Still looking for an iPad? Today, at the Apple Online Store you can benefit from special deals on refurbished first generation iPads, Apple TV, iPod Touch and iPod Nanos.
The company has marked down several iPad, iPod Touch and iPod Nano models. You better hurry, because the discounted inventory will most likely be limited, or will disappear quite fast.
If you’ve been paying attention to the iPad 2 news you already know that there are several differences between the various iPad 2 models (WiFi, GSM / AT&T, CDMA / Verizon). But, did you know that not all iPad 2s are equal when it comes to audio quality?
Based on a recent report from iLounge, the microphone on the WiFi and 3G (AT&T and Verizon) versions of the iPad 2 each exhibit different audio characteristics. According to their tests, the iPad 2 WiFi produces “markedly cleaner audio” then both the Verizon and AT&T versions of the 3G iPad 2.
iPad 2 Wireless Data Plan Options
Comparison of AT&T and Verizon Wireless Monthly 3G Data Plans
Apple’s new iPad 2 will be available this Friday and many new and existing iPad owners are trying to figure out which 3G wireless data plan they should pick. Unlike the choices available when the first generation iPad launched last April, US customers will have several different data plans from AT&T and Verizon Wireless to choose from this time around. With these new choices comes the question, “Which one is best for me?” We’ve broken down all the important information to help you make an informed decision.
Apple fans in China will soon be able to purchase a 3G iPad from their local Apple retail store. Bloomberg reports that Apple has won approval to sell the iPad 3G from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The approval comes roughly four months since Apple began selling the WiFi only version of the iPad in China.
It’s expected that China Unicom will provide 3G data plans for the iPad 3G once it goes on sale. It was reported in August that China Unicom had finalized an agreement for the exclusive rights to sell the iPad in China. The wireless company is already the exclusive distributor of the iPhone in China and began selling the iPhone 4 last year.
Apple just released a “Special Limted Time” deal on refurbished iPads in the Apple Online Store. Apple has all six iPad models available with savings ranging from 6% – 16% off the normal retail price. The 3G models are marked down just 6-7% but the WiFi only models have a much higher discount of 14-16% off their normal retail price. Since these are all refurbished units, inventory will be limited so be sure to check out the deals if you’ve been looking to pick up an iPad at a discount.
As part of Apple’s refurbishment process, the company replaces the iPad battery and outer shell with brand new ones so the refurbished iPads are indistinguishable from a new unity. Apple certifies all refurbed iPads and they include Apple’s standard one year warranty just like a new iPad.
AT&T realized the importance of Wi-Fi for data hungry smartphones and connected devices several years ago with the launch of the first iPhone. The Dallas based company began focusing on the expansion of their Wi-Fi footprint in an attempt to offload some of the traffic from their 3G cellular network. It appears their strategy has now paid off. AT&T reported “significant growth in Wi-Fi connections on its nationwide network” in a press release today.
We all know the iPad is well known for its multimedia capabilities and there are thousands of apps available that take advantage of it. If you’re an iPad movie watcher who’s also interested in old horror movies, Halloween Movie Vault – Scary Classic Horror Movies from developer Fling Soft is worth looking at.
Halloween Movie Vault features over 100 horror movies from the 1920′s through 1970′s sure to get you in the mood for Halloween. Stream them over WiFi or 3G to watch on your iPad or use the VGA output capability and enjoy them on your big screen. Whether an old black and white or a vintage 70′s selection, you’ll be entertained for hours by some of the best directors and actors of all time.
For the first time since the launch of the iPad in April, Apple is offering refurbished iPads through its online store. All models sport a $50 discount when compared to their new, factory-sealed counterparts. Refurbished iPads come with the same warranty (one year), and qualify for the AppleCare Protection Plan if you choose to purchase it.
If you’re looking for a cheaper iPad, a refurbished product may be a good alternative, as refurbished products are usually returns, have been barely used, and look like new. Note that supplies are limited, so if you are interested, you may want to move swiftly.
Also note that only the WiFi-only models are available for now, as iPad 3G models show as “out of stock”.
Apple announced today that they will be selling the iPad WiFi model in China starting September 17 at 10:00 am. The iPad Wi-Fi model will be available for CNY3988 for 16GB, CNY4788 for 32GB and CNY5588 for 64GB. Apple will sell the iPad through their Retail Stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
China is the first market where Apple is introducing only the WiFi version of the iPad and not both WiFi and the 3G models as we’ve seen in other launch markets. Apple is currently partnered with China Unicom for distribution of the iPhone so we’re surprised that there is no mention of China Unicom or the 3G iPad product anywhere in Apple’s Press Release.
Apple has been working diligently the past several months to get the iPad ready for the Chinese market. We speculate they ran into a snag with either government approvals to sell the cellular 3G model or that there are issues with the terms being negotiated with China Unicom.
About 2 weeks ago, Intel instantly became an iPhone and iPad chip supplier by announcing its acquisition of the wireless unit of Infineon, the exclusive supplier of the iPad and the iPhone’s 3G chips.
However, Apple may have decided to distance itself from Infineon, and may have selected its rival Qualcomm as the wireless chip supplier for the next-gen iPad and iPhone, according to an article published earlier today in the China Times. In other words, Intel’s presence in iOS devices may be short lived.
To keep costs under control, Apple has traditionally used a single vendor for the 3G chips inside the entire iOS family, and currently buys millions of chips from Infineon to keep up with the high demand for iPads and iPhones. The move from Intel/Infineon to Qualcomm could significantly impact Intel’s wireless revenue, and would make the recent purchase of Infineon a lot more sour than expected.
In the meantime, the potential move to Qualcomm is already fueling rumors around the release of a potential Verizon iPhone and/or iPad, as besides being a chip supplier for GSM/UMTS devices, Qualcomm is also the inventor of the technology currently used by Verizon for its 3G CDMA network, and is the main supplier for CDMA chips inside the devices compatible with Verizon’s network. It’s not much of a stretch to imagine that Qualcomm may have offered to build a line of “interchangeable” or “hybrid” chips that would make Apple’s life much easier when it comes to building devices able to run on different networks, such as at&t and Verizon.
Getting wireless data on your iPad is becoming a cheaper proposition every day. Last week we mentioned Virgin Mobile was offering unlimited 3G wireless data for only $40 per month and now Clearwire is offering 4G for as little as $5 per day.
Clearwire launched their new wireless data prepaid brand today called Rover. The new services lets users get 4G wireless data services for $5 per day, $20 per week or $50 for a month of unlimited data without having to signup for any long term contracts or commitments. Customers simply purchase a 4G wireless WiFi router like the Rover Puck for $150 and can then hook up to eight WiFi devices on a single 4G connection. This is a great option for WiFi only iPad owners looking for a way to get 4G wireless data service or for groups able to share a single mobile broadband connection via WiFi.
If you happen to own a WiFi-only iPad, and would love to have access to a 3G wireless network without having to buy a new 3G-enabled iPad, Sprint’s Virgin Mobile new broadband offer may be the answer for you. Virgin just revamped its Broadband2Go mobile broadband service, and now offers a new contract-free, unlimited mobile broadband plan for $40 per month.
To use Virgin Mobile’s new mobile broadband plan, you will need to also purchase the carrier’s MiFi 2200 mobile hotspot for $150. The MiFi, a wireless hotspot able to handle up to 5 WiFi devices, acts as a bridge between your WiFi-enabled devices and Sprint’s network, the network used by Virgin to offer its wireless services.
The iPad+MiFi pairing is not a new solution, as many of our readers opted to buy a MiFi after the purchase of their WiFi-only iPad. However, Virgin’s new plan is by far the cheapest unlimited MiFi plan to date, and is contract-free, just like the iPad’s data plans.
Also, unlike the iPad data plans currently available, Virgin’s new Broadband2Go offer has no limit, and is not tied to a single gadget, since the MiFi can be used with any WiFi-enabled device.
With 3G iPads in short supply, many customers have been scrambling to get their hands on one. This has become an even greater issue now that AT&T announced they are eliminating their unlimited iPad data plan and replacing it with new capped data plans for the iPhone and iPad. With everyone caught off guard by AT&T’s announcement, most customers will not able to get a new iPad before AT&T introduces its new pricing plans on June 7th.
It looks like AT&T and Apple have worked out an arrangement to help resolve this dilemma. AT&T will extend the unlimited data plan option to any customer that purchases their iPad from the Apple Online Store by June 6. So what are you waiting for? Head on over to the Apple Store and order your iPad so you can get unlimited data before it’s too late.
If you’re an iPhone owner and have been hoping to tether your iPad to your iPhone in order to share a 3G wireless connection, looks like you’re out of luck. With tethering, users could potentially eliminate their iPad data plan and help save some money.
The folks at TechFlash spoke to an AT&T spokeswoman to find out whether AT&T plans to support tethering of the two Apple products. Unfortunately, the spokesperson confirmed tethering is not supported between the two devices because the iPad has no USB port to physically connect the two.
Both devices support Bluetooth but according to Glenn Fleishman, a Seattle journalist, ”the iPad includes the Bluetooth profile required for tethering, but it is not enabled.” When TechFlash pressed AT&T for an explanation, they referred all questions to Apple.
If this issue is indeed Apple imposed and not a carrier restriction, then customers worldwide will still need to purchase data plans for their iPad in order to have a mobile Internet experience.
Current and future iPad owners, new prices for the iPad 3G data plans will be rolled out on June 7th.
After this date, for new iPad customers, a new $25 for 2GB/month data plan will be introduced to replace the existing $29.99 unlimited plan. The new plan works the same way as the previous one, there will be no contract, and new iPad customers will have to pay at the beginning of the month for their data plan to be active. Existing iPad customers who have the unlimited plan for $29.99 per month will be allowed to keep it, but will also be invited to switch to the new $25 for 2GB/month.
In other words, the unlimited plan will disappear after June 7th, and only existing users of that plan will be allowed to keep it after this date, as long as they do not make any changes, and renew their plan every month. If you believe 2GB may be not enough for you, it may be time to seriously consider switching to the unlimited plan before it is too late. Also, if you were planning to buy an iPad soon and also think 2GB may not suit your needs, you may want to rush to the Apple Store and buy your iPad ASAP – if you manage to find one for sale!
By 
