I have a first gen iPad and am pondering upgrading to a new one. A few questions though:

1. To transfer my iTunes, I should just be able to tell it to allow that device, and then will have access to all of my iTunes, correct?
2. If I have 5 devices already with that iTunes account, I should just be able to tell it to deactivate that device, right?
3. As far as the apps I've previously purchased, do I lose them and need to purchase them again?
4. If I don't, and the iCloud stores them somehow, how do I then re-download all of them to the new iPad?
5. How do I ensure that all of my information is deleted before looking to sell/pass along the old iPad?

Thanks!

Step 1 - Reset your current iPad to factory settings, wiping out all information on you iPad.

Step 2 - Sell your current iPad

Step 3 - Delete your current device from iTunes. I have never done this for only one device, I usually just delete them all and then reauthorize the ones I keep.

Step 4 - Sync your new device with iTunes. You can sync all of the apps your purchased without needing to buy any of them a second time.

Step 5 - Enjoy!

Are you sure it is five devices? I thought it was five computers and that there was a separate count for iDevices.

if you set up the device with itunes, your apple id will be used automatically. if you set up the ipad on the device itself (you don't need to use itunes anymore) you will need to enter your apple id.

no need to deactivate anything since you can have as many idevices as you want.

they'll sync automatically.

no need, but to redownload, just 'buy' it again. you won't be charged since it knows you paid for it already.

back up your existing ipad to your computer via usb, then set up the new ipad from that backup. you can use icloud but it will be a lot slower that way. after its done (which might be a while depending on how much stuff is on it), check to be sure everything is there. you may need to enter some passwords again but that should be about it. after you're satisfied it's as it should be, erase the old ipad.

How do I back up the existing iPad to computer via USB?

if you have Icloud on your ipad now, just backup before you wipe it clean. Then when you get your new one, it will ask you if you want to restore from backup and it downloads everything, photos, apps, emails, etc. This is the easiest way to do it.

That may be the best way to do it. Simple is probably better.

plug it into the computer and sync with itunes. the first step of the sync process is backup.

when you plug the new ipad into the computer, it will ask if you want to set it up as a new ipad (totally blank other than default apps) or from a previous backup. pick the backup you just made and everything will be copied to the new ipad.

you can also do it via icloud, but it's going to be a lot slower.

Related question: how do I transfer my AT&T data plan to the new iPad? I was one of the original purchasers in 2010 who managed to squeak by with the unlimited data plan for $29.99/month before it was discontinued. (Of course, we now know that AT&T is throttling those on grandfathered "unlimited" plans who go over 3GB/month....but oh well.)

Obviously, I want to transfer my unlimited plan to the new iPad, and two years ago I was promised that I could do so as long as I kept the account current. Is it just a question of calling AT&T and providing the IMEI number of the new iPad? Or will I face a lot of problems?

When you are ready to activate it will ask you to login to your AT&T account. The unlimited plan will be one of the options presented to you, just select it and save and you're good to go.

Could you also just put the SIM from the old iPad into the new one?

I believe you need the new sim in order to get LTE service. Frankly, it's easier to just login and transfer over the service than to move the sim from one to the other.

Maybe this link will help:

Transfer your old data to your new iPad

http://gigaom.com/apple/transfer-you...your-new-ipad/

FYI, I've had problems with not all of my apps coming over from a back up old iPad, restore to new iPad. Also passwords for email, wifi, etc didn't come over either.

For apps it's a bit easier now to go to the appstore and prior purchases and re-download them (since they were backed up to iCloud I didn't lose any stored data).

That's probably a good idea; for what it's worth, though, my backup transferred over with no hiccups at all (except for custom Gmail settings, which got all confused for some reason).