iPad 2: Apple May Have Problems Filling Orders (My Take From Comments And Forums

Demand for the iPad 2 is there.  No doubt about it.  However, selling through for Apple's iconic "post-PC" mobile device is another matter all together.  I would not be surprise if Apple does sell 400,000 to 500,000 units over the weekend including online orders but I doubt it is any higher as some have suggested Apple moving one million.  

But it can depends on how you slide it.  If Apple does include orders that they cannot fill online over the weekend, we might see a higher number than my own 500K units.  And if that's true, it speaks about limited number of iPads on hand for Apple and its retail partners to sell.

Regardless of how Apple wants to deal with the numbers when it finally announces them, I am beginning to see a clear and bigger picture, especially with regards to online orders.

I believe Apple dedicated as much stock as they can for for its retail locations and a few for partners like Best Buy.  But obviously, that ran out quickly.  Fillers were likely on their way even as folks were waiting in line over the weekend that are likely to arrive for stores this week.  

For online orders, the amount was even more scarce which could explain why there were no preorders this year versus last year when buyers could preorder and pick them up in the stores if they like.  

A lot of people went online to find solidarity.  Some wanted to see where their orders stand relative to others and when they ordered, others went online to vent.  And there was a lot of discrepancies in how Apple fill orders.  Since I don't know how all this works, I am gonna have to hold any comments on it except to say that I totally feel the pain some buyers are going through.

Personally, my order with two iPads is a textbook case given what I'm ready online.  First, the covers shipped.  A day later, one of the iPad shipped but the other 3G version, even now, is stuck with "not yet shipped".  We have other orders and none of those have shipped except the covers.  

My best guess is that Apple is shipping them as they are made, tested, and packaged right away and fill them.  This would explain why they have not announced a number for how many iPad 2s they've sold.  You cannot say you sold and shipped something when you clearly haven't finished making it.

Also from what I see, most people with 2 iPads in their order are seeing one iPad shipped while the other one sits waiting.  

My advice for anyone who want one but isn't willing to wait for the 3-4 weeks wait call their local Apple store or another retail to see if they have any in stock and hope you get lucky.  

As for how many Apple will sell, I think Apple won't be announcing a concrete number for a few days just until they can fill all the weekend orders first.  

ATT and Veizon To Offer Free Calls And Text To Japan; Other Companies And Web Media Helps

ATT and Verizon will both offer free calling and texting to Japan for a period of time to help those in the US contact love ones and friends who may be affected by the 8.9 earthquake and the tsunami.

ATT:

• Free calling and texting until March 31th
• 60 Minutes of calling for landline subscribers.
• Subscribers can text "redcross" to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross.
• TV Japan will be accessible for U-Verse customers through March 17th.

Verizon:

• Calling and texting free to most post-paid and residential customers.
• Free MM messaging and texting.
• 10 Aid groups to donate to.
• FIOS subscribers to get TV Japan for free until March 17th.

More information here at ATT (BGR), Verizon, Macnn.  Also Huffington Post has a detailed (though messy) page of how else we can help.

Also, Google has set up an excellent page for helping victims, love ones, and up-to-date information on the Japan earthquake.

Separately, Apple is accepting donations to the Red Cross through iTunes.  Apple also did this during the Haiti earthquake as well.

Is The MacBook Air Faster Or the iPad 2 Better/Faster For Editing Videos?

The Macbook Air 11.6" at 1.6 Ghz with 4 GB of RAM is a pretty buff little guy.  A Mac to be certain given circumstances, it is nearly as fast as some of the 2010 Macbook Pro models with some tasks.  And with the iPad 2 as a viable option for simple consumer video editing through iMovie, I wonder if it makes more sense to do editing on the iPad 2 or the Air.

If you're on the go and don't have the time to the video back onto a Mac, I assume that's the computer that you have at home, the iPad 2 seems quick capable for simple editing.  

Based on Macworld's benchmarks and Anandtech, the 11.6" Air, 1.4 Ghz or 1.6 Ghz, is not what I would use as my main iMovie or Final Cut Express work.  

My guess is that the iPad or the iPad 2 gigahertz for gigahertz, it is no match for the Air.  However, the iPad 2 does have a pretty snappy graphics component on the A5.  So I wonder if the iPad 2 is optimized to process videos so well that it can challenge the Air in the features that the iOS version of the iMovie have.

Of course, the iMovie for the iPad is very simple.  

In a few iterations down the line, I can see the iPad doing very well for on the go directors and editors who might need to make rapid cuts for reviewing back in the studio and it could have enough power and features to do just that.  The iPad offers a lot of portability but the MacBooks are still better for faster and more complicated editing.

For now, I'll be shooting most of my video on my HD camcorder and feed the video off to my Macbook.  

Note:  If you want to shoot video on your iPod touch or the iPhone, you can use an adapter to pass off the video to your brand new iPad 2, assuming you can find one, for faster editing.  MOre at iSource.

EVIL ATT To Start Capping DSL Services In May

This post from Electonista says it all.

Starting in May, ATT will start capping DSL use at 150 GB. A $10 fee will be assess for an additional 50 GB.

Does this affect you and how you use the Internet?

Let me do some simple math on this. This comes to 4.93 GB a day. Frankly, I think this is so bogus.

We are increasingly relying on our Internet services for streaming media and to get pertinent information. Heck, I don't even own a TV.

This just isn't right. Unfortunately, I think ATT will get away with this given the political atmosphere in Washington and the GOP not want the FCC to do anything at all.

Make no mistake about this. This is about GREED. And this can potentially destroy the Internet and innovation.

If there was ever a time for anyone in Washington to show some backbone, coming out against this would be an easy win.

More here.

Xoom Is Faster Than The iPad But the iPad 2 "Zoom" Past The Xoom A Few Times Over

Rationalization from a lot of folks, especially Apple-friendly blogs, about the lack of specs about the iPad 2 during Steve Jobs' March 2nd iPad 2 keynote was that Apple is all about the whole experience. And that is correct. However, you can't help but feel a bit nervous for the iconic "post-PC" device for the lack of information.

And this came in light of the fact that what we knew at the time did nothing to assure us. However, over the weekend, Anandtech put all that to rest? What's the answer?

Let's use some math reference. Is "Zoom > iPad 2 > iPad"? No.

It's more like "Zoom > iPad" but "iPad 2 >>>>>> Zoom"!

That right, in Anandtech's review of the speed test, year-old iPad, while slower than the Zoom, held its own against the more recent Nvidia Tegra 2 powered Android tablet, the iPad 2 really blew away the Zoom is a few of the benchmarks.

Powered by Imagination Technologies'PowerVR SGX 543MP2, part of the magic behind iPad 2's new A5 chip, it is capable of displaying 9x (though we all know that's a bit of a stretch) the muscle over the iPad. I'm already impressed with the iPad's graphical prowess but, now with Anandtech's confirmation, I can't wait to get my hands on an iPad 2 to see for myself the speed.

What's significant is that Tegra 2 has been billed by the tech media as the mobile chip to rule them all. Obviously, Apple's investment in a few chip companies over the last couple of years has paid off big time.

The iPad 2 as a whole is faster than the flagship Android tablet by 2x to 5x.

Granted, the Xoom is powering a higher resolution screen but at the end of the day, your average Joe mobile warrior isn't going to care about that. Heck, they're not even going to care that the A5 ran circles around Nvidia's offering.

What we want are the apps, media, and ease of use. Just the whole mobile experience. Apple still has an edge on that but I don't think it's as clear cut as these numbers. What Apple needs to do is innovate on the software front as well. Personally, I want a strong Android coalition to challenge Apple.

Competition is what drives innovation and changes the dynamics of the market. Apple fans want it. Android fans want it as well. Certainly, I do too.

Still, impressive numbers all around for the iPad 2. I cannot wait to see what game and app developers can cook up with this kind of muscle.

More at Anandtech, a must read especially if you're into technical stuff.

iPad: Free Enterprise Is Great But Apple Should Find A Way To Sell To Legitimate Users

I'm still on the fence about this. But after reading a few posts about how some people are pawning off the very scarce iPad 2 on eBay, I wonder if Apple should find a way to sell to legitimate users rather than those who are trying to sell them off with a market-up.

This has happening since the dawn of time, I know. It happened to the iPhones, iPods, and, now, the iPads as well. Still, while I sit here waiting to buy a few more for family members (we plan to make use of FaceTime big time), I see all those iPads just sitting on eBay by users who are not really fans but simply trying to make the most of the shortage (to be fair, they may be making a living as well).

I'm okay with people trying to make a buck. It's free enterprise, right? Still, if there was ever a company who can figure out an innovative process to try to connect legitimate mobile warriors with its products, it's Apple.

I like the idea of helping users activate their iPads on the store. I think that helps. And honestly, that's the only idea I have. Obviously, I'm just a mobile fan, not trained for this kind of thinking.

Nevertheless, I know more than a few of you share my irkness at this situation.

For just how crazy things have gotten, read TUAW's post on how people are trying to make money from the whole iPad situation.

International iPad 2 Launch Should Go On As Planned But Don't Expect Much

CNet is wonder just how things are going to be like for international mobile warriors looking to hook themselves up (or sell them on eBay) with the new iPad 2.

Well, I think they should not have to worry about that. Apple isn't likely to jerk us around like that. However, I would start lining up. You guys, the lucky few who are slated for the next round of launch like Britain and Japan, will get the new iPads just like Steve jobs said but supplies will be limited.

No. Let me back that up. Supplies will be severely limited.

What prompt this is the fact that online orders from Apple is now a 3-4 weeks wait.

Just a recap for those who just want the high lights of the iPad 2 launch so far: the iPad 2 went on sale last Friday, March 11th - online at 1AM PST (4AM EST) while in-stores sales at Apple Store, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy started at 5PM local time.

The local stores, including Apple stores, quickly drew lines and were sold out quickly. I can attest to that.

I was able to place my iPad 2 orders online around 1:10AM with ease. After examining the forums and comments of various blogs, I was able to determine that for the next couple of hours, the ship time was 3-5 days with an estimated delivery date between March 18th - 25th.

The situation quickly deteriorated as people wake up and the lead time went to 1-2 weeks. Before long, the wait timebeas extended to 3-4 weeks.

As it stands now, most local places are dry. ATT locations are accepting orders with a 2-3 week wait while Verizon has a 3-4 week wait.

Sucks, I know.


-- Post From My iPad