iPhone Daily News Digest

With estimates of Apple’s first weekend of iPad pre-orders already topping 150,000 units, we thought we’d take a quick look at just which models TiPb readers — and staff — were getting. We posted our survey on Friday, just as pre-orders started and the results can be seen above. A lot of you are either not getting one or are waiting before taking the plunge. For those of you who did pre-order, the cheapest 16GB iPad Wi-Fi was most popular, followed by the most expensive 64GB iPad 3G, and then the 32GB Wi-Fi model.

As to TiPb (and SPE!) staff, here’s what we’re getting and why:

• Rene Ritchie: I went with the 16GB Wi-Fi version because I want it now and will be getting a 3G version as well so I’m keeping costs down up-front so I can splurge at the end. Also, I have to drive from Montreal to Albany to pick it up, so, yeah.

• Dieter Bohn: The iPad is an exercise in contradictions: looks like it could be a full, multitasking computer, but acts like a giant iPhone. Could be a giant iPhone, but the big screen makes it something more. So I figured I’d embrace the contradiction and get the craziest one in the lineup: 64 gigs, WiFi only. The fact that I have several phones which act as WiFi hotspots helps, though.

• Chad Garrett: It was a tough call, but I need an iPad like NOW. So, I went with the 16GB Wi-Fi only model. I already have a 32GB iPhone 3GS so I can’t see the justification of another $130 for 3G on the iPad. The base model will meet my needs just fine and fill the empty hole in my life.

• Jeremy Sikora: I ordered a 32GB iPad Wi-Fi. I blame Rene.

• Chris Vitek: I am going for the 3G because I want the option of having Internet/data connections even without wifi. The large disk size is so I can load lots of photos and media (mostly movies) and apps without worrying about running out of space. I would have preferred a larger storage size, but 64GB isn’t too bad.

• Matt Sawyers: I am going with the 3G iPad. While I expect to mostly use the iPad in WiFi areas, to know that I can get 3G away from a Wifi point if I need it. Also the fact that I will not have to pay for the service every month if I do not need it is an extra incentive! The 64GB size will be used for a large number of documents I like to have on the go & I will have a lot of my podcasts & videos on it as well.

• Mickey Papillon, The Cell Phone Junkie: I went with the 16gb iPad because I wanted to get and use the iPad to keep up with the technology, but won’t be keeping all my media on it. I determined from my 32gb iPhone that I don’t use all the space on it, and in fact, most of the space on the iPhone is being used by music. I will not be putting any music on the iPad, as I have other devices that I use for music (like the iPhone and ipod).

• Matt Miller, Nokia Experts: After much internal debate, I bought a 32GB WiFi-only version because I think it will be a great tool for my daily train commute. It may end up replacing my nook with the multiple ebook client support and it will keep me from buying this year’s new iPhone, no matter how cool it might be. I can get a great iPhone app experience on the iPad without having to sign up for an AT&T contract. I never use my iPhone 3GS as a phone so the iPad should also replace my iPhone, but my daughter will be happy to take it from me.

If you pre-ordered the iPad, tell us which one you ordered and why!

150,000 iPads Pre-Ordered, Which Ones are TiPb Getting? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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TopNews United States

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According to TechCrunch, some of the worst scams in social gaming are moving from Facebook and MySpace to the iPhone:

Users are offered virtual currency in exchange for answering a quiz or some other seemingly harmless offer. But once they click through and awswer the quiz questions they’re told they need to enter their mobile phone number to get quiz results. Often there is fine print outlining the charges. But the already tiny print is completely unreadable on a mobile screen, making that disclosure meaningless even when it appears.

SMS subscription scams are among the most lucrative offers to game publishers because users get a recurring fee of $10 – $25 per month until they are able to terminate the subscription. Many users never notice them, and those that do usually have a lot of trouble getting them shut off.

TechCrunch has reached out to the companies they claim are powering the scams, including “OfferPal Media and SuperRewards and now Google” and has received reassurances from some of them that they are working towards guidelines and policies — not to get rid of the practice but to make the terms clearer for end users. Apparently, there’s so much money involved in this type of “advertising” that it’s not going anywhere soon, it just might get less “scammy”.

Read the articles linked above for more information on how it works and who the players are, but bottom line remember — if something sounds too good to be true, it is. If a game offers you”free” in-game currency (or whatever they use to incentive play) there’s always a cost. Don’t give out your mobile number, and don’t download apps unless you trust them completely.

If you’ve had any experiences with social gaming scams, or any type of in-app scams, let us know!

Facebook and MySpace Social Gaming Scams Moving to iPhone? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Geeky gadgets

NEW: Unlock iPhone 2G/3G New Unlock KIT Bet UK Betting (blog) However, when you unlock iPhone 3G or Unlock iPhone 2G you remove that programming block. It allows you to leave the cell phone company that is currently … New 2010 Unlock iPhone Software for 3G and 2G AvailableBigNews.biz (press release) Best Softwer to Unlock Iphone 3G,3Gs Easy to UseBet UK Betting (blog) Now You can Unlock iPhone 3G or iPhone 2G Online Quick and EasyBet UK Betting (blog) Bet UK Betting (blog) all 148 news articles »

Walyou (blog)

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The iPhone is the ultimate convenience maker. Need to save some time and effort to complete a task and it’s there. Things like paying your bills, ordering a pizza or getting that cup of coffee at Starbucks can all be accomplished by a few keystrokes on an app. Thanks to a new app called Giiv, sending a present is as simple as a text from your iPhone.

Giiv is a new mobile gifting platform that works very simply by sending presents with mobile phone numbers. You can choose from a variety of products from merchants like Amazon, Fandango, and services like massages or yoga classes.

Giving a gift begins with registering for the service and providing your payment information. After that, it’s as easy as entering the recipient’s phone number and typing in a short message for delivery. Gifts are redeemed on the Giiv site using a code found in the text message. Every gift sent with Giiv also incurs a 99 cent convenience fee.

If you’re prone to waiting till the last minute to buy a gift or just want to send a quick smile to let them know you care, Giiv is a very convenient way to do it. It’s probably going to be a memorable one too given what a unique gifting experience this is.

Giiv is a free app and it’s available now on the App Store.

Related Posts

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Rene talks to Marc Edwards of Bjango about Consume [$0.99 - iTunes link] for iPhone. Consume lets you track your cell phone and broadband usage, packages (like new Apple Store deliveries!), club cards, and more.

And Bjango’s giving away ten (10) promo codes to TiPb readers! Just drop a comment below and tell us what you’d like to see in an iPad version of Consume. We’ll pick 10 of you at random (so make sure you leave a valid email address so we can contact you).

Note: Promo Codes are only valid in the US App Store (Apple’s rule, not ours), and they expire, so if you get one, use it asap!

YouTube link

TiPb Apps 4.1 (and Give Away!) — Consume for iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

CNET	Apple bans iPhone app that measures cell phone radiation CNET But I imagine if someone were clever enough to create an iPhone app that told you how much radiation your phone was emitting, … and more »

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