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News

AT&T Cracking Down on Jailbreak Tethering

What is tethering? Well, tethering with your iPhone is using your iPhone as a modem for other devices to connect to the internet. Tethering allows you to use your iPhone as a means for Internet access, through WiFi, USB, or Bluetooth. There are many people who jailbreak their iPhone and use it for tethering. One of the most popular jailbreaking apps is MyWi. MyWi allows you to bypass AT&T’s DataPro plan check and enable you to tether independently. Running jailbreaking apps such as MyWi gives you the chance to use your iPhone as a hotspot for other devices to connect to the internet. It appears AT&T has noticed that people are jailbreaking their iPhone devices and are tethering without AT&T’s permission. AT&T has been sending this letter to customers who are suspected of tethering without permission:

Dear [Name of Account Holder],

We’ve noticed your service plan may need updating.

Many AT&T customers use their smartphones as a broadband connection for other devices, like laptops, netbooks or other smartphones— a practice commonly known as tethering. Tethering can be an efficient way for our customers to enjoy the benefits of AT&T’s mobile broadband network and use more than one device to stay in touch with important people and information. To take advantage of this feature, we require that in addition to a data plan, you also have a tethering plan.
Our records show that you use this capability, but are not subscribed to our tethering plan.

If you would like to continue tethering, please log into your account online at www.wireless.att.com, or call us at 1-888-860-6789 Monday — Friday, 7 a.m. — 9 p.m. CST or Saturday, 8 a.m. — 7 p.m. CST, by March 27, 2011 to sign up for DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering. Here are details on the plan:

DataPro 4GB for Smartphone Tethering
– $45 per month (this gives you 4GB in total, combining both your smartphone data plan for $25 and the tethering feature, $20)
– $10 per each additional GB thereafter, added automatically as needed
– Mobile Hotspot capabilities are included for compatible Smartphones

If we don’t hear from you, we’ll plan to automatically enroll you into DataPro 4GB after March 27, 2011. The new plan — whether you sign up on your own or we automatically enroll you — will replace your current smartphone data plan, including if you are on an unlimited data plan.

If you discontinue tethering, no changes to your current plan will be required.

It’s easy to track your usage throughout the month so there are no bill surprises. For example, we send you free text messages when you reach 65, 90, and 100 percent of your plan’s threshold. If you would like to monitor your account more closely, go to www.att.com/dataplans to learn about other ways to track your data usage.

As a reminder, our smartphone data plans also include unlimited usage of Wi-Fi at no additional charge. AT&T smartphone customers can use Wi-Fi at home or on-the-go at any one of our more than 23,000 U.S. hotspots already included in your data plan.

Thank you for bringing your account up to date. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve your mobile broadband needs.

Sincerely,

AT&T

Please update your data plan by March 27, 2011 if you intend to continue tethering

To learn more and update your plan, visit att.com/dataplans

Reach us for assistance during business hours: Monday — Friday 7 a.m. — 9 p.m. CST Saturday 8 a.m. — 7 p.m. CST at 1-888-860-6789

If you are suspected of tethering without permission, you are most likely going to receive this email letter. If you receive this email, you should contact AT&T immediately. If you decide to discontinue tethering without permission, you will not be penalized. If you decide to continue to tether, you will have to enroll into DataPro 4GB.

AT&T is really cracking down on those who are jailbreaking and tethering without permission. Many people will definitely be disappointed that they can no longer tether without having to pay for the DataPro 4GB.

Feel free to leave questions or comments below.

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Categories
News

iPad 2 Lines Still Crowded After Launch!

It has been more than a week since the launch of the iPad 2, and it is still difficult to get one. People have been lining up outside Apple retail stores every morning. Apple retail stores only receive shipments on certain days also, but they will not disclose the days it will receive a shipment. You have to go every morning just to check if they even have a shipment that day. Even if they do have a shipment, they only receive a small quantity. If you decide to buy it online, it now estimates that it will ship in 4-5 weeks, which is a very long time for those who are anxious to get there hands on one. On a positive note, if you buy it online at the Apple Online Store, you get free shipping and free iPad engraving, an Apple Online Store exclusive offer.

Apple Stores are now holding iPad 2 shipments that were received during the day, instead of selling them once they arrive, so they can sell it the next morning so people won’t crowd the store all day hoping a shipment will arrive to sell throughout the day. Some Apple Stores are even opening earlier just to sell the iPad 2 and get rid of the crowd so it will be less crowded for the normal business hours.

In my opinion, your best bet is to still purchase your iPad 2 online at the Apple Online Store. You get free shipping and the free iPad engraving is an awesome offer. You can your very own iPad 2 customized with your very own engraving. On the other side, I would also want to get my iPad 2 right away. It would also be a good idea to go to the Apple Store early in the morning and wait in line. Some people are even camping out, so there is a lot of competition for getting an iPad 2. Just make sure you are prepared for the weather. The iPad 2 is definitely in demand, and I hope they come out with more frequent and larger shipments because we are all waiting for one.

Feel free to leave comments and questions.

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Average Joe's Tips

Part Three Traveling with the iPad: Economical Accessories

As promised I am going to give you five economical travel accessories for the iPad. These accessories are less expensive, but do not have the same quality put into them as the products in the previous article. Not to say that they are not good because they are great products.

The first item is a case and I have selected the Incase Origami Sleeve. This is a great product because it is protective of the iPad and you can fold the sleeve up to make a stand for your iPad! This catch will only cost you $35. The next item up to replace the Tumi bag is the Golla G366 backpack. This backpack has many pockets perfect for fitting anything you want a a very protective spot to put a computer or iPad for only $90. Up next is the PortaPro by Koss. Like it’s name it is very portable and easy to carry making this perfect for international travel for $50. Very nice and reasonably priced is the iPad Keyboard Dock by Apple for $73. At first glance the Kensington adapter looks like the Tumi Adapter but no its about $30 less and its still great. This is clearly a great choice in these hard economical times to replace more expensive items.

Stay connected at my new twitter handle to stay updated 24/7 @TRMGaveragejoes and @realmacgenius

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section.

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Uncategorized

Update 3/21/11 iPad 2 Shortage, AT&T + T-Mobile, AT&T Tethering Warnings

Learn about the iPad 2 shortages around the US and delayed launches around the world, AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile, and AT&T warning iPhone customers using unwarranted tethering applications and plans.

Do you need to run windows applications on your Mac? CrossOver, by CodeWeavers can help! Learn more about how to use CrossOver and CrossOver Games to run windows applications on your Mac . No need to reboot, no need for a virtual machine AND no need for a window’s license!

 

Categories
Average Joe's Tips News

How to: Enable iPad Orientation Lock Switch 4.3

 

What if one of the most anticipated features for the iPad 2 was a small switch? The small switch is on the new iOS 4.3 which re-enables the iPad orientation lock switch, which was temporarily turned into a mute switch in a previous iOS update. In the newest iPad update, it now lets you choose whether to have the side switch function as a rotation lock or as a mute button. Here are the steps to switch between the rotation lock and mute.

 

  • Tap on “Settings”
  • Scroll to and tap on “General”
  • Scroll down and look for “Use Side Switch to:” and tap on “Lock Rotation”
  • Exit settings by clicking the home button and you are done

 

In this picture, you can tell that we have switched the rotation lock on instead of the mute button:

 

 

 

If you’re wondering to why anybody would care about this, here’s some background information. Apple changed the rotation lock to be a software feature in the previous iOS. This caused the mute button to turn into the side switch. Many people were actually mad at this because it use to be very convenient to just turn the lock on without any hassle. Apple listened to the people and gave us the choice to turn the side switch into a rotation lock or mute button. How nice of Apple to make this change, if you think this is useful, let us know. Drop a comment and tell us if this affects you or if you think this matters at all.