iPad won't handle GSM voice calls -- or will it?

Like the camera references, this could just be another case of vestigial SDK weirdness -- but for whatever reason, devs have noticed (and we've been able to reproduce) a "Touch to return to call" bar in the iPad emulator just like you'd expect to find on an iPhone during a traditional GSM call. It certainly seems like Steve would've bothered to mention during today's festivities if you could do something crazy like pair up a Bluetooth headset and go to town (and you'd need a voice plan on top of that $29.99 data anyway), so who knows: either Apple's just made every UI element as adaptable as possible regardless of whether it's applicable to a particular device, they're planning a higher-res iPhone down the road, or they're integrating the bar into some VoIP action. Or... you know, none of the above.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[juventus23 Posted Jan 28th 2010 5:41AM]

this thing is such a FAIL. who cares about a 10" iPod Touch.

Nexus One is brilliant.

[DiscoTK Posted Jan 28th 2010 5:43AM]

Get all tech specs here boys and girls

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

[tongeuele Posted Jan 28th 2010 5:55AM]

The only detail that really sucks is the lack of camera.
Some posts are saying "So what?"
Well if they can put one in everything else why not here.
You don't think it could be some marketing thing and in the second generation ipad it will have one?
Well that would make a change, at least we wont look like sad assholes who never learn (ipod, iphone)

[tongeuele Posted Jan 28th 2010 6:24AM]

Hey JACK, you seem to be getting pretty angry because people are slagging this thing even though they haven't seen or touched one yet.
As you are obviously a fanboy, and you are dishing out comments on it's sheer wonderfullness, Where's yours?

[kobioshi Posted Jan 28th 2010 7:24AM]

Screw GSM! Gimmie Skype and GoogleVoice and I will be a happy camper! This is the perfect platform for VOIP on a portable device.

[Satanist Posted Jan 28th 2010 7:36AM]

Apple could revolutionized this device by just putting isight camera & ichat on it.I don't know how can apple be so clueless about this fact.
Multitasking is just a matter of time.even a worst net book can do music while surfing the web.
Every please suggest apple to put at least two apps at a time in os 4.0
from here http://www.apple.com/feedback/

[anrichardson Posted Jan 28th 2010 7:55AM]

Hi, I'm an iPad, & I'm a Slate PC.

iPad: iDon't have multitasking

Slate PC: iDO

iPad: iDon't Have flash

Slate PC: iDO

iPad: iDon't have full OS

Slate PC: iDO

iPad: iNeed OS 4.0

Slate PC: iWork right out of the box

[JerryE Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:01PM]

@anrichardson THIS!

[jjbrooklyn Posted Jan 28th 2010 7:56AM]

I'm so bored of this thing and I didn't even have to buy it-which makes it kinda notta fail.

[tongeuele Posted Jan 28th 2010 8:00AM]

@jjbrooklyn
I agree, we need a big disaster or filmed footage of life on mars.
At least the other technology out there would get a look in.

[tongeuele Posted Jan 28th 2010 8:26AM]

saw this on another post

http://s1.b3ta.com/host/creative/1279/1264637379/blutack.jpg

[TheShredder Posted Jan 28th 2010 8:35AM]

It's running 3.2...

looks like the iPhone and iPad share the same software now. So It's probably part of the software ment for the iPhone.

The frigging thing doesn't even have a camera!

[logicbombde Posted Jan 28th 2010 5:12PM]

@TheShredder

Iphone OS is at 3.1.2

just so you know......

[zelannii Posted Jan 28th 2010 9:45AM]

I suspect this is because the iPad can tether, and why not be able to accept a call ON the device itself instead of having to take out your phone... It makes sense, and since the iPhone OS 3.1 already had support, a minor change continues it. This does not mean the iPad can take/make 3G cals with a voice plan of it;s own, just that it can take/make calls with an appropriately paired device.

this could also be a hint at the "full VoIP support" Apple mentioned, and the ability to background approved VoIP applications, nut just voice network calls.

[kenosando Posted Jan 28th 2010 9:47AM]

@Jack hey bud, do you know what multi-tasking is? Listening to music is not a "task". "Other stuff" is not valid multi-tasking verbiage. The iPhone barely allows you to talk and surf the web simultaneously. I have multi-tasking on my Symbian phone, I also have Flash support, camera, standard ports, and I can even call my mum.

[zelannii Posted Jan 28th 2010 9:55AM]

@kenosando
OK, jackass. I can not only surf the web on a call, I can queue up the download of a big PDF, then switch to Maps and using GPS plan a route while on the iPhone. Stop spreading FUD just because you hate that Apple has a better product than what you sunk your own money into, or that you've bought everyone else's FUD.

[tongeuele Posted Jan 28th 2010 11:01AM]

@zelannii
Um no you can't because you're talking shite, as you like all of us dont have one yet, so you are spreading as much crap as anybody else

[kenosando Posted Jan 28th 2010 11:07AM]

@zelannii alright, the jackass part was uncalled for, sir. I don't spread "FUD" just because I hate Apple. I am a big supporter of Apple computers, but the fact the hype over their tablet turns out to not even be a real computer is my beef. Put the full-blown OS X and stop picking and choosing features to include. Oh wait, next year the iPad will be revamped with more features! We've seen this show before.

[jroff Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:38PM]

@zelannii
Cool story, bro. Try running an AIM client in the background while browsing the web, where the background application needs to maintain a persistent connection to a server. You won't be able to, because you can't run multiple processes at once.

I think you're being confused by applications that save their state, so it appears like they were somehow running when you switched to a different app. That's NOT multi-tasking. As a matter of fact, the iphone OS kills each application when it loses focus, but allows you to save your state first. You would know that if you did any iphone development.

To be fair, I don't know of any other mobile OS other than WebOS and WinMo that support full multi-tasking. Android applications have to launch themselves as a service if they want to stay active in the background, then re-attach themselves to the launched service when the window comes back into focus. WinMo applications can choose to run in the background just as they do in the foreground - the OS makes no limitations for what the app has to do when it's not in focus. As for WebOS, I have not looked into it in too much detail, but I heard the card system allows applications to run as if they have focus in their respective cards, regardless of if they have focus or not.

[kenosando Posted Jan 28th 2010 2:45PM]

@jroff the Maemo OS and Symbian S60 also multi-task. My E71 can send a myriad of applications to the background while still running. Maemo, along with webOS, does the best job with multi-tasking and task management. You can't tell me that this iPad is not capable. I would assume it could handle a variety of tasks, or maybe just limit the number of applications.

[logicbombde Posted Jan 28th 2010 5:16PM]

@jroff


yes you can.

its called jailbreaking.

you did not include the qualifier, "if you don't jailbreak"

Nexus one does not have pinch to zoom, "unless you root the device" and manually add it in.

I can surf the web while on hold with comcast to complain about my bill all while streaming pandora over 3G.


suck on that.

[Dusty Posted Jan 28th 2010 9:51AM]

iPhone on Steroids!

[mikem089 Posted Jan 28th 2010 10:36AM]

Are IR sensor and Remote control app included???

[mitothy Posted Jan 28th 2010 11:29AM]

Everyone says how much they HATE this thing, yet you clicked the link, read the post, read the comments, and then added your own...hmmm. Look at how crippled the first iPhone was, this is just the beginning and I can definitely see it going somewhere.

[scotttherobot Posted Jan 28th 2010 12:08PM]

It seems to me like this would just be in place for when 3.2 hits the iPhone. In the simulator, you can't yet choose the iPhone as the device with 3.2, however I assume that's because they haven't built 3.2 for iPhone yet. Also notice that in the iPad simulator, when you click on "choose existing," in the contacts app, it says, "No photos or albums. You can take pictures with the camera or sync them to your iPhone Simulator using iTunes." I would think these would, again, be there for iPhone.

[FlyersPh9 Posted Jan 28th 2010 12:46PM]

Do you think it is because it is the same OS as the iPhone and it is just there for the iPhone, not the iPad?

[POZ Posted Jan 28th 2010 1:17PM]

This is a fun article, but the iPad does not need gsm to make calls. Are we clear there? Its got a 3g/wifi connection.. so, download skype, or google talk or PRETEND its a phone. Or.. just buy a phone :)

[Kendrick Posted Jan 28th 2010 11:04PM]

To me, the ipad just seems like an overhyped, oversized iphone. Besides, it costs more per gig than an iphone. Also, it doesn't look different enough from my itouch for me to buy it.(it does not seem like it does anything THAT different). There are quite a few feautures the ipad is missing ( a web cam, flash, etc). It is true that the ipad will probably improve, but the iphone/touch will probably improve with it. The question is; will the ipad surpass the iphone? Also, I know apple wants to use their iphone sucess to boost another product, but the ipad is too similar.