Posts Tagged ipad

So, I’ve got my new wifi iPad and an iPhone with a 6GB data plan on Australia’s Telstra network.  The iPad hasn’t been released in Australia yet so when I took it on its first outing last weekend it really was the centre of attention with a bunch of techy media friends.  The big question I kept getting constantly was “But why didn’t you wait and get the 3G version? You won’t be able to use it on the road!”

Fair enough question but I knew all along what I was doing.  Like most iPhone owners I have a data plan on my phone and mine is fantastic.  It always works well, the coverage with Telstra (Australia’s largest telco) is awesome and the speeds are great.  I tether my iPhone to my MacBook Pro a LOT (to send photos and use the internet whilst on the road) and even though we pay high data prices in Australia (about AUS$70 for 6GB) it is money well spent in my opinion.

What really sucks though its that Apple have not allowed tethering between iPads and iPhones as this would impact on sales of their 3G model.  So therefore the average punter will buy a 3G iPad and pay for two separate data plans for both their iPhone and their 3G iPad.  Ridiculous I say!

So, here’s how to get around that problem easily.

1. ‘Jailbreak’ your iPhone
2. Install MyWi application (available in Cydia {which will be installed as part of your jailbreak})
3. Run MyWi and create a WiFi access point
4. Connect your iPad to this access point

All sounds pretty easy?  Well it really is that easy.  MyWi works by creating an access point out of your phone’s 3G connection.  You then connect any WiFi device to this wireless network  just as you would connect to any wireless network.  Other users can also connect if you/they wish or you can add a security key to ward off most leechers.

I used the new “Spirit” untethered jailbreak which is amazingly easy to apply.  Find it here.  Once it is applied you will find a new “app” called Cydia on your phone.  In Cydia search for “MyWi” and install.  Easy.

Cydia and MyWi on iPhone 3GS

MyWi application on iPhone 3GS

A couple of things to watch out for. When you jailbreak with Spirit it may (depending upon the version of Spirit available at the time of downloading) wipe all photos and videos from your camera roll.  It wiped all mine but like any good photographer I had them all backed up on my desktop computer.  Also, MyWi will suck the life out of your battery, which is understandable considering the job it is doing.  Always give some thought to power availability when using this.  Also, don’t blame me if anything goes wrong and your phone ends up as useless as a paperweight.  It seems as though literally tens of thousands of people have successfully used this jailbreak but don’t blame me if you’re the one who has a bad experience

Have fun guys!

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