Christmas came early for Apple fans with plenty of goodies announced in the Oct 22 Apple Keynote. Aside from a free OS upgrade (yes, Mavericks is free), free apps (iLife and iWork), and upgraded MacBooks, Apple has (as expected) released a new iPad and iPad mini: the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display.

So far, Apple has reportedly sold 170 million iPads and is dominating 81% of the tablet market thanks to innovative design and their 475000 iPad Apps, no less. Having said that, here’s why you (still) should buy the newest versions of the iPad and iPad mini.

Recommended Reading: Everything You Need To Know About IOS 7

iPad Air

Guess what? It’s thinner, lighter, faster, sturdier and it has a new name: the iPad Air. Apple has reduced the bezels of the 9.7-inch display device by 43%, making it a copy of the current iPad mini. Compared to its predecessor, it’s 20% thinner now at 7.6mm from 9.4mm, and weighs just 1 pound, shaving off 0.4 pounds from that iPad you are holding.

It’ll be powered by the new 64-bit Apple A7 chip together with the M7 motion coprocessor, much like the new iPhone 5s. The iPad Air will also feature MIMO technology, making its 802.11n wireless faster and with a more worldwide LTE coverage.

The iPad Air will have new Facetime HD front-facing cameras and dual microphones to capture the best sound. All of these powerful features will run with the same battery life of 10 hours. No Touch ID is reported.

Price and Availability

The iPad Air will replace the 4th Generation iPad but remain at the same price of $499 for the 16GB Wi-Fi and $629 for the 16GB LTE version. The first wave of Silver & White, and Space Grey & Black (sorry, no Gold) iPad Air will ship November 1 to more than 40 countries.

iPad Air and Its Predecessor

Here is how the iPad Air stacks up against its predecessor, the iPad with Retina Display

	iPad Air	iPad with Retina Display
Storage/Price (WiFi)	16GB / $499	16GB / $499
	32GB / $599	32GB / $599
	64GB / $699	64GB / $699
	128GB / $799	128GB / $799
Storage/Price (LTE)	16GB / $629	16GB / $629
	32GB / $729	32GB / $729
	64GB / $829	64GB / $829
	128GB / $929	128GB / $929
Resolution	2048 x 1536	2048×1536
Dimensions (mm)	H240 x W169.5 x T7.5mm	H241.2 x W185.7 x T9.4
Weight	469g, 478g (LTE)	652g, 662 (LTE)
Display Size (inch)	9.7	9.7
Processor	64-bit A7 chip with M7 Motion	Apple A6X Dual-Core with Quad-Core graphics
RAM	TBA	1GB
Battery Life	10 hours	10 hours
Network	MIMO WiFi / LTE	Wi-Fi / LTE
Back Camera	5MP iSight	5-megapixel iSight
Front Camera	New FaceTime HD Camera	1.2MP
Additional Features		Bluetooth 4.0

IPad Air Vs Other 10-Inch Tablets

Let’s check out how the new iPad Air fares against the competition.

Microsoft Surface 2 (RT)

Microsoft’s new Surface 2 RT is powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core processor and runs Windows 8.1 RT. It has a 10.6" display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The Surface 2 RT has 1080p front and back cameras and comes in 16, 32 and 64 GB variants, with expandable storage via MicroSD. Microsoft claims you can run 10 hours on battery for the Surface 2.

Starts from $449 – Read a review

Nokia Lumia 2520

Fresh from the oven, Nokia’s new Lumia 2520 tablet is a 10.1" tablet running Windows 8.1 RT. It’s powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core processor and has a 1920 x 1080 display. It has a 6.7 megapixel back camera and a 2 megapixel front-facing camera. The battery will last 10 hours. It’s also only going to be sold through wireless carriers with 4G LTE networks.

$499 – Read a review

Sony Xperia Tablet Z

Sony’s Xperia Z is a 10.1" tablet running a modified version of Android 4.1. Its 1.5GHz quad-core processor powers a 1920 x 1200 display. An interesting feature of the Xperia Z is that it’s waterproof (!) with a rating of IPX5 to IPX7. It also supports NFC and Bluetooth 4.0, and lasts 9 hours on its battery.

$499 – Read a review

Google Nexus 10

The Google Nexus 10 has a remarkable 2560 x 1600 screen, powered by a dual-core 1.7GHz processor. It runs Android 4.3. It comes in 16GB and 32GB variants but does not have expandable storage. It support LTE either, so you’ll have to stay close to WiFi if you want to browse the Internet.The battery should last you up to 9 hours per charge.

Starts from $399 – Read a review

iPad Air Vs 10-inch Tablets (Summarized)

Nothing beats the table format when it comes to quick comparisons.

	iPad Air	Surface 2 (RT)	Lumia 2520	Xperia Tablet Z	Nexus 10
Manufacturer	Apple	Microsoft	Nokia	Sony	Samsung
Price	$499 – $799 / $629 – $929 (LTE)	$449, $459	$499	$499	$399, $499
OS	iOS 7	Windows 8.1 RT	Windows 8.1 RT	Android	Android 4.3
Resolution	2048 x 1536	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1200	2560 x 1600
Dimensions (mm)	H240 x W169.5 x T7.5	H172 x W274.5 x T9	TBA	H172 x W266 x T6.9	H177.6 x W263.9 x T8.9
Weight	469g, 478g (LTE)	676g	615g	495g	603g
Display Size (inch)	9.7	10.6	10.1	10.1	10
Processor	64-bit A7 chip with M7 Motion	Quad-Core 1.7GHz	Quad-Core 2.2GHz	Quad-Core 1.5GHz	Dual-Core 1.7GHz
RAM	n/a	2GB	2GB	2GB	2GB
Battery Life	10 hours	10 hours	10 hours	9 hours	9 hours
Network	MIMO WiFi / LTE	WiFi / LTE	WiFi / LTE	WiFi / LTE	WiFi
Storage (GB)	16 / 32 / 64 / 128	16 / 32 / 64	32	16 / 32	16 / 32
Expandable Storage	—	MicroSD	MicroSD	MicroSD	—
Back Camera	5MP iSight	1080p	6.7MP	8.1MP	5MP
Front Camera	New FaceTime HD Camera	1080p	2MP	2.2MP	1.9MP
Input Ports	Lightning Connector	USB 3.0, HD Video Out	Micro USB 3.0, Micro HDMI	Micro USB	Micro USB, Micro HDMI
Additional Features	—	Cover accesories	TBA	IPX5/7 Water-resistance, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0	NFC

iPad mini with Retina display

The biggest change to the iPad mini which everyone has been asking for is finally here: Retina display. The new iPad mini with Retina display boasts a 2048 x 1536 resolution 7.9-inch display; that’s a whopping 326 pixels per inch.

Not only is the resolution same as the iPad Air, but it’ll have the same 64-bit Apple A7 processor, M7 motion coprocessor, MIMO technology, and more worldwide LTE Coverage. Expect it to run on a 10-hour battery life.

Recommended Reading: 50 Awesome IPad Mini Decals (Stickers)

Price and Availability

The newest version of the iPad mini with Retina display will be available starting at $399 with 16GB WiFi, and $529 with 16GB LTE version. For full prices, check out the table below. Available in Silver/White and Space Grey/Black variants, shipping for the iPad mini with Retina display will begin sometime in November.

iPad Mini and Its Predecessor

We know the newest iPad mini has Retina display but that’s not all the upgrade it got. Check out this comparison table.

	iPad Mini with Retina Display	iPad Mini
Storage/Price (WiFi)	16GB / $399	16GB / $329
	32GB / $499	32GB / $429
	64GB / $599	64GB / $529
	128GB / $699
Storage/Price (LTE)	16GB / $529	16GB / $459
	32GB / $629	32GB / $559
	64GB / $729	64GB / $659
	128GB / $829
Resolution	2048 x 1536	1024×768
Dimensions (mm)	H200 x W134.7 x T7.5mm	H200 x W134.7 x T7.2
Weight	331g, 341g (LTE)	308g, 312g (LTE)
Display Size (inch)	7.9	7.9
Processor	64-bit A7 chip with M7 Motion	Apple A5 Dual-Core
RAM	TBA	512MB
Battery Life	10 hours	10 hours
Network	MIMO WiFi / LTE	Wi-Fi / LTE
Back Camera	5MP iSight	5MP iSight
Front Camera	New FaceTime HD Camera	1.2MP
Additional Features	n/a	Bluetooth 4.0

IPad Mini Vs Other 8-Inch Tablets

And here’s how the new iPad Mini with Retina Display is stacking up against the competition.

Google Nexus 7 2013

The Nexus 7 2013 is a 7" tablet with a 1920 x 1200 display running Android 4.3.1. The processor is a quad-core 1.5GHz processor, with 2GB of RAM. Unlike the previous Nexus 7, the new 2013 edition has front and back cameras, 5 and 1.2 megapixels respectively. It also now supports LTE, and still has goodies such as wireless charging, Bluetooth 4.0 and NFC support.

Starts at $229 – Read a review

Amazon kindle Fire HDX

The Kindle Fire HDX is a tablet designed specifically for Amazon’s content delivery service. Thus, it has a 1920 x 1200 display and a fast 2.2GHz quad-core processor to make sure that your videos and music play smoothly. It comes in 16, 32 and 64GB variants, great to store all your media. And to make sure you can enjoy your movies on the go, the Kindle Fire HDX’s battery will last up to 11 hours on a single charge.

Starts at $229 – Read a review

Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8.0 has a 1280 x 800 screen and a 1.6GHz quad-core processor running Samsung’s take on Android 4.1.2. It only comes in a 16GB version, but has a MicroSD port for expandable storage. It supports Samsung’s S-Pen technology and has an infrared blaster, so you can use it as a remote control for your TV.Samsung claims up to 8 hours of battery life from the Galaxy Note 8.0.

Starts at $359 – Read a review

Lenovo Miix2

Lenovo’s Miix2 is an 8" tablet running Windows RT 8.1. It has a 1280 x 800 screen and a Bay Trail-T Quad Core processor. It’s only just been announced, so details are scarce, but we know it’s going to come in both 16 and 32GB variants and support Bluetooth 4.0.

Starts at $299 – Read a review

LG G Pad 8.3

LG’s G Pad 8.3 is an Android tablet with an 8.3" 1920 x 1200 screen. Like the Kindle Fire HDX, it has a 2.2GHz quad-core processor. It has a MicroSD port for expandable storage to add to the 16GB it comes with. However it doesn’t have a sim tray and thus only supports WiFi.

$349 – Read a review

iPad mini with Retina Display Vs 8-inch Tablets

Again, here is the table format to help you check out how the iPad mini with Retina display fares against the competition.

	iPad mini with Retina display	Nexus 7 2013	Kindle Fire HDX	Galaxy Note 8.0	Lenovo Miix2	LG G Pad 8.3
Manufacturer	Apple	ASUS	Amazon	Samsung	Lenovo	Lenovo
Price	$399 – $699 / $529 – $829 (LTE)	$229, $269, $349	$229 – $409	$359, $399	$299, $249	$349
OS	iOS 7	Android 4.3.1	Fire OS	Android 4.1.2	Windows 8.1	Android 4.2.2
Resolution	2048 x 1536	1920 x 1200	1920 x 1200	1280 x 800	1280 x 800	1920 x 1200
Dimensions (mm)	H200 x W134.7 x T7.5	H200 x W114 x T8.65	H128 x W186 x T9	H210 x W135 x T7.8	H215.4 x W131.6 x T8.9	H216 x W126.5 x T8.3
Weight	331g, 341g (LTE)	290g, 299g (LTE)	303g, 311g (LTE)	331g	349g	338g
Display Size (inch)	7.9	7	7	8	8	8.3
Processor	64-bit A7 chip with M7 Motion	Quad-Core 1.5GHz	Quad-Core 2.2GHz	Quad-Core 1.6GHz	Quad-Core Bay Trail-T Atom	Quad-Core 2.2GHz
RAM	TBA	2GB	2GB	2GB	TBA	2GB
Battery Life	10 hours	9 hours	11 hours	8 hours	TBA	TBA
Network	MIMO WiFi / LTE	WiFi / LTE	WiFi / LTE	WiFi / TLE	TBA	Wi-Fi
Storage (GB)	16 / 32 / 64 / 128	16 / 32	16 / 32 / 64	16	16 / 32	16
Expandable Storage	—	—	—	MicroSD	TBA	MicroSD
Back Camera	5MP iSight	5MP	—	5MP	5MP	5MP
Front Camera	New FaceTime HD Camera	1.2MP	720p HD Camera	1.3MP	2MP	1.3MP
Input Ports	Lightning Connector	Micro USB	Micro USB	Micro USB	Micro USB	Micro USB
Additional Features	—	Wireless charging, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC	Bluetooth	S Pen, IR Transmitter	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth

Wrap Up

For what it’s worth, Apple’s new iPad Air is certainly for the one who had held out on previous iPads. If you are going to get your first Apple product, the iPad Air is the one to get. The upgrades and new look and that price is the perfect combo, making this the ideal tablet to get.

Apple was a latecomer to the 7- to 8-inch tablet game, but has redeemed itself with it’s new iPad mini with Retina display. There are alternative tablets out there with HD resolution but what Apple has done to this iPad mini, shrinking down the iPad Air resolution display to the 7.9 inch display is simply remarkable.

We live in a different time now; grabbing a product from a brand feels like pledging an allegiance to the company and yet, the need for individualism is strong. We have a pressing need to accessorize our gadgets and devices.

With Macbooks, nothing says "this is mine" better than a great decal or skin for your laptop. You know what’s coming, It’s time to really spice things up with some add-on decor, and we have attention-grabbers lined up for you.

Whether it is to satisfy your need to be one with the cosmos, to display your love of a superhero or for patriotism, or to show your cute side, we have here creative, eye-catching Macbook decals and skins that you are just going to love.

Recommended Reading: 50 iPad Mini Decals

Check to see if they are available for your Macbook size at the provided links; some of them are available for iPads and Mini’s too.

Macbook Decals

Decals put a creative twist to your Macbook’s Apple logo, turning it into something creative or funny. In short they are stickers that make your laptop look more interesting while staying minimalistic.

Macbook Skins

Macbook skins wrap the entire surface of your Macbook, some with cut-outs in the center allowing the Apple logo to remain seen. If you are looking for something that protects the laptop surface while keeping it attractive at the same time, skins are what you should be checking out.

I’m not surprised to find out that people are reading less. There is so much more happening elsewhere, in videos, memes, animated clips, illustrations and photos. But that’s largely for entertainment. At the end of the day, in order to deliver a message, a lesson or a view on a topic, we still need to cram all that info into an article, and it still needs to be read.

If you have something to share, these days all you need to do is login to blog about it, and it gets published for the world to see. However, that is no reason for you to complicate the message you are trying to deliver, be it how you can receive notification once there are changes on a site, how to block ads on Android, or how silly we get around technology.

Here are a few simple tips to help you write solid posts – the kind editors love to publish. Note however that just because the idea is that you should keep your writing simple, it doesn’t mean that it is an easy task. In fact:

"Easy reading is damn hard writing."
– Nathaniel Hawthorne

Write For Your Target Audience

You can write about a trending topic, or an evergreen problem someone will look up when they encounter it. Basically this could be anything under the Sun – and ‘someone’ will read it. Have that at the back of your head the whole time: who your target audience is. Then, write for them.

This is essential because it will help you set the tone of your piece, and help you decide the amount of jargon you can play around with. For example, when writing for the general public, you may need to explain certain terms like responsive design, but with web designers, you can skip the definition and dive right in.

This will be helpful when it comes to the word count because the next tip involves jamming a lot of content into a preset word length.

Watch the Word Count

We generally ask for posts to be between 800 and 1000 words long to keep our published content consistent. To be honest, we stretch the limit very often because the important thing is to have good content to share, and to limit that with a technicality such as the word count is just bad decision-making.

But I will tell you why it is necessary to mention our maximum word count. Many writers like to complicate their writing, use far more words than necessary, sometimes overexplaining concepts, going cycle after cycle of redundant explanations (like this sentence) about things that are already complicated in the first place.

Keep It Simple

Simple writing is essentially using just enough of the right words to deliver the message. If you can deliver the same message in one line instead of three, opt for the single-liner. It’s almost always a sure-win.

"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do."
– Thomas Jefferson

Note that this doesn’t mean your simple post should lack of substance. Nothing makes content good like good content.

Topics, Titles And Parameters

Now that you know who you are writing for and how much estate you need to fill up with your content, it is time to pick something to write about. More importantly, you need to figure out your title and your parameters.

"If any man wishes to write in a clear style, let him first be clear in his thoughts."
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Let’s put this into perspective: we’re going to go with the topic of "Facebook usage". The title that you choose will be what helps you determine what you should focus on. The parameters keep the writing on track. Parameters ensure that you keep your eyes on the prize and store the leftover raw materials for your next upcoming article. It also makes sure that you are clear of what you want to write about and will not stray (too far).

For example:

"10 Common Types of Facebook Updates" – The parameter here is that the updates have to be common and the focus is on the types of Facebook updates. You will need to set some parameters in determining what "common" here means.

"20 Things Savvy Facebookers Should Know (By Now)" – What should be in here are the prevalent things that people are still saying about or doing on Facebook (it has been 10 years since its conception) like sharing photos of sick babies. You have 20 of these, you have a post.

"Facebook Hashtags: How It Works And How To Use It Right" – Essentially there are three things to deliver here: defining hastags (in the context of Facebook use), how hashtags work (on Facebook) and how you can use them correctly (in Facebook).

Write In Multiple Drafts

It’s silly to think that you can be a single-draft writer. There is no such thing.

"The first draft of anything is shit."
– Ernest Hemingway

If you just put words together, at best you are a ‘curator’ because that’s what you do, you curate words and string them together for coherence and, if you are lucky, a bit of clarity. Copying from someone else’s final work is of course a lot faster – because they have gone through the process for you – but I seriously wouldn’t recommend it.

Cut, Cut, Then Cut Some More

When you write (for real) though, there is a minimum of maybe 3 drafts required. The first is when you pour out all your "nonsense" (because some of them may not make sense); the second is when you edit for clarity, arranging points for a better flow. The third is when you slice out what shouldn’t be there: mistakes, redundancy, factual errors, and other stuff your grammar book tells you to take out.

"Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words."
– Mark Twain

Now you’re halfway there. Keep cutting and slicing (you will keep finding mistakes; it is a process for a reason) until you can find nothing else to remove from the post. Then, submit it for a review. If the person who processes your work (some people call these people ‘editors’) cannot find anything to improve upon, congratulations, you have done it!

Inject Your Personality

The good thing about writing for an online audience is that you have the liberty to make a post yours by injecting a bit of your personality in the writing. It goes a long way to make the content relatable to your readers.

If you like making movie references, put it in. If you think you have a sense of humor (acceptable by society at large), show it off in the writing. Love memes? Use it as a joke to connect with like-minded souls. Love to inspire people? Don’t just think it, do it.

Leave your signature in your writing. Sometimes, that’s what readers are looking for.

If You Must Write, Then You Must read

As many great authors will attest to, you cannot write if you don’t read.

"If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."
– Stephen King

Using the thesaurus will never be as effective as becoming a product of what you read. Having the prose and style of great authors rub off on you (from constantly reading their work) will have an effect in the words you choose.

"One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple."
– Jack Kerouac

The words will come naturally when you read a lot, and more often than not, the first word that pops into your head is the right one. It doesn’t matter what you read, be it a magazine, an online tech blog, a work of fiction or the local paper, because eventually what you read will be reflected in your writing. What you read will turn you into the writer that you deserve to be.

We’re back with a giveaway, this time for readers who are looking for a tool to better manage (and communicate) with team mates, colleagues and freelancers alike.

Recently we did a review on bitrix24, a fast growing social intranet created specifically for small businesses, non-profits and civic groups. Courtesy of bitrix24, we are giving away free subscriptions to this full-featured team management tool.

To recap, bitrix24 is an online collaborative and management tool with a lot of handy features to help you better manage your small organization or online team, including:

Communication Tools: Activity Stream, instant messaging, group chat and even video calls.

Time Management: Organize your events, meetings and briefings via the built-in calendar

Task Management: Delegate your tasks and keep everyone’s progress in check on the same page

Work Progress: Keep projects in check with progress report updates, Gantt Charts, task management

Customer Relationship Management (CRM): reports, sales funnels, invoices, and more…

Bitrix24 is also integrated with social networks and email services and is supported on Desktop: Windows and Mac, and Mobile: iOS and Android.

The Prizes

We will be selecting 10 winners to take home 10 Startup Plans (for 1 year), a customized plan identical to their Professional account worth $2400/year.

The plan you are winning is only for a 12-user limit and 5GB of storage but you will be getting all other features listed above. To find out other features that are in this plan, check it out here.

How To Win

Using the Rafflecopter widget below, or click here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1. Login via your Facebook account / Email Address.
2. Like Us on Facebook (if you aren’t already a fan).

Find out how else you can earn entries (and a higher chance of winning) in the widget. [More info]

Designing documents, whether for digital or print, often requires expensive and complex desktop publishing software such as Adobe InDesign. In addition, the desktop-based nature of programs such as Adobe InDesign are stumbling blocks to collaboration, as they require each collaborator to have the software installed on their computers. Lucidpress aims to change all that.

Lucidpress, currently in beta, is a Web-based design application that aims to simplify both design and collaboration. It does this by implementing a drag-and-drop interface, real-time collaboration features and integration with cloud-based services. Best of all, it is the tool that lets you get everyone in your team on the same page, literally.

Recommended Reading: Editorially – A Markdown Online Editor For Collaborative Writing

Getting Started With Lucidpress

To get started you first need to register with a name, email and password or via a Lucidchart account, Yahoo! or Google account. Once registered, you’ll be taken to your dashboard. This is where you’ll be managing your documents.

To get started, click the "Create" button on the left sidebar. A window will pop up allowing you to choose a template for your new document. Lucidpress has 75 print and digital templates for documents such as newspapers, brochures, photo books, flyers and more. You can also start with a blank page if none of these templates appeal to you.

Once you’ve selected your template, you’ll be taken to the first of Lucidpress’ four modes, the Layout Mode.

Designing With LucidPress

The Layout Mode is where you design your document. If you are familiar with desktop publishing software, Lucidpress is easy to adopt for use, particularly as it has a simple drag-and-drop interface.Design elements such as text, images and videos appear within boxes that can be moved and resized with ease. Arrange text and images into the layout you want.

There is a top menu bar and two side bars that provide access to all the tools and options you’d expect from a design application. You can choose fonts, line and character spacing, text wrapping, and so on.

Lucidpress is integrated with online services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, Facebook and Flickr so you can easily import images, video and text into your document directly from your account.

Making Your Document Interactive

When publishing content online, you have to consider making elements in your publication interactive, particularly for consumption on touchscreen devices. Lucidpress allow some of your elements (or certain hotspots) to carry links to a different page, an email address, a website or to toggle, hide and show layers. You can even input a Youtube video into your document.

Publishing Your Document

Once you are done, you can publish your document digitally via Lucidpress or allow instant access to the document to your clients and colleagues via a publishing link. Documents can also be exported as PDF files for printing or exported as individual pages as PDF, PNG or JPG files.

Collaborating With Lucidpress

With Lucidpress you can share your work with fellow collaborators in 3 modes: editing, commenting or only viewing. Your clients, supervisors and colleagues can add comments to specific elements of your working document, allowing for quick revisions and changes.

Lucidpress also allows collaborators to chat in real-time, and can track the location and actions of each collaborator. This helps prevent two persons from working on the same document and overwriting each other’s changes.

Limitations

While Lucidpress is an interesting alternative to Adobe InDesign, there are a couple of things you should be aware of. While it is currently free, expect Lucidpress to begin charging for premium features once it leaves beta status. The pricing for the premium version has not been confirmed. Lucidpress also doesn’t support exporting with CMYK, which might be a problem if you are designing for print.