Computer maker says its new tablet may have trouble connecting to wireless networks under certain conditions
By Antone Gonsalves
InformationWeek
Apple has acknowledged that the iPad may have trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi network.
Apple released the tablet-style computer April 3 following weeks of speculation and much hype in the tech media. But like most first-generation devices, there are bugs.
"Under certain conditions, iPad may not automatically rejoin a known Wi-Fi network after restart or waking from sleep," Apple said in a post on its technical support site.
The company went on to say that the connection problems could occur with some third-party Wi-Fi routers that are dual-band capable when using the same network name for each network or using different security settings.
Apple advised iPad users to create separate Wi-Fi network names for each band and to keep security settings consistent.
Connecting the iPad to a Wi-Fi network was the second most popular topic among users in Apple's discussion forum. The top topic was "getting started and using your iPad".
At least one customer appeared frustrated by the ordeal of trying to connect his iPad to the Internet. "I wouldn't let anyone go home tonight at Apple until this Wi-Fi problem has been licked. Let's see some action here folks," the customer said.
Apple sold more than 300,000 iPads in the United States during the first day it was on sale, according to the company. In addition, users downloaded more than 1 million applications from Apple's App Store and more than 250,000 electronic books from the company's new iBookstore the next day.
Apple is expected to sell 7.1 million iPads worldwide this year, iSuppli says. The market research firm is also predicting that sales will reach 14.4 million next year and 20.1 million in 2012.
Information Week
