Apr 30

Apple Stores closing from 4pm – 5pm today to prep for iPad 3G launch

By Brian News 1 Comment »

UPDATE:  I just stopped by my local Apple Store to see what kind of action they were getting leading up to the 4pm closure for iPad 3G preparation. Apple employees provided umbrellas to a line of approximately 100 people waiting for the 5pm reopening so they can get their hands on the iPad 3G. I’m sure more will gather to line up between now and 5pm. I’m glad I pre-ordered and received mine by FedEx. I’m syncing it now and will begin becoming familiar with it. I realize that a host of unboxings have been done online already, but I didn’t think it would hurt to take a few photos of my own experience and I’ll post it later with some thoughts.

In case you were planning on dropping by your friendly neighborhood Apple Store today for an iPad, accessory, new MacBook Pro, or something else beginning with the letter “i”, please be advised: Apple Stores accross the land will be closing from 4pm – 5pm (local time) to prepare for the much-anticipated iPad Wi-Fi + 3G launch. If you’re one of the brave ones who plan on grabbing an iPad 3G at an Apple Store, you should plan on arriving a little early. It’s hard to say if you’ll be competing against anyone overnight campers, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to delay any dinner plans or hot dates because it’s an unknown as to how long you’ll wait to get your iPad 3G tonight. Good luck and let us know if you get an iPad 3G tonight!

source: 9to5Mac

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Apr 30

iPad Wi-Fi + 3G available in Apple and Best Buy stores today!

By Brian News 5 Comments »

The day has finally arrived that Apple iPad enthusiasts will either receive via FedEx or can saunter by an Apple or Best Buy store and pick up the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G. The Wi-Fi-only version shipped on April 3rd to much fanfare and was received well by the masses, but those wanting 3G added to their iPad had to wait until “late April” — well, this is as late as April gets, but we’ll take it, Apple.

The iPad Wi-Fi + 3G is also available in memory increments of 16GB ($629), 32GB ($729) and 64GB ($829), $130 more each than its Wi-Fi-only counterparts and then there is the premium each month for 3G service (up to $30 per month for unlimited internet). I’m still debating as to whether or not I’ll turn on my 3G service right away, given how easy it is to do so directly from the iPad. No contract is involved and I can use it month-to-month, as needed. I’ll likely turn it on right away and then report back as to how well the 3G service works on the device.

It will be impossible for me to avoid looking out my office window with high frequency today as I wait for my iPad to arrive (likely sometime before 3pm MST). For those who didn’t pre-order or have had a change of heart and want to replace their Wi-Fi version with the 3G upgrade, Apple Stores and Best Buy will be selling the 3G version beginning at 5pm today (local time).

Who among you will be receiving their iPad Wi-Fi + 3G today via FedEx, and who among you will be braving the brick-and-mortar stores at 5pm to pick up your own slab of iPad 3G goodness? Will you be arriving to the store early, expecting a line? Or, are you happy with your Wi-Fi iPad or no iPad at all? Let us know over in the Forum — if you aren’t a Forum member, what are you waiting for?

Photo courtesy of engadget

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Apr 29

Preview: Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit

By Brian Accessories 5 Comments »

I have a few accessories awaiting the arrival of my iPad 3G, but one accessory I don’t have yet that piques my interest is the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit, available in the Apple Store here for $29.00. The connection kit includes a Camera Connector that features a USB interface (something the iPad natively lacks) for attaching your digital camera and transferring photos, and also includes an SD Card Reader to import photos directly from an SD card. Both adapters connect to the dock connector located at the bottom of your iPad.

In addition to transferring photos, the USB interface enables a few other functions that were previously unknown — users have reported that the USB interface is compatible with USB keyboards and USB headsets. An external USB keyboard can be used for more easily entering text and a USB headset could be used for listening to music or audio chatting over Skype, for instance.

I think I’ll pick up the iPad Camera Connection Kit and see what kinds of uses I can get out of it. I don’t have much need for connecting a USB keyboard since I already have a couple Bluetooth keyboards, but connecting my USB headset and using Skype is intriguing to me. Can you think of any other uses for the Connection Kit? Weigh in with your thoughts over in the Forum. If you aren’t a member, join up and share your thoughts and opinions.

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Apr 29

It’s iPad 3G Eve — and the waiting continues

By Brian News 4 Comments »

 

BIGGER UPDATE:  I just received my shipping confirmation email! My iPad 3G is shipping from Rancho Cordova, California via FedEx Overnight and will arrive tomorrow (Friday) no later than 3:00pm. May FedEx be swift and safe with my iPad and deliver it in one piece. Finally the wait is (almost) over. Anyone else with some good news?

UPDATE:  several customers have been reporting receiving their shipment confirmation emails with tracking numbers and scheduled delivery for tomorrow by 3pm. The time of delivery will likely depend on the customer location, so results may vary. As soon as I receive my confirmation email I will post.

I checked my iPad 3G shipping status and there is still no sign of a tracking number, and my bank account still indicates that Apple hasn’t taken my cash — yet. I expect this to change sometime today and that my theory will bear out that Apple ships the pre-ordered iPad 3Gs today via FedEx Overnight so that we will have our mitts on them tomorrow before the 5pm release at Apple and Best Buy stores.

If you get the much-anticipated shipping confirmation email, let us know right here and in our Forum. After all, it’s iPad 3G Eve and the kids are getting restless for Santa Steve to deliver the goods!

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Apr 28

iPad as phone? M5 says yes

By Brian News 1 Comment »

While we wait for the iPad 3G to ship and show up on our doorsteps on Friday (please, Apple!), here’s something fun to watch — Dan Hoffman of M5 meeting with the folks of Fox Business web show Gadgets and Games to show off some impressive phone technology that can utilize devices like the iPad for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Hoffman explains that his company’s technology utilizes the “cloud” to route calls to different devices depending on your need and location.

I don’t think my iPad will replace my iPhone as the device I pull from my pocket when a personal or business call comes in, but as seen in the video, I can imagine my iPad sitting on my desk at work and being used for calls, then routing the call to my iPhone so I can be on-the-go. As I have thought before and will continue to examine in the future, the iPad is a sandbox for creative minds to add capabilities that we haven’t conceived of yet. Can you see yourself using your iPad for calls?

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Apr 27

My iPad 3G “Prepared for Shipment”. Is yours?

By Brian News 4 Comments »

The best thing I’ve read today is the “Prepared for Shipment” status on my iPad 3G pre-order. Having to wait an extra month after iPad WiFi owners have been enjoying their iPad goodness has truly been an exercise in patience, and now it appears that the iPad 3Gs will be shipping any time now. Apple committed to ship the iPad 3G “late April” and we have just about reached the end of the month. Apple also recently announced that the iPad 3G would indeed be available in stores (both Apple and Best Buy) on April 30th at 5:00 pm, and that pre-orderers would have their iPads sometime during the day on the 30th (unless your pre-order came late, like in the last week or so).

As soon as I receive a shipment notification I’ll post the good news. How many of you have received your “Prepared for Shipment” update? Does anyone have a shipping tracking number yet? Friday is coming soon!

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Apr 26

Check it out: Pogo Sketch for iPad and iPhone

By Brian Accessories 3 Comments »

Pink isn’t exactly my color, but I did order and receive the silver Pogo Sketch from Ten One Design ($14.95 for silver, $10.47 for hot pink) and I think it could work out fairly well for my iPad 3G. The Pogo Sketch is quite a bit larger than most stylii, the aluminum shaft a bit slimmer than a pencil, a plastic clip if you want to clip it to your pocket or shirt, and an overall length of roughly 4.5 inches. This “pen” is designed to interact with the multi-touch surfaces of the iPad, iPhone, and even a MacBook trackpad. The secret lies in the “Nerf”-like material on the end, activating multi-touch as if it were your finger. It allows you to more naturally perform tasks like sketching, drawing, and handwriting.

To me, the Pogo Sketch is the kind of accessory that has been waiting for the arrival of the iPad. The iPad, with its much larger screen, is a great surface for artists to draw and sketch, but is also a good medium for people conducting business, like signing email with the Autograph app (for MacBook) or taking notes. It would be fantastic if some talented developers could bring a handwriting text recognition app to the iPad.

Once my iPad 3G arrives, I’ll put the Pogo Sketch through a thorough testing and review it, pros and cons. That’s the whole point here at naked iPad — we’ll tell you like it is! If anyone is using it now with their iPad, let us know what you think!

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Apr 25

Two ways to speak your mind at naked iPad

By Brian Announcements 3 Comments »

The WiFi-only iPad has been in the public’s hands for just over three weeks now and the iPad WiFi + 3G version is due to ship this week and be in the Apple stores and in the hands of most pre-ordering customers on April 30th. We will have much more to talk about here at naked iPad when both iPad versions are available and we can give you the naked truth (at least as we see it) about apps, accessories, uses for the iPad, and the iPad itself.

A few of you have already contributed and made your voices heard by adding comments to many of our blog posts so far, and we thank you! Our desire is to build a community here of iPad users and those interested in the iPad, where we can stop by any time and discuss the iPad, iPhone, and how these products are useful and fun in our lives.

With that said, we extend the invitation to you to contribute your thoughts and ideas — to openly discuss — all things iPad (and iPhone) through either the “Comments” option for each blog posting or through our new naked iPad Forum. It only takes a few moments to sign up and just a few minutes if you want to customize your profile, avatar and signature, so what are you waiting for? Become the first members of what we hope to be a growing, helpful community of iPad and iPhone fans and users. Welcome aboard!

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Apr 23

iPad 3G vs. WiFi – talked down from the ledge

By Brian Editorial 14 Comments »

I was ready to jump. I thought I would jump, quite honestly. Much to my surprise, I had done a one-eighty and was just about to take the plunge head-first in spite of waiting almost an additional month for the prize. I had pre-ordered the 64GB iPad 3G and was patiently waiting for a ship date from Apple. This decision had come after weighing the pros and cons between the 3G and WiFi versions, and until today, my resolve to wait was firm.

Then, I started to doubt and rethink my decision, wondering if I really wanted to part with another $130 plus $30 more per month to AT&T for each month I decided to satisfy my 3G appetite. The WiFi-only iPad, available right now at the Apple Store, was waiting for me and all I had to do was jump. Why the doubt? How did I find myself out on that ledge in the first place, and why did I come back down? Read on after the break, because maybe my situation describes your own and maybe my experience can be of some help if you are finding yourself at your own WiFi/3G crossroads.

Continue reading »

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Apr 21

iPad case mod corrects an Apple blunder

By Brian How To 9 Comments »

Inconceivable. The only word that can really describe the fact that Apple designed a case for their iPad that, when fitted to their iPad, won’t permit docking to their very own iPad-compatible keyboard dock. For as thoughtful as Apple is when designing their products for a superb user experience, this blunder is just plain embarrassing. It’s bad enough that the iPad won’t fit in the keyboard dock when fitted with the Apple iPad case, but the case fits so tightly that it’s a feat that Houdini would be proud of to wrestle the iPad free of the case so it can be used in the keyboard dock. Clearly the keyboard dock and the iPad case should not be found in the same shopping cart together.

If, however, you insist on owning the two simultaneously, there is a homemade remedy with step-by-step instructions posted up over at everythingiCafe. With a steady hand and the right tools, you can carefully carve away a portion of the iPad case to allow it to fit the keyboard dock without the contortions of removing the case from your iPad. Let us know if you decide to perform this surgery on YOUR iPad case — it’s not for the faint of heart, but it can be done.

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