Rumors of a smaller iPad have persisted for years, probably ever since Apple announced the original 9.7-inch iPad back in 2010, and definitely since competitors from Samsung to BlackBerry to Amazon to Google have shipped 7-inch tablets. Apple has been experimenting with smaller form factor tablet for while, perhaps as far back as the original Safari pad project that ultimate yielded the iPhone in 2007, and certainly since Apple SVP Eddy Cue helped warm Apple's late co-founder, Steve Jobs to the idea back in 2011.

Back in March of 2012, iMore learned that Apple had decided to go ahead with the iPad mini, that it would be running the iPad version of iOS for around $200-$250, and that it was tentatively planning to release it in October of this year. Back in July, we learned Apple was planning to announce the iPad mini on September 12, the same day as the iPhone 5. Last week, we helped show what the iPhone mini is probably going to look like. (Check out the terrific Render John Anastasiadis did for us, above.)

Despite all this, despite a few parts leaks and some information about the Dock connector, there's still a lot we don't know -- like what Apple will ultimate call it. But whether it's the iPad mini or the iPad Air, or the 7- or 8-inch iPad, the there's a lot we've tried to think through and put some context to. Here's a quick roundup of what we've put together so far -- everything you need to know.

What the iPad mini will probably look like

Looking at it, the iPad mini may not seem radically smaller than the 9.7-inch iPad. And that's the point. It's not supposed to be a major compromise in screen size or usability. It is, however, thinner and lighter enough to make a substantial difference. Holding it with one hand will be easier, and holding it for prolonged periods of time will be much easier.

It's those two elements, the lightness at that size, that allows for the smaller bezel -- just like the iPod touch's thinness and lightness allows for even less size bezel. (Obviously the top and bottom bezel aren't as radically thin, due to the components that need to be placed there, like the Home button.)

Most importantly, this isn't a big iPod touch.

• iPad mini won't be much smaller, but will be a lot narrower, thinner, and lighter

Why Apple would release an iPad mini

Apple's goal is to mainstream computing. They want to sell hundreds of millions of devices that delight exactly the type of consumer usually left frustrated and alienated by technology.

While neither the 7 inch BlackBerry PlayBook, nor the 7 inch Amazon Kindle Fire, nor the 7 inch Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet took the world by storm, they weren't iPads. They didn't focus on a simple, consumer-friendly interfaces, tablet-specific apps, and content that was accessible beyond U.S. borders.

Even considering the current iPad's incredible market lead, some customers are simply not buying it because it's too heavy or too expensive. With an iPad mini, Apple can remove that barrier of entry.

• Why Apple would release a 7-inch iPad

How Apple could implement the iPad mini interface

The iOS interface, as it's running on the current iPa,d would simply run, scaled down, on the 7.x-inch iPad. Pixel size would be the same the 9.7-inch iPad, 1024x768. (Getting 2048x1536 down to 7.x-inches for around $200 may not be doable until future generations.) Pixel density would be around the same as the original 3.5-inch iPhone, 163 ppi. (Or 326, the same as the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, if and when it goes Retina.) Quite the coincidence, as noted by Daring Fireball's John Gruber.

Everything would then simply stay the same. Buttons and touch targets would be smaller, but not unusably so. The "slack" that currently exists between 3.5-inch iPhone interface elements and 9.7-inch iPad elements would just disappear, and you'd have the same basic iPad look with the same basic iPhone feel.

• Solving for 7: How Apple could implement the iPad mini interface

How Apple could handle the 7-inch iPad mini display

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.

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.

• Regarding Retina: How Apple could handle the 7-inch iPad mini display

The name game: What Apple could call the 7-inch iPad

Internally, for now, Apple might still be calling it "the 7-inch iPad" and be leaving the big branding decisions for closer to launch time. Or maybe they've already decided to call it an iPad mini or something else. Either way, whatever name they choose will influence how the public understand the new device and its place in Apple's lineup, and that's an interesting topic to explore.

Apple's branding is typically as succinct as Occam's Razor. Earlier this year, they took it a step further and rebranded what would have been the iPad 3 as simply the (new) iPad. While we probably won't see Phil Schiller on stage beneath a slide reading "the small iPad", we probably will see him beneath one reading the 7-inch iPad, or the iPad mini.

• The name game: What Apple could call the 7-inch iPad

Could Apple sell a $200 iPad mini?

Apple has a long history of successfully carrying multiple sizes. Just look at the MacBook Pro and Macbook Air lines. You have 11-, 13-, and 15-inches options (and until a couple of months ago, 17-inches as well). I've always said that tablets can come in multiple sizes. Once you pick an aspect ratio (whether it be 16:9 or 4:3, or something else), the size should just be an option. It has been this way in the TV industry forever. Why are tablets any different?

If you buy the argument that size is simply an option, why would a slightly smaller iPad deserve a significantly smaller price? How can Apple price a 7-inch iPad at $199 or $249 while asking the much larger price of $499 for the regular (new) iPad?

• Could Apple sell a $200 iPad mini?

More on the iPad mini

For more on the iPad mini, iPad air, or whatever Apple ends up calling it, check out:

• iPad mini
• iPad mini forum

Also check out John Gruber's deep dive:

• Thinking This iPad Mini Thing Even Througher

First day of school in today's digital world -- love it!

At what age did your kids get their own iPhone?

Source: Marlette Cartoons Facebook Page

Apple's Genius Bar apparently deals with 50,000 appointments a day from all around the world. The appointments involve iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, iPod, Apple TV, and Mac repairs, and whichever way you look at it, it's a huge number of appointments. The information comes from The Loop who managed to get a meeting with Apple to discuss its retail operations after Apple opened its 374th and 375th retail store in Canada.

According to Apple, the company has seen almost 300 million worldwide visitors so far in its fiscal 2012, which started in October 2011. To give you some type of comparison, by July 2011, the population of the United States was estimated to be 311 million people.

There is also an interesting data point from Apple's retail Genius Bar. According to the company, 50,000 people get serviced at a Genius Bar around the world, every single day. That's a lot of appointments.

Apple Stores are certainly a unique shopping experience and offer much more than shelves filled with boxes to buy. Each store offers hands on experience of most Apple products, including iPhone, iPad and iPod touch as well as all of the Mac lines. When it comes to customer service, from my experience the Genius Bar is second to none. When you buy an Apple product you know you have the backing of the best customer service around. You don't get that level of comfort from any other consumer product; it gives you total peace of mind. Not every Apple product is perfect, if you experience a problem; it gets fixed or replaced without any argument.

If you have used the Genius Bar bar, have you had a similar experience to me? Were you surprised by the excellent customer service or did you experience something different?

Source: The Loop

The iPhone and iPod touch have a built-in Voice Memo app that can be handy for recording lengthy thoughts or instructions. After finishing your Voice Memo you can easily share it with someone else as an iMessage or SMS. Once they receive it they'll be able to play it directly through the Messages app.

1. Launch the Voice Memos app from the Home screen (by default it will be in the Utilities folder on the second page.
2. Tap on the Voice Memo you'd like to share.

3. Tap the Share button in the bottom left corner and then choose Message.

4. Choose the recipient you'd like to send it to and then tap the Send button.

5. The recipient will receive an iMessage or text just like they normally would but the file will be attached.

If the recipient isn't using an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, but another smartphone like Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, or even a feature phone, they won't be able to receive an iMessage but might get the file anyway as an MMS message. If they do, whether or not they can play the audio will depend on what kind of file formats their device supports. (Voice Memo files are in .m4a -- or mp4 audio format.)

Plants vs. Zombies, the wildly popular undead-themed tower defense-style game for iPhone and iPad will finally -- finally -- be getting a sequel... in late spring 2013! Yep, it's walking this way at full, lurching, zombie speed, it seems. Developers PopCap, a division of EA, have still seen fit to send out a tease, and that's about all it is -- the promise that it's coming and hoards of new zombies, plants, and features are coming with it.

Still, PopCap isn't totally without heart, or a sense of human, and so they've provided pull quotes from some of the characters to tide us over.

"Spring is crullest curlie ungood time, and plantz grow dull roots," noted an unidentified spokesperson. "So, we are meating you for brainz at yore house. No worry to skedule schedlue plan… we're freee anytime. We'll find you."

"There was a time we relished a bracing, hearty blend of zombies, in the morning," said Sonny F. Lower, a representative of the Flora Forever Foundation. "But first, a brisk shower and some strategic pruning are required. Tomorrow is near!"

I don't even want to begin to count the hours I've lost to Plants vs. Zombies over the years, so at least we'll have the winter to get some work done before late springs come and the zombies EAT OUR BRAINS!

In the meantime, what new features would you love to see in Plants vs. Zombies 2? Zombie giants vs Ents?!

Find my Car Smarter is a combination iPhone app and Bluetooth 4.0 accessory whose simple purpose is to easily, automagically keep track of your car when you've parked it somewhere, anywhere, that may be difficult to find on your own.

Whether it's a crowded mall parking lot, event venue spill-over, or as close as you could come on a city street, Find my Car Smarter's tiny USB Bluetooth 4.0 dongle will fire up and drop a GPS beacon where ever you park, and the Find my Car Smarter app will lead you right back.

Here's how it works -- the Find my Car Smarter dongle plugs right into a USB port on your car, or into a USB adapter that plugs into the "cigarette lighter"/ac power in your car and stays there, minding its own business. When you turn off the car and power gets cut, the ultra-low-power Bluetooth 4.0 connection causes the connected app to realize you've parked, and your iPhone GPS records your location.

You then go shopping, eventing, or street-festivaling to your heart's content, free from the cognitive burden and mental overhead of having to remember where you parked. When you're done, launch the Find my Car app and it'll show you where you are relative to your car, and you just follow the directions back.

I did have some trouble with earlier versions of the app, and it did take some getting used to to figure out how it was supposed to work. Mostly because it does so much on its own -- I kept trying to over think and over do it. When I finally learned to trust it, like autocorrect, it did great.

The key is to just get out of your car and go. Don't touch the app, don't touch the dongle, don't give into old, outdated habits. Just. Go.

The only time you have to launch the app is when you need to find your car. The only time you have to touch the Bluetooth 4.0 dongle is never.

I'm a huge fan of futuristic technologies. I'm also terrible at remembering where I parked. For someone like me, that makes Find my Car Smarter not only fantastic, but incredibly helpful.

The Find my Car Smarter app is free in the App Store. The Find my Car Smarter Bluetooth 4.0 dongle is $25, or $30 with a USB adapter.

Free - Find my Car Smarter app - Download now

$25+ - Find my Car Smarter accessory - Buy now

The best part of having a jailbroken iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is the ability to access things like system settings quicker than you can stock. IconToggles adds beautiful system toggle icons straight to your Home screen for even quicker access than apps such as SBSettings offers.

After downloading IconToggles to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch there really isn't much to configure. You'll see 16 new icons added to your Home screen that give you quick access to commonly used functions. Obviously toggles such as call are only available on the iPhone but many of them will work on the iPad and iPod touch as well. You can nest the shortcuts into folders or leave them on your Home screen. I've gotten ones I don't use frequently tucked away in a folder while the ones I do use regularly right on the Home screen for easy access.

Currently IconToggles supports several actions including respring, reboot, new mail, new call, bluetooth, airplane mode, Wi-Fi, safe mode, location services, and more. The developer has also said that more will be added over time so if you've got a suggestion you can contact them on Twitter or via e-mail with your requests.

Inside the Settings app you can add a phone number for the new call feature to use. It seems the point of that specific toggle is more to call a favorite person and not quick access to the Phone app.

The one thing I'd like to see the developer add is a way to enable/disable toggles. I personally would never use some of them and don't feel the need to have the ones I won't use cluttering up my Home screen or the inside of a folder. Other than that it's a pretty elegant solution if you want quick one tap access to certain system settings.

IconToggles will work with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 5 or higher and is available in Cydia now.

$1.99 - Cydia Search Link

Everything you need to know to do-it-yourself (DIY) repair your Verizon or Sprint CDMA iPhone 4. Whether you're out of warranty or your iPhone 4 has suffered accidental damage, we've got you covered!

If you have a Verizon or Sprint CDMA iPhone 4 that's showing it's age and exhibiting some hardware issues, and you don't have the benefit of AppleCare or insurance, we can help you give it some love and get it back in working order. Whether it's time to replace that problem battery, fix that cracked screen, replace a recessed power button, or get that broken Home button back in working order, iMore will help you get the longest life possible out of your iPhone 4, and walk you step by step through all the major repairs, with detailed instructions, photographs, and links to high quality parts from suppliers we trust.

Not exactly sure what the issue is? Read the descriptions for each repair below and match up the symptoms. Also make sure you check back often and bookmark this page as we'll be updating and adding even more guides on a regular basis.

• How to replace the battery in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace the back casing on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace a cracked or broken screen on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace a stuck or unresponsive Home button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to fix a stuck or broken on/off button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to fix a broken vibrator assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace the loud speaker assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace the rear camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to fix cellular reception issues in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace the dock connector and lower mic in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4
• How to choose quality colored parts for your iPhone 4
• How to check for water damage on an iPhone 4

How to replace the battery in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If you're iPhone 4 is going on a few years old and your battery just isn't what it was before, replacing the battery can make a huge difference and possibly prolong the life of your device another year if not longer.

An iPhone 4 battery replacement is a super easy repair to perform and only takes about 10 minutes. It'll also cost you a lot less than shelling out money for a brand new phone, especially if you're out of warranty.

Symptoms of a dead or dying battery can include drastically reduced battery life, random reboots, and sluggishness even after a restore. In rare instances, a completely dead battery may result in an iPhone 4 only powering on when plugged into a charging source and when unplugged, the iPhone will turn off instantly.

• How to replace the battery in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to replace the back casing on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If you've cracked the back casing on your iPhone 4 or just want to change it out for a different color, an iPhone 4 back replacement is one of the easiest repairs to perform but if you need some help along the way, check out our guide for reference.

• How to replace the back casing on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to fix a cracked or broken screen on a Sprint or Verizon iPhone 4

Whether you've cracked the glass on your precious iPhone 4 or the touchscreen has stopped responding, a digitizer/LCD replacement will solve the problem in just about an hour or two. It'll also solve any issues with the LCD whether there is discoloration, lines through the display, or no image at all.

This may not be the easiest repair to perform but if you've got some patience and a little technical know-how you should be able to get the job done for a lot cheaper than what a replacement phone out of warranty will cost you.

• How to fix a cracked or broken screen on a Sprint or Verizon iPhone 4

How to replace a stuck or unresponsive Home button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 is having Home button issues, it's possible to replace the flex cable to resolve the issues. If your symptoms include an unresponsive Home button, a single click registering as two or vice versa, or a tacky feeling you probably need to replace the flex cable.

This one isn't a simple repair by any means but if you feel up to the task, you'll spend a ton less cash than you would on a new iPhone.

• How to replace a stuck or unresponsive Home button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to fix a stuck or broken on/off button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

Over time, the cable underneath the on/off button in the iPhone 4 can wear down causing the button to become recessed or "unpressable". Symptoms typically range from having to push extremely hard in order for a press to register, no "click" feedback when pushing the button, or the button doesn't respond at all anymore when pushing it.

If you're up for fixing it yourself, you can do so by following our guide.

• How to fix a stuck or broken on/off button in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to fix a broken vibrator assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 has stopped vibrating or the vibrator is providing bad feedback in the form off a rattling noise or other unpleasant sound, you can DIY replace it yourself to resolve the issue.

• How to fix a broken vibrator assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to replace the speaker assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If the sound on your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 is cutting out when playing music or games, taking a call on speakerphone, or when a system tone clicks in, the loud speaker assembly may be going out. This isn't a hard repair to perform and will cost you a boat load less than an out of warranty replacement or brand new iPhone.

Follow our guide and we'll get you back to working order in no time.

• How to replace the speaker assembly in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to replace the rear camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If you're having image quality issues with the camera in your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4, it may be time to replace it. One thing to be certain of before proceeding is that the issue is with the actual camera and not the rear housing. The plastic lens that covers your camera is part of the back panel, not the camera itself. Inspect it and make sure it isn't the plastic that is scratched and causing issues. If that is the case, you'll need to perform a back replacement instead.

If there are no blemishes or scratches over the camera lens cover on the rear casing, the actual camera could be the culprit. If that's the case, follow our guide to replace it. These symptoms could range from lines through the camera, poor quality images, or the camera app not opening at all and only showing the black unopened shutter upon launching the Camera app. It's a relatively easy repair and should be doable for most, even beginners.

• How to replace the rear camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to fix cellular reception problems on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If you're experiencing cellular reception issues on your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4, it may be time to replace the cellular antenna. Symptoms could range from poor call quality to heavily fluctuating bars and dropped calls. If you're experiencing all these issues despite your software being up to date and making calls in an area you know to be good reception wise, it may be time to check out our guide and get that antenna replaced with a new one.

• How to fix cellular antenna reception problems on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to replace the dock connector and/or lower mic in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 won't take a charge, your lower mic isn't working, or you've gotten moisture in the dock and you want to change it out just to be safe, a DIY dock connector replacement can remedy any of these issues.

The lower mic is the part of the phone that controls what other people hear when you're on a call. If people are complaining that you're cutting in and out or can't hear you at all unless you're on speakerphone, the lower mic could very well be the culprit.

If any of these symptoms describe your issues, try a dock connector replacement before ditching the iPhone.

• How to replace the dock connector in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to fix the front facing FaceTime camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If you use FaceTime, Skype, or another video chat client frequently then the front facing camera on your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 is probably pretty important to you. Whether it's blacked out or distorted, a DIY replacement costs far less than a new phone and it isn't too hard of a repair to perform on your own.

• How to fix the front facing FaceTime camera in a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

How to choose the highest quality colored parts for your iPhone 4

If you're looking into performing a color conversion on your iPhone 4 it's always a good idea to make sure you order high quality parts. Let's face it, eBay and other online resellers have a nasty habit of selling parts that are DOA or issues crop up after a few days. Making sure you use a quality supplier right from the start will save you a lot of headaches.

Apple never made colored parts so you won't find genuine OEM parts anywhere and if anyone claims they are OEM, turn around and run the other way. It doesn't mean there aren't quality parts floating around out there though. Check out our guide of what to look for so you can be prepared before you even place an order.

• How to choose the highest quality colored parts for your iPhone 4

How to check for water damage before purchasing a used iPhone 4

If you're thinking about picking up a used iPhone 4 from eBay, Craigslist, or any other online source, it's always a good idea to make sure the device hasn't seen any previous water damage before actually committing to the purchase.

You can check some sensors externally and a few internally if the seller will allow it. To make sure you're getting the most for your money and you're not buying a non-working iPhone 4, check out our guide before purchasing

• How to check for water damage before purchasing a used iPhone 4

More DIY guides and help

If you've got a GSM iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or other type of iPhone, we may have guides that can help you fix those as well. If you don't see a guide that can help or can't figure out exactly what the issue is, you can always check out our mod and DIY forums for answers to many questions. If you still can't find what you're looking for, feel free to shoot an e-mail to ally@imore.com with guide suggestions and questions.

• AT&T/GSM iPhone 4: Ultimate DIY repair guide
• All DIY repair guides and how tos

Today Only: Buy the Seidio CONVERT Plus Combo for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 and save $30.00!

The CONVERT Plus features two smartphone cases in one - a sleek case that includes a battery for everyday protection and power and a heavy-duty case for the demands of the outdoors or rugged professions. Included with this powerhouse case is a durable holster that locks securely and features a swivel clip.

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Marvel has sent out some teasers for a new iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad game that looks decidedly Avengers Assemble-ish. The image above was shown first, with the Hulk prominent and the classic comic versions of the modern movie Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man (with round unibeam/arc-reactor) shown in a broken cityscape within. The title: Something massive is smashing onto mobile from Marvel.

The trailer below below came next, with the Ultimate/movie version of SHIELD's Nick Fury announcing a space pulse and resulting super-villain escape from the Vault prison, and giving the go order on the Avengers Initiative. Again, that pulls a thread from the Marvel Cinematic universe, but ties it into plot points from Brian Michael Bendis New Avengers comic book run. In addition to Cap, Iron Man, Thor (with helmet), and the Hulk, there's also Hawkeye with a mask but not his classic comic get-up, and the Black Widow.

For those not as familiar with comic lore, Bendis destroyed the classic Avengers (Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Hawkeye, etc.) in a Disassembled storyline, then blew open a prison full of super-villains in order to re-assmble a new team of more popular, Justice-League style marquee names (Wolverine and Spider Man among them).

The Vault files show a ton of classic super villains, though not all in their classic incarnations. Humanoid, Wendigo, Zzzax, a Skrull (replaced with the Ultimate Universe's Chitauri in the movie), Kronan, are focused on.

Nick Fury's final words are that he's going to be splitting up the heroes into individual missions, even while enacting the Avengers Initiative. (Likely to keep gameplay manageable.)

Everything in video games is a re-mix, so it's hard to tell who or what -- or which versions -- will be involved here, though it looks like the classic/movie team with a heavy dose of modern/comics plot points.

Marvel's had a lot of games on iOS already, mostly timed to coincide with their big budget movie releases. Avengers, the smash hit of the summer, didn't get a game day-and-date, so maybe this is it. Everything from the original Xbox Hulk game to the Ultimate Alliance console games to the Spider Man iOS games to date have been good, engaging, action gaming fun, so it's hard to imagine this won't be more of the same.

In the meantime, check out the video below and let us, and Marvel know, what do you want to see in an Avengers game for iPhone and iPad?