Latest news with #AppleiPads
Mint
16-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Some tech gadgets are near worthless the day after you open the box: 7 devices with low resale value
Many people hope to recover some of their tech spend by selling used electronics, but some gadgets lose value astonishingly fast. Even if you keep them in perfect condition, a steep resale drop is almost impossible to avoid for certain categories, thanks to frequent product launches, changing software, and limited resale demand. If holding onto value matters to you, these are the main types to approach with caution. Yearly upgrades: New models quickly make older ones look outdated. Short support cycles: Devices become less useful when software updates stop. Low buyer interest: Secondhand markets often overflow with the same product. Design limitations: Disposability and hygiene issues reduce appeal. Wear and tear: Smaller, personal gadgets age quickly with regular use. Earbuds like the AirPods and other truly wireless models are notorious for losing value within months. Most have sealed batteries that degrade quickly, and hygiene concerns make buyers wary of used pairs. Software updates and new generations come thick and fast, further undercutting resale prices. Wearables depreciate almost immediately, and resale is hurt by missing straps, worn-out batteries, and the fact that many people prefer these new for hygiene reasons. Even flagship models from major brands rarely hold their worth after a year or two. While all smartphones see a drop after purchase, Android devices suffer the steepest falls due to more limited software support and rapid turnover of models. Oversupply, especially from budget brands, further drags down pre-owned prices. Gadgets like smart speakers lose value quickly. Rapid hardware refreshes, app compatibility changes, and minimal interest in secondhand devices keep resale values low. Buyers often prefer getting a new one bundled with discounts or offers. Cheaper laptops and even mid-range models tend to be disposable, with low resale value after a year or so. Limited specs, short battery life, and a flood of similar models on used markets make selling them barely worth the effort. Android and cheap branded tablets are among the worst performers for retaining value. Apple iPads fare better, but most Android tablets see major value drops and sell for very little secondhand. VR advances rapidly, and older headsets become obsolete fast. Used units, especially those without current software support or with missing accessories, fetch a fraction of their original price. Hygiene worries make VR resales even tougher. Research resale patterns: Before you buy, check how similar models are faring on resale platforms. Keep everything: Original boxes and accessories can help you get a marginally better price. Time the sale: Depreciation is sharpest in the first 12–18 months - don't wait too long. Trade-in options: Sometimes manufacturer programmes or retailer buyback schemes offer more value and less hassle than private sales. While not all tech is meant to keep its value, being aware of the fastest depreciators can save you regret when it's time to upgrade. Sometimes the best move really is to use these gadgets (and enjoy them) until their lifespan runs out, rather than banking on resale.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The iPad Mini at a record low — plus more 4th of July sales from Amazon, Sam's Club and Kohl's
Who doesn't love a holiday weekend centered around fireworks, ice cream and assorted grilled foods? We imagine you'll be busy flipping burgers or lounging at the beach, which doesn't leave much time to shop the best 4th of July sales. But no worries there; many deals are live as we speak, from Apple iPads and Crest Whitestrips to Yeti tumblers and Fire TVs. Oh, say, can you save?Sashay through summer with this all-leather Michael Kors crossbody — it's literally hundreds of dollars off. How'd you like to snag a 50-inch 4K TV for just $200? Done and done with this staggering steal. Got some under-the-sun reclining on your sked? This star-spangled chaise puts the zzzs in zero-gravity; it's just $54 (down from $90). See? It's just that easy. Our prediction? You're stepping into a stellar week of sales. Adidas: Get up to 40% off sale shoes and apparel. Anthropologie: Save up to 50% on new sale items. Brooklinen: Score bedding, bath linens and more for up to 75% off. Coach Outlet: Save up to 70% on sale styles. Cozy Earth: Get up to 55% off Oprah-approved bedding and more. Everlane: Snag up to 75% off sale styles. Save up to an additional 70% during the End of Season Sale with code EXTRA. Kate Spade Outlet: Get up to 70% off, plus an extra 20% off everything. Loft: Take up to 50% off your purchase during the 4th of July Event. Nordstrom: Shop designer clearance items and save up to 60%. Nordstrom Rack: Take up to 70% off new markdowns. Old Navy: Score up to 70% off during the Summer Sale. REI: Save up to 60% off during the retailer's 4th of July Sale. Spanx: Get an extra 30% off with code EXTRA30 during the End of Season Sale. Sur La Table: Save up to 60% on brands like Staub, Le Creuset and more. Target: Get up to 50% off clothing, home essentials and more. Walmart: Shop rollbacks and flash deals of up to 80% off. Wayfair: Stock up on furniture, decor and more for up to 70% off during the 4th of July Clearance.
The Print
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
With iPads for ministers & a dashboard for proposals, Maharashtra govt switches to e-cabinet
'Typically, proposals for every cabinet run into over 200 pages. We had to make 50-60 copies of these before every cabinet and circulate among the ministers. We have to print that and send these many copies in advance. The e-cabinet system makes it easier,' said a senior government official who wished to not be named. Besides reducing the use of paper, by doing away with bulky files, the e-cabinet system will also increase the secrecy of the cabinet in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government, as all the relevant files will be at a single point on a dashboard and the access will be controlled. Mumbai: The Maharashtra government conducted its first paper-free e-cabinet meeting Tuesday, with all cabinet proposals uploaded on a digital dashboard, a venture that has cost the government Rs 1.03 crore. 'It also increases the government's control over information pertaining to the cabinet,' he added. The transition to an e-cabinet was part of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's 100-day programme. Also read: Shinde & Thackeray revive Shiv Sena's classic 'Marathi manus, sons of soil' pitch ahead of BMC polls iPad for all ministers To enable this shift to an e-cabinet, the Maharashtra government equipped all ministers with Apple iPads, magic keyboards, Apple pencils and Apple covers. The general administration department made sure that the models of the products were among the latest and not launched before 2024. The government purchased 50 pieces of each item from a company called Innovative Techhub, which was the only bidder to qualify the government's technical criteria, as per a government resolution by the general administration department that ThePrint has seen. Altogether, along with 18 percent Goods and Services Tax, the 50 iPads cost a total of Rs 81.37 lakh, the keyboards another Rs 16.23 lakh, the 50 Apple pencils cost Rs 5.69 lakh, while the 50 covers were purchased for Rs 59,000. 'An iPad is an extension of a smartphone. Everybody is savvy enough these days, plus ministers have personal staff, officers on special duties and secretaries to help them out if needed. Moreover, all the information on the dashboard is available in Marathi,' the above-mentioned official said. Prior to the first cabinet, the state general administration department had organised a training session for the secretaries of all departments. The first e-cabinet Officials said the first e-cabinet was more like a 'User Acceptance Testing' with ministers. Ministers were shown how the dashboard functions, how to log in, what the menu looks like, how information is uploaded, how documents are stored, who will have access to what and so on. 'It was more like training for ministers. The dashboard is like a cross between an email and a collaboration software,' the official said. Ministers were shown how the e-cabinet process mirrors the traditional process. Typically, before a proposal is put up before the cabinet, it first goes to relevant individuals for their comments. It is then sent for comments to the concerned departments. Most proposals are also sent to finance, planning and law and judiciary departments before finally landing on the chief secretary's desk. The chief secretary decides whether to put up the proposal before the cabinet. In the e-cabinet system, ministers can see a trail of what every individual and department has said on the proposal. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Why Ajit Pawar returned to cooperative politics, making a routine sugar mill poll a high-stakes battle
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Maharashtra govt finds company to supply 50 Apple iPads for e-cabinet system
Mumbai: The state govt finally found a company to supply 50 Apple iPads for ministers and senior officials to run its e-cabinet system. After the previously shortlisted company refused to supply the iPads in a week's time, the govt was forced to scrap the tender. The state govt decided to place an order with a new company. The govt will spend over Rs 1 crore to buy the 50 Apple iPads. To implement the e-cabinet system immediately, a short-term e-tender was published. As Innovative Techhub was the only bidder eligible in the technical scrutiny, its commercial bid was opened. The total price quoted is lower than bids received previously. The Information Technology department also ensured the reasonableness of the prices mentioned in the supply order given to Innovative Techhub regarding the purchase of iPads, a Govt Resolution (GR) said. The state govt last week cancelled the work order to buy 50 Apple iPads for ministers and select officials after the supplier said that iPads were not immediately available and couldn't be supplied in a week. The state govt in April decided to provide iPads for all ministers and select senior officials for Rs 1.6 crore for the implementation of an e-cabinet system. However, activists criticised the govt over the decision to buy iPads for ministers. "A few days ago, the Maharashtra govt proposed purchasing iPads to distribute among ministers. Tenders were even invited. At that very moment, I raised a question — For ministers who don't even have official email IDs, what exactly is the use of an iPad? A toy? Who found a contractor who can't even supply 50–60 iPads? How was his tender approved? Is this just administrative incompetence, or something more? Who will answer these questions? 90% of ministers don't have official govt email IDs. Those who do use emails, use private ones. So, this e-Cabinet — was it going to run on WhatsApp? e-governance without email is like walking blindfolded," RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar said in a post on X.
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Gen Z's Love for School Increasing
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Gen Z students have reported their most positive evaluations of schools in years, 71 percent awarding an A or B for this year in a Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Education for comment via email. Why It Matters The report, published on Wednesday, June 18, comes amid a litany of concerns about American education. A report released in January, 2025, from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that the reading and math skills of fourth and eighth-grade students have declined in multiple states to below the national average. After this report was released, Peggy Carr, the commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, said: "These 2024 results clearly show that students are not where they need to be or where we want them to be." Educators were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing disruption, the effects of which have been hard to recover from. In 2024, a report released by the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE), a research group at Arizona State University stated that the average American student is "less than halfway to full academic recovery," from the impact of the pandemic. The Report's Key Findings Average school grades rose to a B on a 0-to-4 GPA scale, up from B- in 2023 and 2024. The percentage of students assigning their schools an A grade also jumped to 31 percent, up from 22 percent in 2023. Parents' grades for schools also improved, with 40 percent rating their child's school an A, marking a notable rise from 33 percent in the previous year. High school freshmen and sophomore students at Concordia High School using Apple iPads in the world geography classroom at the private religious school outside Austin, Texas. High school freshmen and sophomore students at Concordia High School using Apple iPads in the world geography classroom at the private religious school outside Austin, Texas. Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images Students' average reported GPA for their schools reached 2.92, while parent-assigned averages also increased to 3.13, further reflecting the uptick in satisfaction. Gallup's findings also showed Black and Hispanic students posting the greatest year-over-year gains. The 2025 Gallup and Walton Family Foundation Student Report Card was based on a survey of 1,551 students and their parents, taken between May 16 and May 27. "We saw improvements across the student body, including many of the groups that have historically given their school lower marks, such as students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, Black and Hispanic students, and students with disabilities," Gallup's senior education researcher Zach Hrynowski told Newsweek in an email. The report cautioned that heightened positivity among students and parents had not yet translated into improved academic outcomes. Kevin G. Welner, a research professor at the School of Education & School of Law at the University of Colorado Boulder told Newsweek the report is unquestionably "good news." "If parents and students are happy with their schools, we should be happy as well." What Is Driving Gen Z's Increased Satisfaction? Hrynowski said: "While the improvements were broad, it's hard to pin down a single cause." The biggest improvements occurred in areas related to career-connected earning, and the next largest improvements came in students' excitement about what they are learning, he said. Welner said we can "only speculate" about why numbers are up, but pointed to post-COVID recovery as a potential reason. Christopher Lubienski, a Professor of Education Policy at Indiana University pointed to a number of reasons there could be an increase in satisfaction, noting that people with potentially high levels of discontent, such as homeschooled students, weren't sampled. He also added that "schools represent stability in an increasingly unstable world for a lot of students." "Considering the sample size, it could be just a statistical blip," Lubienski told Newsweek. "The bigger story here is the continued and maybe growing satisfaction across the board, but particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds." Frederick M. Hess, a senior fellow and the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute told Newsweek: "If you ask a student who doesn't do any homework, do you such as school, there's an excellent chance to tell you they such as school more than a kid who whose parents make them do homework." This is "not an ironclad rule by any means," he said, adding that there is reason to be concerned that student satisfaction isn't related to education or academic engagement. It could be they like school because "they can hang out and do social media together," Hess said. "I would never say positive results are a bad thing ... I think it's really important to be cautious." How Meaningful Are These Perception Shifts? So, what do these perception shifts mean in practice? Hrynowski noted "several indicators that would suggest this could be the first step toward improvements in long-term academic success." "From our three years of data, we clearly and consistently see that students who are more engaged in the classroom and give their schools higher marks also report better academic achievement and lower absenteeism," Hrynowski said. Matt Eicheldinger a New York Times bestselling author and Instagram and TikTok creator with a background in teaching, told Newsweek via email: "It can be easy to view these perception shifts as a valuable insight of the U.S. education system, but they should not be mistaken for definite indicators of the overall health of the system. "Satisfaction may reflect school climate, stronger relationships, and more inclusive environment, but true educational health is multifaceted." Eicheldinger added that we need to consider academic outcomes, access equality and teacher retention, as well as funding and long-term student success. "Without addressing these other systemic factors, increased satisfaction alone gives a misleading picture of progress," he said. Lubienski said the results show people still have faith in their schools, despite the challenges education has faced in recent years. "There is a constant barrage of criticism of our schools from some politicians, but people still like their schools," said Lubienski. Hrynowski also flagged some potential issues with achievement scores and said that they are "probably a bit of a lagging indicator." "Even if the school experience has improved meaningfully over the last year, it may still take a year or two for those gains to start showing up in test scores." Hrynowski added that stagnant test scores are down to things such as COVID learning loss. "A better experience over the past year doesn't guarantee that the damage of that learning loss has been fully mitigated—we may just be limiting the damage at this point," Hrynowski said. What Happens Next The report comes at a time of major change for America's education system. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education that former President Jimmy Carter founded 45 years ago, which could change the face of education in America. AI also poses significant challenges. Lubienski said that though this is a relatively minor shift, it is a "hopeful sign," before adding that we need to attend to having well resourced schools, good teachers and world-class curriculums. Eicheldinger said this report could signal a turning point. "When students enjoy school and feel connected, engagement and learning often rise," he said. "But for lasting impact, that positive experience must be backed by meaningful changes, such as relevant curriculum and supportive environments. "Joy is a great start, but it needs structure to lead to long-term success," Eicheldinger added.
