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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?
Chat live during the iPad 3G release
You waited, you waited, and you waited. And now some of you finally got your new iPad 3G. Sure, most of you had to remain patient while us Wi-Fi owners preened and showed off our new babies. And some of you are still waiting for the next ship date (the "arrives by" in May). For some of you, though, your "magical" treasure is now on hand. Whether you're waiting or a happy new owner, please join us to ask questions about your new iPad, or just share your iPad buying experience. This live TUAW community events will let you jumpstart your ownership experience and connect to other new 3G (and, yes, Wi-Fi) owners. Want to review the chat? Click the link below to read!
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.
AT&T's micro SIM card is the matryoshka doll of micro SIM cards
Alright, well played, AT&T: you've sort of managed to undo Apple's unfortunate move of eschewing nearly two decades' worth of deeply-entrenched SIM card standards in favor of a new one that literally nobody in the consumer cellphone world is using -- and for that, we thank you. We're being told that these new SIMs are now being sold in AT&T stores for $15 and will work both with the iPad 3G and... well, literally every other GSM device you've ever owned, thanks to a couple of well-placed perforations that can turn the standard SIM into a micro SIM. This is presumably a preemptive strike to support the next-gen iPhone, too, but otherwise, you can go ahead and use the big card without busting out the little one. Trust us. Update: Our tipster wrote back in to say that they're actually not being sold in stores yet, so if you've formed a line outside your local brick-and-mortar, go ahead and turn in for the evening. Sorry, folks!
AT&T posts fast facts on iPad 3G data plans
There's nothing groundbreaking in here, but AT&T has just thrown up a good one-page summary of how this whole WWAN thing is going to go down for new iPad 3G owners come this Friday. As we've already known, you'll be paying $14.99 for 250MB or $29.99 for unlimited (yes, truly unlimited with no 5GB cap) data in addition to free access to AT&T's comprehensive collection of WiFi hotspots -- perhaps the more interesting bits, though, have to do with plan management on the 250MB setup. Basically, you'll get a warning on your iPad when you get to 20 percent of your allowance remaining, then again at 10 percent, and finally when you run out; at each message, you'll have the chance to re-up (of course, if you find yourself blowing through 250MB on a regular basis, you probably want the unlimited plan anyhow). Plans renew automatically after every 30 days, and you can check your usage at your leisure from Settings on the device. Sure, you might be cursing the fact that you've found a legitimate reason to spend another $30 every month -- but at least you'll be able to set it up and manage it without a call to customer service.
iPad 3G: Available April 30 in the USA
Apple today announced retail availability of the iPad 3G -- which also features Wi-Fi, of course -- for Friday, April 30th at 5:00 pm. The Loop reports those who pre-ordered the 3G version of the iPad should start receiving shipments that day same day. The iPad 3G includes a US$130 premium over the standard Wi-Fi-only iPad, but that provides the luxury of joining AT&T's data network on an at-will basis. Rather than being locked to a 2-year contract, iPad 3G can purchase a month of data at a time. Two plans are available: 250MB will run you $15 and the unlimited plan will set you back a cool $30. While resident iMac-fiend Steve Sande didn't wait for the iPad 3G, I did and I'm excited to make another trek to the Apple Store next Friday. What about you, dear readers, anybody out there a little less green and a little more eager to go shopping? [via The Loop]
iPad 3G orders being processed?
We've had a number of reports come in that various people's bank accounts were giving simultaneous good and bad news. First the latter: a pending charge upwards of $888 for an order you probably placed a month ago and forgot about -- hope tax day didn't wipe you out too much. The good news, should you brave that sudden financial burden, is that it emanates from Apple Computers and seems to indicate that the gang in Cupertino is, as indicated in an earlier email, on track to start delivering iPad 3Gs in late April. Got an outstanding reservation? Better check with your online money handler... [Thanks Justin and everyone else who sent this in!]
iPad 3G coming by May 7th
Apple has just updated its online store with a shipping date for the 3G-equipped variants of its iPad. As you can see, all varieties of the hallowed Apple tablet should be out and about by May 7th -- meaning that some deliveries could sneak out even earlier -- and you can expect AT&T will be ready and waiting for you to activate that $30 a month unlimited data plan. Just for the European record, that means the iPad will be out in full force for American consumers three days ahead of the announcement of specific international availability. Ah well, at least that gives the UK and others hope that they might see the 3G and WiFi-only slates coming out at the same time, which should be somewhere around the end of May. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: We've heard from numerous tipsters that 3G iPads pre-ordered before today are still on track for a somewhat woolly "late April" delivery. It seems, therefore, that the new date relates to pre-orders being taken from here on out. Here's the direct quote from Apple's email: "To Our Valued Apple Customer: Thank you for your recent order of the magical and revolutionary iPad 3G. We would like to confirm that your order will be shipped in late April as communicated at the time you placed your order. You will receive a confirmation notice when your order has shipped."
Hey Steve, can the iPad tether with the iPhone?
Ämne: Re: Dear mr. Jobs Från: Steve Jobs <sjobs@apple.com> Datum: 5 mars 2010 17.01.29 CET Till: Jezper Söderlund <> Return-Path: <sjobs@apple.com> No. Sent from my iPhone. Well, that settles that.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Should I buy the 3G iPad?
Dear Auntie T, I was hoping you could help me decide something since I think many people will be trying to figure out the same thing. Namely, is the 3G on the iPad worth it for my purposes? I live in NYC, which has lots of available Wi-Fi. I have a laptop and I also have a Sprint mobile broadband for those rare occasions when I can't pick up Wi-Fi somewhere. I noticed in the last few months that I haven't used it at all. The places I use my laptop (library, cafes, graduate school classes) all have Wi-Fi. These are the same types of places I'm planning on using my iPad (with one exception: Beth Israel hospital doesn't have Wi-Fi, although I've yet to need my computer there) Is the 3G price tag, coupled with the AT&T price tag, worth it? Should I get the Wi-Fi only version now and wait for the price drop and hardware bump sure to come in version two? I would greatly appreciate your opinions on the matter. I've read your blog for years and highly respect the articles and advice you produce. Love, Your niece Trish
