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Apple iPad shipments now getting hopes up in UK and Australia
Heads up! We've gotten a ton of tips from our friends across the pond and down under that Apple's now sending shipment notifications for those who pre-ordered the iPad -- both the 3G and WiFi-only models, from what we've seen -- about one week before that famed May 28 international launch date. Now, before you start thinking you need to take off work a few days earlier, don't forget that those in the US also got notifications a week before release and still no one got an early present. In other words, just be happy knowing all systems are go and your productivity is still likely to be shot on Wednesday. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple: 3G iPads will be unlocked in Japan
Following rumors of carrier-locked iPad 3Gs, Apple has officially announced that Japanese customers will be able to use micro SIM cards from carriers outside of Japan, according to The Wall Street Journal. "Outside of Japan" is the key phrase here. While in the country, customers will receive service from Softbank, the only official carrier (NTT DoCoMo recently backed out of plans to carry the device). When roaming internationally, Japanese customers may purchase and install their own micro SIM, saving huge roaming fees. Likewise, foreigners traveling to Japan can hop on the Softbank network for roaming. This is good news for those customers who tend to travel and want to bring their iPads along. [Via The Mac Observer]
iPad international data plans roundup: Japan gets SIM-locked devices, Spain gets a great deal more (updated)
With international pre-orders now being taken, more data plan details have started emerging for Apple's iPad. We now know that Rogers will be charging Canadians pretty similarly to how AT&T treats American 3G users, albeit with the inclusion of a 5GB monthly data cap on the pricier tariff. O2 has also outed its plans, though it's not much better news in the UK where it's matching Orange's pricing with a 3GB monthly allowance for £15 per month ($22), while Vodafone has completely lost its marbles with a 250MB offers a 1GB option costing £10 a month and 5GB costing £25 per month. Apple engages in a bit of false advertising in Germany, claiming unlimited data plans with O2 (€25) and Vodafone (€29.95), but there are clear limits set out on the carriers' sites of 5GB and 3GB per month, respectively. Finally, Japan gets the stiffest deal of all with iPads there officially confirmed to be SIM-locked to Softbank Mobile's network, something that has already earned plenty of ire from the local populace. The carrier does offer a variety of monthly payment plans for obtaining your tablet, though its data tariffs are nothing special: ¥2,910 ($32) for a month's unlimited use if you sign up to what seems like a longer-term plan, or ¥4,410 ($48) for a 1GB allowance if you go pre-paid. There's a third option for spendthrifts, costing ¥1,510 ($16) for 100MB pre-paid, but that's not even enough for you to watch a full Engadget Show, so we'd probably advise against it. You can find price breakdowns for each country after the break. [Thanks, Bram] Update: Rogers has killed that lovely third option shown in the image above. Hope you weren't excited about it. Update 2: Turns out Apple had the wrong details about Vodafone UK too -- you get 1GB of data if you spend £10 a month. [Thanks, Rob] Update 3: Movistar, Telefonica's consumer arm in Spain, has announced a pretty stonking deal: if you already have a smartphone data plan costing €25 a month, you can get a Micro SIM and 3G data on your iPad for free. Espana totally just won the "best place to own an iPad" contest. Update 4 (12 May): The perpetually-emailing Steve Jobs has apparently chimed in to say Japan's iPad 3Gs accept international SIMs, so feel free to pick one up and take home on your next trip to Fukuoka. [Thanks, David]
Apple starts rolling out international iPad pre-orders
What's that, you say? The iPad pre-order button is now propagating itself over on Apple's global assortment of online stores? The Australian retail is already taking your hard-earned change, while we just saw first-hand the UK variant go down, go up with an iPad pre-order icon on the front page, then subsequently hidden again behind a yellow sticky note within minutes of this writing. We imagine the rest of the stores will be following suit (if they haven't already). Ladies and gentlemen of the pro-Apple persuasion, better double check your bank accounts -- in case you forgot, the full launch is May 28th. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nokia takes aim at iPad in latest legal skirmish with Apple
Surprising exactly nobody, Nokia put the Apple iPad in its sights in its ongoing battle against Apple for patent infringement. Nokia originally sunk its legal hooks into Apple back in October, 2009, when it sued Apple in the United States District Court in the District of Delaware for violating many of its patents relating to GSM, WiFi, and UMTS. The suit itself was put on hold back in March pending an International Trade Commission investigation arising out of complaints filed by both parties, in which hearings are scheduled to be held in October and November. But just to keep things interesting, Nokia went ahead and filed a complaint in the United States District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin to add the iPad 3G to its list of infringing Apple products. Why Wisconsin? Well, Nokia and Apple pretty much have their choice of venue, doing business all over the United States. It's likely that this particular district represents a blend of court rules and precedent that favor Nokia in some way. [via Engadget]
Orange UK announces iPad Wi-Fi + 3G data plan pricing for UK
They may have a hung parliament in the UK, but at least they know what to do about iPad data plan pricing. Fast on the heels of Apple's announcement of iPad availability in a number of international locales, we've heard from Orange UK about what they'll be charging iPad Wi-Fi + 3G owners for data plans in the UK. First and foremost is a "pay for what you use" data plan charging 5p per MB of usage each month up to £40 per month (about US$60 at current rates, a little bit more than the $29.95 "unlimited" plan available in the States). The small print says that this plan is subject to fair usage, meaning that you're limited to 750 MB of usage on that plan -- in other words, you'll never get to that £40 maximum. If you crave additional data, Orange has four optional bundles, all with an maximum allowed data consumption. The best plan appears to be the iPad Monthly 25, providing 10 GB of 3G data consumption plus unlimited browsing at BT Openzone Wi-Fi hotspots for £25 per month. A copy of the Orange UK pricing chart follows this post; click the Read More link below to view it. Thanks to Joe for the tip!
Nokia sues Apple again, says the iPad 3G infringes five patents
Looks like settlement negotiations in the various Nokia / Apple patent lawsuits aren't going too well -- Espoo's just hit Cupertino with a second federal patent lawsuit, this time alleging the iPad 3G and iPhone infringe five patents related to "enhanced speech and data transmission, using positioning data in applications and innovations in antenna configurations that improve performance and save space, allowing smaller and more compact devices." Interestingly, Nokia's filed this one in the Western District of Wisconsin, a so-called "rocket docket" that's well-known for bringing patent cases to settlement or trial in just over a year. That means we could see some real movement in this dispute within our lifetimes, but we're not holding our breath for a definitive conclusion -- by our count, Apple and Nokia now have some five pending legal actions between them, including one that's been placed on hold pending an ITC decision. Anyone want to bet how long it takes for Apple to add another countersuit to the mix?
ABC Player for iPad updated, 3G streaming is a go
Well that was fast. That ABC Player for iPad update we heard about this morning has already made its way through Apple's approval process and is now available for download. Orientation lock is now, erm, on lock controls are more responsive, but most importantly, (lower bitrate) 3G streaming is now a go. With that settled, now no bus ride will ever get between you and an island chockfull of confusion and smoke monsters. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
iPad 3G's non-WiFi video playback restrictions detailed
We could hear the echoing howls of discontent over the weekend as thousands finally received their very own iPad 3G and learned they couldn't watch Dancing With the Stars whilst on the go. Now we have the details on why, exactly, and the repercussions. As it turns out, it's simply a carry-over of an iPhone OS HTTP Live Streaming rule that states quite clearly: You must include a low quality stream of no more than 64 Kbps for your app to resort to when network conditions demand it, along with the higher quality streams you want to deliver to your customers when the network can support it. It seems the ABC Player devs chose to skip that option, so when you lose WiFi you also lose Tom Bergeron's charm and wit. Other apps, like Netflix and YouTube, do provide a lower bitrate fallback, but that of course results in nasty compression artifacts when on the go. In other words: there's a very good chance that 3G streaming will come in a future ABC Player release, but when it does it ain't gonna be pretty.
iPad hacksugar: iPad 3G hacked to send native SMS
Here's a cool little find for a quiet Sunday. MuscleNerd of the iPhone dev team has managed to allow his jailbroken 3G iPad to send command-line SMS text messages. This hack only works with SIM cards that have already paid for an SMS plan, in this case a T-Mobile SIM that was downsized to microSIM dimensions. (More about using T-Mobile SIMs here.) The 3G iPad was jailbroken using Spirit. The hack works by communicating directly with the iPad baseband, using standard AT commands. As of yet, Apple's MobileSMS application, the SMS application that normally appears on iPhone home screens, has not worked on the iPad. Will standard phone call service be next? Using minutes from a downsized SIM? Wait and see. [via RedmondPie] Thanks, Steven Kappler.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Which 3G plan should I opt for?
Dear Aunt TUAW, I'm getting a new iPad 3G. I understand the bit about no contract and $15 a month for 250mb but wonder about how does 250mb relate to web usage. I have heard some say the web surfing can consume a lot of "bandwidth" but have no idea what that means relative to 250mb of data plan use. I am not an AT&T fan (still waiting for Verizon or Sprint to get the iPhone) and am always reluctant to sign up for a 2 year contract for anything. My wife has an iPad wireless model and she has had no trouble web surfing, e-mail etc, at the house or our apartment in the city.
iPad 3G jailbroken on video: same as it ever was (on the WiFi model)
You may find yourself holding onto an iPad 3G. You may find yourself not able to stream ABC player. You may tell yourself, I think I need to break some rules. You may ask yourself, will I be able to use the same Spirit software that jailbreaks my WiFi model? You may ask yourself, well, did I backup my SHSH blobs? Download still not yet available -- time is holding us, time does hold you back. (There is video, at the bottom of the ocean after the break.)
Want a last second 3G iPad? Try Best Buy
Are you looking to track down a last-second iPad 3G? TUAW is receiving tips from all over the country. Best Buy seems to be the place to pick up an unreserved 3G iPad, quantities permitting. TUAW reader Bill writes, "In Albuquerque, by 3pm, the line went half way around the Apple store. Meanwhile, at Best Buy, there were only 15 in stock but at 5pm they still had some available." Surfeast told us he picked up his iPad 3G "from Best Buy in Wilmington NC. No lines no hassles walked in at 4:40 and out at 5:04. Limited Supply and all gone by now." Jebz did as well, writing, "I too got one at Best Buy in Cuyahoga Falls OH. Last one of 15 in line. 20 minute wait and no prob..." Iamwatson also reported success. "I just got an iPad 3G from my Best Buy in Mobile, AL. They had 25 of them ranging in sizes." So you want an iPad 3G? Didn't get one at Apple today? You know who to start calling and visiting next. And don't forget your local Apple Authorized service provider!
iPad 3G denies ABC player, downsamples iTunes store video previews over AT&T
Well ain't that a kick in the pants. Reports are coming in from newly-minted iPad 3G videophiles that iTunes store previews and Netflix streams are getting downsampled over AT&T's network. The folks at iLounge have been tinkering enough to confirm the iTunes issue (we're still waiting for FedEx to drop off our 3G tablets so we can corroborate ourselves) and, lo and behold, ABC player flat out refuses to work over AT&T's 3G network, instead displaying an oddly familiar message: "Please connect to a Wi-Fi network to use this application. Cellular networks are not supported at this time." Perhaps an update will ensue to fix such limits, but in the meantime, we're sure at least someone at Sling HQ is having an awkward chuckle.
Tidbits from today's TUAW iPad 3G liveblog
This afternoon's Cover It Live liveblog with TUAW readers provided us with some great info about the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G, which is available from Apple today! Here are some interesting notes provided by readers, our own bloggers Erica Sadun and Steve Sande, and special guests (and iPhone/iPad developers) Nate True and Kyle Kincade: • Reggie Suplido tried calling his iPad. Every iPad that's signed up for digital service is assigned a phone number -- and he was curious to discover how it worked when called. He reports, after trying this, that it said "The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time..." He also tried sending an SMS message. The iPad didn't receive it. • Several readers tried using Skype over 3G connections and, as expected, failed. • 3rd-Party International SIM cards were confirmed to work by our readers. One chat participant experimented with an O2 Germany SIM and reported success. • Unfortunately, the 3G iPad signup process experienced difficulties. One reader reported, "I just signed up and after a lot of headache, the credit card went through. I then got a timeout." After, he was not able to "Add Data" to his account. All we can say is be patient - a lot of people are in the process of activating their iPads right now, so you may run into this issue. • No iPad 3G from Best Buy, we're afraid. TUAW Ray Ray contacted his local Best Buy GM to ask if any were in stock and was told "As of right now no!" See our updates -- Best Buy seems to be a great way (in some places) to find a 3G
Skype calls not allowed over iPad 3G connections
During our live iPad 3G first look this afternoon, TUAW readers were able to confirm that Skype calls still cannot be placed over the iPad 3G's cellular network connection. The Skype application will not connect those calls, telling users that, "You need WiFi to call over Skype." So what's the reason for this? "Skype calls over 3G networks are currently not allowed due to contractual restrictions." This should not come as a surprise. Skype has yet to release an iPad version of their software, and the iPhone-specific application has not received an update since early April. Testing the software on the iPad only confirmed that the same old things continue to work the same old way, regardless of the platform they were run upon. So why the big interest?
Apple Retail stores closed between 4-5PM due to iPad 3G launch
Apple has decided to close all of their 220+ retail stores for one hour in advance of the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G launch in the US today. As noted on the individual retail store listings: The store will be closed from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 30, to prepare for the arrival of iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G. All store closings are local time. The closings suggest that Apple is expecting long lines even though one version of the iPad has already made its big launch. On the April 3rd iPad Wi-Fi launch, Apple sold 300,000 iPads in 24 hours. Five days after launch, Apple had reported another 150,000 units sold, bringing the total to over 450,000 units sold. This coming Monday will be exactly one month from the iPad Wi-Fi's launch. If Apple's retail preparations are correct in surmising long lines for the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G launch, it's very likely that, come Monday, Apple will be announcing more than one million iPads (between both models) sold.
Setting up your 3G service on the iPad 3G
While most still wait for their iPad 3Gs to arrive tomorrow, reader Robert S. was kind enough to send us the following screen shots of signing up for AT&T 3G service on his iPad 3G (he got his a day early -- lucky guy). As you can see, you simply touch the Settings iPad app, tap on Cellular Data, enter your payment details, and boom! you're presented with a Cellular Data Account page which shows you your Cellular Data Plan account number, the status of your plan (how many days you have remaining), the billing period, and the abilities to add data or change your current plan and also add an international data plan. Robert also notes that AT&T apparently assigns you a new mobile number for billing purposes. We can imagine AT&T will be inundated with signups this weekend, so let's hope their servers and data towers are up to it. %Gallery-92056%
AT&T posts iPad 3G data information
As iPad 3Gs travel to eager owners, AT&T has posted specifics on data pricing [PDF]. Best of all, you can activate and manage the whole works from the iPad itself. Here's the lowdown of domestic plans. All prices are US dollars. $14.99 per month for 250 MB $29.99 per month for unlimited data Unlimited access – no added cost – to AT&T's 20,000+ Wi-Fi Hot Spots Domestic plans can be canceled at any time from the iPad with no penalty. Otherwise, they'll automatically renew after 30 days at the same rate. There's a "usage meter" in the general settings of 3G iPads (Settings > Cellular Data) that lets you monitor your data usage. Additionally, when you purchase the $14.95 plan, you'll get three warnings that you're about to exhaust your plan: One at 20 percent, one at 10 percent and finally at zero. If you do exceed your plan, it simply expires until you renew (so you're not racking up "penalty minutes" or anything like that). Note that AT&T defines a month as a 30-day period. While you await your 3G iPad, check out our overview of managing your data plan. Note: The source link below is a PDF.
iPad 3Gs being marked for shipment
This is just a quick note to say that we've gotten a flood of emails from readers stating that their iPad 3Gs have been shipped. Most have an estimated delivery time of 4:30PM on April 29 -- a whole seven and a half hours before the official April 30th release date! One guy emailed us saying that he's been checking his tracking information every five minutes. I know the anticipation of iPad 3G receipt is exciting, but just remember to take deep breaths, people. For those of you who didn't pre-order one originally, the iPad 3G should be in Apple retail stores by May 7th. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.