Verizon MiFi surgically implanted in iPad to create world's first bionic tablet
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 14th 2010 9:22PM
posted June 14th 2010 9:22PM
[Thanks, Peter]
posted June 14th 2010 9:22PM
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award for most random source for something ipad and verizon related goes to...
@dannyry
Lolz
@dannyry
iEngadget
..
@dannyry LOL I just noticed.
@dannyry ITS ALIVE!
this dude is way awesome. like.
@keyrol
you got a tablet in my mifi! You got a mifi in my tablet!
ha ha see what happens when you take away unlimited data?!
So Verizon is testing iPads on their network after all....just not exactly what I had in mind...
Award for best device ever! Haha that is awesome!
PWNED!!!!
Very cool! Here's my question that's somewhat along the lines of this hack... Anyone have all the pieces to try making iPhone calls via an AT&T 3G microcell that's hooked up to a Verizon MiFi?
@ArthurLarsen Err.... what?
@ArthurLarsen
What the hell? Lol.
@SirSpam
Making voice calls on an AT&T microcell (a cell tower which runs from your 'home' internet
but instead of your home internet you connect it to a Verizon MiFi - it's hilarious and just crazy enough to work!
@Bratyr I know it sounds crazy. I've read that the microcell detects it's location when starting up. I'm wondering what limits AT&T has put on location, and also if they have limits as to how the internet connection is made. Hoping someone can hack this together and give it a try...
@ArthurLarsen Use a wireless bridge, like the linksys wireless gaming bridge, to connect as a client to the mifi and use the Ethernet out from the bridge to connect to the micro-cell.
@Quick6 Put it all together into a mobile package and never drop an AT&T cal again...
@ArthurLarsen
I just got a 3G Microcell a few days ago and haven't been able to make a single call without it being dropped. I'm hoping that mine is just broken because so far, no dice.
Damn that is a lot of wasted air-space in that chassis! O_O I guess it makes sense since its just a iPod attached to a huge battery and screen.
Could fit a bunch more under the hood if so inclined.
@Ducman69
Do have an iPad? Guess not. Else you would know how heavy the iPad currently is and that you certainly not want to add any extra weight to this device. Reading in the Bed is a Pain in the ass. You have to lay it on your chest because your wrist gets tired after a' hwhile... want some cool hwhip?
@Ducman69
Mate you've forgotten this is how people get suckered into buying the next version. Apple will add a few bits and pieces here and there to keep people interested. Classic Apple style.
@Ducman69 Really not that much space when you consider the case tapers off to the edges. The free space around the edges has limited thickness to accommodate much once the LCD screen is in place.
@Apple Google Microsoft Makes sense.
It would after all clearly be easy to fit some additional ports and outputs (HDMI and microUSB would be nice), actual GPS receiver, and a camera.
@Indyaner LOL, you must be very weak. Do you hold a book or a laptop in mid air while you lie in bed? It's not bad unless you're a 70lb. girl with progeria.
@Indyaner Those electronics are featherweight.
The iPad's unusual heft for its size is really just the metal backplate.
Its attractive though, and they likely did market research where people generally found that weightier devices seemed higher end. This is also why budget desktops are usually bigger than they need be.
Shame they didn't go with a strong lightweight polymer back which also wouldn't block the wireless signal like metal tends to.
@Ducman69
Aluminum back 138 grams
Battery 148 grams
LCD 153 grams
Glass (and frame) 193 grams
Speaker: 17 grams
Main board: 21 grams
Everything else: 27 grams
I would buy I would seriously buy. Does it need a new backplate and can I turn 3g off those are my concerns but I seriously digg.
@Alexpeegs He wired up a new power button for the MiFi to the side of the iPad. You can see it in the image near the bottom.
He took out the sim card section, and the tiny slot for the sim card now houses a little switch.
Awesome. Only if something like this wasn't necessary…
Wow it's really that heavy? I thought it was pretty light the way some people go on. Nice fam guy reference too (+3).
Bravo iPad hacking vz fan dude! And bravo engadget for finding this story! Gives me dome more good reading while I wait to pre-order iPhone 4. :)
@DominickV32 Im gonna try to get a little sleep before i wake up early to order mines
It isn't good to have two wifi antennas so close. They can damage each other due to the power level and proximity. It may be even worst since it is in that aluminum enclosure.
Yo dawg, I heard you like MiFi, so we put a MiFi in your iPad so you can MiFi while you iPad.
@liquidkernel
+10 internets to you.
WIN
First, if the LED shining through the black top part of the ipad is really that much of a bother, why not just put some electrical tape over it? Or why not just crack open the MiFi and rip out the LED?
Second, the iPad not supporting bluetooth tethering has got to really suck with this solution -- the MiFi can do it (I just checked), but thanks to Jobs, the iPad can't -- so you're forced to use WiFi which drains the battery about 5 times as much as bluetooth does...add that up with the fact that they're sharing the same battery (ugh) -- not a good solution.
A for effort though -- and if someone ever makes a Bluetooth PAN client for a jailbroken ipad, this would be a hell of a lot better.
In the article he mentions that the problem with the green LED was solved with a pair of needle nose pliers.
We can make it better than it was before. Better, stronger, faster, MiFi-er. We have the technology.
@Nitesh
You sir get ten free internets!
You can probably do this cheaper than the additional cost of the 3G model iPad. Plus you provide WiFi for those around you.
Is this gimmic toy of a 'computer' still in the news? iFad, 1 million tampons sold in a month = 1 million pc's sold everyday.
Wouldn't it be a lot easier to just get the overdrive case that Sprint sells http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/sprints-ipad-4g-case-features-an-overdrive-pocket-oodles-of/
Not impressed until you get one of the overdrives from sprint in there!
@jonyah Or one of those Scandinavian LTE modules at 80 Mbps (practical)!
193/42kbps?? ouch :S I presume there's no HSDPA there!
@Schmich
Yep, most of AT&T's coverage is _still_ edge (2g), in 2010.
It's sad, really.
What about joining this with the Wifi iPad?