iFixit gets iPad 3G on day one, immediately destroys it
By Laura June 
posted May 1st 2010 3:33PM
posted May 1st 2010 3:33PM
posted May 1st 2010 3:33PM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
This is why iFixit can never have anything nice.
@reallynotnick : Every time I see the inside of an iPad, I am amazed at how simple the parts are. (That's it?)
@One Love Just because they're small doesn't mean they're simple. It would still take years and years of studying computer science and microprocessors to really understand what those little parts do.
@reallynotnick
Of course, you can't see the magic. If you could, then it wouldn't be magic. You just have to believe that the magic is there along with Steve Jobs' blood, sweat and unicorn tears.
That doesn't destroy the iPad. Watch this video: http://ipadthoughts.net/2010/04/17/ipad-stop-motion-disassembly/
@reallynotnick It still loks sexy though!
@JudgeDredd whatever turns on buddy ;)
@Zweben Really? Its just basic mobile computing hardware. most of it is all integrated into apple's custom CPU, the rest of it im sure u could plug the chip model numbers into google to find out what they do.
Given access to the mainboard i could likely have just about every chip identified and know what it does within half an hour. unless its some obscure custom apple chip.
Hardware wise its really not much different than any other recent cell phone released, just a bigger screen, battery and different OS/Software
@reallynotnick Its good its not the wozniac tablet we're tearing here. http://j.mp/ipad-lines-2010
Is it just me, or is the "source link" missing?
@deecee
It's not just you.
@deecee
iFixit [via Gizmodo]
@deecee http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad-3G-Teardown/2374/1
Totally lame forgetting a source link. Borrow from someone just to pad out your news.
@deecee nope, not just you.
I thought i was insane too... i'm sitting here going "What source link?"
@deecee
Along with the source link Engadget also seems to be missing understanding of the word "magical." It doesn't necessarily imply the use of magic. For example, magical evenings don't always involve pulling rabbits out of hats.
@deecee
Okay weird why isn't anyone talking about the 5 basebands ehen there was talk about the iPhone and iPod touch getting radio everyone went insane, does show some hidden features for iPad users?
@grahamj No but it might involve putting a rabbit into a hat.
ifixit hasbrokeit :(
Apple sues for revealing proprietary IP in... 3... 2... 1... lol
@dicobalt you can't sue someone for taking apart something they legitimately own.
@safe travels
I don't own an iPad but I have seen these images! I'm worried Apple might sue me! lol
@safe travels
Apple doesn't care. They are Apple! They are ABOVE YOU. They are ABOVE THE LAW.
@safe travels Well, Gizmodo owned the iPhone too...in a way.
@safe travels Unless it's digital; has DRM and protected under the DMCA ...I wish I didn't have to fix that for you but, ugh, lovely laws that prevent freedom of use on things you own (excuse me, license, double UGH).
@pankomputerek The illegal way.
There's no source link?!?!?!
There is so much space in the ipad why did they add a camera those cheap mini 0.3 MP cameras would have fit fine. The same goes to Nintendo why did they bring back the gba slot.
Dont these people want our money?
There is so much space in the ipad why did they add a camera those cheap mini 0.3 MP cameras would have fit fine. The same goes to Nintendo why did they bring back the gba slot.
Dont these people want our money?
@Dsi2play
grammar fail "The same goes to Nintendo why did they bring back the gba slot". ORLY with what new device?
@unseen
sorry i meant didnt
@Dsi2play
They did include a camera mount, compatible with the MacBook camera. They chose not to use it and put the ambient light sensor there instead (something easily moved should they ever decide that a camera is a good idea.
At the angle I've seen people using tablets, a front-facing camera would have a grossly distorted picture. It's a little easier to do on a cell phone, because it's held closer, and the angle between the camera and the center of the screen is small.
On a bigger screen with a top-mounted camera, you get a more extreme angle (face distortion) and a lack of eye contact--neither of which makes for Star Trek-style video conferencing.
@asfdsad
One feature the Notion Ink Adam has that seems rather nice is a rotating camera. It would be nice if the iPad had that option, but I don't think Apple would do something with movable parts like that.
I wonder how easy implementing a front-facing camera on an iPad would be in order to work in both horizontal and vertical mode and getting a correct capture angle. Everyone is saying, "Let's just throw a camera on the iPad", but Apple really has to take the time to get it working working and still be simple to use.
@asfdsad
are you honestly trying to defend apple's exclusion of a front with the argument that man cannot bend his arms slightly to get a better shot?!?
@MosesusedaniPad Simple, get a camera with a 8mpixel sensor that are just now coming out and wider than usual angle lens. For "video conferencing" only use 2 or so of the mega pixels to crop around the user's face, it could either be predefined areas depending on the orientation of the ipad, or put face recognition software in it to detect the users face and crop.
Crap i should patent that before apple does.
@tobsmonster2
Are you honestly trying to say that he is defending Apple while he is just making a valid argument? Of course you can bend your hands slightly, but the thing is 700gr and keeping it at the needed angle can become tiresome - just try to shoot LiveView with a DSLR for an extended period.
@tobsmonster2
I don't see it as a decision that NEEDS to be defended. Front-facing cameras on any handheld device bigger than a cell phone are nothing but a gimmick (personally, I think they're a gimmick on cell phones, too, given the state of cellular videoconferencing, but there's room for disagreement there). Computers can sit on a fixed surface and be close to perpendicular, and the added distance compensates for the camera height. A cell phone is held close, with its camera physically close to the screen center, solving both problems. Something in between is held at a distance too far to compensate for angle and camera height, and too close to obviate the problem.
It's an ergonomics and a physics problem that hasn't been solved, and the solution is not really terribly important--you really want to carry a tablet around for videoconferencing?
Bending your arms slightly places the screen at an oblique angle instead. It's not a solution. The solution is to hold the tablet out directly in front of you, more or less perpendicular to the line of sight and the ground (and who's going to do that?) And the eye contact problem remains even then.
I sure wish there was a Verizon option, as it's the only option I have for 3G coverage. I hope the money Apple is getting for exclusivity is worth the lost sales and bad image.
At least the internals leave plenty of room for all those antennas.
@KupoCheer I dont get the big deal about all the antenna's any modern smart phone has got to have just as many antennas, if not more in the case of some phones that have FM Stereo transmitters and receivers built in
@KupoCheer The ipad not being available to use Verizon 3g has nothing to do with exclusiveness, there is no agreement between AT&T and Apple for the ipad data, they are simply the only network which operates on the frequencies the device supports. In Europe you have your choice of basically any network. It's Verizon's fault for going their own direction.
how is it destroying it when it was originally in the same condition, somebody had to put it together it didn't just magically come out of a machine as an ipad
@bageleaterkkjji Are you really asking this?
Kinda include the source link if you refer to said link in your write up. #FAIL
Good lord, there's so much space at the sides for extra ports, even on the 3G model...
Guys,
get a USB HUB if you are addictive to device have ports where every single position available.
I fail to see how they destroyed it. Unlike the guy with the bat in the YouTube video, they carefully disassembled their iPad. I see no reason they couldn't reassemble it and have a working iPad again.
@ReiRei0 ...or maybe it's a joke?
Careful Engadget, even linking to an article about an Apple product could land you in court and cops harassing you.
@Anticrawl It's ok, as long as the source link isn't a bar...
@Anticrawl
No, it's just buying and selling someone else's property that does that.
SOURCE LINKS??? We don't need no stinkin' SOURCE LINKS!