IPad mini (1st generation)

The 1st-generation iPad mini is a computer designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. It was announced on October 23, 2012 and released on the following November 2nd as the fourth major product in the iPad line, and the first of a new downsized iPad mini line.

Software
The iPad mini shipped with iOS 6.0.1. It can act as a hotspot with some carriers, sharing its Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, and also access the App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS that is developed and maintained by Apple. The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with Xcode and the iOS SDK and were published through Apple. From the App Store, GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, and the iWork apps (Pages, Keynote, and Numbers) are available. Currently the latest versions are 9.3.5 for Wi-Fi only models, and iOS 9.3.6 for cellular models to fix GPS issues.

The iPad mini comes with several pre-installed applications, including Siri, Safari, Mail, Photos, Video, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts. Like all iOS devices, the iPad can sync content and other data with a Mac or PC using iTunes, although iOS 5 and later can be managed and backed up with iCloud. Although the tablet is not designed to make telephone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype. The device has dictation, using the same voice recognition technology as the iPhone 4S. The user speaks and the iPad types what they say on the screen provided that the iPad is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

The device has an optional iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore. Several major book publishers including Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have committed to publishing books for the device. Despite being a direct competitor to both the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook, both Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble offer e-reader apps for the iPad.

On September 17, 2014, iOS 8 was released to the first generation iPad mini and all Apple Devices. However, some newer features of the software are not supported due to relatively aged hardware that was shared on the iPad 2.

On September 16, 2015, the iPad mini received the iOS 9 update, but it doesn't have the new multitasking features featured on the other iPads.

On June 13, 2016, Apple announced the iOS 10 update – with some major updates to the mobile operating system. However, the iPad mini did not receive this update (along with other devices using the A5 processor including the iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad (3rd generation), and iPod Touch (5th generation) ) due to hardware limitations.

While Apple stopping the latest iOS updates for the iPad mini was expected by many in the industry, it has however led to some criticism, as the device was on sale until June 2015 and by June 2016, no further versions of the operating system beyond iOS 9 were to be made available to the tablet.

Hardware
There are four buttons and one switch on the iPad mini, including a "home" button near the display that returns the user to the home screen, and three aluminum buttons on the right side and top: wake/sleep and volume up and volume down, plus a software-controlled switch whose function varies with software updates. The tablet is manufactured either with or without the capability to communicate over a cellular network. All models can connect to a wireless LAN via Wi-Fi. The iPad mini is available with 16, 32, 64 GB of internal flash memory, with no expansion option. Apple sells a "camera connection kit" with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos.

The iPad mini features partially the same hardware as the iPad 2. Both screens have resolutions of 1024 x 768, but the iPad mini has a smaller screen and thus higher pixel density than iPad 2 (163 PPI vs 132 PPI). Unlike the iPad 2, it has 5 MP and 1.2 MP cameras and the Lightning connector. The system-on-chip is A5, which is the same one found in the later revision of the iPad 2 (32 nm). The audio processor is the same found in iPhone 5 and iPad 4th generation, which allows the iPad mini to have Siri and voice dictation unlike the iPad 2. The graphics processor (GPU) of the iPad mini is the same one found in the iPad 2 (PowerVR SGX543MP2). The iPad mini was initially featured with slate and silver colors, however on the release of the Mini 2 the slate color was changed to space gray; the silver color remained.

Reception
The first generation iPad mini received positive reviews, with reviewers praising the device's size, design, and availability of applications, while criticizing its use of the proprietary Lightning connector, under-powered Apple A5 chip with 512 MB RAM, lack of expandable storage, and its lack of a Retina display.