WSJ: iPad 3 with Retina Display early 2012 - Page 3

It could use the 3G network to connect to the server to issue the activation command, enabling full data access. The "activation" is a billing formality, not an installation of hardware and drivers to physically enable 3G.
 

 

Here's what I know: Home wifi was turned off. Wife went to iPad Settings to turn on 3G. Did not work. Gave a no-data-access error. Got home wifi back on, and iPad on wifi, and 3G could then be turned on.

 

The implication is that if you're on the road, and decide you'd like your iPad to have data, you're sunk. At least until you can stop at a McDonald's or Starbucks, get on wifi, and then turn on 3G. That's bad design. Maybe it's an unusual glitch that hit my wife's device. I've not spent any time looking into it. 

Sounds like a glitch.
As I mentioned, after the first time I turned on 3G with a wifi connection I can turn on 3g anytime and anywhere.
On the first time... I'm not sure how it is supposed to work on the iPad, I only know it wouldn't work the first time without a wifi connection.

Just for a quick test i turned off wifi. I dont have a 3G plan right now so with wifi off I went in to try and add one.
I logged in and went right to the page to add a plan. Worked.

It is smart enough to have an unregistered process. Just like phones can connect to 911 when they are unregistered. This isn't new. All that's new is not requiring a computer to register and everything you need is taken care of in the panels provided. Even if you don't have wifi. Trust me.

I assure you this was a glitch or operator error. The iPad is fully capable of registering itself without being tethered to a computer and without already being on WIFI. Again, trust me, this is not an issue or you'd have heard about it.

 

There were rumors last year of a Family Data Plan

http://gigaom.com/mobile/verizon-confirms-family-data-plans-coming-in-2012/

 

This might be of the same total plan.

I do trust you. I can only offer my experience and apparently Dave's too that the initial attempt to sign up for a 3G didn't work. No connection went through.

Now that I have done that I can connect to 3G even with my account expired.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is interesting but too immature a tech for iPad 3, maybe iPad4. Apple doesn't have their own chip foundries, they would need to have existing foundries massively scale up for this and no way they could do it in time for an early 2012 iPad3 launch, and they HAD there is no way they could have kept something this transformative as secret as they have so far. But I'd LOVE to hear MattCR's take on it

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/02/apples-macroscalar-architecture-will-it-take-ios-to-the-next-level.html

iFixit makes some predictions:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/249375/ipad_3_predictions_and_challenges_from_ifixit.html

You know my stance on rumors but if JD says it's on, It is ON

http://www.loopinsight.com/2012/02/13/ipad-3-event-pegged-for-march-7/

Like a convolvotron?

I was thinking more Minotron, but sure.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/minotron-2112/id421377889?mt=8

Actually I have no idea what that is

The WSJ has a pair of doozies today. First up they say 4g is a definite go. OK I'll buy that.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204062704577221960347109978.html

And then they say that Apple is continuing to 'test' smaller iPads, I think this is red herring or leak tests personally, but you never know:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204795304577222354104574994.html

Without a doubt, there will one day be different sizes. Eventually. But 2012 seems early.

Far more likely for them to upsize the ipod touch than downsize ipad

 

What's the (real) diff unless you're saying they will stop producing either iPod Touch or iPad at their current sizes if/when they do that?  I suppose if they're replacing either, it would definitely make more sense to upsize the iPod Touch (rather than downsize the iPad) since the iPhone already fills the need (for the most part) at the smaller form factor.

 

_Man_

 

I'd like a smaller iPad. Not half the size, but I feel like it's one inch too big.

Yeah, I guess I might also prefer a slightly smaller iPad though it's not clear whether that makes sense from Apple's perspective.

 

_Man_

 

TBH, I'd rather have a inch larger iPhone and my iPad stay the same. While I have an idea for the perfect size for an iPad, I'm perfectly happy with it's current size. I'm not happy with the iPhone size.

Hehheh...  As I mentioned in the past, what I'd *really* want is some sort of plug-and-play core module to go w/ a bunch of different human interface modules so I can easily and effectively swap between different form factors, phone-type usage vs non-phone-type usage, etc. etc.  But it probably won't be easy/feasible anytime soon, so that's really just a pipe dream...

 

Actually, maybe if Bluetooth-type tech advances quickly enough so all that connectivity/plumbing between the core and the more-or-less "dumb" interface can be done wirelessly, we may get there sooner than much later -- that is, if the powers-that-be would even want that at all...

 

I mean we're already getting a taste of that w/ at-home streaming over WiFi, BT headsets and other "hands-free" stuff, etc, so...

 

_Man_

 

I'll probably buy an iPad this go 'round.  But my computer setup in the new apartment is not so good; an iPad would be much more comfortable for my home use. And my personal computer use is so much more around web and email and Facebook, that an iPad will do most of it with aplomb.

 

My ongoing hesitation, of course, is cost against my desired waste of money on an HTPC :) and what will a "RetinaDisplay" iPad cost? But if my business travel starts up like expected, I'll get an iPad without reservation.

 

I'm also thinking about getting some Bose noise canceling headphones, but that's another thread ;)

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/17/confirmed-ipad-3-has-a-2048x1536-retina-display/

 

 

I won't ruin the end of the story :)

Mmmm...  So maybe I'll finally break down and stop resisting in a couple weeks, especially now that I finally stopped resisting the FB itch as well?

 

 

You probably lost all credibility as soon as you mentioned that.

 

_Man_

 

Yea as with anything Bose, waaaay ocerpriced

You've not heard the Bose noise canceling headphones? :) These are a different beast from their home-theater speakers. Absolutely amazing. I've had $30 NC headphones, and there is no comparison. And searching reviews, I don't find anything particularly better. Quick look suggests Sennheiser looks are priced the same ($350).

 

If you can point to NC headphones that perform like the Bose QC15, I'm interested. They need some sort of fold-flat style and case.

 

(related, I have in-ear Etymotic earphones. Probably more effective than active NC headphones, and much more convenient to travel with. But they get uncomfortable after a couple of hours)

I have to agee with Dave, the NC headphones from Bose are really very good.

That's good to know. They would be just for travel. I wouldn't be using them every day.

I was mostly just kidding about the Bose comment since I have no real knowledge/experience w/ NC headphones (though my sentiment is similar to many others, including TonyD's).

 

I suppose the Bose NC headphones might be your best bet at this time at least for airplane travel it seems.  Too bad it's not easy for you to try both the Bose and Sennheiser for yourself (in real world usage) before committing.  Still, I'd strongly recommend trying them for yourself before committing, if at all possible...

 

_Man_

 

Stand by what I said.

If I spend that kind of money on headphones I want to be able to use them without fear of using them too much or they fall apart.