iPad: 3G Or Just Wi-Fi

54 More days until the Wi-Fi iPad is available and 84 more days until the Wi-Fi+3G version will be on sale. So I've got plenty of time to ponder this issue: which version to buy.

For most iPhone users, their iPhone cannot tether to another device so that device can share the iPhone's Internet connection. Nor can mine. But I’ve also got a rooted G1, an Android phone with T-Mobile, that allows me to tether any Wi-Fi enabled device like my Macbook or iPod Touch and use my G1's 3G connection.

Now my T-Mobile contract is coming up and that means I should be free to cancel my data plan with T-Mobile at any time (I’ve got a family plan for voice. Canceling that will make many folks unhappy). This allows me to go with the $30 3G plan for the iPad if that's what I end up deciding to do.

Or I can stick with T-Mobile, buy an iPad with Wi-Fi only and retain the freedom to use the G1 as a 3G modem. The drawback of this is that I’d have to carry an extra device with me wherever I go.

You’re probably saying well, you have to carry a phone around anyway. Not necessarily.

Well, the thing is I use my mobile devices like the G1 and the iPhone exclusively as, well, mobile computing devices. The few phone calls I get in between are social calls that I can move to Skype or Fring at any time with the iPad or the iPhone now that VOIP over 3G is possible (still waiting on you, Skype!). (It’s absolutely insane to make plans and change things at the last minute. If I’m driving through midtown Wilshire, I don’t want to be getting a call saying that the dinner plan have changed and I’m gonna have to brave to 405 Southbound to get to another restaurant. We make a plan. We stick to it, people!)

For my mom, it’s easier. On the day Steve Jobs officially unveiled the iPad to the world, I got a few calls from my mom that I missed. I thought it was an emergency. It was. She wanted an iPad with 3G. (She also wanted to know if she can get it with a 15” screen for her Slingplayer.) For my mom, who has a 2G iPhone, the decision to get her a 3G iPad is a lot easier.

I”ve got between 54 and 84 days left to decide what I want to do. Meanwhile, maybe Apple will reveal more details about the iPad that I’m sure we’re gonna like and that will factor into my decision which model to buy.

Update: There are issues about whether there is space for a webcam in the iPad from some updates last night about this. An authorized Apple repair company received parts that indicate room for a webcam. While I am hoping for a last minute change that includes a webcam, I'm not hopeful.

Sane Explanation Of Why NO Verizon iPhone or iPad For A While

In the days leading up to the iPad announcement, speculations were hot and sweaty about what the iPad can do and who Apple will partner with for the iPad's 3G data needs.

Well, I'll be honest. I want to see an iPhone on Verizon's supposedly wireless network for two reasons. First, I'm a believe in Apple's mobile devices and strategy. No, 100% but close. Second, I want to know once and for all just what the impact of the weight of tens of millions of iPhone users on VW's vast 3G network.

But alas, that will not come to pass. In fact, I still firmly believe T-Mobile will see some Apple love before anyone else. That being said, AllThingD has a good post about why VW will not see an iPhone for a while and probably not until the next generation LTE network has sufficiently covered a majority of the US market.

Here's why:

• Money, money, money.  ATT is will to play.
• ATT's network might be more robust in the coming year.  And with 3G improvements in terms of speed and reliability, Apple will have less reason to be looking at Verizon's aging CDMA network.
• Apple is willing to wait for the LTE network to come online.
• Cook is a believer in ATT's network roadmap.  He said so himself.
• ATT is looking for a fight. Just look at the commercials.  A and A have taken their gloves off.  

One thing I don't see anyone point out about a CDMA iPhone that has been in the commercials.  How can an iPhone on a CDMA network miraculously make calls and surf the Web at the same time when all the other devices cannot?  It would go contrary to the marketing message, right?

However, I do believe a CDMA iPad is possible provided that VW is will to pay.

Note:  Aside from the fact that T-Mobile USA also runs a GSM network and will be running on their 3G network for a while.  A long long while since they're still expanding it.  Keep in mind that Steve Jobs has a long memory.  He's probably not happy with VW executives who spurned him when he approached them with the iPhone.  He's likely to go with Sprint before he does a VW deal.  Ask Eisner how his fight with Steve Jobs went and you'll know what kind of grudge the Apple founder can hold.

More at ATD.

iPad A Secret Push Into China

This is the first of many speculations and analysis regarding the iPad on my part. Mostly speculation because while the Apple media event to officially, and I say "officially" only because we've known about it in one capacity or another for months), to the world, we still don't know a whole lot about it.

But it's interesting that many folks have indicated that it supports simplified Chinese while not traditional Chinese writing. Why is this significant?

Simplified Chinese is the official written language used by China while pretty much Chinese everywhere else still use Traditional Chinese. And with 1.3 billion Chinese in China, it means more folks uses it.

So, is Apple's omission of support for Traditional Chinese a signal that Jobs and company will be pushing the iPad hard into the Chinese market?

We'll see where the iPad goes from here but don't be surprised if Apple will use the iPad as a Trojan Horse, to create a halo effect for other Apple products and services. $499 iPad versus a $999 Macbook is a no brainer.

McGraw-Hill CEO Confirms iTablet's existence; Not iCar We Had Hoped

This is as much as a confirmation we're gonna get about the iTablet.  Rumors no more.  We'll know the features and the iTablet's implications to the mobile computing world tomorrow.

iTablet And-Or iPhone On All Major Wireless Networks (Including

I think we ought to have a moratorium on any and all rumors (speculations are okay) 24 hours before any major Apple event. Nah, I couldn't stand the silence. But there is one rumor that I would like to move into the speculation category just so that I can talk about it here.

As you know, Apple will be holding a special media event on the Wednesday morning, January 27th, at 10am PST to introduce their "latest creation" (I wonder what might be).

But many folks believe there will be other announcements as well. According to one analyst, the Wall Street kind (hissss), from Oppenheimer, Apple will be making the iPhone available to the four major wirless providers in the United States, plus one that I previously didn't consider if not only because it just doesn't seem plausible.

This particular Wall Street "analyst" believes that the following networks will be seeing the iPhone running on their networks in 2010:

• ATT - we already know them well.  Apple currently has an exclusive deal with them and as with any deal, it'll end.  Many folks thinks it's this year.  
• Verizon Wireless - the next likely candidate.  Well, legend has it that Apple previously went to them before going to speak with ATT but VW wasn't keen on ceding control to Apple.  But since the iPhone's introduction and the quarter after quarter of bloody noses the Apple-ATT combo has given them, VW is finally coming around.  Plus, it's got more than 80 million users and many of them are hungry for the iPhone.
• T-Mobile - I think they've got just as good a chance of getting the iPhone as VW because of the network they use -GSM which is the same as ATT (different wireless frequency).  The only ding against them is that they're got a small 3G footprint.  However, Apple has worked with T-Mobile USA's German parent company and that probably helps a bit.  
• Sprint - I like Sprint before I went to ATT and then T-Mobile now.  Sprint works for me.  However, it's not exactly healthy at the moment.  Maybe the iPhone will help.  
• Last, Clearwire.  Just WiMax service.  No voice.  I think this most unlikely in 2010.  But I included Clearwire only because of its association with Sprint and because it was mentioned as part of this Oppenheimer prediction.

Those are the five networks (other than ATT which already has the iPhone) that Apple will make the iPhone available in 2010.

What's interesting is that the iPhone is being sold by ATT with a voice plan.  For Clearwire, it would need to also offer some sort of a voice plan to match what's already on the market from ATT.  Otherwise, we're talking about an all data service here.  That would mean a lot of things that Apple and Clearwire would need to provide to supplement the lack of a voice function.  Things like VOIP or, dare I say, video conferencing.

Anyway, Macrumors turned the original colorful artwork from Apple's invitation and put a spin on it with the colors representing these 5 networks.

Doesn't that make sense?  I ran this by Dave The Mobile Warrior.  Frankly, I think Apple used just about every bright  and cheerful color possible in their event invitation.  It's likely a coincidence but I think we can all hope right?

With less than 48 hours before Apple's main event, I doubt we have reached the crescendo of rumors and wild speculations.  No, no moratorium on rumors.  I wouldn't be able to survive tomorrow without specks of false hopes, wild innuendos, and improbable predictions to get me through the day.

More At Macrumors, Businessweek,

Water Damaged iPhone

Have you had an iPhone damaged beyond repair?  Well, I certainly feel for you.

I was informed via e-mail last night that my friend's iPhone 3G suffered some water damage.  It was quite unfortunate to hear this since earlier in the week, she had to go into the Apple store and pay for a new battery replacement.

I've often dropped my 2G iPhone here and there.  And here.  And There.  Had babies drooled on it.  I've even had it flung out of my hand a few times.

I'm happy to say that Apple really built a solid device.  But when it comes to water, it's pretty much over.

I've recommended my friend to wait out the water.  Let's it dry up a bit and see if things improve.  I've spilled coffee over my keyboard before.  But a few days later when the liquid dried up, it was working again.

I'm not sure this will be the case with the iPhone since it's an infinitely more complicated device than a Dell keyboard at work.

Suffice to say, it is the only option my friend has at this time.  She's eligible for an upgrade in a few days.  I've counseled her to wait until the 27th, Apple's next media event to introduce the iTablet.  Though I'm doubt we'll see anything more than the iTablet, I'm hopefully we'll see "...one more thing..." in the form of a new 4th generation iPhone.

More Proof iTablet Is Coming

There is certainly no shortage of rumors and speculations going on about Apple's January 27th event and what Apple will unveiling.  Well, you want more proof that the iTablet is coming?

Amazon, according to TechCrunch, is introducing a new royalty scheme where publishers and writers can earn more.

Why now?  Couldn't Amazon simply have done this to begin with and spread the wealth a bit when they released the Kindle?  Well, no.  At the time there was no competition.  At least, not the kind of competition Amazon is likely to get soon in the form of an Apple tablet.

Yes, this is proof that the tablet is coming.  After all, isn't the split between Apple and developers for the App Store also 70% to the developers and Apple gets to keep 30%?

What's also interesting is that Amazon is still trying to control the price with this new scheme.

At the same time, Apple has been holding meetings with publishers.  Wouldn't you like to be a fly on the wall of these meetings?  As an avid reader, I can't help but wonder what Apple has to offer the publishers - more than just pricing, also what kind of revolutionary technology is Apple offer - videos, blogs, etc. for each book.

More at Techcrunch, 9to5Mac, Bookseller