iPad 3G Performance

I am planning to pick up an iPad 3G this weekend but before I do I wanted to see if there are any issues with it when using it via 3G?

I have already read where AT&T is blocking some content via 3G telling users to use a wireless connection instead and in other areas, the video quality is degraded purposely I assume to use less bandwidth.

Anyone have one yet?

 

I don't have any additional info on the 3G but did want to comment. The same kind of lame limits exist on the iPhone for certain things. It was something I was able to overlook on the iPhone but would be quite upset about on the iPad. I'm even happier that I didn't wait for the 3G and got the Wifi version now.

 

Check gizmodo and engadget and read the posts after the articles about 3g on iPad. You have to sort through the usual we hate Apple posts, but a few of the posters have some valid observations. One of those two sites has multiple graphs comparing upload/download from iPhone/iPad and Wifi/3g on each.

I was waiting for 3g to pick up an iPad, but now I'm not so sure I can't just get by with the WiFi (which may have been ATTs plan all along in order to limit bandwidth use). But if I can't use 3g for anything much more than reading e-mail, what's the point? My idea of using a 3g iPad would have been for viewing video content while traveling cross county as a passenger on different conveyances. Or watching TV while waiting for car repairs or on appointments. Seems the iPad may not be as much for "media consumption" as advertised, since I won't be able to consume that media when I might need/want to...

Decided to not be lazy this morning...here's the link to the 3g graphs: http://gizmodo.com/5528240/ipad-3g-test-notes.

 

Great post! Thank you for linking that site as it helped a lot. I still will likely get a 3G but I may only use it with WiFi most of the time saving 3G for trips and other outdoor events where I would take slower speed over no connection.

It makes you wonder if AT&T is purposely throttling bandwidth on the 3G network though.

 

ATT still can't handle tethering the iPhone. I seriously considered the 3G but couldn't justify the extra $130 and data plan when 9/10 times I'm somewhere with a Wifi hot spot.

 

I guess for me I want the 3G option more for a backup plan than a primary method of using it. Most places I go have WiFi or are within a short distance of WiFi but I have a few trips coming up this summer and it would be nice to be able to access the net without having to search for a WiFi hotspot in areas I do not know.

I hope that AT&T improves their 3G network soon though especially with the new iPad 3G release as well as the new iPods coming later this year.

 

I was thinking of getting a ipad over Cowons new V5.
Ipad pros for me
wireless
3g
lightning fast touch OS interface
extremly nice looking

Cons
No usb
No SD slot
Have to use itunes to transfer everything (smart by Apple , never liked itunes)
Have to buy docking station to transfer (could bypass that with wireless storage)
Only plays H264 and mp4 movies (have to convert alot of mine )


Cowon v5
Pros
Plays everything !!!
Plays high definition !!
touch screen - large
USB - drag and drop
SD expandible memory

Cons
No wifi
Touch screen interface is ugly - very poor , must do better next time
Just not as nice looking as the ipad

Conclusion
For ease of use and playability for media - Cowon wins.
For down right attractiveness and style the ipad wins.

Will buy the Cowon first and ipad later perhaps lol. I ike them both. But i want to upgrade from my Cowon A3 first.

Just my thoughts.

 

A few flaws to point out in your points. You can buy the camera kit for the iPad which has a USB dongle and an sd card dongle. There are apps that give you the ability to use drag and drop. You don't need to buy a docking station the supplied cable plugs into your computer.

Video support:

H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

As for the cowon you get about half the screen size, no ability to surf the Internet, no app store and the USB is not built in (just like the iPad).

What video codec are you using anyway?

 

I have no plans to use the iPad for video given the lack of a 16x9 screen and the inability to play many common video formats so that's not an issue.

I didn't realise the camera kit added USB support .. definitely putting that on my to-buy list

 

Remember, it's not full USB support. They have found that it does work for USB keyboards and something else I can't recall at the moment. Do a little research to see if what you want to do will work.

 

I use AVI's DivX codec and Xvid and sometimes MKV and on the rare occassion H264 and Mp4 but its mostly AVI .

The Cowon DOES come with USB as well as a USB cable actually and also HDMI port (cable not incl , but I have a spare) , all of which the ipad does not have. Do your research mate . To see the ports you have to flick a little lid open. http://www.cowonglobal.com/ V5

I just pointing out that the Cowon is ready to go out of the box whereas the ipad you have to buy extra goodies to use features already on the cowon

I also said I liked the ipad for what it is - a stylish web browsing tool. I want both , I was just deciding which to get first. Anyway Cowon is cheaper at 450 AUD

And having do download apps to just drag and drop is just annoying.

 

the USB is supposed to be for connecting a camera to download pictures... but people have plugged in keyboards and USB headsets and stuff and gotten them to work.... what all works? who knows.

 

Australia is not getting the ipad until the end of May. It was supposed to be April , but Apple delayed shipping. Apple AU said pre orders will be taken on 10 May.