Don't Miss Our Oct. 16 Apple Announcement Coverage!

Tomorrow we will find out just what Apple meant in its event invitation when the company said, "It's been way too long." Will we see an iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3? A long overdue update to Apple TV? A revamped Mac mini? What about Apple's new HomeKit smart-home platform? Tune in tomorrow, at 10 a.m., Pacific Time, when Tim Cook will take the stage on the Apple campus in Cupertino, and find out which rumors are true and which are only wishful thinking.

Follow iPhone Life's live commentary during the event at iPhoneLife.com. Apple will be streaming the event via Safari and through Apple TV.

What do you think Apple will announce tomorrow? 

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You may have had the experience of working on a draft of an email but then needing to look at a different email in your inbox. But the draft obscured the screen and couldn't be quickly be pushed aside and then returned to. Fortunately, Mail in iOS 8 has remedied this situation. You can swipe away a draft, access your other email, and then quickly bring it back into view to continue working on it. This is typically referred to as "minimizing" the email draft.

In the screenshot below I'm working on an email to Sarah, our blog editor, that I've given the subject heading "Blog topic." But then I need to see more detail about the app that I'm referring to in the email.

So in order to minimize the email, I tap and hold on the title of the email at the top ("Blog topic," in this case) and then drag down toward the bottom of the screen. It disappears from view except for the title, which appears at the bottom of the screen.

To bring the draft email back into view, simply tap on the title of the email at the bottom of the screen, and it will pop back into view.

Apple Pay was preannounced last month, but today Apple let us know when we can start using it. As of Monday, October 20, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus owners will be able to use the phone's Near Field Communication features to pay.

Additionally, Apple Pay can be used for online purchases, so presumably older iPhones and other Apple devices could be used to make such purchases over the Internet, where NFC isn't required. Tim Cook also announced more banks (500+) and more retailers will be supporting Apple Pay in the coming months.

Last month, and even before that at the WWDC event in June, Apple showed off a technology called Continuity. This promised to allow seamless integration between multiple iOS devices but also with Mac OS computers. A Keynote presentation could be started on an iPhone, continued on an iPad, and finished on a Mac.

Similarly, phone calls and text messages could be initiated on a Mac, leveraging the cellular connection of an iPhone. Again, this was introduced before, but now, with OS X Yosemite, users can take advantage of this very cool feature. OS X is available on the App Store today, for free. And iOS 8.1 will be available Monday, also for free.

The iPad Air 2 was announced today, and many of its features were expected, but it wasn't clear quite how thin it would be. At 6.1mm, you could stack two of them on top of each other and it would be as thick as the original iPad. This makes the iPad Air 2 the thinnest tablet on the market. Apple claims the iPad Air 2 is the only one with an Anti-Reflective Coating.

The iPad Air 2 is also available in gold, as well as silver and space gray. The 8 megapixel camera records at 1080 HD video and (finally) makes it reasonable to take photos and videos on a tablet. You can even take 43 megapixel panorama photos. Wi-Fi should be faster with 802.11ac MIMO (Multi In, Multi Out) capabilities.

But the big news, as expected, was Touch ID. Users can unlock the iPad using their finger, and pay with Apple Pay, (using apps, not Near Field Communication) and leverage third-party apps that integrate Touch ID.

As a former weather guy, one part of the Apple announcement today really sparked my interest. The new iPad Air 2 will include a barometer. This both excites and makes me wonder just how well this feature will be harnessed. It is likely this is the same sensor introduced in the iPhone 6, though I admit that I haven't been able to test apps leveraging the feature yet.An accurate barometer could give the iPad a really unique niche in weather, nautical, and flight-related applications (flight planning, etc.), particularly on the larger iPad screen, but it really comes down to how precise the instrument is. Barometers are precision instruments, and they need to be calibrated regularly to remain accurate, so it will be interesting how this powerful feature ultimately might actually be used.

A primary key ingredient in weather forecasting is atmospheric pressure, which indicates the weight of the column of air over a particular location. In it's simplest terms, barometric pressure can tell you the trending of weather activity. A sharp drop could spell low pressure moving into your area (often related to stormy weather). Barometers are also used as part of aircraft instrumentation that indicates altitude (called an altimeter). One could envision using iPad and iPhone barometer reporting in new and interesting ways. Cloud reporting of barometer metadata for example (from millions of iPads and iPhones) could be used for real-time input and corrections to computer models. Microscale features that are not easily discovered through ordinary fixed weather stations/locations might be better accounted for in weather analysis, storm chasing and/or aviation-related applications. Many weather-related reporting stations are already heavily automated, but it would be interesting to explore this new mobile capability (provided user privacy can be adequately protected).

It is exciting to ponder that the iPhone and iPad barometer might usher in a new era of weather analysis!

If you're like me, if Apple announced it, you gotta have it. In my case, it's for professional reasons. As an app developer, and writer for iPhone Life, I need to have access to the latest gear. But I also enjoy technology and don't like waiting! So, starting October 17, you can try to pre-order the items just announced today, but even that isn't a guarantee. I was online at 3 a.m. the day the iPhone 6 was supposed to be orderable, but it took a half hour to finally buy one.

You can wait in line at the Apple Store, but that also is no guarantee. The iPhone 6 Plus was in such short supply that even those who waited in line didn't get one, and many who did get an iPhone 6 didn't get the model they originally wanted. I was in line, but I arrived at 7:30 a.m. for the 8 a.m. opening, and thanks to my preorder, I was out the door with my new iPhone by 8:30 a.m. Or you can use a web service, like iStockNow.com that tracks inventory, in real time, at Apple Stores worldwide! You can also get on a waitlist at retailers. I wanted a second iPhone 6, for my daughter, and called all the Radio Shacks in the area. By the time I got off the phone with the last one, the first store I called and said they had just received a shipment and 30 minutes later, I had my second iPhone 6! So, get creative, do your homework, and decide which configuration(s) you want, as you might not get your first choice.

Earlier this year, when Apple's Eddy Cue said that "we've got the best product pipeline that I've seen in my 25 years at Apple," he apparently wasn't exaggerating. This year has been nothing short of spectacular for Apple, with the release of one innovative and impressive product after another. It would seem the creative spirit of Steve Jobs is alive and well in Cupertino California. As Tim Cook reiterated today, this is the "strongest lineup of products that Apple has ever had." Congratulations Mr. Cook, job well done. Now as Apple wraps up itsr last major product announcement of 2014, let's take a quick look back at what a year it's been for this powerhouse company as it proves itself to be more cutting edge and more relevant than ever.

iMac HD Retina display

A Look Back: A Year That Will Go Down in History. 

Watching Apple boldly march one amazing product after the other onto the world stage has been nothing short of incredible. Like  a championship team dominating the competition on their march toward the title, Apple has effectively reminded the world why it is the most valuable brand on the planet.

April 29

Apple updates 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air, with improved processors and a price drop.

June 2

Apple introduces Yosemite featuring, among other things: 

• Seamless integration  between Mac and iOS devices 

• UI redesign 

• iCloud Drive

• Ability to make and receive calls and send and receive texts from all your devices 

iOS 8 unveiled, featuring: 

• HealthKit

• Improved autocorrect

• Support for third-party keyboards

• Redesigned Notifications

• Continuity, which allows users to switch between Apple devices, picking up wherever they left off. 

• A game changer: Metal's programming interface, bringing a massive boost in graphic processing capabilities. 

Don't Forget About Dre

• Apple announces its 3 billion dollar acquisition of Beats by Dre. 

July 29

Updates 13-inch and 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros, delivering improved battery life, system performance, and overall processing speed. 

September  9

The main event; introducing the highly-anticipated iPhone 6/iPhone 6 Plus series and the Apple Watch.

One that flew under the radar: the retirement of the old iPod Classic.

October 16

• iPad Air 2 with HD Retina display

• iPad mini 3 with Retina display

• 27-inch iMac with HD Retina 5K display. Over 14 million pixels. Can we say "Wow"?

• New Mac Mini

• Notably absent: An updated Apple TV. It's been almost three years since Apple updated this product. However I don't think it is giving up on the Apple TV either, so look for an update early 2015.

2014: One for the Books

Even now, as a journalist who's spent this year writing all about Apple, its products, and these same myriad events, I have to admit; Apple's accomplishments this calendar year look all the more impressive when put down in writing. This banner year will be a tough act to follow for any tech company, Apple included. I suspect that even Apple itself will have a hard time topping what it's done this year. One thing's for sure though, if anyone was holding on to lingering doubts as to whether or not Apple would thrive in the post-Jobs era, I believe that those doubts have been effectively and thoroughly put to rest. That said, I can't wait to see what Mr. Cook, Sir Ive, and the rest of the Apple team have up their sleeve in 2015!

I greatly enjoyed today's Apple event introducing the new iPads and iOS 8.1. But I didn't get what I was hoping for: a new iPad mini with all the features of the new iPad Air 2. Yes, we got a new iPad mini 3, but apparently it's the same as the previous version with the addition of Touch ID. As you can see in this comparison chart, we now have five iPad models to choose from: iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini 3. As is typical, the new iPads with more features have been introduced at the same price as the older models, and the price of the older models has dropped. Perhaps the biggest news is that the memory configurations of the new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 now match those of the new iPhones: 16, 64, and 128 GB. That means for the 64 and 128 GB models you're paying $100 less than for a similar amount of memory in the earlier iPads. And both the new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 come with a gold-colored option.

If Apple had come out with a full-featured iPad mini 3, I would be ordering tomorrow. I'm undecided whether to order an iPad Air 2.The features certainly are appealing: 6.1mm thick (18 percent thinner than the iPad Air), anti-reflective display, A8X chip that's 40 percent faster, new graphics chip that's 2.5 times faster, M8 motion coprocessor, barometer, and a new iSight 8-megapixel camera that can take panorama photos, as well as burst mode photos and time-lapse and slow-motion video. The wireless is faster too, with Wi-Fi being 2.8 times faster and LTE capable of up to 150 megabits per second. Touch ID and Apple Pay are especially appealing. (Note, though, that there's no NFC chip. Apple Pay will only work within apps.)

Overall, the iPad has done extremely well. Tim Cook said Apple has sold 225 million. In just the past 12 months Apple has sold more iPads than the top four PC manufacturers have sold PCs — combined. And by a large margin. With the IBM partnership, Apple will likely continue to make inroads into the enterprise market.

What impressed me most about today's event was not the new iPad or iMac, but how Apple is continuing to refine its platform, especially the way all its devices now work seamlessly together. The company keeps upgrading the specs on its devices, but they also keep moving forward with a vision of integration that no other company can match. All credit to Apple for having this vision and continuing to push it forward.

When speculating about the iPhone 6, I postulated that Apple could do something revolutionary and make a single LTE model that worked with multiple carriers. It didn't happen, but when I purchased my (second) iPhone 6 from Radio Shack, the clerk and I discussed how the technology is already there with LTE and SIM cards, and it would make inventory so much easier. Instead of stocking AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint models, stores could just stock the single SKU. It didn't happen with the iPhone 6, but today Apple did it with the iPad Air 2!

Customers can simply choose the cellular model instead of Wi-Fi and it will come with an "Apple SIM" that can be activated by day, week, or month with the carrier of their choice, EXCEPT for Verizon. Verizon will require a trip to their store for a Verizon SIM, but the same iPad Air 2 will work with that network. Carriers may still want to offer deals for longer term contracts, especially since this new development makes it easy to switch.

This could just be the beginning. Right now it's iPads, but the next step should be iPhones. With this move, Apple can manufacture iPhones and iPads more quickly and better manage their supply chain. Retailers like BestBuy and Radio Shack can more easily meet demand with less stock and customers can have freedom choice. 

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App developers heard some great news today when Tim Cook announced that WatchKit, the software development kit for building apps for the upcoming Apple Watch will be released next month (November)!

As I discussed previously in my Developing Next-Generation Apps for the Apple Watch post, this provides a great opportunity for app developers to get in the ground floor of a new technology and get noticed.

Apple reiterated that Apple Watch will be available in early 2015, so this gives developers a few months to work with Watch Kit and create apps on this new platform.

Adopting Apple's New Swift Language

Back in June, Apple announced their new Swift programming language, which was officially released in September. Apps created using Swift can only run on iOS 7 and newer operating systems, so it was great to hear Apple's Craig Federighi announce that 94 percent of iOS users have upgraded to iOS 7 and iOS 8.

Federighi quoted Wired magazine saying, "...its impact could be greater than any other language that has sprung up in recent years, and it may achieve mass adoption faster than any language in modern history." 

In addition, the following universities have begun offering Swift classes to their students:

• California Polytechnic
• Drexel University
• Ingèsup (the Graduate School of Engineering, France)
• University of Missouri, Plymouth University
• RMIT University (Australia)
• Stanford University
• University of California Santa Cruz
• Southern Methodist University
• Universidad de Monterrey (Mexico)

Release of iOS 8.1

If you are signed up for Apple's Developer Program, you have had access to iOS 8.1 since the end of September. Apple is officially releasing iOS 8.1 on October 20, 2014. 

This is great news for developers because iOS 8 has had relatively low adoption rates due to major bugs including problems with HealthKit apps, the built-in Apple Maps, Touch ID, and cellular service. 

An official release of a new version of iOS is always accompanied by a new release of Xcode. Right now you can get the Xcode 6.1 Gold Master release on the iOS Dev Center. Based on my testing so far, it's far more stable than Xcode 6.

Some of the new iOS 8 functionality you can implement in your own custom apps includes:

• Touch ID Authentication
• PassKit, for integrating with ApplePay
• Metal, providing direct access to the A7/A8 GPUs for high-performance graphics
• Cloud Kit
• Home Kit
• Health Kit
• Photos Framework
• Manual Camera Controls
• Handoff from one device to another
• App Extensions that allow your app to: share content, perform a simple task with content, provide updates for the Today view of Notification Center, provide document storage that other apps can access, photo editing in the Photo app, custom keyboards.

You can learn more about each of these on the iOS Dev Center.

Creating Apps for the iPad

For most apps, it's best to create a version for the iPhone and the iPad to widen your audience. Apple gave lots of incentive to app developers, announcing they have sold 225 million iPads to date!

The following new features on the iPad Air 2 allow you to create even more compelling apps: 

• 8MP iSight Camera
• Camera burst mode
• Large panoramic photos
• Timelapse video
• Slow motion video
• Dual microphones for better audio
• Barometer, which senses air pressure, allowing you to determine relative elevation 
• Improved front-facing camera with burst mode, HDR stills and video

Don't Have a Mac? Try the New Mac mini

For some, one of the biggest obstacles to getting into iOS app development is owning a Mac! The lowest entry point has always been the Mac mini. Fortunately, Apple has released an all-new version for just $499—that's $100 cheaper than the previous Mac mini!

The new Mac mini includes the following upgrades:

• 4th-generation Intel Core processors
• Two Thunderbolt 2 ports
• Faster Flash storage
• Faster Intel Iris and HD Graphics 5000
• Faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi

Apple also describes it as "the world's most energy efficient desktop".

The Mac mini doesn't come with a display or keyboard, but you can use your existing Mac/PC keyboard and displays with it.

The $499 Mac mini includes:

• 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
• 4GB memory
• 500 GB hard drive
• Intel HD Graphics 5000
• OS X Yosemite

To find out more about the other Mac mini configurations and upgrades, check out Apple's Mac mini page.

Follow My Column To Learn to Create iOS Apps!

As usual, there is lots of great news for app developers in every new announcement from Apple. Stay tuned to my regular column to learn how you can build your own custom iOS apps!

Nothing Apple introduced today was truly unexpected, yet it still managed to impress in a big way. Here's a run down of what got us excited at today's keynote.

Apple Pay

Today we learned a little more about Apple Pay, the new mobile payment system that’s built into Passbook and allows users to replace their credit cards with their iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Cook said that 500 new banks have already signed up to support the system, and that Apple Pay will be available starting Monday, October 20. Users will be able to make secure payments both online and in store with the incorporation of Touch ID.

iOS 8

Due to an avalanche of user “feedback” about the bug-ridden release of iOS 8, Apple has made a few adjustments to its operating system that we’ll be able to see on October 20 with the release of iOS 8.1. Not only will Apple Pay come with the iOS 8.1 update, but Apple also says 8.1 will finally offer Continuity compatibility with Macs running Yosemite, it will return Camera Roll to Photos, and give users access to the public beta of iCloud Photo Library

iPad Air 2

One of Apple’s biggest announcements today was the iPad Air 2. Although the iPad Air 2 has the same b9.7-inch, 1536 x 2048 display of its predecessor, it has undergone some huge improvements, it is now significantly thinner, measuring 6.1 millimeters thick (1.4 millimeters thinner than the original) and significantly faster than the original iPad. It also boasts an M8 motion coprocessor, a barometer, an improved camera, Retina display, an anti-reflective surface, and Touch ID capability.  

The new iPad Air 2 takes some pretty impressive photos and videos with its improved 8-megapixel camera and 1080p recording. We also expect to see it offer the same burst mode featured in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as the ability to shoot Time Lapse and Slo Mo videos, burst selfies, and HDR photos.

Pricing for the iPad Air 2 will start at $499 for the 16 GB, $599 for 64 GB, and $699 for 128 GB. If you want a cellular version, you will be paying $130 extra.

iPad Mini 3

Though we won’t be seeing any changes to the Mini’s design, we will see improvements to its camera, as well as added Touch ID capability and a gold color option.

The Mini will cost $399 for a 16 GB model, $499 for a 64 GB model, and $599 124 GB model.

Preorders for both the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 with begin October 17.

Today's event showcasing two new iPads (alongside an iMac and Mac Mini) came and went without many unexpected revelations. This was in part due to the constant leaks and incessant rumors that seem to be everywhere prior to Apple's press events.

Even with all the hype, you won't be disappointed with the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3. Of course, there are similarities and differences between both devices that will need to be sorted out before deciding which one is right for you. 

For starters, both received the Touch ID treatment, a feature that initially showed up on the iPhone. The Touch ID fingerprint scanner will, of course, unlock your device, but also let you utilize Apple Pay when it is available on Oct. 20.

Battery life hovers around ten hours for each tablet, which is roughly the equivalent of other comparable tablets. However, the cameras on each device saw the most extensive list of upgrades, and may set them apart from the competition.

Improvements include a new FaceTime HD camera and 8-megapixel iSight unit for the iPad Air 2, with an assortment of modes. And for the Mini 3, a front-facing 1.2 megapixel camera.

Changes are most apparent on the iPad Air 2, which is Apple's thinnest tablet yet. But the thin exterior doesn't mean it isn't capable of powering through laptop-centric tasks.

A new coprocessor speeds things up considerably for the Air 2. In fact, Apple touts the A8X as being 40% faster than the A7 processor, which powered the original iPad Air.

The second iteration is also 18% thinner than the already super slim predecessor. A video shown at the event illustrated its profile by placing it behind a pencil, proving the 6.1 mm width is 'pencil-thin.'

The Air 2 will also fair well against Google's recently announced Nexus 9 tablet. The Air 2 flaunts a bigger display, but both tablets sport dual core 64-bit processors.

While the iPad Air 2 and other mid-range tablets seem to be amping up the speed and power with each release, the performance of the iPad Mini 3 falls slightly behind. Even though the iPad Air 2 may have received a full upgrade, the iPad Mini 3 is still stuck with last year's A7 chip.

It's also difficult to notice any significant changes from last year's Mini. Other than camera improvements and the inclusion of a Touch ID sensor, the Mini 3 is virtually identical to last year's model

Ultimately, it comes down to your own personal preferences when you finally decide to make the upgrade. But the $499 price tag of the iPad Air 2 might be well worth the cost when compared to the Mini 3 ($399).

To see a full list of specifications and features for both tablets, visit Apple's website.

Apple didn't announce anything earth-shatteringly out of this world today. What they announced was more of the same steady excellence that marks all their product releases. More wireless integration and excellent cloud service synchronicity across their product line that will make it all but impossible to want or need to stay connected to the PC realm. If you are a PC, your world became a little bleaker today.

I'm not trying to argue that PC will not retain a computing niche, but the heyday of having a monopoly at both home and work is clearly in the past. At today's Apple event, Tim Cook outlined the amazing stats that the iPad is racking up: 225 million units sold, beating all major PC vendors by a huge margin! The event brought to light the new iPad Air 2 (and iPad mini 3), with a custom A8X processor chip (capable of traditional PC tasks like image editing), and console quality games. However, much of the hubbub was centered firmly on the new synergy created by Yosemite (available for free download starting today), Continuity (seamless wireless syncing of content), and the latest iOS 8.1 to be released next Monday. The iWork office suite will also be available for free. During the event a demo illustrating this combination of forces went something like this:

1. Take and mark photos for inclusion in presentation on iPhone

2. Open same photos and presentation (with edits) seamlessly on iPad or Mac, even PC ironically (using iCloud Drive)

3. Send and receive SMS messages from any device while working on said presentation

4. Make calls from iMac using your iPhone (call initiated to Stephen Colbert at the event added needed levity to a somewhat mundane demo)

5. Present cloud content on Apple TV, and even control your demo with the Apple Watch!

See the Full KeyNote here.

Using wireless Apple technologies like AirDrop and AirPlay, Apple devices will sync content to each other, and ultimately to iCloud Drive seamlessly. The new iPad processor will present a 12x boost in GFX performance, and as mush as 5X improvement of wireless capabilities using MIMO (and do it in a form factor only 6.1mm thin--18% thinner). Apple also showed off enhancements with application integration at the event promising an overall computing experience that will be hard to beat! With TouchID sensors now included on the latest iPads, you will be able to authorize online purchases with a finger scan, and a hoard of banks and businesses are lining up to participate in it's new pay system.

The new iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 will be available in Space Gray, Gold and Silver and retail from $399-$499 16 GB, $499-$599 64 GB, and $599-$699 128 GB respectively. Only the iPad Air 2 will include the A8X CPU, though both new iPads will feature a Touch ID sensor. Compare the new models and learn more here.

Umm, bad day to be a PC.

You likely know that Google and other search engines keep a record of your searches so that search results and ads are more relevant to your interests. You can read Google's privacy policy here. In general, they don't share your personal information. If they share your aggregate information with one of their partners, they say they don't include personally identifiable information. That means I may be shown ads for products that interest me, but the company putting the ad on the web page I'm visiting doesn't have my name or contact information. Still, many people don't like the fact that so much information is gathered about them as they use the Internet.

If you're concerned about privacy, the good news is that the DuckDuckGo search engine is now an option in iOS 8. Not only does DuckDuckGo not profile users, they say the show the same search results to everyone for a specific search term, regardless of their previous searches, location, etc.

To switch your default search engine to DuckDuckGo, go to Settings > Safari > Search Engine.

Select DuckDuckGo, and it will now be your default search engine.

The Biweekly Giveaway – Award Winner Edition features prizes from companies that won iPhone Life awards at the recent Super Mobility Week powered by CTIA 2014 trade show! Be sure to enter the giveaway at iPhoneLife.com/giveaways to win prizes, which we'll announce October 20! We are raffling off tons of great accessories for FREE.

Don't forget to enter this weekend's Giveaway Contest! 

Here's how it works: Every other weekend we raffle off tons of great apps and accessories for FREE then announce the winners through iphonelife.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. To enter, go to iPhoneLife.com/giveaways. If you win an app, we will email you the promo code. If you win an accessory, we will ask you for your mailing address.

This week's featured items are:

1. Steelie Car Mount Kit: Retail Price $34.99

The Steelie Car Mount Kit is the perfect phone holder for your car. It docks your phone to your dashboard in a snap, so it's visible, accessible, and right where you need it, everywhere you go.

2. Otterbox - Defender for iPhone 6: Retail Price $59.90

Triple-layer, ultra-rugged iPhone 6 case made to survive the bumps, drops and scratches you encounter on your adventures. Built-in screen protector shelters every inch of your 4.7" touchscreen. You can also customize your case with a variety of color options and build your own personally designed Defender Series iPhone 6 Case. Belt-clip holster keeps your iPhone 6 handy and provides a mini-stand for hands-free use.

Backup batteries are big. At least most of them. The team at Go Design Group thought the world needed a smaller battery so they kicked out an idea into the world, the idea of a backup battery that would fit in a wallet. 

The resulting product almost fits that specification, depending on your wallet and your comfort with sitting on technology. After the bending iPhone 6 buzz, placing anything into a back pocket can be considered questionable (for some of us, it was questionable all along).

The 1500 mAh TravelCard ($39)battery provides about half a full phone charge, usually enough to get through those end-of-day battery iPhone battery blues. The TravelCard only powers iPhones.

I had a TravelCard with me at ComicCon and it kept my phone going for most of the day and into the night, though it got a little too warm for my tastes. I talked to the company and they sent me a second one, and that one charges without the excessive heat.

TravelCard charges from a microUSB cable that connects to a USB port or other charging solution, but that is the only cable you will need. Once charged, the battery includes its own lightening cable for discharging into the phone (there is a microUSB model if you are charging one of those other phones). I would have liked to see the charging cable built in as well so the little battery would be nearly self-sufficient.

Despite it not really fitting my personal wallet situation, I’m sure some people may have room for the device in their pants, but I find it a better fit for a small pocket on one of my many shoulder bags or backpacks. 

I like the TravelCard for what it is. Given that I travel light, but not that light, I usually have room for a bigger backup battery. But I will say, when I’m outfitted in just a suit and a phone, the TravelCard proves a nice, elegant solution that keeps the sometimes battery-draining iPhone plugging along.

Now, if keeping a battery hidden in the most intimate recesses of wallet or purse isn’t your goal, and all you're looking for is power when you need it, then the Lenmar Mutant ($199.99) may be more your style. The Mutant is to the TravelCard what a Cadillac Escalade is to a Smart car. Think four devices, multiple days of charge. Two iPhones and two tablets simultaneously. Now, as I’ve hinted, the Mutant, at 5.77 x 4.67 x 0.86 and 1.1 pounds isn’t going to fit in your pocket (unless you have a ScottEvest, and then it will fit in your pocket, though it will challenge the load balancing features of the jacket). The massive 20,800 mAh makes up for the bulk. Don’t get me wrong, the Lenmar Mutant is far from ugly. It sports a good design vibe wrapped around that massive battery. 

The Mutant does a great job. It does such a great job that I have never exhausted it in practice.

The only downside is the time it takes the charge the Mutant, but in regular use, one overnight charge may meet the needs of an entire trip, so that isn’t really a big deal. It does require its own charger to push power into the cavernous power maw — the folks at Lenmar know this is a battery for real travelers so international adapters are included. This is a battery made for adventure.

To provide yet another view of what portable batteries can be, we have the Tylt Energi 2K ($39.99) 2200mAh battery. This little power house includes a standard US plugs right on its back so that it doesn’t require an adapter to charge. Just plug it in and go. It even acts as a travel charger when it’s charging. That’s a great feature for airports. Charge your phone while topping off a battery and then you get to keep watching or listening without power concerns while in the air.

Bottom Line

Backup batteries have proliferated in recent months almost as much as iPhone cases. They have evolved to fit every niche, as these three representatives attest.

So how to you pick the right backup battery? Ask these simple questions:

1. How long might I need before I can get to a charger? This will help you determine capacity—the iPhone 5s has a 1560mAh battery so a similar size is roughly an extra charge. The more capacity, the more charge cycles on the phone without recharging the external battery.
2. How much weight am I willing to carry?
3. Does the charger support my device(s)? For iPads make sure the battery include a 2.1amp port as well as the 1.0 or 1.1 amp port for the iPhone.

The answer to the first question might need a little math as you add up the total mAh of the various devices you want to charge. For instance, an iPad Air battery is 8820mAh, which would would add to the iPhone 5s 1560 to give you a rough approximation of a battery that could fully charge both. The Lenmar Mutant is 20,800 mAh. That will charge an iPad Air about 2.3 times, and keep a single iPhone chugging on for over 10 days. Mix and match devices and your charging mileage will vary, to mix metaphors.

The enhancements to the iPad Air and iPad mini were expected and appreciated, but they still come with Apple's premium price. Apple has managed to make the iPad family the top selling tablet, but it's still priced higher than typical Android devices.  If you have embraced the Apple ecosystem of apps, music, contacts, ebooks and more, those Android units just don't fit the bill.

Fortunately, when Apple updates a product like the iPad Air and iPad mini, they keep the previous version around and drop the price. That makes the original iPad mini a good deal at $249, and for just $299, you can get the iPad mini with Retina display, now dubbed the iPad mini 2. If that's too much, check into Education pricing. If you're eligible (and most families are) you can save another $20 off those prices!

But wait, there's more. Because Apple often has refurbished units for sale, the prices are even better! I've bought refurbished items from Apple before and it's always been a good deal. You don't get a retail box but you do get a new warranty and the iPads get a new shell. With these price changes, you can get a first generation iPad mini for just $209! And an iPad mini with Retina display (AKA iPad mini 2) is only $40 more! I'm picking up one of those myself. Basically, it's the same as the iPad Air that was selling last week for $499, in a smaller form factor.

Personally, I can live without Touch ID on an iPad and with the savings I can justify that Apple Watch, expected in early 2015! The press coverage may center around the new iPads, but the real news may be how affordable iPads now are.

As new iOS apps flood the App Store every day — recently topping 1,200,000 — we know it’s tough to tell which ones are worth their salt. But thanks to our Weekly Scoop, you can have the best for free! Here you’ll find a weekly roundup of the coolest apps free or at a discount for a limited-time only. Each week features the best and brightest from websites like Free App Report, AppsGoneFree, AppieDay, AppShopper and more.

Hurry! Get 'em while they’re hot!

1. Type:Rider($0.99 from $2.99)

This app is available at a reduced price until October 24! The graphic designers in my office are going nuts for this one. It's a game involving fonts. Design geek heaven.Of course, the game is really beautiful since it's designed for design geeks go dork out with for hours.

2. ContactFlow(Free)

Simply tap on a contact to see everything you need to know about them—their location, where they went to school, and their Facebook, Twitter, and iCloud accounts, etc. Basically you'll be able to find everything you need or want to know about someone all in one place. No more hunting around here and there for the latest pictures of your buddy's new cat. Just click on his picture and BAM! You'll see all the pics of the new kitty and all associated Tweets and Facebook posts associated with the little furball.  

3. Loginboard (Free)

Darn it! WHAT IS THE PASSWORD?!? You swore when you made it that you wouldn't forget it, but you did and now you're out of luck. With no password, you're not gettin' anywhere, friend. So, here's a handy app that stores them all for you because you can be forgetful sometimes. It's OK. You're covered now. 

One of the great features of our mobile devices is the ease with which we can share photos and videos. You can use your iPhone or iPad to send multiple photos via email or messaging. Note that there's a limit of five photos via email, but not via messaging.

To send multiple recent photos, open the Photos app and then select Albums at bottom right. Then tap on the Recently Added album. You'll see thumbnail images of the photos you've taken recently. Tap on Select at the top right, and then tap on the photos that you want to send.

Once you've made your selection, then tap on the sharing icon at the top left. That will show a menu that gives you the option of sending the photos via Mail or Message, or of sharing them via Facebook or iCloud. 

If you tap on more than five, then the Mail option disappears.

Select Mail or Message, and then type in the contact information of the recipient.