Published on
04/22/2010 @
11:59 in
Hardware.
So you’ve got a wi-fi only iPad, or any other wi-fi device, and you want to connect to the Internet while away from home or your nearest wi-fi hotspot. You can actually do it now, and you don’t need to upgrade to the soon to be released iPad with 3G.
The solution is simple… you become your own Wi-Fi hotspot. Yup, all you need is a MiFi from Verizon and you can instantly become your own mobile wi-fi hotspot. The MiFi is a tiny portable battery-powered wi-fi hotspot that allows you to connect multiple wi-fi devices at a time and provides Internet access over Verizon’s Wireless Network. Charge it up, throw it in your pocket and you could be walking down the street surfing the net or answering emails on your iPad, and you can even share your hot-spot with your friends.
The good news is that this will allow you to connect all your wi-fi enabled devices, not just an iPad, and that since it’s on the Verizon network coverage is good (IMHO, a lot better than AT&T*). The bad news is that it is a more expensive than AT&T’s all-you-can-eat data service which will be offer to iPad 3G owners, but again it allows you to connect multiple devices not just the iPad. This might be a great solution for those who travel for work and tire of paying $15 a day or more for connectivity at a hotel.
I do not own an iPad and I do not have a MiFi from Verizon, so I can’t tell you first hand that it works. All I can say is that I have heard that the combination is working great for some people. As usual, your milage may vary.
* For personal use I have an iPhone (AT&T), but I also have Blackberry (on Verizon) for work. I say that Verizon’s coverage is better simply because I go a lot of places where I have weak or no coverage on my iPhone, but a strong signal on my Blackberry… enuf said!
Published on
04/20/2010 @
12:26 in
Hardware.
Tech and gadget news (or rumor) site Gizmodo is reporting that they have uncovered the next generation iPhone. It’s a story that involves an Apple engineer, a top-secret prototype device, a local watering hole and probably more than a few brewed beverages.
Knowing how tight-lipped Apple is about their new products this all sounds almost too strange to be true, however I find the pictures of this magical new device, and the now almost comical story of Apple requesting its return, to be fairly compelling evidence of its actual existence.
So the big question I have is… will it work on Verizon’s network? 
Related Links…
The Device: http://gizmodo.com/5520164/this-is-apples-next-iphone
The Story: http://gizmodo.com/5520438/how-apple-lost-the-next-iphone
The Saga: http://gizmodo.com/5520729/why-apple-couldnt-get-the-lost-iphone-back
This is a slightly old news, but still worth a mention.
On April 8th Apple previewed it’s new iPhone OS 4 to the world, which at first glance appears to contains many new and exciting features such as Multitasking, App Folders, Wallpapers, Enhanced Email, a Game Center and more.
Now before you get too excited there’s a catch; While iPhone 3G users will be able to upgrade their phones to the new OS, not all the features will be available, namely Multitasking. Those of you with an iPhone 3GS have no fear, you’ll get your Multitasking and more, it’s just us lowly 3G and 1st-Gen iPhone users that won’t. Sigh.
As a 3G owner I was a bit disappointed when I read this, while app folders are useful and wallpapers are neat, I REALLY desire multitasking. I’m sure that Apple will tell us that the processor or memory in the 3G isn’t capable of supporting multitasking, and they are only just protecting us from encountering crashes or performance issues, and perhaps that is the case, but the paranoid part of my brain is telling me that this is just Apple’s way of encouraging us to upgrade our phones. Maybe that is Apple’s strategy, but my phone isn’t even two years old and I can’t help but feel a little jipped.
Now all of this may be moot (for me) when the next version of the iPhone hardware is released. And what killer-feature would make me upgrade? One word… Verizon!
Related articles…
Engadget - iPhone OS 4 unveiled, adds multitasking, shipping this summer
TUAW - iPhone OS 4.0: No multitasking for iPhone 3G and second gen iPod touch
For all you iPad owners looking for a way to secure your iPad in the cockpit, Tech Boards has released a new kneeboard made specifically for the iPad. It’s called the Tech Board iPro Kneeboard and it is available for $149.95 from the folks at ForPilotsOnly.com.
Fellow RV builder (now flyer) Don Hall posted this YouTube video where he demonstrates how uses his new iPad as an EFB.
I’m typing this post from my lawn chair outside the Walnut Creek , California Apple store where I am waiting for the iPad to go on sale tomorrow. OK, not really, I’m actually at home sitting on my couch with my feet up and an adult beverage at my side.
All kidding aside, a few people have emailed asking me if I am planning on buying an iPad. I am not planning on it (at least immediately), although when I saw the screen shots of ForeFlight Mobile 3 HD on the iPad I suddenly felt the urge to order one on the spot (talk about cool!). As tempting as I find the iPad, I already have an iPhone and several other PCs, so I just can’t put it into the need column right now. Although, I suspect that as more applications for the iPad are released, I will find its allure harder and harder to resist.
All this being said, I’ve already begun the work need to track and filter apps by platform (iPhone/iPod or iPad). I know I’ve mentioned it before but I’ve been working on a categorization scheme and filter (yeah I know, you’ll believe when you see it) and the plan is to launch the platform filter at the same time. While the database work is complete, I’ve had to bring in some technical assistance to help with the increasingly complex database structure and associated queries. So when will you see it? As soon as possible is all I will say.
If you are planning on purchasing an iPad, just keep in mind that the version of the iPad that has 3G connectivity and GPS won’t be released until late April. I suspect most aviators will be waiting for that version, I know I would.
So, are you getting an iPad?
