So everything about this launch ofthe iPad 2 has been a little "hanky" for Apple.  First, the keynote occured on a Wednesday (usually, product launches are Tuesdays or Thursdays from what I can recall).  Secondly, there is effectively no pre-order.  I purchased the new iMac, the 17" MacBook Pro in 2009, the last three generations of iPod, and every iPhone released.  With the exception of the initial iPhone - everything has had a pre-order.

Now comes the biggest change.  The launch date and time.  It's no suprise to anyone that the launch date for the new iPad is March 11, 2011.   The interesting thing is that I have already heard of tons of people who plan to wait in line overnight to buy the iPad 2 as soon as the stores open in the morning.  What's the problem with this?  Well - if you read Apple's "How to Buy Page" (click here, or it's pictured below) - you will see that the stores will not start selling them until 5PM.

What?

How many people do you estimate will actually show up at the stores bright and early and wait in line overnight only to find out that they can't get the iPad 2 until after 5PM? 

So I consulted with a few of my friends who currently are Verizon CDMA customers to ask them how their current device handles being forced to choose between voice and data connections.

Unlike the current GSM AT&T 3G iPhones, which can maintain Voice and Data connections simultaneously, the new Verizon iPhone, based on CDMA technology is forced to use one or the other but NOT both.  This is also the case with any other Verizon CDMA device.

According to my friends, Verizon maintains a voice-priority network.  In other words, lets say you are browsing the web and a phone call comes in - your data connection is terminated.  While talking on the phone, you simply cannot switch to speakerphone, minimize your phone, and use any apps that require network connectivity.  As far as any app is concerned at that point, it's "off the network".  It will be interesting to see how some existing apps misbehave if the iOS developer hasn't correctly implemented the "reachability" classes for network connectivity monitoring.

The bad thing is - this also holds true for tethering.  A few of my friends who use Verizon tethering said that it's a real pain in the ass if they are tethering and/or sharing their connection by way of a hotspot and then a phone call comes in.  When this happens - all network connectivity drops while the voice call is in place, and then the connection resumes once the voice call ends.

In any case - this is a huge flaw that makes this initial launch on Verizon's network less than stellar.  Of course, this restriction mirrors the same behavior of the original iPhone on AT&T's Edge network.  It was only with the introduction of the 3G AT&T iPhones based on the GSM protocol that you could begin using voice and data at the same time.

Moral of the story - if you think you may want to use some apps and use data at the same time as a voice call, or if you don't ever want your data connections to be spontaneously disconnected by a voice call - Verizon iPhone isn't the answer for you..... yet.

So, admittedly, I'm a bit of a technology geek...  I enjoy reading about new technology, watching how that technology gets applied, and watching how new technology starts out inaccessible to the masses, but eventually ends up in the most mundane devices in your home.

AMOLED and other flavors of OLED technology are included in these technologies that I have been watching.  Only a couple of short years ago - Sonly launched the first OLED television - an 11" screen that was aesthetically appealing, with a stunning picture, and a price tag north of $10,000 USD.  Now, in 2009 - we have cell phones that are coming with AMOLED screens (The google Nexus One, the Samsung Impression (AT&T)) - meaning that OLED displays are already showing in low cost consumer devices.

Knowing that Samsung is considered one of the pioneers in this field (According to wikipedia, they produce 1 in every 2 OLED displays sold today) - one would assume that the new LED TV's that they are advertising are neatly fitted into this category, and mark the start of the transition of this awesome new technology into everyone's home.

Well... if you assumed that, like i did, you'd be wrong.  It started last winter when they started a huge marketing push for their new LED TV's.  If you watch NFL football, you would have seen these ads all over - because "Samsung LED TV" was one of the sponsors of the NFL broadcasts.  Initially, when I saw these ads, I was excited.  Then I saw retailers like newegg.com - one of the sites I purchase from nearly constantly, creating NEW CATEGORIES in their home theater top level category for LED TV's....  Browse that category, and sure enough - all of these new Samsung sets appear there.

So what's the problem??  Well - the problem is that these are not LED TV's at all.  They are simply LED backlit LCD's - another emerging technology that is becoming very common place rather than the flourescent backlit LCD's of yore.  For example, most netbooks with 10.1" displays are LED backlit, the new iMac and Macbook's are LED backlit, increasing numbers of laptops are LED backlit - but these manufacturers are not falsely advertising these products using the name of an emerging technology.

Now, let me say, although it does not sound like it, I am a HUGE samsung fan.  I have samsung LCDs on all of my desktop computers, I supported and used the blackjack phones until the iPhone came out, and I currently have a Samsung LED-DLP TV that I love (although they are not making it anymore which is a shame).  I'm also a huge newegg.com fan.  This deceptive advertising, however, has me a little peeved.  Just yesterday, I was at our local pizza shop having a pie (Enrico's, for all of you Central Ohio peeps) - and I overheard a conversation where a guy was telling his buddy at the table next to me how his LED TV was technologically superior to his buddies LCD TV.  I felt like saying "You're an idiot" - but guess what - I refrained, because not only does Samsung mislead - so do the retailers.

I'm sure that the total DOLT at best buy who sold him his TV probably didn't read any of the specs on the set and basically told this dude it was OLED.  Another pet peeve of mine are the idiots at consumer electronics stores that shouldn't be selling toasters, let alone PC's and Home Theater components... but thats another story for another blog post.

The moral of the story?  READ THE DAMNED SPECS - don't just buy the hype.  Sure, the new Samsung TV's are beautiful and I'd love to have one.  Additionally, I would easily buy one of the new sets over an older flourescent backlit model simply due to the longevity that LED could provide.  Perfect example of how you should be an educated consumer when you're spending that kind of money, and how you should research what you're getting rather than letting someone else tell you what you're getting.

Update 1/10/10 - LG and several other manufacturers have started selling LED backlit LCD TVs now to compete with this new line of Samsung TVs.  Visiting their websites, I have noticed that everyone EXCEPT Samsung are correctly calling these LED Backlit LCD TVs or LED-LCD TVs.  The most important part is that it still contains LCD in the name.  LED is too easily confused with OLED and Samsung really needs to stop this.

Update 1/11/10 - after a little research, I found that the UK's truth in advertising group (The ASA) Has requested Samsung Pull their ads for the very reason I mentioned above.... click here for the story on cnet.

Update 2/1/10 - After a long note that I sent directly to Newegg.com, I've noticed that they are now correctly lists these TV's as LED-LCD..  nice work, NewEgg - I'm now a fan again. ;)  Good to see you listen to customers.