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I'm an iPad newb. I'm considering bringing back an iPad 2 from the US as a gift for a Chinese relative. Will there be any language or connectivity problems? Other issues?
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For a gift in China. . .just get the WIFI ONLY iPad2. I wouldn't bother about the WIFI + 3G one. With the WIFI ONLY, you have worries about 3G connection or anything. The wifi will work in China as it works in the US.
There are settings to "localize" iPad for language and date/time. For apps, you connect with iTunes (free download from Apple). But in order to get apps (free or paid), you must register on iTunes, with a credit card - a union pay card is not enough. But I would let you friend, who you are giving the gift to, worry about that. They'll figure it out.
There are settings to "localize" iPad for language and date/time. For apps, you connect with iTunes (free download from Apple). But in order to get apps (free or paid), you must register on iTunes, with a credit card - a union pay card is not enough. But I would let you friend, who you are giving the gift to, worry about that. They'll figure it out.
Your suggestion sounds like the way to go, just WiFi, no 3G. We want to make it as painless as possible for the non-techie giftee, so simpler is better. by Micah S 2 years ago
I wouldn't jailbreak or mess with the other settings too much. Yes, Simpler is better.
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Your question is a multi-parter*
US ipad's & iphones are LOCKED, meaning that they are bound to the 2 carriers which support 3G & CDMA service only in the USA (AT&T and Verizon, respectively).
HK ipad2's is carrier UNLOCKED, meaning that the 3G access is not
bound to a wireless carrier. In this event you
can purchase 3G service from any carrier that offers it
worldwide, and your ipad will be able to connect.
That being said, all ipads also have wi-fi capabilities which work anywhere there is a wifi signal (starbucks, home, work, etc.), regardless of locale.
A USA AT&T ipad 3G capabilities will not work in china, although it's wifi will work.
Interface issues such as language support WILL work. You can enable pinyin input or a stylus based input for writing characters in traditional or simplified chinese.
If you have an american itunes store, it will work in china the same as if in the USA (american itunes account = using an american credit card & address when registering an account).
To add another element of complexity to this answer, if you really wanted to, you could jailbreak the ipad and may (or may not) unlock the 3G baseband from AT&T so it can jump on China Mobile or China Unicom, but this is highly unstable and will change from each iOS (ipad operating system) iteration...meaning once a new version of the OS is upgraded you may lose that 3G capabilities until you jailbreak & unlock again....
Your best bet is to get a HK ipad2 if you do a lot of traveling between US, China, etc.
US ipad's & iphones are LOCKED, meaning that they are bound to the 2 carriers which support 3G & CDMA service only in the USA (AT&T and Verizon, respectively).
HK ipad2's is carrier UNLOCKED, meaning that the 3G access is not
bound to a wireless carrier. In this event you
can purchase 3G service from any carrier that offers it
worldwide, and your ipad will be able to connect.
That being said, all ipads also have wi-fi capabilities which work anywhere there is a wifi signal (starbucks, home, work, etc.), regardless of locale.
A USA AT&T ipad 3G capabilities will not work in china, although it's wifi will work.
Interface issues such as language support WILL work. You can enable pinyin input or a stylus based input for writing characters in traditional or simplified chinese.
If you have an american itunes store, it will work in china the same as if in the USA (american itunes account = using an american credit card & address when registering an account).
To add another element of complexity to this answer, if you really wanted to, you could jailbreak the ipad and may (or may not) unlock the 3G baseband from AT&T so it can jump on China Mobile or China Unicom, but this is highly unstable and will change from each iOS (ipad operating system) iteration...meaning once a new version of the OS is upgraded you may lose that 3G capabilities until you jailbreak & unlock again....
Your best bet is to get a HK ipad2 if you do a lot of traveling between US, China, etc.
Thanks, those details really clear up my questions. I've heard that jailbreaking is a common post-sale service at the markets here, but my relative isn't in Shanghai nor tech savvy, so I'm thinking that option is out. Looks like the best option is to just load it up with useful (legit) apps using my own credit card, then gift it.
0
A popular example of this type is that
of Netflix, a geo network web site within the USA
that one might not be ready to access if he or she is outside USA. In such a case VPN would be of nice facilitate
for those folks
www.purevpn.com/vpn-service/ipad-vpn.php
of Netflix, a geo network web site within the USA
that one might not be ready to access if he or she is outside USA. In such a case VPN would be of nice facilitate
for those folks
www.purevpn.com/vpn-service/ipad-vpn.php
0
I bought mine in Hong Kong and never had any problem using it in China. I guess is the same with the US one.
Thanks for the reassuring answer! Though I would appreciate some more detail. For example, what exactly do you mean by "never had any problem"? Remember, I'm an iPad newb. Do you connect to the internet? How? Does it have/need a Chinese interface? Do/Can you download Chinese apps from a Chinese app store? If my questions are naive or based on false premises, please point that out as well.
Thanks again!
My friend told me that you could have problem with the wi-fi 3G because the 3G card is locked and can be used only in the US.
I connect to internet with my Ipad is there's a wireless but you can buy the card from China Unicom if I'm not wrong. About the download, I use the HK app store, dont know about the Chinese app store.
Hope it could be useful!