ABC said to have 3G-compatible iPad app on the way
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 3rd 2010 3:09PM
posted May 3rd 2010 3:09PM
posted May 3rd 2010 3:09PM
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This is great news. iPad is getting better and better every day but I'm waiting for the next iteration which I hope would have a front-facing cam (I spend a lot of time on Skype).
iPad is criticized on all sides for its inadequacies and limitations but it definitely made impact in the industry, whether positive or negative -- though that is up to debate.
Debate? I dont think so
Everyone knows the iPad is s***
@Vuke Same here. We all know a front facing is coming next gen. How about a USB port too? Please?
@Oghowie
Disciplined! :)
@Oghowie
The dongle USB thingy is insanely expensive, I assume its markup is very high... It seems illogical that they would make it a standard feature any time soon.
@who said what We'll see. I still have an itch to buy it. Hopefully, the iPhone 4G scratches that itch.
@SamTatr Everyone? Care to elaborate?
@Vuke
WTF MAN ????????????????????????????
People go out and get 52" 3D TV's but yet they will watch TV on a 10" device ???
you people make me sick
@Vuke
If they restrict bandwidth, they blew it.
I can download massive files at an average of 1.5 megabits per second, sometimes faster than my home DSL connection, on my Hero with Sprint. Sorry. That's what openness will do for you. Also, having a provider that provides less expensive service AND better speed/quality.
@Vuke
Fully agreed. I'd just add that memory needs to get better also. 16GB as a starting point is inexcusable.
@Mike10010100
1) iPad is sim-lock free
2) Bandwidth restrictions are imposed by the carrier, not Apple
3) The problem with the ABC video was that the app did not scale down to the network speed
4) The theorethical max bandwidth over 3G is 3.6 Mbit/s, but you're lucky if you even get 2.5 Mbit/s under ideal conditions
5) 2.5 Mbit/s is not nearly enough for HQ video at 1024x768, let alone 1.5 Mbit/s
So, what was your point again, and who is to blame?
@drange
actually, an old iphone os rule makes the low bit rate, not the provider :)
read engadgets article on it
@AppleDrank cus you can take a 52" TV on car ride, plane ride, etc?
@Mike10010100 As crappy as AT&T's coverage is, Sprint's is even worse. So if you can download > DSL speeds with yours, that's great. Not everybody can.
@HoldenMccrotch
Ok, so I googled for this limitation and found absolutely nothing. Then I checked the engadget article about the supposed 'old iPhone OS rule' and it said something about streaming apps requiring to have a 64 kbps fallback in case of slow network conditions, and a higher quality stream for cases where the network allows it. So ABC makes their app using wifi bitrates, and forget to add the 64 kbps fallback, then set it loose on 3g ipad. So in fact they screwed up twice. Now how is this anyone's fault except ABC's?
@drange
"1) iPad is sim-lock free"
Awesome!
"2) Bandwidth restrictions are imposed by the carrier, not Apple"
Nope. It's in Apple's restrictions. Perhaps they were coerced by AT&T, but that's my point. You're buying into an ecosystem. AT&T is a part of that, and there is no doing otherwise out of the box.
"3) The problem with the ABC video was that the app did not scale down to the network speed
4) The theorethical max bandwidth over 3G is 3.6 Mbit/s, but you're lucky if you even get 2.5 Mbit/s under ideal conditions"
I said 1.5 Mbit. Sorry. Not 2.5. And this is in crappy coverage, with 1 or 2 bars available.
"5) 2.5 Mbit/s is not nearly enough for HQ video at 1024x768, let alone 1.5 Mbit/s"
It's better than 64 Kbps.
@Vuke Doesn't ABC already have a website with flash videos?
@Vuke I'm sure an external cam will be ready for the iPad. And a jailbreak app for VoIP calls. As they say, the best apps come for free! http://j.mp/ipad-apps-best
@Mike10010100 Not really. And Sprint's service is horrible outside of cities and restricted to the USA. So there are trade-offs for everything.
@Oghowie We all know a front facing is coming next gen. How about a USB port too? Please?
Your pushing your luck pals. You know Apple only can do 1 update per generation? Maybe if ya lucky, Apple might throw in a second button next to the home button :)
2nd gen would probably be worth it...but this 1st gen, no so much!
I AM ZORDON, FEAR MY WRATH!
@Zordon Alpha, Rita's escaped. Recruit a team of teenagers with attitude!
I wonder what the video quality will be like?
Umm
If they think they can get quality video over 3g, I want some of what they're smoking
I stream video to my ipad over 3g all the time, it's fine.
If they forgot to put 3g in, they blew it
Unverified? I posted that...
NOW It realises
Note to self: Never mention iPad on engadget again
Once again, can someone tell me how on Earth 3G can allow for displaying video on an iPad, when an iPhone that has a screen a lot smaller is unable to display decent quality (streaming) video here in the UK on the 3G network? (Unless one is inside a providers store.)
4G / LTE is the ONLY way this is all going to work and the fact people are being lead to believe anything else is dishonest. The only way to benefit from the power of devices like the iPhone and iPad is when on WiFi for they are light years ahead in capability than the (cell) networks can provide for.
@Oflife Huh? Isn't the video cached?
I don't think it's about whether it can be done, it's whether or not the carriers want that amount of bandwidth use.
@Oflife
Obviously, they're light years ahead. Stupid. They're mayde by apple? omg.
@Oflife When my iPhone was jailbroken I ran 3g unrestrictor and got completely acceptable video on 3g. That tells me the network can handle it but on locked phones the bandwidth is being intentionally reduced.
@Oghowie The carriers will do as little as they can. Here in the UK, they think it's good value to offer 'free' unlimited text messages over a network designed for voice and even video. (Texts use 0.00000001% of the bandwith.) We have all been well and truly duped. I so hope Apple and Google build their own advanced (global) wireless network. The mindset of the sort of people who work at Apple, Google etc in comparison to those at companies like AT&T (or here in the UK, Vodafone, just see their appalling website!) is vast. Today, we have racing cars travelling on dirt tracks. We need someone to build a global race track. Anyone?
@JimmyBoy No doubt in a specific location in a specific town. It needs to work everywhere, else, what's the point? I travel from Reading to Oxford by rail, there is NO coverage on Vodafone on my iPhone, even 2G, so I'm unable to work. It's 2010. It's pathetic.
Label this Apple, so others like myself, with the exclude Apple feed shall remain free of your Apple spam.
Sincerely
An Apple Fan who thinks Engadget over does it.
@ndaversa
I'm sure scrolling a few pixels to pass the story was really difficult.
@ndaversa
Yeah. A report that iPad doesn't allow a 3G-compatible app. Then another that one is one the way. Probably followed by one saying "it's here!"
@ndaversa I agree. This is the first iPad "news" that I've been subjected to in a while. :-p
@Chris7197 No it wasn't. But Engadget always likes to throw the 'No Apple Feed' in everyone's face when they complain. So I just wanted to make sure everyone can stay happy, and on their side of the fence.
@ndaversa The exclude link is fine, not as godd as basic reading comprehension people don't have on here.. "hmm.. IPad I don't want to read about that.. I wish there was a way for me to scroll past that article"
see.. Simple
@Chris7197
So do u not have spam filter active on your email?
Since its so easy to scroll a couple pixels past the genital enlarging creams and home refinance offers
ABC??..who is watching ABC??
@papplay
Not you, for sure!
@who said what
you got that right..who needs ABC when you can get better shows on FOX. just to mention a couple...House, Family Guy.
@papplay Well there's Lost and V, and Happy Town.
Well that's about all I watch on ABC.
@papplay Lost, Castle, and Modern Family.
@Oghowie
I heard this season of lost promises to make fans more unbearably annoying than any seasons past.
Now they can pull up the exact scene and make some overly cliche inference to the philosophical meaning
@Oghowie
The rest of abc's lineup is abhorrent as well.
Maybe 3 laughs is enough for you in an episode(modern family) but I will take a non chemical-equation comedy(boondocks, office, simpsons)
Wait.... ABC has the Goode Family, not sure if they renewed it, it only features a couple of homosexuals, so probably not enough for ABC primetime
OMG NOW I CAN WATCH ABC AT THE COFFEE HOUSE WITH MY SUPERHIP NEW PLANO GLASSES
why is the content on the ipad with unlimited plan get lower bitrate quality streams but when you buy a wireless card and use a laptop you get normal usage? legit Q.