SIM Swapping

Apple says the iPad 3G is unlocked. We all heard that proclaimed when Steve announced the magical device back in January. But how do you take advantage of this “feature” when AT&T is the only carrier that offers the micro-SIM cards that the iPad 3G requires? (As the name suggests, micro-SIMs are SIM cards with a smaller form factor.) And what if you’re already paying for a data plan on your phone? Amazingly, all it takes to solve this problem is a non-AT&T SIM card (we got ours from T-Mobile) and a pair of scissors.

Step One

Remove the iPad 3G’s AT&T micro-SIM by using a paperclip to pop open the SIM slot on the lower left of the iPad 3G. Don’t throw it away--you’re going to need it to create your DIY micro-SIM.

Step Two

Place the iPad SIM over the shiny gold metal part of the second SIM card that you purchased. The metal area is all that matters, so protect that at all costs. Use a pen to mark off the area to be cut. Don’t forget--measure twice, cut once. Good scissors or an Exacto blade are your best bet for clean cuts.

Step Three

Use some very light sand paper or an emery board to remove any extra little bits of plastic from your new micro-SIM. Make sure it fits snugly in the iPad 3G’s SIM carrier and pop it back into the iPad 3G.

Step Four

Your iPad 3G may show data bars, but you might not to be able to access the internet. To fix this, head over to the APN Settings > Cellular Data > APN Settings. To fill in the info there, you’ll need to do some quick research. You can ask your carrier for these settings or check online. We found the T-Mobile information on T-Mobile’s support forums. After filling in the info, place the iPad 3G in Airplane Mode, then turn Airplane Mode back off. This resets the network. Boom, you’re on the internet.

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But now you’ve got a teeny-tiny SIM that isn’t going to fit in a phone anymore. (If you want to use it in your iPhone, you’ll need to unlock your phone--learn how to here.) What to do? Just order a SIM adapter kit online. Check out maclife.com/sim_swap to see the adapters in action.

Again, this trick won’t work with an AT&T SIM, so give up your dreams of your iPhone data plan pulling double duty. Also, your replacement SIM should have a data plan from your carrier assigned to it before you place it in the iPad 3G. Don’t worry too much if things go terribly wrong--you can always get a new SIM card from your carrier (usually for about $20).

Keep Your Secrets Safe

Your new iPad makes a great mobile computer--and it’s perfect for watching videos on the go. But if your iPad “goes” a lot, there’s always a chance you’ll lose it. And if you do, all your data (email, address book, access to your Facebook account) will be floating out there in the cold, cruel world. Thankfully, safeguarding your secrets is pretty easy--and mostly built-in.

Setting a passcode is your first line of defense.

The first step to securing your iPad is choosing--and using--a passcode. To do that, open Settings, tap General, and then Passcode Lock. Set a four-digit code, and from then on, your iPad will lock after you stop using it (set the delay by changing the Require Passcode setting). If you’re the paranoid type, use a secret number, but we find it least annoying to use something your significant other also knows; otherwise they’ll be bugging you about your passcode every time they want to watch Modern Family via ABC’s video app. Another thing to consider is Safari. With the ability to save your login information, it’s a treasure trove of data you don’t want running free. Either turn the Autofill feature off entirely (Settings > Safari > Autofill), or do a Clear All every now and then to zap sensitive information. Clean up your history by hitting the Clear History button in Safari’s Settings. From there, you can also clear your browser cache and cookies.

If the worst does happen, you can always use MobileMe to remotely wipe data from your missing iPad.

Unfortunately, Safari on the iPad doesn’t give you an option to see what data it’s recorded and selectively purge. So if you do lots of sensitive surfing, you might want to look into a password manager like the Mac|Life favorite 1Password for iPad ($6.99) or SplashID ($9.99) to keep your data accessible but secure.

As a last resort, don’t forget that the iPad works with MobileMe, so you can use Apple’s $99 service to locate a stray iPad and remotely lock or wipe the device as needed.

Go Mobile without 3G & Save On Internet Access Charges

If you’re feeling a bit ripped off by the fact that you’re now expected to pay for internet access three times (at home, on your phone, and now your iPad), you’re not alone. We pitted home and iPad internet access against 3G service from Sprint and Verizon to see if we could save some coin in the long run. Service and hardware costs are based on a two-year contract with a wireless carrier.

*According to an FCC Report entitled "Broadband Adoption and Use in America" based on unbundled home broadband service.

While there is some savings, it’s not huge over the course of a two-year contract, and your speeds will vary widely depending on the coverage in your area. Plus, the 5GB caps on these devices are pretty low--something to consider if you download or stream lots of media. If you decide to go with the MiFi or Overdrive, you can purchase them on Verizon’s or Sprint’s website, and setting up both devices is generally quick and painless. For help with that, check here and here, respectively.