M1 started taking orders for the iPhone 4 just a few minutes ago after 11am. From the form, we can see that M1 will have four collection points on 30 July – Plaza Singapura, Tampines Mall, West Mall and Paragon – which probably is a good thing as it decentralize the collection points and there might be shorter queues for customers. According to Ivan – the form will also check for inventory as you make the orders so you won’t be disappointed – smart move.

Update – 2pm and without fail – the pre-order page for SingTel fails to launch. Don’t they ever learn?

SingTel will do their pre-order, they call it purchase appointment at 2pm today.

Book your appointment yet?

Starhub meanwhile has not disclose any plans about the iPhone 4 launch except pricing.

More details from iMerlion – SingTel will have their midnight launch on the 30th July at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre (Hall F) while M1 will have theirs at Paragon.

In addition, selected M1 shops will start early at 9am on 30 July to let customers collect their iPhone 4:

1. M1 Shop, Paragon
2. M1 Shop, Bugis Junction
3. M1 Shop, Plaza Singapura
4. M1 Shop, Tampines Mall
5. M1 Shop, West Mall
6. Arrow Communication, Ang Mo Kio Hub, #B1-31
7. Handphone shop, Jurong Point, #03-19

Do check our price plan comparison if you have not done so.

Like in 2009 when we did a price comparison of the three Telcos’ offering of iPhone 3GS, we have put those data for iPhone 4 in Google Docs for a quick comparison.

Based on past experience, this won’t be the final price of the iPhone 4. We will probably see changes as the days go when the other two Telcos start announcing their plans – it will be a fun ride!

Here’s the direct link to the comparison

Do let us know via comments or twitter if there are new plans being announced.

On Sunday night, I walked out of an Apple reseller empty handed, even though they had stock for the 16Gb 3G + Wifi model.

You see, my biggest gripe about the iPad is that I really don’t need one.

(We can discuss all we can about the differences between needs and wants but that’s for another blog altogether)

I have my iPhone so when I’m mobile, I have the ability to check my tweets, reply emails and do most of what the iPad can.

I seldom carry a bag so my iPad would stay indoors most of the time.

I have my Macbook Pro at home so if I need to surf the web or stalk people on facebook, I have a tool to do that anywhere in the house.

I read but right now, physical books offer a much greater selection of titles compared to what you can find on iTunes SG store.

So yes, I’ll be waiting for the next generation iPad because as it is, the hardware specs are already slightly behind the new iPhone 4, which has double the memory of the iPad at 512MB. The iPad has a 1024×768 pixels resolution across a 9.7 inch screen while an iPhone 4 sports a 960×640 pixels resolution screen across a 3.5 inch screen. That’s about 132 pixels per inch for iPad vs 326 pixels per inch for iPhone 4.

The specs is one thing but pricing is another. Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t really justify it’s price tag for something I don’t need. which ranges from S$728 to $1,228 depending on which model you pick up. And as with all Apple products, every generation tends to get slightly cheaper. So if my crystal ball (recently renamed as Paul) is accurate, we should see the next generation iPad to be slightly cheaper and with better hardware specs. While I’m wishing, I might as well wish that it’ll have a thinner bezel around the screen and perhaps, a camera + Facetime app and a reduction in weight.

But having said that, I know there’s many of you who have bought an iPad. Did it live up to your expectations? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

The clock is ticking down towards 30 July when the iPhone 4 is launched in Singapore. Telcos have released information indicating a midnight launch (again) on 30 July, where customers who pre-ordered (to be announced soon) can collect. Like previous launch of the iPhone, walk-in customers will not be entertain during the midnight launch.

We will update this post with pre-order, launch day details once they are revealed.

28 July 2.30pm – At 2pm, Singtel’s pre-ordering site failed to start. At 2.30pm, it is still the same.

28 July 11.10am – M1 starts pre-ordering here. SingTel’s will begin at 2pm.

27 July 6:00pm – Singtel also revealed their price plans for iPhone 4. Quick comparison over here

27 July 5:30pm – M1 reveal their price plans too

27 July 3.16pm – Starhub announces price plans and phone prices for iPhone 4 – briefly:

For a quick comparison as the plans get revealed – check out this post

27 July 1.50pm – Starhub will contact those who had registered their interests for the iPhone 4 within the next two days on how to pre-order for collection on 30 July, according to this post on their FaceBook fan page.

Click to see the message in Facebook

26 July 10.30pm – Apple Singapore officially announced the non-contract pricing of the iPhone 4 that will be made available from the Apple Online Store from 30 July. The suggested retail price is S$ 888 for the 16GB model and S$ 1048 for the 32GB model (Black only).

Read more →

Almost all gone today. Although we have listed only 17 out of the 30 resellers launching iPad today as these were from Twitter/Facebook accounts, we are pretty sure the rest of the stores have ran out of iPads. Stocks are reportedly coming in in two to three weeks time. Do talk to the retailers to see if you can reserve sets from the second wave.

So far here are the stores that were reported in Twitter/Facebook to have sold out of iPads:

• Challenger Tiong Bahru
• Challenger Jurong East
• Challenger Funan Centre
• Challenger VivoCity
• Challenger Tampines 1
• Challenger Parkway Parade
• Best Denki Great World City
• Best Denki Compass Point
• Best Denki Junction 8
• Best Denki VivoCity
• Best Denki City Square
• Best Denki Century Square
• Best Denki Parkway Parade
• Epicentre Marina Bay Sands (unconfirmed but there seems to be stocks there)
• Epicentre Suntec City
• Epicentre Bugis Junction
• EpiCentre Somerset 313
• Sapura Digital @ MDIS

(17 out of 30 retail stores sold out)

Last updated – 3:40pm

Seems like there are some shops holding onto some stocks for those who had reservations and also to keep it for next day. The bigger resellers still have queues running – just not sure if there are sufficient sets to go around for everyone – thus we probably won’t hear of them selling out until later.

Do twitter with the hashtag #ipadsg when places have sold out of iPad.

Apple just announced today that Singapore will join another 8 countries outside the US to get the iPad on Friday, 23 July 2010. All iPad models will be available from authorised resellers and campus stores and we should might not see it at the Apple Online Store on 23 July. However, we expect limited stocks to be made available at the authorised resellers so do prepare to queue.

update A posting in Straits Times’ Digital Life Facebook page reveals the iPad pricing, I guess based on their sources, which if accurate, will render my estimate…wrong.

Digital Life's iPad pricing

update 2 Yipes, seems my estimates below are close but not close enough. Here are the local pricing for the iPad, compared with the US launch price.

iPad SG Pricing

Confirmation from Apple, at least about the starting price

Even Apple says so.

Just for record, below is our estimate done back in May.

iPad pricing estimate for Singapore

Look out for iPad-specific Mobile Broadband pricing plans from all three Telcos that will appear in the next few days, as you will need the Micro SIM card to work with the iPad 3G.

So now that we know the iPad is coming soon – will you buy? And if yes, which model? In the mean time, check out the TVC and in case you’re still wondering what the iPad is, read my review of the iPad and my recommendations on which model you should buy.