The iPad comes in two versions, one wi-fi only, and the second including 3G connectivity via AT&T in the U.S., as well. With the launch of pre-ordering of the device, Apple has detailed more information about the 3G service.

Previously, we knew that, aside from the extra $130 per device for 3G, you also two different contract-free options to choose from: one has a monthly charge of $14.99 for 250GB of data; the other is $29.99 for unlimited, with, as noted above, AT&T is the provider.

Apple's new information includes:

3G plan sign-up can be done directly from the iPad (above). It's done in the iPad's Settings application, where the user can select a plan and a credit card payment method.

Once that's done, data usage can be monitored directly from the iPad (above), and if you have the 250GB plan, the device will warn you, three times, as you approach the zero point (at 20 percent, 10 percent, and zero). You can change the plan at each of those alerts.

You can also change the plan at any time, also directly from the iPad (above). Nicely, customers can cancel or re-enroll at any time. One advantage to the 3G plan is that it also gives you access to AT&T 20,000 hotspots, including McDonald's, Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, and more.

One has to wonder much more fun AT&T connectivity will be once iPads are added to the already strained network.

Tags: 3g, Advantage, Amp, Apple, Barnes, Credit Card Payment, Extra, Free Options, iPad, Ipads, Launch, Mcdonald, Starbucks, Three Times, Time One, Two Versions, Wi Fi, Zero Point

iPad pre-orders began on Friday, March 12th, as Apple promised. Pre-orders began being accepted at 5:30 AM PST.

Apple is limiting pre-orders to two per customer. Shipping is free, and as the device will arrive on April 3rd in stores, those who have Saturday delivery in their area will receive it that day. There is also an option for in-store pickup. Those who opt for pickup can do so between 9 AM and 3 PM that day.

The iPad also comes with 90 days of complimentary phone technical support. The hardware, including the rechargeable battery and all accessories, carries a one year warranty. You can assume he screen is not, if damaged accidentally. Coverage can be extended to two years with a $99 AppleCare protection plan.

The iPad is the long-rumored Apple tablet PC. Announced in January, it uses a version of the iPhone OS, which means it also has its limitations. For one, while Apple CEO Steve Jobs contends the iPad is superior to a netbook, it will be unable to multi-task, at least at launch.

Specification-wise, the iPad is 0.5 inches thick and weighs 1.5 pounds, with reported battery life of "up to" 10 hours. It has a 9.7-inch display and a 1GHz custom Apple-built A4 chip with the CPU and graphics combined. The device is targeted as a device that fits between an iPhone and a MacBook, and is positioned as an e-book (iBook) reader, as well as a web browser. It will also be able to run many of the 140,000 App Store applications written for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Should you buy n iPad right now? Early adopters usually end up with the short end of the stick. The first iPhone buyers were not all that happy with the device's limitations, and certainly were not happy when Apple sharply cut the price a few months later. In fact, a lawsuit was even generated.

Thus, if you are not someone who obsessively needs to be the first with a new device, you should wait. Allow someone else to "kick the tires" before you charge in with your credit card.

Tags: Apple Ceo, Apple Tablet, Applecare Protection Plan, April 3rd, Battery Life, Customer Shipping, E Book, iPad, iPhone, Launch, Macbook, Netbook, Rechargeable Battery, Rush, Short End Of The Stick, Steve Jobs, Store Applications, Tablet Pc, Tires, Web Browser

There's still no content available, but manufacturers have started a 3DTV launch blitz that will make your head spin. They are counting on the popularity of 3D movies like "Avatar" to make a 3DTV the next must-have hardware for the home. Samsung, LG, Sony, and Panasonic are the top four TV manufacturers.

Samsung on Tuesday introduced its line of 3DTVs at an event in New York. Samsung will offer 3D in LED, conventional fluorescent-backlit LCD, and plasma TV sets. The least expensive Samsung 3D TV is a 46-inch LCD, due out in May for about $1,700.

Samsung's plasma line includes six 3D sets starting with a 50-inch set at about $1,800, up to a 63-inch set at $3,800, all available in May. Meanwhile, Samsung's LED line includes 46-inch and 55-inch 3D versions due this month at $2,600 and $3,200, respectively. There is also a 40-inch priced at about $2,000 due out in May. At the top is a new higher-end line with a 55-inch model for nearly $7,000.

Sony, on the other hand, expects to sell 2.5 million 3DTVs this fiscal year (ending March 2011). Sony anticipates selling 25 million TV sets, with 10 percent of them 3D. That is pretty optimistic when there is still a dearth of 3D content.

Panasonic said it's planning to introduce 3D TVs at Best Buy, starting Wednesday of this week for only $2,500, about half the price they're available for in Japan. Why the favoritism? It's part of a strategy so that Panasonic can hit its target of 1 million 3DTVs (worldwide) sold in 2010.

Manufacturers have better hope the recession is truly over. There are many obstacles to adoption, including the glasses that must be worn to view 3D content. Many simply feel the glasses are too much of a pain.

There's also the fact that this is the first "round" of 3DTVs. There is an old adage that you should never buy the first revision of any product.

Additionally, quite a few consumers just moved up to HDTVs, and would be hard-pressed to justify another purchase for a brand-new technology.

Finally, there is the lack of content. Until June, when ESPN launches ESPN 3-D, there won't be much on TV. That network will showcase at least 85 live sporting events during its first year. That still seems a rather sparse mix, content-wise, if one doesn't need to upgrade their set. ESPN 3-D's first broadcast scheduled to be the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match on June 11th, between South Africa and Mexico.

Tags: 3d Sets, 3d Tv, 3dtv, Backlit Lcd, Best Buy, Dearth, Favoritism, Fiscal Year Ending March, Four Tv, Hdtvs, Inch Lcd, Inch Model, Launch, New Technology, Old Adage, Plasma Tv, Recession, Target, Tv Manufacturers, Year Ending March

Adding wallpaper background to your folders' file panes lets you easily recognize and differentiate folder windows - particularly if you have backup folders on a removable or network drive with names identical to the originals on your own hard drive.
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First of all resize your picture to the size of your folder part.
To add wallpaper to a folder in XP:

Open the folder, choose Tools > Folder > Options, and click the View tab
Under Advanced settings, select Show hidden files and folders (you may need to double-click Hidden files and folders first)
Uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) and click Yes when you see the warning
Click OK, and double-click the file named desktop.ini to open it in your text editor (you may not see the .ini extension). If you can't find a desktop.ini file, launch Notepad or your preferred text editor
In your text editor, type or copy:
[{BE098140-A513-11D0-A3A4-00C04FD706EC}]
IconArea_Image=C:\My Documents\...\...(path to your image file)

If you're editing the folder's existing desktop.ini file, save the file and close your text editor. If you created the file from scratch, save it with the name "desktop.ini" in the folder that will house the background picture; use quotation marks to keep Notepad from adding its default .txt extension.
Once you've created your desktop.ini file, click Start > Run, type in the command line, ATTRIB +S "folder name" (e.g. ATTRIB +S " C:\Documents and Settings\[your userid]\My Documents") to activate the new settings

Tags: Background Picture, Background Wallpaper, C Documents, Desktop Ini, Documents And Settings, Folder Name, Folder Windows, Hard Drive, Hidden Folders, Image File, Launch, Names, Notepad, Operating System, Panes, Path, Preferred Text Editor, Quotation Marks, Scratch, Wallpaper Background

Tags: Globe, International Sports, Launch, Lifestyle, Live Television, Music News, Online Software, Online Tv, Satellite Providers, Search Engine, Software Tv, Television Programs, Tv Channels, Tv Player, Tv Software, Tv Sports, User Generated Content