Verizon

Verizon has launched a new rewards program offering free memberships to Apple Music, HBO NOW and other perks when you sign up for a Verizon Up account using the free My Verizon app.

Verizon Up members earn a credit for every $300 they spend on their Verizon bill or other purchases made through the carrier. Credits can then be spent on perks, such as four free months of Apple Music, JetBlue discounts or a free subscription to HBO NOW. Verizon also promises there will be six new reward options each month, and entertainment rewards for special events such as the 2018 Pro Bowl.

If Apple's iPad mini with Retina display is on your holiday shopping list you better buy it right now. The 7.9-inch tablet is heavily back-ordered and shipping times could grow longer as the holidays get closer. As of right now most Apple stores are not offering the cellular model for in-store pickup, and individual carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile are quoting up to 6-8 week delivery times.

Verizon has also pushed its iPad mini shipping date back from November 25 to December 2, and Apple's online store is estimating cellular versions will ship in 5-10 business days from all five major US cellular providers. Meanwhile the Wi-Fi only models are more readily available.

Kids aged 6 to 12 want an iPad for the holidays more than anything else this year. According to a survey conducted by Nielsen Wire, 48% of kids surveyed said they want an iPad, and 39% want a Nintendo Wii U. Apple's iPod touch and iPad mini tied for third with 36% of the vote, and the iPhone beat out other smartphones, gaming consoles and tablets with 33% of children's interest.

While the 4th generation iPad and iPad mini are readily available from Apple and other retailers, the Wii U is largely sold out across the U.S.. Holiday shoppers have been turning to third party sellers, and online tracking services such as whohas.it to find a Wii U console. Scott Moffitt, executive vice president of marketing at Nintendo of America, said Nintendo is doing everything they can do to ensure the Wii U will be on store shelves this shopping season. However, some are accusing retail stores of hoarding Wii U consoles for Black Friday sales. Either way, it looks like Apple products will be the much easier gifts to find and buy this year.

We know one thing for sure, Apple is going to announce the sixth-generation iPhone tomorrow, September 12, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 10:00 am. What we don't know is what the new iPhone will be called, and if Apple will also announce the rumored iPad mini or new iPod touch. Here's what we think we know: Judging from the press invite (below) Apple will call the new device the "iPhone 5", not the "new iPhone" like it did with the third-generation iPad. Several reliable sources claim Apple will hold a special iPad mini event a few weeks after tomorrow's announcement, but they will announce a new iPod alongside the iPhone 5.

The new iPod is expected to feature a 4-inch display with a resolution of 1136 x 640, and a more powerful A5 processor. The iPhone is rumored to be 2mm thinner than the iPhone 4S, and to also feature a 4-inch screen. It's unclear if the phone will be powered by a new A6 chip, or the same A5X processor found in the iPad 3. All three devices, and all future Apple products, will feature new smaller dock connectors. Apple will reportedly sell their own branded adapters individually for $10, or three for $29. The iPhone 5 should also be 4G LTE compatible in the US, Canada and in parts of Asia and Europe as well.

A MacRumors reader discovered that his AT&T micro-SIM works in his Verizon iPad 3. The Verizon iPad LTE bands do not support AT&T’s 4G. This means that the Verizon iPad will be limited to AT&T's slower non-LTE EDGE and 3G bands when using an AT&T card.

"I was one of the first to obtain a Verizon iPad and can happily confirm that this is allowed! I used my ATT iPhone 4S sim card and took out the Verizon sim, and data worked! You must apply the AT&T APN carrier settings before this works though." - via MacRumors

Apple's new iPad will be available on March 16 at 8:00 a.m at all Apple store locations. If you're looking for alternatives to standing in line there are a few options. AT&T and Verizon will also be offering the next generation iPad through all sales channels on March 16. However, carrier retail locations are known for not having enough product to meet demand, and only want to sell you their data plans. Since the iPad does not require a carrier contract there is no reason to buy a data plan right away. You must also choose either AT&T or Verizon since the iPad is only configured to work with one. If you're buying a 4G model, Verizon is the better choice due to its superior LTE network and free personal hotspot service.

Apple also announced that the new iPad will be available at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart. It's unknown if these retail outlets will have enough supply to meet demand, but they do offer you an alternative to standing in line at an Apple store.

It looks like the leaked Apple advertisement was correct, and Apple stores will be opening early to the sell the new iPad. According to an official Apple press release, the third generation iPad will be available at Apple retail stores on March 16 at 8:00 a.m. local time in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the UK; along with Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Apple employees will be on-hand to offer free Personal Setup service for any customizing needs. The iPad 3 will also be available at AT&T stores, Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart in the U.S..

AT&T has officially announced they will be selling the new iPad through all sales channels on March 16. People who did not pre-order the iPad 3 in time, or do not wish to camp outside their local Apple store can try AT&T retail shops on Friday. Remember, if you're planning on buying a 4G model, AT&T is not offering free hotspot support like Verizon.

The new iPad 4G models have the ability to utilize high-speed LTE networks and share the connection with up to 5 other devices. This makes Verizon's superior LTE network and free personal hotspot support the better deal.

One of the new features of the iPad 3 is the ability to utilize high-speed LTE networks and share the connection with up to 5 other devices. As of today it doesn't look like AT&T will be ready to support the iPad's hotspot feature before its March 16 launch. However, Verizon will offer free hotspot support for the 4G models.

When pre-ordering the new iPad you must choose what carrier you would like to use. The model you select is configured to work with either Verizon or AT&T, not both! So you'll have to decide which carrier's 4G LTE network you prefer. You do not need to activate your service right away, and you can choose a monthly data plan at a later date when you need it.

Apple released iOS 4.3.4 (4.2.9 for the Verizon iPhone) to patch the vulnerability that was used for JailbreakMe 3.0, but could also be used for malicious reasons. The PDF exploit allowed hackers to access your passwords, built-in-cameras, contact databases and so on. The description of the update says it "fixes [a] security vulnerability associated with viewing malicious PDF files."

Apple acknowledged the hole last week after the German Federal Office for Information Security issued a warning about the possibility of infected PDFs remotely taking over devices.