Online shipping estimates for the iPad 2 have now dropped to 2-3 weeks. This comes just a few weeks after shipping estimates jumped to 3-4 weeks or more shortly after the iPad 2 became available in the US. The estimates reflect both US and international availability and go for all 18 models including the Verizon and AT&T 3G options.

A quick check at a couple of local Apple Retail Stores revealed that most locations are still having a difficult time keeping stock on-hand, but when you pair this news with the new iPad 2 commercial Apple started airing last weekend, it seems they’re more confident and better positioned than before to meet consumer demand.

Did you recently order an iPad 2 online? Let us know what your own shipping estimates look like in the comments!

[Apple]

US and international iPad 2 online shipping estimates drop to 2-3 weeks is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Facebook for iPhone has been updated with map view and event check-in.

• Added Map View for Places
• Added the ability to Check in to Events that you’re attending
• Added the ability to unfriend from the phone
• Improved News Feed
• Improved notifications UI

The update notes do not include bug fixes, but the Facebook for iPhone Facebook page claims that they’ve “fixed a ton of bugs”. Peronsally, I’ve experienced a couple bugs within a few minutes of installing the update. Specifically, after tapping a notification about a comment on my photo, the comment was non-existant, and two of my friend’s photos had a grayed-out comment box even though they had comments and I had permission to comment on them.

Anyone download the update? What do you think of the new features? Are you still experiencing any bugs?

[Free - iTunes link]

Facebook for iPhone updated is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The iOS 4.3.1 untethered Jailbreak for iPhone, iPod touch, and original iPad is here — and our awesome new Jailbreak writer, Cody, has already got your full how to guide posted, so check it out! My questions is — are you going to pull the trigger and Jailbreak your iPhone, iPod touch, and/or original iPad? All of them? Some or none of them?

I currently Jailbreak my iPhone and Apple TV but not my iPad, though when the iPad 2 Jailbreak hits I may be tempted to try it out. I know Rene Jailbreaks his phone but not iPad, while Ally #TeamJailbreaks everything including her kitchen appliances and Chad and Leanna are #TeamPure for life.

Where do you fit in? Vote in the poll (please pick an answer for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad!) and then tell us the whys — or why nots — in the comments below!

Poll: Are you going to Jailbreak iOS 4.3.1? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Toyota have released a jailbreak theme in Cydia to advertise their new ‘Scion 2011′ car range. The theme is available for free in Cydia, by searching for Scion 2011 Theme. The theme itself includes wallpapers of the 4 different models of Scion (tC, iQ, xB and xD) which you can choose for your homescreen or lockscreen, it also includes custom buttons and a custom slider.

Will you be downloading this theme? How many other major companies will follow suit, and start to advertise to the jailbreak community? And will Apple have any response to this, given advertising dollars are now on the line?

[ModMyi]

Toyota releases official Jailbreak Theme is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Cablevison has just launched its Optimum app for the iPad. What's most interesting is that it can receive every channel you subscribe to with your current TV subscription; as well as control the DVR functionality of your set top box. In other words it makes your iPad into a fully functioning TV.

Time Warner has recently run into problems with some networks asking it to remove channels from its TW Cable application; which it has now done. This app however is believed to bypass any problems with the networks; it is all down to how the content is delivered to the iPad apparently. Time Warner uses the internet as the conduit and this seems to be the main stumbling block with the networks. Cablevision does it differently.

Cablevision uses its secure and proprietary Advanced Digital Cable television network to deliver cable programming to customers for viewing on the Optimum App for iPad, and content is not delivered over the Internet.  The application turns the iPad into an additional television, enabling Cablevision customers to view the same live programming and VOD content already being delivered to other TVs in the home as part of the service they have paid for.  Cablevision has the right to distribute programming over its cable system to iPads configured in this way under its existing distribution agreements with programming providers.

If this does turn out to be acceptable with the TV networks, this could be a reasonable solution for television on the iPad. Obviously you would need to have the correct equipment in your home for this to work. Maybe a Slingbox will still be an easier route to take for many. Either way it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

The Optimum app is available free in the app store. If any of our readers have Cablevision and try this out, please let us know what you think in the comments!

[Engadget]

Cablevision releases Optimum iPad app, all your cable TV available on the iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Our sister site, Android Central has received a document showing that from April 3, AT&T will be increasing the early pricing for iPhone. There is no mention specifically of AT&T in the document however Android Central know their stuff and identified it via the abbreviations and wording used.

Looking at the screenshot, the price to get an early upgrade to any of the current iPhones will increase by $50. That means you're looking at $299 for the 8GB iPhone 3GS, $449 for the 16GB iPhone 4 and $549 for the 32GB iPhone 4.

Any price increase is hard to swallow but if you take into account other smartphone's such as Android and Windows Phone will be hit by $150 increases, it makes it a little easier!

Does this change anyone’s upgrade plans?

[Android Central]

AT&T increase iPhone early upgrade pricing? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Complete guide to Jailbreaking iPhone, iPod touch, and original iPad running iOS 4.3.1 with redsn0w

iOS 4.3.1 untethered jailbreak for iPhone, iPod touch, and original iPad is now live! The Dev-Team has used their hax0r magic to bring us yet another gift in the form of an untethered jailbreak! This jailbreak will require you to use redsn0w, which is available for both Windows and Mac OS X.

Important: iPad 2 is not currently supported and unlockers need to steer clear until ultrasn0w is updated. If you’ve got a Verizon iPhone you’ll want to check out our greenpois0n jailbreak guide for iOS 4.2.6 instead.

Hit the jump for a complete how-to!

[Dev-Team]

What you need

• iTunes 10.2.1 or higher
• redsn0w for Windows or Mac
• iOS 4.3.1 IPSW file (firmware) for your specific device

1. First, you will need to visit the Dev-Team blog to download redsn0w.

2. Next, you will need to go grab the appropriate iOS firmware for your device.
3. Once you have downloaded the correct firmware and redsn0w, you are now ready to jailbreak.

4. After you launch redsn0w, you will be asked to browse and choose the custom firmware you downloaded in the previous step.

5. Next you’ll choose to install Cydia and redsn0w will walk you through how to place your device in DFU mode. Just make sure you start this process with your device OFF.

6. Let your device do its thing and you’re done!

In our experience, we’ve noticed this jailbreak seemed a bit buggy on the original iPad.

For a complete walk-through, check out the video tutorial above. If you aren’t sure whether or not you want to take a jump to the dark side, check out our complete jailbreak basics guide first!

Questions? Concerns? Did you encounter any problems during your jailbreak? Let us know in the comments or check out the TiPb jailbreak forum!

How to jailbreak iOS 4.3.1 via redsn0w 0.9.6rc9 (untethered) is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Gift Plan (Sale!): A robust gift planning app with a unique profile view and the ability to store gift ideas and necessary information for gift purchasing such as clothing sizes, likes, and dislikes. Free until 10pm EST! [Free - iTunes link]

• PressReader: Over 1,800 full-content newspapers from 94 countries in 48 languages to your iPad & iPhone. [Free, with in-app purchases/subscriptions - iTunes link]

• Spro: Have all the barista knowledge at your fingertips. Whether you’re new to the world of espresso-based concoctions or a serious coffee nerd, Spro is your guide to crafting the perfect drink. [$0.99 - iTunes link]

• Stork.cc: Have a baby on the way? When your little bundle arrives, enter Baby’s name, weight and gender, snap a picture of the baby and send the announcement! [$0.99 - iTunes link]

• Three Trees: Water, Air, and the Sun are the three elements that power the world. Balance these three forces of nature and see how long – and how big – you can grow your trees! [$0.99 - iTunes link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Monday, April 4 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Droid X and Droid 2 get leaked Gingerbread builds with updated MotoBlur Google finally launches in-app billing HTC gives its Flyer tablet an official 6-minute video	New BlackBerry Touch (monaco) Hands-On Photos Emerge BlackBerry PlayBook Setup BlackBerry 7 to merge the Best of BlackBerry 6.1 and QNX?!
WWDC 2011 announced, sells out in 10 hours, and rumors says there will be no new iPhone 5(?!) Editorials: Is iPad 2 magical, could Apple lose iPhone momentum, and Android is openy iPad Live podcast #49: Tablet round table	freeTether 1.0 now available for the eager untethered masses HP Releases webOS 3.0 Enyo Beta; to be cross device and cross-platform Editorial: Why HP is not giving up on smartphones

• WP7 on its way to the #2 spot?
• Verizon HTC Trophy to land April 15th?
• Easy hack forces NoDo update

Best of Smartphone Experts, 3 April 2011 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog