just curious about what happens with iPad/iPhone app updates. Assuming there are updates, how do you find out about them and is there typically a fee?. I'm about to order an iPhone (for wife) and an iPad (for me) and realized I have no clue.

are you talking about Apps or the OS on the iPad/iPhone?

If you are talking about Apps, then what you should do about once a week at least is to open up the App Store (it's the one with the A icon) and check for updates. (there is an Updates tab on the window...you will see it)

If you are talking about the OS, you can find out when an update is out by hooking up your iPad/iPhone to your computer and iTunes will automatically tell you.

Thanks John, It's the former, Apps. I was surprised when I realized that I was so clueless. My wife says I'm always clueless but I seldom agree. :-)

iTunes notifies you of apps that have been updated teh same way that it does if you're subscribed to a podcast.

Are you going to get the iPhone 4 or the 3GS ?

The iPhone 4. I have been waiting for a long time so I could get the best GPS unit in the phone. It's been long enough. Mostly it is for traveling. My wife hesitates to take her (our) portable on trips for fear something will happen to it. the iPhone will be perfect. She (we are) is an avid birder so the iBird app is the hook for her. Because of the outrageous cost we probably will never use the cellular web access but rather will rely on Wifi spots. The apps will be really valuable. I finally learned my lesson about being an early adopter with the first iPod (even though I'm still using it). My daughter has 2 iPhones on our family plan and says we can add another at a much better rate than as a single subscriber. She's in Portland, we're in Moscow, Idaho.

Thats Great Haakon - give us a review when you do get the 4 .

What I find compelling is the added new Gyo <-- thats gotta be something more than just for games .

Not sure if you understand about GPS & the iPhone...

GPS on the iPhone needs 3G network, not wifi. So you will need internet access, which is required to buy when you get an iPhone. They do have 2 separate data packages, but if you use the GPS a lot, I wonder how much data it uses?

And what I have found out this past weekend is if you go out of cell range, you are out of GPS range on the iPhone. It'll say that it can't find you. Great! ha

Hi John,
Yes I am confused about GPS. I asked in a previous post on this forum and got info agreeing with you. I also had gone here:
http://www.gpsreview.net/ipad-gps-navigation-preview/
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/apple-ipad-does-it-have-real-gps-updated-yes-and-no/5898
One poster there says he gets GPS without cell or WiFi input (if I remember right). That info made me think that various responses were talking about different models. You have a 3GS? What did you do this weekend? Dang I was with my daughter this week but didn't check carefully because I thought I finally was clear about it.

I have the 3Gs model. I thought I would take a back way home from the in-laws. TomTom took me on some back roads then died on me. My iPhone couldn't find me since I was out of cellphone range, no bars at all.

What do you mean your TomTom died? If it lost it's signal doesn't that mean there was no GPS satellite signal available? Now I'm seriously confused. Sorry to be so thick about this.

sorry, I meant the battery died on it. I didn't have my car charger with me. Sorry to confuse the issue.

Ok, got it. I was hoping to replace my Magellan GPS unit with a multifunction device. I usually choose not to take it with me backpacking because of its size, weight and limited usefulness. My wife always carries her heavy bird guides, hence the iPhone with its many apps. I'll still get the iPhone, just won't plan on a very useful GPS unit. Thanks for your help.