iPad Mini, Windows 8 surprises, revamped MacBooks and more: Gadget Digest

The Gadget Show  Friday 26 October 2012

Another week in tech is coming to a close. But it’s not been any old week – oh no. This week was the biggest on the calendar for gadget giants not just this year, but perhaps this decade so far – and in Microsoft’s case far longer. Read on to find out why in our Gadget Digest roundup and get up to speed.

iPads unleashed

In a packed auditorium in San Jose, California on Tuesday, Apple’s top bosses unveiled the iPad mini to the world. The subject of speculation and rumours for months, the 7.9-inch tablet looks every bit as beautiful as you’d expect, but at £269 it won’t come cheap. For once, Apple has some serious competition in the category it’s invading. Is the iPad mini really better than the Google Nexus 7? We took a look.

That wasn’t all Apple had to show though: it also shocked pundits by updating the iPad, just seven months after the launch of the third-gen model. The new iPad (or iPad 4, if you will) packs the new Lightning port for accessories, faster graphics and 4G that’ll work in the UK. Which size to go for? Choices, choices.

Macs go macro

Apple didn’t just shrink down its tablet this week though: it also trimmed down the 13-inch MacBook Pro, slapping in a super sharp Retina Display like its 15-inch brother’s for good measure. It also stuffed more power into the Mac Mini, and shaved inches off the sides of the iMac desktop computer: from the side on it now appears as thin as an iPad.

Windows 8 arrives

The computing landscape has changed in the last couple of years more than it has in the last 20. Windows 8 is Microsoft’s response to that, and it’s a huge gamble – one that launches today. It’s the biggest revamp of how Windows works since Windows 95 seventeen years ago: we’re working on a review ASAP, but in the meantime, find out how you can get it and how it works in our feature right here. Is Smartglass its killer app?

All new Android: all the details

Google’s big Android press conference kicks off on Monday afternoon, but at this point, we’re not sure it’s got anything left to announce. A full debunk of all the Nexus goodies we can expect, as well as what’s new in Android 4.2, was posted earlier this week, while Carphone Warehouse made the mother of all slip ups and put the unannounced LG Nexus 4 up for sale. Whoops.

Gadget gaming

It’s been a big week for gaming as well as gadgets. We took a full look at the glorious, free roaming Forza Horizon, while another blockbuster game series headed to mobile: yup, Borderlands is coming to an iPhone or iPad near you.