MacRumors

According to market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), production levels for the expected upcoming iPad mini with Retina display indicate that the device may not ship alongside the upcoming iPad 5, which looks to be "on schedule" for an October release. Specifically, it is estimated that Apple's Asia-based supply chain of manufacturers have begun the start of Retina iPad mini display production, but have not entered a mass production stage of the upcoming tablet.

While Apple's iPad 5 looks to be on schedule for an October release, that's not the case for the Retina version of the Mini, according to Rhoda Alexander, director of Tablet and Monitor Research at IHS iSuppli.

"The Retina Mini looks less certain for that time. Manufacturing volumes on that would match better with a Q114 [first quarter 2014] launch," she told CNET.

Though she quickly qualified that saying, "But given that it's Apple, one never knows" -- meaning that Apple could announce a product but not necessarily ship it at the same time as the iPad 5.

The research firm also cites design challenges, stating that a trade-off between the integration of the Retina display and the compact size and exceptional battery life of the iPad mini has become problematic. The claim does conflict with a report from IHS iSuppli last month stating that Retina iPad mini production levels were set to match last year's levels. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also claimed earlier this month that the Retina iPad mini will indeed make an appearance before the end of the year.

Apple is expected to launch its redesigned iPad and a Retina iPad mini in the near future, perhaps at a media event as soon as next month. The company is also expected to make several updates to its Mac products before the end of the year, and they may make an appearance at that same event.

A week after the introduction of Apple’s new iOS 7 mobile operating system, users of iOS 6 across the internet are expressing discontent due to automatic downloads of the new software update, reports CNET.

Specifically, users who still have iOS 6 installed are experiencing self-starting over-the-air (OTA) downloads for iOS 7 to their devices when connected to AC power, averaging around 1 GB per download and occupying 3.1 GB of storage. While the update does not automatically install itself and requires user authentication, the download does not show up in the storage submenu within settings.

The issue is especially problematic for users with little space on their existing devices, as filled space can cause various problems with file management and device efficiency.

CNET confirmed the behavior on both an iPhone 4 as well as a fourth-generation iPad, both of which were running the latest version of iOS 6 before 7 arrived. For the iPad, the download began within minutes of turning on the device and plugging it into A/C power. When finished on both devices, it accounted for a little more than 3GB of space that was previously available on the device, and did not show up in the storage management settings submenu.

Last year, users reported similar behavior with the iOS 6 OTA update occurring for those on iOS 5. Earlier this week, Apple claimed that more than 200 million iOS devices are running iOS 7, making it the fastest software upgrade in history.

Major League Baseball will be using Apple's new iBeacon microlocation APIs in iOS 7 to enhance its MLB.com At the Ballpark app to create customized and interactive experiences for fans at its teams' stadiums, according to a new report by Mashable.

"We've been looking at customizing the app based on where you are within the stadium, but GPS is notorious for not working indoors, especially when you are in a building made of steel," Marc Abramson, iOS developer for MLB, told Mashable. "Instead, we are incorporating Apple's new Bluetooth and iBeacon technologies for iOS 7 and couldn't be more excited about the potential."

The app, which has reportedly been worked on by both MLB and Apple since February, would bring up a ballpark guide with information specific to the stadium you're visiting when you're near the stadium. As the user approaches the ballpark's gates, ticketing information would be pulled up by the app and instantly displayed. In addition, once a user was within the stadium the app would display directions to their seats.

Teams can also adjust the app to react to stadium-specific landmarks and points of interest. For instance, if a user were to use the app near the New York Mets' Citi Field's iconic apple statue the app would play a video detailing the history of the stadium or the apple.

User experiences won't be the same for each visit, notes Mashable. The app will include a loyalty card-like program where teams can choose to reward multiple visits with coupons for merchandise, food or beverages. It can also direct users to parts of the stadium they haven't yet activated, Abramson tells Mashable.

While the Mets are the first team on board with the new app and its technology, Abramson tells Mashable that a lot of other teams have "expressed interested". Although there is no official timetable for a launch, the report says that the program could "most likely" launch in 2014.

iBeacon was announced as one of the new 1,500 APIs in iOS 7 during Apple's WWDC keynote. They're designed to use the Bluetooth Low Energy profile for microlocation, allowing iOS devices to attain precise locations for apps in indoor environments rather than GPS.

MLB.com At the Ballpark is a free app for both iPhone and iPad and is available in the App Store. [Direct Link]

Apple has updated the backend of the iBookstore, adding new features for authors like enhanced versioning, larger pixel limits for in-book images and more, according to a letter to authors from Apple obtained by AppleInsider.

Apple notes the addition of the following features and updates:

- New Catalog Reports
- Versioning for All Books
- Updated Documentation
- Pixel Limit Increased for Book Images
- How-To: Deliver Custom Samples
- New European Toll-Free Numbers
- iBooks Author Tips and Tricks: Creating Custom Samples
- Thanksgiving Deliveries

Versioning requires authors to submit a "What's New in Version" description when updating their book, alerting users to changes in a similar way to how app updates currently work. Users will then be notified when a new version of the book is available to download.

In addition, the pixel limit for in-book images has been raised from 2 million pixels to 3.2 million pixels, allowing authors to take better advantage of Apple's Retina Display-equipped devices with higher-quality images. This will include MacBooks with Retina Display as iBooks is set to appear on Mac for the first time with the release of Mac OS X Mavericks later this year.

As noted by AppleInsider, the new features won't be noticeable to users right away, but will lead to "an easier and richer shopping experience" once content providers begin using them. It's also possible that Apple could show off new iBooks features at their rumored iPad media event in October. Along with the iLife and iWork suite of iOS apps, iBooks has not yet received an iOS 7 makeover.

iBooks is available for free for both iPad and iPhone on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Evernote and Adonit today announced a partnership that will see the latter producing the new Jot Script Evernote Edition Stylus, which has a tip that measures just 1.9mm. The large, inaccurate tip of current capacitive styluses is a common complaint that the Jot Script aims to overcome.

The stylus uses Adonit’s newly developed Pixelpoint technology, which utilizes the accelerometer, Bluetooth, and Adonit’s SDK to communicate the location of the stylus tip to compatible apps like Evernote’s Penultimate.

In a first for any active stylus, Penultimate’s digital inking features pair with Adonit’s Bluetooth-enabled Pixelpoint technology for accuracy previously unattainable on any touch screen. With Penultimate’s new Zoom feature, the interaction between app and stylus becomes dynamic. As the Jot Script’s fine tip approaches the screen, Penultimate responds by enlarging the writing space for better visual feedback. And as the user writes, the digital paper drifts along with them mimicking the natural feeling of handwriting.

In addition to a fine point, the Jot Script features a metal finish, ribbed grip, and a weighted hand balance designed for taking notes. It is powered by a standard AAA battery and uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to iPads and iPhones. It is compatible with the third-generation iPad and later, the iPad mini, and the iPhone 5 and later.

The Jot Script can be pre-ordered from either Evernote or Adonit for $74.95 and has an estimated ship time of three to four weeks.

Evernote has also introduced a number of other products in its Evernote Market, including backpacks, scanners, t-shirts, and other accessories.

Back in June, Apple announced that it had been awarded a $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Unified School District to supply 35,000 iPads to students in the district. That program was announced as a pilot effort that was projected to lead to all 640,000 students in the district receiving iPads by the end of 2014.

However, a report from the Los Angeles Times indicates that the school district is experiencing difficulties with students bypassing content restrictions on the devices, thus forcing the school district to halt the home use of the tablets and jeopardizing the full rollout of the program.

It took exactly one week for nearly 300 students at Theodore Roosevelt High School to hack through security so they could surf the Web on their new school-issued iPads, raising new concerns about a plan to distribute the devices to all students in the district.

"Outside of the district's network ... a user is free to download content and applications and browse the Internet without restriction," two senior administrators said in a memo to the Board of education and L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy. "As student safety is of paramount concern, breach of the ... system must not occur."

Specifically, the students simply deleted personal profiles from the district-issued iPads, which then enabled them to browse websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Pandora, all of which had been blocked on the devices.

Apple has long had a heavy focus on the educational market, entering a new phase with the introduction of the iPad in 2010. The company has also often discounted its product lineup for students with its yearly back-to-school program, and has pushed its initiative to bring iPads to classroom on an international scale, as evidenced by its efforts to land educational deal in Turkey that would see the country purchasing more than $4.5 billion worth of iPads.

Vesper, a note-taking app developed by a team led by Apple blogger John Gruber, has launched an update that features a complete redesign in-line with the “flat” design principles of iOS 7, as well various other enhancements such as 64-bit support on the iPhone 5s, new typography settings and improved text rendering. The update also includes brand new gestures for photo management and performance improvements.

Originally released in June, Vesper offers a simplistic user interface that focuses on quick input and customizable organization, using a “tags” based system to easily group items into collections. The app also supports photos in addition to text along with an in-app browser, and drag and drop functionality for organization.

Vesper can be downloaded from the App Store for $4.99. [Direct Link]