Dear Steve Jobs: Tethering the iPad is Easy - with the Palm Pre Plus 36
Last week a story made its way around the blogosphere that Steve Jobs answered an email. Our pals at TiPb covered the iPad tethering question, originally from 9to5Mac:
First, the question from Jezper Söderlund:
Will the wifi-only version [of the iPad] somehow support tethering thru my iPhone?
And the answer?
No.
Sent from my iPhone
We thought it might be appropriate to send another email:
Dear Steve:
Will the wifi-only version [of the iPad] somehow support tethering through Mobile Hotspot on the Palm Pre Plus? Wait, don't answer that, we already know that it will.
Love, PreCentral
...of course, we'll be paying $40 per month for the privilege, but hey, it's there. While we're on the subject, we'll note that webOS 1.4 seems to have busted up the hack to get the Verizon-only Mobile Hotspot app working on Sprint - the hackery required now is epic, to say the least. Win some, lose some - but for Verizon Palm Pre Plus owners thinking about the iPad, we'll chalk it up as a win.
36 Comments
mytether is working fine on my sprint pre, no extra monthly charge!
Why does Steve Jobs have to act like such an ignorant tool?
I would actually say an "arrogant" tool.
People lets come together. Steve Jobs is an arrogant, ignorant tool.
See, we all can get along :)
I read it 'arrogant', heh.
He doesn't *act like* a tool. He *is* a tool.
stop now, be fair, that would be an insult to tools everywhere
I have been tethering on the Sprint network for over 7 years. There were always Sprint phones that would connect to my laptop through usb.
Can someone give me instructions on tethering my iPad 2 with my Palm Pre Plus?
Thank you.
Lana
I'm sure Apple & AT&T don't have a problem with iPad tethering as long it happens on someone else's network.
With the iPad's gimped version of the internet, I don't see why they'd have a problem with it.
Yes, MyTether works fine. It's just too bad Sprint no longer allows tethering on their network. That still pisses me off. Does anyone know how they might go about figuring out if one is tethering or not? Will they really know if I use MyTether only occasionally when I have absolutely no other connection to the internet for my laptop?
Not only does MyTether work fine but Sprint definitely still allows tethering on their network- I was tethering all weekend to multiple devices...where did you hear they weren't allowing tethering anymore?? I don't see how they would ever find out seeing as my max data usage for a single month was up near 8 GB's. Now unless they somehow read this post and figure out my account then I don't think tethering will be blocked. Thanks Aonic!
Sprint officially banned tethering a few months ago, right after I got my Pre. I don't know how they would find out. That is the question I am asking. But, officially, if they do find out, they could charge you ridiculous amounts of money.
mytether works just fine on my palm pre and no 40 dollars a month charge Sprint rules. i love there new ads telling you you get it all for 69.99 a month and the others you just get phone calls
Really? That is a cool line! And it sure seems to be true. Verizon has the add where they lowered the rate from $99 to $69...but that is before you add a data plan. And you can't add a minimal plan for $9.99 on the Pre, it has to be at least the $29.99/month plan. And tethering is $40 more. Oh well.
I have a Verizon Pre+ and would love to have more bang for my buck...only it's not my buck, it's my business's...but if I were having to fork out the money, I'd be seriously thinking about moving over to Sprint. As it is, I'll be saving up $10 a month and buy a gps in a year. I expect it to pay for itself a few times over! Besides, I like the Garmin units better than phone versions of Navigation apps.
I still love my verizon service, coverage is unbeatable over the long haul. By the way, is the 'Sprint roams free on Verizon network' limited only to voice calls...not data? I've heard rumor of that...just wondering.
"'Sprint roams free on Verizon network' limited only to voice calls...not data? I've heard rumor of that...just wondering."
Sprint roams on Verizon for voice and data. You do have to go into set up and turn data roaming on.
It's too bad so many people on the Palm forums are so anti-Apple products. This is actually a big feature that won't be discussed because not many Palm owners are capable of talking about Apple without throwing in some random slam against them.
Anyway, for me then MyTether has saved me thousands of dollars. I was able to get off ATT but still can use my iPhone over tether. And when I get an iPad then I'll save $130+monthly by getting the base model instead of 3G.
MyTether is amazing, but the only problem is how quickly it drains the batteries. Even when plugged into a car charger then it drains batter faster than it charges. But overall it's my favorite feature of the Pre.
Some of the criticism is slamming, but much of it is just honest assessment of an overrated product. When that product is as overhyped and hyperdefended by overzealous fanbois as most Apple products are, then honest criticism can be seen as slamming.
The iPhone is a very good device, but from my perspective it has some serious flaws (non-removable battery, no real multi-tasking, "gated community" approach to apps). The iPad, however, is a fairly ridiculous device at this point.
after using a pre for a week, it's impossible to go back to an iphone. i think that for some people the iphone's most appealing feature is its single-mindedness and simplicity. it introduced the concept of ease of use in design that developers needed to be shown and forced to work towards, but it's old and the interface is dated. contra-wise, if you are the kind of person that can handle multiple threads of thought, iphone os is too much like putting on blinders. plus iphone was doomed from the get go by swearing feality to AT&T. Apple and AT&T banded together to vacuum as much money from customers as possible. no other network was willing to throw it's customers under the bus for profits. no other company has ever inflated the claims of it's network's abilities within the same magnitude as AT&T. they have worked to eliminate the freedom choice that users once had.
Sounds like you were lucky enough to get your hands on an iPad early. How's the battery life?
I have a long line of Apple computers under my belt. I love OSX. Never had an iPhone or an iPod. Never really appealed to me and iTunes was innovative but now it's simply a subscription trap and bloated. I really tire of the "Doesn't sync with iTunes" canard because it doesn't really matter. People are sold into iTunes support because Apple successfully tied everyone into their subscription meme. Bashing? Yeah because Apple has turned a corner into the absurd with the HTC patent infringement, the self-referential "Magical" and "Revolutionary" product monikers. People seem to forget the major Apple misses like the 20th Anniversary Mac, the Cube, Apple game console, need I go on? The iPad is a severely hampered product and the iPhone has the potential to completely dominate the smart phone market but it's locked down can't multitask, moisture protected work of half-assed art. Thankfully Jobs attitude has helped the competition for that anything. Maybe Palm should open up the OS to HTC hardware rather than stick to their hardware. I use a Pre Plus and I like many things about it and I think it's got real potential but I'd rather have the Pixi form factor with the Pre's specs. I think Palm got the hardware backwards and pushing the wrong market segment. Apple got the hardware right on the iPhone but not the total package. They deserve bashing to a degree.
I would have to disagree on palm opening up the software to other companies...look what it is doing with google. Multiple phones with different specs and different user experiences with each. They range from running 1.6 to 2.1 and most can't even do multi-touch or run the same apps. If Palm can release a flagship type of phone in the coming months, I truly think they can turn it around. Read the article on Engadget, don't know the title off the top of my head but has to do with the differing user experiences
Why would anyone even buy the iPad? it's a giant iTouch. You still won't be able to go to web sites running Flash. Why not just get an eeepc and put Linux on it?
How are you Sprint pre owners able to tether? I used to have the mytether app but it stopped working after WebOS 1.3
The Paid MyTether works fine on 1.4. Not sure how any of the free versions work.
ok people. I just reset to 1.3.5.1 to get the hotspot back. Just do that. You're only getting the video recorder with the update anyway. Flash aint coming out for a bazillion years. And is anybody else annoyed about the volume issue with 1.4 seemingly going unnoticed by palm?.... And shut up tools that keep defending the issue being hardware. I just went back to 1.3.5.1 and voila! No volume issue. That means software, not hardware.
ok people. I just reset to 1.3.5.1 to get the hotspot back. Just do that. You're only getting the video recorder with the update anyway. Flash aint coming out for a bazillion years. And is anybody else annoyed about the volume issue with 1.4 seemingly going unnoticed by palm?.... And shut up tools that keep defending the issue being hardware. I just went back to 1.3.5.1 and voila! No volume issue. That means software, not hardware.
ok. you know what?! EFF SPRINT. sprint, honey, I've stood up for you when only 20 people used your network. your prices are amazing. but I'd rather be on verizon if sprint bans tethering -___-" http://j.mp/bEbVWu
I posted this on Saturday.
http://gadgetsonthego.net/2010/03/steve-jobs-responds-to-email-asking-if...
Using the awesome app My Tether you can tether your Sprint Pre to an iPad very easily and get it online.
did you guys actually send this email?
Um...isn't the 3G version of the iPad with AT&T service only $30/month? Why would anyone with a Pre Plus wanna pay $40/month and tether their iPad?
Yes, I understand other devices can connect to it too but over the course of time if you are solely using your Pre Tethering the for iPad it doesn't add up. You get a more capable iPad while paying less after 13 months. Plus you can use your iPad and not have to worry about draining your Pre battery and/or keeping your Pre with you at all times...
Anyway, just my two cents...
I have a Sprint palm pre 1.4 and I have the paid my tether and it is working just fine and iam loving it, for those of you that can't get it you are just "Dumn" , just go to mytether .net , and they will sent you a email with a user name and password, I had my tether on sprint palm pre in less then 5 min. its just that easy just check out there site it all good.
my tether works with the wii too! Mobile hotspot did not... Great app!
One of the above asked why we hate Apple. Well actually I don't hate many of their products which have been revolutionary, however it is Steve Jobs and his unbelieveable hipocrasy regarding his f-ed up corporate control. Many of youu may not remember but way back in '84 they had this commercial with a woman throwing a hammer threw the Windows world domination attempt that was powerful in imagery and it was also what they strived for. Now Apple and Jobs are lost in their own fanboyism and Jobs has lost his mind. He is arrogant, ignorant (see iPhone China rollout) and while it won't be Palm taking Apple down, it will be the collective competition overall that will make Apple the near footnote that it once was. He can sue the planet but in the end the government wants mobility and happy consumers and it's even bigger worry needs to be Google not Apples patent suits.
i actually got my tether running on my VZW Pre 1.4 its been updated and its working great. Now my iPhone will have good 3g coverage where ever i go. Once the iPad comes ill be tethering that too.
It's not too late, please edit so the message sent to Steve ends with:
Sent from my Pr?