retweet this and you're entered:

• $500+ in prizes! RT+follow to enter! @imore @reneritchie @GeorgiaTiPb @llofte @imuggle @chrisoldroyd @bla1ze @simonsage http://t.co/HIPuGEOT

Are you ready? Are you set? The iMore twitter treasure hunt is ON!

For today only, the iMore Store has the OtterBox Impact Series Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale for only $9.95! That's a whopping 50% off! Get yours before they're gone!

Wrap your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 in this OtterBox protective silicone case and head around the world. More than just a simple silicone skin, the Impact Series case offers added protection from bump and shock by adding inner coring to dissipate impact away from the device.

All buttons, functions, and ports are fully accessible through this case, and it looks great wrapped around your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4. It includes a self-adhering screen protector to help protect your screen from scratches and smudges.

The OtterBox Impact Series Case does not include a belt clip.

• All buttons are fully functional through the case
• Coring on inside corners and inside back of skin adds extra strength and protection
• Drop and shock protection
• Self-adhering clear protective film, cleaning cloth and installation card included

Get the OtterBox Impact Series Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!

Seems like we can't go a week anymore without hearing about some major security breach at LinkedIn or Yahoo! or some other website, where user accounts were compromised and data potentially stolen. While there's a lot the sites themselves need to do to make it harder to steal our info, there's also something we need to do -- use strong, unique passwords for each and every site.

Whether it's iCloud, iTunes, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Dropbox, or any site that has access to our credit card information or personal data, it should be locked down for our protection. Even sites like iMore should be secure so no one can use our account but us.

Here's how to set up strong, unique passwords and keep your data safe.

Get a password manager

Seriously. Once you start employing strong, unique passwords, it will be impossible to remember them all yourself, and if you write them down you destroy any strength they have. That means you'll need a password manager.

Good password managers typically aren't free or cheap but don't look at the cost -- look at the value. Spending a few bucks up front is way less expensive -- in terms of both time and money -- than having your data stolen and having to deal with the repercussions later. Just like you buy a lock or alarm for your house, car, even gym locker, buy a lock for your data.

The way a password manager works is that it can generate strong, unique passwords for you, save them securely, and auto-fill them when you need to login to a website..

Here are some of the ones we've reviewed and that have good cross-platform support. (It's important to pick one that runs on all the devices you use.)

• 1Password - works on iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows
• DataVault - works on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Mac, and Windows
• RoboForm - works on iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Mac, and Windows

Realistically, you'll still have to remember a few passwords and passcodes -- the one that unlocks your password manager, of course, and also the ones that unlock your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, or logs you into your desktop computer before the password manager can run. There may also be websites you may need to access from someone else's computer, like iCloud or Gmail, if you don't have any data access on your phone while traveling.

How to choose an easy-to-remember but still strong-ish password

For the password to login to your Mac or Windows PC, or to unlock your password manager, you still want something strong but you need something you can remember. If it's not strong, someone can break in, and all your other passwords suddenly become worthless. If it's not easy to remember, you won't be able to use it, or you'll write it down, which either locks you out or, again, makes all your other passwords vulnerable.

Here are some dos and don'ts when it comes to making a strong-enough password that you can still remember.

Password Don't

1. Don't use the word "password" as your password, or your username, or your email address, or real name, or anything equally lame or obvious. You want your password to be as unguessable as possible
2. Don't use anything found in the dictionary as you password. Simple, short, really easy to remember words also means really easy to guess or to hack using a dictionary attack.

Password Do

1. Use a mix of lower case and upper case, numbers and letters, symbols and punctuation. Mixing languages doesn't hurt.
2. Make it as long as you can. 10 characters should be enough if you're not guarding SHIELD-level secrets. Make it a phrase so it's easy to remember but still hard to guess. Here are some examples: !M0r3-R()CK$! or Un3,1M0re,(ho$e...
3. Add some variation for each device or site for which you need a memorable password. You can keep it relative if you have to. For example, you could add the first 2 characters of the domain name to the beginning or or end of your password, like im!M0r3-R()CK$! or Un3,1M0re,(ho$e...ac

How to change your passwords to something strong and unique

Now that you have a password manager that can generate strong, unique passwords, and you know how to come up with you own fairly strong, fairly unique ones for the few sites you absolutely have to keep in your own memory, you need to go change your old broken for the new hotness.

Typically this involves typing in your old password to authorize the change, and typing in your new password twice to make sure it's accurate. Some sites might also use a CAPTCHA system and make you copy some words or characters that appear in a box. (That's to try and make sure you're not a "robot" program attempting to hack the account.)

How to change your iMore.com password to something strong and unique

A good place to practice changing your password is right here on iMore.

Note: Because iOS doesn't allow browser extensions, you'll have to use the embedded browser within your password manager if you want to generate and save your new passwords while mobile.

1. Click on Welcome, [your username] at the very top right hand corner of the page.
2. Click on the Edit tab
3. Enter your old password to authorize
4. With your new password manager, generate a new password and copy it to the clipboard -- mine gave me c7^^9tRjJF
5. Paste your new password into both the Password and Confirm password fields.
6. Click Save at the very bottom.
7. If your password manager asks you if it should remember the new password for you, click Yes

How to change your Apple, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and other passwords to something strong and unique

The process for changing and strengthening your passwords for other sites, like iTunes, iCloud, Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. are very similar to the above. Here are links to the account or password change pages for them:

• iCloud and iTunes (or any Apple ID account)
• Gmail (or any Google account)
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Amazon
• Dropbox

Conclusion

Security is in constant conflict with convenience. Using strong, unique passwords can be a hassle to remember and chore to input, especially on mobile devices. But having your password and data stolen is a far, far bigger hassle. A great password manager app can help bring harmony your security.

So pick a password manager, set aside some time, and make all your passwords strong and unique. Then, next time you read a headline about some website being compromised, you'll be glad you did.

And if anyone else has any ideas on how to make passwords strong, unique, and still keep life as user friendly as possible, add them to the comments.

After spending a couple years wandering in the ill-fated desert that was WiMax, Sprint has finally joined the Long Term Evolution (LTE) and flipped the switch on their new, shoulda-done-it-sooner 4G network. Sprint CEO, Dan Hesse, announced the July 15 as the go-live day a couple of weeks ago.

"The performance of both the 4G LTE and improved 3G networks are exceeding our expectations and we are pleased with the progress of the entire Network Vision program."

With the launch on July 15, Sprint will have debuted 4G LTE to millions of people in five major metropolitan areas with more market launches in 2012 to be announced later this year. By the end of 2013, Sprint expects to have largely completed the build out of its all-new 4G LTE nationwide network -- with an enhanced 3G network -- covering 250 million people across the United States.

Only they don't have any iOS devices to run on it.

Sprint does have the iPhone 4S, and the bank busting contract to prove it, but the iPhone 4S doesn't run on LTE anyway. The iPhone 4S only runs on Sprint's the slow-as-molasses-in-Winterfell CDMA network. We're talking 2-3 mbps, compared to HSPA 14.4 mbps networks on the GSM side. (Verizon has the same problem.)

What Sprint doesn't have is the new iPad, which does run on LTE networks, including AT&T and Verizon. But not Sprint. At least not yet. Whether or not that changes in the near or distant future, and whether or not deploying an LTE network factors into when and if it happens, only Apple and Sprint no for sure.

But for now, if you live in Kansas City, San Antonio, Dallas, Houston or Atlanta, and you just got Sprint LTE, you're going to have to go somewhere else to get a device to run on it.

That raises the question -- if the most popular smartphone in the world doesn't run on LTE, and the most popular tablet in the world doesn't run on Sprint's LTE, how important is it that Sprint is lighting it up today?

And how important is it that Sprint build it out quickly so that, come October and the iPhone 5, Sprint isn't the only U.S. iPhone carrier without an LTE iPhone on a strong, well deployed LTE network?

No holidays this week. No late night movies. No excuses. Just an editor, his desk, and putting words to digital paper. Let's do this.

iMore 2.0 update

iMore's move to our all new, all VISOR (what I call it) platform has been fantastic, but it hasn't been without a few bumps in the roadmap. Our free iPhone app panicked. We fixed it. A few of our pages got a little confused. We're fixing them still. There's a lot of work left to do but we're already starting to roll out those new features we promised you.

Starting with comment editing.

We've heard a lot of you complain that, if you make a mistake in a comment, you can't correct it. That ends this week. Once we flip the switch, if you write it, you can fix it.

And there's still a lot more to come.

(Watch for something special tomorrow...)

iMore's choice

Part of iMore's mandate is to carefully curate the very best content for our readers, listeners, and viewers. We've been doing a lot of that already, but we wanted to make it simpler and more personal. Enter iMore's choice.

iMore's choice is going to be a very small series of articles focused on presenting you with the absolute best of the best of the best apps, accessories, and other iPhone and iPad related content.

We'll be adding to the iMore's choice lists when and if we find something really worth adding, and changing an item on the iMore's choice lists when and if we find something better.

Since they're meant for you, we want your feedback. We're editing the content, but you're shaping it. So let us know what we're missing and what could better.

We launched the first one earlier today, so check it out and check back often.

• iMore's choice: Best apps for iPhone

Writers, writers everywhere

In case you hadn't heard, iMore is looking for a few good writers. Scratch that. A few f'n great writers. We put out the call on Monday and to say we've been flooded by awesome applications would be an understatement. We're working our way through them all now, and we'll likely start contacting those we're interested in next week. If you haven't applied yet, there's still time.

Contest-palooza

We're giving away a ton of stuff on iMore lately. We just gave away not one but TWO $600 Apple Store gift certificates, and we're not stopping there:

• Twitter Treasure Hunt: Find, follow, and retweet your way to over $500 in prizes!
• Weekly photo contest: Avatars! - Win over $120 of photo gear and apps!
• Monday Brief: Win a Mobile Nations dream device of YOUR choice in the Monday Brief's season 2 intro contest!

You can always find the latest, greatest contests on our contest page so bookmark that bad boy and enter them all. Unless you don't like hundreds and hundreds of dollars of free stuff...?

Podcasts

I think it's safe to say the new format for our newly renamed iMore show is a hit, at least based on the phenomenal feedback we've been getting from you guys. We're following our "Less is iMore" strategy and tackling fewer subjects but talking about them more in-depth. Georgia's also taken the reins as host, which means I get to be a guest and really dive into the subject matter at hand. Seth's still keeping us real, and we'll be having more guests on to round things out and bring you even better discussion. We're all incredibly excited about it.

If you haven't listened lately, check out episode 302 and let us know what you think. Being the best damn iOS podcast on the 'net isn't enough for us. We want to better, and we need your help to do it, so speak up!

Don't miss ZEN and TECH either. We did a very Apple-centric show this week, focusing on... focus. Georgia's also considering doing a special series on parenting in the digital age. She's spent a lot of her therapy career working with children and parents, so I'm really hoping we can get it going sooner rather than later.

Features

Can't stop. Won't stop.

• Failed review SMASH puny Georgia iPhone. If you've ever wondered whether or not the product tests we do are real, wonder no more. An iPhone was hurt in the making of that video...
• How iOS 6's flagship features compare to past versions, and to Android 4.1, BlackBerry 10, and Windows Phone 8. Some people have been saying Apple phoned it in on iOS 6. Talk is cheap, so yours truly did some digging and compared Apple's next mobile operating system to previous releases, and to the competition.
• iTunes Wish List belongs on the iPhone and iPad App Store. Leanna Lofte takes issue with iTunes Wish List feature being available on OS X and Windows but not where it matters most, on mobile.
• Sorry, Twitter clients, but Twitter's just not that into you.... It occurred to me that Twitterrific et. al. worked their apps off to help Twitter graduate to the big leagues, and now they might get dumped for a hotter, younger app strategy...
• Dear Apple, could we please have a Kids category in the App Store? Leanna Lofte's plea for a better way to find apps for children.
• Chrome vs. Atomic vs. Mercury: Best alternative browser for iPhone shootout!. Ally Kazmucha puts browsers not named Safari through their mobile paces and picks a winner.
• Would you pay a higher price for the next iPhone just so that you could feel more exclusive?. Georgia found an iMore forum member who was willing to pay Kevin Michaluk money for an iPhone Pro, and examines the idea of Apple as a luxury brand.

Recommended reading

• RIM AGM and BlackBerry 10. Kevin Michaluk is covering the hell out of BlackBerry lately. Where mainstream journalists are making sloppy mistake after sensational mistake, Kevin is keeping up his enthusiasm but also keeping it honest and accurate. Read all of it.
• Why we don't need another version of Android this year. Alex Dobie takes a look at the state of Android and argues Google can take the rest of the year off.
• Jelly Bean: Will your phone get an update?. Jerry Hildenbrand helps prove why, with the somewhat depressing news about which current Android devices will and won't be getting the update Google just released.
• ReadWriteWeb's dimly backlit Retina flamebait. Ignore the negative attention feeding and focus on Marco Arment's pricing out the Retina MacBook Pro. Want to guess how much more it costs compared to the non-Retina model?
• The New TBR Business Model. Benjamin Brooks is trying something interesting -- a 7 day time-shift for non-subscribers.
• iOS Photoshop Actions & Workflows. Marc Edwards of Bjango shares more of his Photoshop wizardry.

And done.

Back on March 10, iMore heard that the 7.x-inch iPad was on track for release this fall, starting at $199. Since then, mainstream newspapers have begun reporting likewise, including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, and now Nick Bilton and Nick Wingfield at the New York Times.

The company is developing a new tablet with a 7.85-inch screen that is likely to sell for significantly less than the latest $499 iPad, with its 9.7-inch display, according to several people with knowledge of the project who declined to be named discussing confidential plans. The product is expected to be announced this year.

The company is developing a new tablet with a 7.85-inch screen that is likely to sell for significantly less than the latest $499 iPad, with its 9.7-inch display, according to several people with knowledge of the project who declined to be named discussing confidential plans. The product is expected to be announced this year.

The reason why Apple would release a 7-inch iPad is to occupy the smaller size and lower price point favored by some users and by mass-market buyers like schools and businesses.

How Apple will handle a 7.x-inch iPad interface is likely by shrinking down the current 9.7-inch iPad iOS interface to fit the smaller size.

While there haven't been any major parts leaks or advanced case manufacturing runs, the likes of which are typically seen in the months leading up to new iPhones and iPads, the amount of rumors surfacing at this point makes an iPad mini release seem likely.

Rumors of the iPhone and iPad both spread before their those devices were announced, likely as they moved closer to manufacturing, FCC certification, and carrier testing, and more people became familiar with them outside of Apple's tightly guarded labs.

That, or simple Apple starting to seed the market in anticipation of release, could explain what we're seeing now.

Apple has never released two major iOS devices in the same season before. With the iPhone 5 already anticipated for October, a close or even simultaneous launch of the iPad mini could make for an incredibly interesting holiday quarter for Apple... and a depressing one for 7-inch tablet competitors.

The absolute best App Store apps for your iPhone, carefully curated and often updated by the staff of iMore.

With hundreds of thousands of apps in the App Store it can be difficult -- and expensive -- to find the perfect one to fit your needs. That's where iMore comes in. Whenever we do an app review, an app vs. app comparison, or top apps pick, we take the best of the best of the best, the winners, the absolute staff favorites, and list them here. Focusing on beautiful design, simple usability, and phenomenal experience, these apps are iMore's choice.

Note: This list is very much a work in progress and we'll be adding to it, and changing the apps as new and better ones are released, so check back often!

For a broader sampling of apps and games that you can try without buying, check out our best free iPhone apps and best free iPhone games lists.

Best camera app: Camera+

If you've been looking to upgrade your iPhoneography from the built-in iPhone Camera app to something a little more flexible and powerful, then check out Camera+. Built by photographers for photographers, the latest update not only continues Camera+'s great features and filter sets, but adds the ability to lock focus and exposure, mulit-photo imports, improved social sharing, app integration (so you can get to Camera+ from within other apps), and more.

• $0.99 -Download Now

Best calendar app: Agenda

If you need both more functionality and more elegance than the built in iOS Calendar app, you need Agenda. In addition to performing the normal tasks you'd expect any good calendar app to do, Agenda also lets you confirm appointments via text message or email from directly within the app. Similarly, you can inform necessary parties if you're going to be late.

• $0.99 - Download Now

Best cloud storage app: Dropbox

Dropbox has become the default way to sync files on iOS. It does things iCloud wants no part of, and while pro accounts can still be pricier than competitive services, but most people won't need more than the free account offers anyway. iPhones and iPads are app-centric devices, and more apps work with Dropbox than anything else.

• Free - Download now

Best ebook reader app: iBooks

iBooks is Apple's free ebook and PDF reading app for iPhone. It's a stylish way to read not only books purchased from the iBookstore, but all the free books from the massive Project Gutenberg library as well as any of your own ePub or PDF files. Apple's book catalog isn't as big as Amazon's Kindle library, but the reading experience itself is far superior.

• Free - Download Now

Best educational video app: Khan Archiver

Khan Academy is one of the best products of education and the internet, and with the Khan Archiver app for the iPhone, you have free access videos on topics ranging from kindergarten, advanced science, humanities, history, and more. You can even download the videos to watch offline.

• Free - Download Now

Best email app: Sparrow

Sparrow is great for Gmail users because it handles labels extremely well. It also supports iMAP for Google Apps, iCloud, Yahoo, AOL, Mobile Me and custom IMAP accounts, as well as POP. You can use Facebook to assign avatars to your friends, and add attachments while composing a message. It also has a beautifully designed pane navigation layout, pull to refresh, alias support, and custom signatures for each email account.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Best launcher app: Launch Center Pro

"Launch actions, not apps" is Launch Center Pro's motto and the app allows you to do just that. From composing an email/message (with or without a default recipient/body), to creating quick dialers, Safari searches and page launches, to a flashlight utility, and the ability to insert a custom URL string that can either launch an app function or a web page, Launch Center lets you do everything you need to do on your iPhone, faster than ever before.

• $2.99 - Download now

Best navigation app: NAVIGON

NAVIGON is the best iPhone navigation map for those who want the security of on-board maps, anywhere around the word, without the hassle of huge, up-front downloads or updates. They've got a ton of options as in-app purchases, and while those can add up, you can also pick and choose only the ones you want to keep costs down. If you want power and flexibility, Navigon is a great choice.

• Variable - Download now

Best password manager app: 1Password Pro

1Password lets you have the security of strong, unique password with the convenience of easy password entry. Store all your logins, accounts, cards, and notes securely, sync them via Dropbox, and open them in the built-in web browser. Everything you need to stay safe when you're mobile is built right in to 1Password.

• $14.99 - Download now

Best personalized magazine app: Zite

Zite is not only personal to each user, but it grows more personal over time as you use it. The way Zite recommends new content is something none of its competitors can match. Bottom line, Zite is the best social magazine app currently available on the iPhone.

• Free - Download now

Best podcast app: Instacast

Instacast is expensive if you want the full package, but it's also the best overall podcast app for iPhone right now. It strikes the best balance between simplicity and features, making it easy to use but still powerful. For most users, most of the time, Instacast is podcast app to get.

• $0.99 - Download now

Best read later app: Pocket

Pocket provides the best design and user experience for the broadest base of users, both on the app and on the website. If you want more than Apple's built in Reading List provides, or you're new to the whole idea of "read later" and time-shifting content, give Pocket a go.

• Free - Download now

Best RSS app: Reeder

The updated version of Reeder has made an already great app even better. Native Google Reader integration for subscribing and unsubscribing is not only a great addition but the developer managed to keep it clean, simple, and easy to figure out.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Best stocks app: Bloomberg

Bloomberg for iPhone is a great way for casual traders and investors to interact with their stocks and stay up to date with world news. Whether you need to casually monitor stocks on your iPhone or just find the urge to check out financial news, the free Bloomberg app has you covered -- for free!

• Free - Download Now

Best streaming internet music app: Slacker

Slacker provides a nice streaming service for free with an easy to maneuver through interface. You can even get offline caching for only $4/month. That's a very sought after feature for many users who want to be more conservative with their carrier data. You won't get it cheaper than you do with Slacker.

• Free - Download now

Best text editor app: Byword

Byword is fantastic app for all writers, especially those who write in Markdown. The clean, simple environment will have a positive impact on your productivity -- guaranteed.

• $2.99 - Download Now

Best travel advisory app: Tripit

The free TripIt app for iPhone, when paired with a free TripIt account, becomes your virtual travel assistant. Simply email any flight or hotel confirmations to TripIt and they'll automagically get logged and displayed on your iPhone, along with helpful maps and additional information to make your travel safer and easier.

• Free - Download Now

Best Twitter app: Tweetbot

Tweetbot might feel over-designed to some, but it's well-designed. It has a ton of features for power users, including the best push-notification implementation in the business. As far as general purpose Twitter apps go, Tweetbot hits the best balance for the widest range of our readers.

• $2.99 - Download now

Best VNC app: Screens

With iCloud integration, SSH keys, and a re-designed Screens Connect, Screens 2.0 handles remote computing better and faster than ever before. Screens is also the most iPhone, iPad, and Mac-like remote computing app on the market today, and that makes it the easiest to setup and the most familiar to use.

• $19.99 - Download

Best weather app: Weather Neue

Weather Neue is an iPhone weather app designed for minimalists. Instead of a plethora of features and options, Weather Neue simply consists of one screen that gives you the current weather conditions, a 3 day forecast, and other basic weather information.

• Free - Download Now

Best web browser app: Chrome

If you want a browser that has a better layout than Safari and allows you easy access to bookmarks and other open tabs across all your desktop computers, Chrome is it. There may not be gesture support or a ton of customization options, but it works flawlessly and has a beautiful interface.

• Free - Download now

Your choices?

Think we got it wrong? Think we included an app we ought not have included? Think we missed an all-star about we out not have missed? Let us know in the comments. We'll be updating this often, and our choices can and will change over time. This is your community, help us make iMore's choice, your choice.

Leanna Lofte and Ally Kazmucha contributed major sections of this article