Apple posted a press release today that confessed:

"... the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong."

So the explanation for all those people who have been noticing wierd signal issues is that the new iPhone has been showing more bars than it should be.

What? you mean the signal isn't even as good as the phone has been showing us?

That means that the new iPhone is lying about how good ATT signal may be in some places.

Apple maintains that the iPhone 4's wireless performance "is the best we have ever shipped", and that the only real problem is their software has been erroneously reporting the wrong number of signal bars.

Simply. Amazing.

Bloomberg really seems to think so.

I'd stand in line to buy a Verizon iPhone.

It will be nice to find out whether or not Verizon's network could hold up better than ATT's network has.

http://www.simon.com/mall/?id=1248

Test Date: May 16, 2010 4:00:30 PM
Connection Type: Cellular

Download: 1341 kbps
Upload: 105 kbps
Ping: 279 ms

Not bad, considering the crowd of people here... Sent from my iPad

In my house we now have two iPads (one 3G, one just WiFi) as well as a 3rd generation iPod Touch. Like many other folks, we also have guests over who bring their iPhones along with them, and as luck would have it, they often need to plug in their wall chargers while visiting.

It was frustrating to find enough outlets for individual wall chargers and so I went looking for a multi-USB charger that had enough output power to charge multiple Apple devices, including iPads that draw much more power than an iPhone or iPod Touch.

I found one! and if you're interested in getting what I think is the best A/C adapter for any Apple device that uses an iPhone type cable for charging, you might want to check out the Lenmar ACUSB4 AC Travel Adapter

I have this device in my living room with two iPads and an iPod Touch -- all happily charging. And I still have a fourth USB outlet thats open and available for when guests come over. Not sure it can handle a third iPad but we'll find out when my nieces come over with theirs, i'm sure. Worst case scenario is I have to get one more of these.

Its worth noting that it ships with international plugs in addition to a plug for use in the USA. Very versatile!

One last thing. I also found Extra Long 6 Foot (6ft) iPhone / iPad / iPod USB Charge and Sync Cables that are twice the length of the stock cables that come from Apple. These make it much easier to stay plugged in, and still be charging.

Test Date: May 11, 2010 1:21:30 PM
Connection Type: Cellular

Download: 2174 kbps
Upload: 220 kbps
Ping: 421 ms

A detailed image for this result can be found here:

Sent from my iPad

Download: 1270 kbps
Upload: 247 kbps
Ping: 237 ms

A detailed image for this result can be found here:

Sent from my iPad

Not sure when the SonyStyle site will publish my unfavorable review. Here is what it should say when it does post:

Not all features are delivered
Date: May 6, 2010
Pros: Impressive screen image and touchscreen sensitivity
Cons: The USB port is useless, for now. The speaker is not "sony" quality.
The website says you can: "Access audio, video or photo content stored on mass storage USB devices by connecting to the USB port" -- that may be true in the future, but it doesn't deliver that now. I'm disappointed because I really wanted to play my content on the Dash. This one is going back, and I might buy it again, when the USB port actually does something.

In that review I should have elaborated on my comment about the Dash's speaker not being "sony quality" -- what I meant was, the audio quality of the speaker did not impress me at all. And this is a SONY product? they should be embarassed to have something that costs $200, sound so mediocre.

       

Click here to download:

untitled-pFucjAvGiIaIffoFxflm.zip (2195 KB)

Decent speed inside living room

Best speeds are outside of house in front yard

Sent from my iPad

Finally! the FedEx folks really had me watching my door today.
Didn't want to miss them and chase a truck all over town ;-)

Attaching a few photos to this post that show the packaging is very similar to non-3G iPad.

The only real difference is that Apple includes a special tool to extract the SIM card.
You should be able to see that tool in the photo showing contents of box.

My new 3G iPad took me about 3 minutes to register onto the ATT network but signal is so bad inside my house, I had to stand in back driveway to do it. I expected that... and I plan on doing speedtest to show ATT 3G speeds with weak signal, and signal improved by some Wilson Electronics wireless amplifiers that I will be testing.

For those curious about the process to register for ATT 3G service, check out this new Apple Support Doc

Right now, my new 3G iPad is synching up photos/music/apps/etc with my Mac Pro... so I'll report more on it, later!

         

Click here to download:

3G_iPad_arrived.zip (935 KB)

Looks like Apple is living up to the promise of delivering pre-ordered 3G iPads by "end of April"

Just barely!