If you have a jailbroken iPhone, that is one that has been modified to be used on other networks and run non-Apple approved apps, you need to watch yourself. Besides the fact that you have put yourself on Apple’s hit list, which means that when they run the world you’ll be the first thrown into the forced work camps, you’re opening your phone and life to a whole lot of madness.
I get it; not everyone loves AT&T. They overextended their network and underestimated the iPhone response so their network may not be all that great. I also get that many people want the freedom to choose any app they want and not be told by Apple which ones are appropriate and which one’s aren’t. There is no way you’d let Dell tell what software you could put on your computer, so I get that it can rub people the wrong way. But to go through the process of hacking your iPhone is a little beyond me.
Just ask hacker turned iPhone app developer Ashley Towns. Ashley made one of the first worms, a destructive program like a virus, for the iPhone. The worm called “ikee” infected jailbroken iPhone only and replaced the wallpaper with a picture of Australian pop singer Rick Astley. While he meant it as only a prank the worm and news of the vulnerability exploded around the world and soon his small prank was water cooler conversation for tech nerds around the world.
Ikee’s basic premise and structure was later used by another hacker who made “duh”, another worm. This one though wasn’t so tongue and cheek as Towns’ and was able to hijack banking information from jailbroken phones. Later a Dutch hacker made a worm that held iPhones hostage and in order to get control of your phone back you had to pay 5 GBP (Pounds)! Can you imagine? Like monthly service fees aren’t bad enough!
With all of the potential damage that can be done by hackers and their worms to jailbroken iPhones why would you bother? While Apple may be a bit elitist and not exactly fair when it comes to what apps they allow into their system in the end they are doing it partially to maintain the integrity of the system. Without these kinds of controls and just letting any developer crank any software they want for the iPhone and iPod Touch your phone would be under constant attack.
Not only would service outages be the norm but violation of your personal data, your bank account, your Face Book, your email and everything else you love your iPhone would be constant. Part of the reason we all love Apple is because of their reputation for safety and reliability. All of that would be thrown out of the window.
So I say if you’re willing to hack your phone to get at the apps you want then you run the risk of having it hacked again by shady developers out there.
But it’s not all bad news. Ashley Towns was tracked down by some journalists and after admitting what he did was offered an iPhone developer’s job with a major Australian development firm.
If you are one of those people who typically start the month out with a few hundred business cards only to be left four weeks later with nothing but the box they came in then the Bump app can help you out. This application designed by Bump Technologies allows you to quickly and easily exchange information with other iPhone users. So, easily, in fact it only takes a gentle bump of hands to share email and other contact information.
The Good and Bad?
The very nice news about the Bump app is the price…free! You can find it at iTunes in their App store. The down side is the leeriness some security minded data gatekeepers have about any program that performs the sort of functions that this one does.
Bump Technologies’ response to those concerns is that all the communications between a user’s iPhone and their servers is encrypted and sent using https which is the same as you see with online banking. They also point out that the user is in control of deciding who to share information with and when. No one should be able to exchange information, unless the phones are bumped together. Bump also states they never share a user’s personal information with third parties.
Bump is also available for use on Google’s Android, and can share photos, link Facebook friends, and compare friends as well as exchange contact information.
How to do the Bump
Locate the app on iTunes App store and install it on your iPhone.
Even if you do not intend to use it immediately open the application and read through the “Terms of Service”. You will need to select “agree” to complete the installation and be allowed use of the application. Once the application is running it will be able to detect your location.
You can now open Bump and choose My Profile. If you haven’t created a profile on your iPhone you can scroll to the bottom and choose the red “I Can’t Find My Name” button. A contact form will open up so you can fill it out. Since you will be sharing this you might want to keep it to only information you want others to see. Select “Done” when you are completed.
When you meet someone else who is also using the application then both of you will need to open the Bump app. Hold the iPhone in your hand with your fingers and hand protecting it from the other user’s iPhone. Gently bump or tap your fist to the other user’s hand. This should initiate the transfer of information. It is a good idea to check and make sure the transfer worked especially the first few times you try using the application.
Some have speculated that if applications like Bump catch on, they might eliminate the use of business cards, or at least badly scribbled impossible to read notes will no longer be necessary. At least, for the time being with this free application the price is right, and it is easy to use.
The release of the iPhone 4 to the Verizon network came last week with anti-climactic results. Although both Verizon and Apple retail stores didn’t have the crowds they were expecting, the release did surprisingly well in sales. Verizon didn’t release specific sales figures for February 3, when you could pre-order an iPhone 4, but representatives did say it was the “most successful first day sales in the history of the company.”
An estimated 1 million iPhones were sold by Verizon following the release of the Apple product to its network. Some preliminary reviews of the Verizon iPhone release assume the upcoming release of iPhone 5 has caused some buyers to hold out for a couple of months, since they expect the new model to be available this summer.
Both AT&T and Verizon are selling the iPhone for the same rates. The 16 GB version is $199 and the 32GB sells for $299. That’s “an incredible deal” compared to the iPhone’s original price, said Ben Stein from LaptopReviews.com.
Stein added: “I think the price point is an indication of how serious Verizon is at competing long-term to attract disgruntled AT&T subscribers to their service.”
The phones for both carriers have the same features, including FaceTime video calling capabilities, HD video recording and a 5-megapixel camera. There is a software feature difference between the two carriers. Verizon offers a $20 per month “Personal Hotspot” feature, which allows the user to sync up 5 devices to the phone’s 3G network. While AT&T’s tethering feature only allows one computer to plug into the network for the same price. Physically the phones are pretty much the same except the mute button on the Verizon model is placed slightly lower than on the AT&T version. This may cause a problem fitting an old case on the newer version. All of the iPhone 4 accessories are compatible with iPhones on both networks.
AT&T uses GSM technology for their wireless network, while Verizon uses CDMA. Now, while AT&T’s network can be used in more countries across the globe, Verizon has more coverage in the U.S. Now, people in North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana can purchase an iPhone with Verizon, whereas they couldn’t with AT&T’s network.
You can transfer your current telephone number to Verizon’s plan, but don’t turn off your old phone until the number is confirmed transferred. Verizon customers can keep their current voice plans, but must purchase a data plan with iPhone. The cheapest plan with Verizon that has the lowest amount of minutes, data, and texts will still cost you around $75, whereas if you purchase an unlimited talk, text, and data plan you’ll be paying around $140 per month.
This post is a guest article from Tony of How to Computer. If you need advice on your computer, Tony is your go to guy. He’ll sort you out in no time. Swing by Tony’s site for tips about computers: building them, fixing them, and getting things done on them.
If you love your iPhone and your favorite personal calendar is that cool free one you get from Google then you certainly noticed a problem. While you can set your Gmail account to mobile and then set up your email application to read it this didn’t work for your iPhone calendar. True, you could get Google Calendar to send notifications to your Gmail account, which could be read from your iPhone, but it just isn’t the same as being able to use the Calendar app on the phone. Making changes to Google’s calendar using Safari was problematic compared to using the regular Calendar app, but if you didn’t remember to make the changes on your Google calendar than there could be a scheduling disaster. Fortunately, as so many people have pointed out there is an app for everything.
The iPlan synch
First is the easy part. Simply go to iTunes and load the iPlan app. The iPlan is a calendar application that will allow you to view your events pretty much however you wish to look at them. You can use this with a variety of other tools, but its chief claim to fame is the ability to synch with Google’s calendar so you can see your events off-line. It has been around since summer of 2009 and costs $3.99. If you missed the launch of this app or if you like to wait until all the bugs are worked out before trying any application now is a good time to give iPlan a try. The easy part is making the purchase and loading the app onto your phone.
Getting your Google Calendar ready
If you haven’t already set your Gmail to mobile you should do that now. Open your Google Calendar and select Settings from the options located on the upper right. Select Mobile Setup from the option bar in the left corner of the calendar setting's box.
Fill in the information then wait for the verification code to appear on your iPhone text screen. If you don’t receive the code, there is an option to run further checks under the Status field which is the very first field in the box. You don’t actually need the mobile access to be running to use iPlan, but if there is a communication issue with the phone or with your Google settings you will discover it here running this test.
Synching the Calendar
The next part is very easy. Open your Google Calendar and make a few entries labeled ‘test’. Then select the iPlan app on your iPhone, and look at the bottom bar. In the right corner, there is a menu button. Select this button and it will take you to the popup screen with three choices Go to Date, Google Synch, and Settings. Select Google Synch.
You should now be seeing the iPhone’s light blue box message. It should say Synchronizing and it will say this for several minutes. When the waiting screen drops go to the iPhone calendar and find your test entries.
***There is a similar app called CalenGoo which performs similarly. CalenGoo is $6.99.
As you browse through chats and forums about the iPhone you will notice that few users have a problem with deleting apps. They do have an issue of the pesky little things mysteriously finding their way back to their iPhone screen later. There are two ways to be sure to delete an app and never have it show back up again unless you change your mind and want it returned.
Deleting Apps from the iPhone
Bring your iPhone to apps view and page through until you find the app you no longer wish to keep. Circle your finger around it until all the apps start wobbling and show an X in the upper left corner. Getting the Xs to show sometimes takes a little patience. This is a skill all iPhone users find themselves having to learn and most master after a few frustrating moments.
Hit the X in the left corner of the out of favor apps icon and a message will appear.
“Delete Out of Favor
Deleting Out of Favor will also delete all of its data.”
Your choices are Delete or Cancel. Naturally, you are choosing to delete. A new popup now has a request for you.
“Please rate before deleting. Tap a star to rate”
You choices, here are “No Thanks” or to go ahead and choose a star rating. That’s it you are done. The app is gone.
Or is it…
Even though you deleted the icon and all its data from the iPhone it is still in your iTunes backup data. When you Sync your iPhone on your computer the missing app will be noticed when iTunes tries to update the apps on the phone. A message will appear to tell you there is information on your library that doesn’t appear on your phone and asks if you want the information back. This ‘information’ is actually the Out of Favor app you deleted, so the answer is a firm ‘no’. The problem is if you don’t Sync on a daily basis, or if you don’t really understand the message at the time you see it there’s an inclination to accept unwittingly inviting the application you deleted right back to your iPhone.
How to avoid the Information trap
If you think it is possible that you might forget before you Sync again then try deleting the application in both places. Deleting the app from both the phone and your Library ensures you will definitely never see it again.
Open iTunes on your computer. Select Apps from your Library options. Scroll down until you see the application you no longer want to keep. In this case, it is the “Out of Favor” app. Click once on “Out of Favor” app to highlight it. Right click on “Out of Favor” to get the drop down menu. Select Delete. iTunes pops up with the question
“Are you sure you want to remove the selected application from your iTunes Library? This application will also be removed from any iPod, iPhone or iPad which synchronizes with your iTunes library.”
Hit the Remove button in this box. It will then ask if you want the files sent to the Move to Recycle Bin or Keep Files. You can keep the files if you might want to reload this application in the future.
As much as you love your iPhone unpleasant things happen to us all. Whether it was the call that came just after eating a wonderfully greasy burrito or needing to open the GPS app just after checking the oil level the truth is you can’t always handle your best friend…um, the phone with the reverence you wish you could. Stepping out into the sun and trying to find the iPod app to open it betrays the truth. You can’t see anything on the smeared and blurry screen. You are going to have to clean your phone.
Using the right products
No matter what your college roommate or the guy in the next cubicle told you do not use regular cleaning products on almost any PDA or electronic device. Especially with any device like the iPhone which sports a glossy finish on the screen using harsh chemicals is a very bad idea. It will not damage the screen to the point of being unreadable, but some substances can alter the appearance permanently. The sheen will be gone and reading the screen in certain lighting will become more difficult. While the stuff you find under the kitchen sink or in the bathroom might work fast, they are too strong for a job like this one.
When cleaning your iPhone or laptop this is the one time when following the directions really is doing you and your devices a huge favor. Go to the electronic section of your favorite store and get the items that are specifically labeled to work on laptop and PDA screens.
The items needed to clean the iPhone:
A damp soft cloth
The cleaning solvent
Q-Tips
Down to the nitty-gritty
If by some miracle you still have the cleaning cloth that came in the box with the phone, and it is still clean then use it. Because the surface of paper towels is rougher and has more grit than you might suspect you don’t want to use them. The soft cloth can be one you find in the same electronics section as the cleaner, or you can use the same type you might use for polishing the car. The premise is the same. You don’t want to scratch or mare the surface in the effort of cleaning it.
The phone should be completely unplugged and turned off. This way you won’t accidently dial China or delete an app as you clean. You also want the iPhone to be unplugged from the USB before you start.
Find a spot where you have lots of good light to look the phone over carefully. Find trouble spots where there are smears and smudges. Tackle these areas first by spraying or pouring the solvent onto the cloth. Gently rub these marks away and then rub down the entire phone. Do not spray or pour the cleaner directly on the phone. Delicately use the Q-tip to get to small hard to reach spots.
Let the phone have a few minutes to dry off completely before turning it back on.
As Apple is getting ready to go head to head against Amazon with it’s much publicized and much hyped iPad, there have been a few issues of contention that is causing much buzz in the writing world.
According to the New York Times, Apple has made a deal with Perseus Books, and reportedly 4-5 other publishers from other sources, in order to stock their virtual shelves on their proprietary iBookstore. Perseus Books is one of the nations leading publishers, creating books for both commercial and academic purposes. Some of their smaller prints include the Zagat survey (for restauranteurs and Epicureans alike) as well as the Harvard Business School Press.
The deal will involve a business model that veers far from the Amazon relationship with it’s publishers. A relationship which at one point sparked a controversial battle against publishing giant MacMillian, who has significantly more control over pricing with Apple. Some of MacMillian’s physical books were removed from Amazon’s online store and was received with a lash of outrage from the writing community.
Apple’s business model is based on the App Store model, where they give the publishers complete control over their own pricing, subject to very limited regulatory practices. Apple would then take a 30% cut of the profits in the form of commissions. This would in turn create a much more competitive market both internally, creating price points that would suit the individual consumer. Eventually, the technology may extend to academic prints that would normally cost a student anywhere between $50-$300 a book, and cut it down to half that price.
Regardless of where this battle takes either company, it will mean a significant relief to consumers as Amazon’s current 90% market share of the e-book market will be significantly changed. Consequently, a battle of both innovation and consumer economics will continue. Apple doesn’t seem to be afraid to lock horns with any major company, and has recently gone head to head in a legal battle against Google’s Nexus One in the smartphone market.
Although rumors indicate that the iPad will ship out for select reviewers across the country, it doesn’t stop us from giving it a once over before the actual device comes in.
The iPad, slated to come out on April 3rd and already ready to be pre-ordered, has been one of the most anticipated and widely rumored Apple devices next to the iPhone. At a price-point of $499, it is on par to compete with Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble's Nook.
Some seem to have looked past the hype and looked at the details surrounding this fabled device, scrutinizing it’s every feature. Here are some of the key features that were indicated in Apple’s keynote in late January.
The iPad, like it’s younger cousin the iPhone, is a multi-touch device. Again like the iPhone, it has a completely backlit LCD screen unlike the Kindle and Nook. It supposedly runs on the iPhone OS, therefore making Safari, Mail, Photos, Videos, YouTube, iTunes, iPod, the App Store, Maps, and the whole plethora of native iPhone software, native on the iPad as well.
One of it’s main selling points however is a new application called iBooks, where you get a literal bookshelf GUI, with all the books you either own or have rented, as well as any magazine subscriptions you have, and you can browse through it similar to the way you would browse through a real life bookshelf. Logically, the books themselves are NOT buyable on the Appstore or iTunes, but on it’s own application iBookstore.
One of the big leaps outside of the iPhone OS ring, is the integration of the iWork suite, similar to what a Mac or Macbook would have. It then becomes quite versatile, especially in conjunction with mail, allowing you to access all your files on the go without having to open up a laptop.
With a 9.7-inch screen, viewing any of the apps is a breeze, allowing for a 1024x768 pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi). You can buy it in 16, 32, or 64 GB flash memory, making it much roomier than any of its counterparts.
One of the main points of contention ever since it was announced at the keynote was it’s battery life. Comparatively, the Kindle has up to seven days battery life with the wireless turned on (with it’s most recent update), versus the iPad’s measly 10 hours. Steve Jobs quickly shot down the remark in an interview post-keynote commenting that not very many people would use the device for 10 hours a day.
Aside from the battery life, and the display; the form and function of the iPad seems to be much better than it’s e-book reader counterparts. All we can do now is wait until reviews of the actual device come up.
The MacBook is sleeker and better performing than it’s predecessors and is as close to a MacBook Pro you’re going to find without upgrading. If you’re looking for something small, powerful and versatile then the MacBook is for you. Those considering a 13-inch MacBook Pro need to take a serious look at the new smaller and $200 cheaper MacBook.
Apple’s smallest laptop, the MacBook, has been completely redesigned for 2009 and offers a lot of nifty features. Apple has taken the durable, sleek and dependable unibody construction from the larger MacBook Pro. While this has the effect of making the battery unremoveable and thus not easily exchangeable it gives the laptop a more compact look. The computer has rounded edges and fewer seams than the previous model. Many people think it makes it look like a mashed down marshmallow. I can see that I guess. Apple used aluminum sheeting to cover the outer casing of the computer and more internal supports so it’s durable while maintaining a low weight. The bottom of the MacBook is rubber, which keeps it from sliding around when you’re typing and it’s sitting on a slippery surface. This rubber bottom also keeps the heat of the computer’s innards off your thighs.
The MacBook is just as powerful as the 13-inch version of the Pro. It comes equipped with 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo. With a 3 MB cache, 1066 MHz front side bus and a 2 GB default RAM you are looking at smooth sailing. You get a 250GB hard drive with it as well. As long as you’re not doing serious data storage this is great, especially for being on such a small computer. The built in battery will last you about 7 hours of normal use and a little less if you’re watching movies or doing a lot of Wi-Fi connected work. The LED backlit display not only increases resolution compared to previous models but also increases viewing angles. If you’re looking for a powerful laptop with a killer display then the MacBook is for you.
The new MacBook’s trackpad is now just like the Pro’s. It has been upgraded to the glass multitouch version. This allows for better control over the cursor and is a nice upgrade from the previous version. Other small but nice changes include a circular iSight, updated on-key shortcuts and a 60w power adaptor.
The MacBook comes in at $999. Of course you can buy a smaller PC net book or laptop for cheaper. However, once you factor in the cost of added software needed to safe guard against viruses, the cost of fixing or replacing damaged parts and the longevity the MacBook is the better deal. You can buy a Saturn for cheaper than a Toyota but in the long run you’re going to get more for your money from the latter. Computers are no different; you pay what you get for.
Just so it doesn’t look like I’m totally biased the MacBook does have some setbacks. The battery deal is a bit of a bummer but it’s not a deal breaker. It will last you as longer since you can’t replace it. The polycarbonate material the shell is made out shows scratches also. So if you expect that pristine look to stay and you’re the type that will go slowly insane over these scratches you might want to think about a different laptop.
All in all the new MacBook is very close in specs and abilities to the 13-inch MacBook Pro but for $200 less. This tells me the Pro series is going to be getting a serious make over soon but if you’re looking for a great small laptop then the new MacBook should be on your radar.
One of the biggest selling points of the iPhone for me was that I didn’t have to take my phone, a giant brick Treo, and my iPod video on every trip I went on. Having the functionality of them both combined was enough for me to be one of those nerds, I mean Apple fans, in line to get the first iPhones. Since then the app world has exploded more than I ever thought possible and there seems to be no end to what’s coming next.
Whether you’re looking to track your finances, plan a trip, find something to eat or listen to some tunes Apple has you covered when it comes to apps. Since its set up to deliver music the iPhone is great when it comes to tune related apps. It’s no wonder they are some of the most popular amongst the tens of thousands out there.
Using my extensive expertise and devoting weeks of my existence to the task, I have complied what me, people around me and the iPhone community in general think are the best music related apps out there. They are in no particular order and there is no accounting for taste. I make no guarantees and offer no assurances. If you don’t like it you can leave a comment telling me how stupid I am but I have a blog and you don’t so you’re going read every damn word I have written about it!
Pandora: Pandora is a website that learns from your musical likes and dislikes and streams music it thinks you will dig right to your desktop. You can organize music into channels and vote on new songs they throw your way to help refine their future selections. Most of the time it’s dead on; except for that time it try to add Luther Vandross to my Foo Fighters channel. Seriously, Pandora? But I digress; Pandora’s app is a must have for the music lover as you can stream music wherever you go. Even on the Edge network it’s pretty responsive. Now you can waste time away from work listening t music also.
Cleartune: I have zero, let me repeat that with emphasis zero, musical talent. For those that do and need to tune their guitars, woodwinds, brass or string instruments Cleartune allows you to knock out some notes and see what you need to do to get that music maker in tune. Pretty cool app if you’re into that kind of stuff; I’m not.
Voice Memo: I downloaded Voice Memo to, wait for it, record voice memos but I guess people use it to record themselves singing. Please see the above and note that I would never punish myself or the world by recording me singing but I can see how people would like this. You can also email or share your creations over MMS. Next stop, American Idol.
Shazam: This was the first app my wife downloaded and she loves it. Shazam lets you hold your iPhone up to any music source and the app will identify the music. In a classic capitalistic move you will also be given the chance to buy that song from iTunes but this app is extremely helpful. Sometimes not knowing what the song is called or who it is by drives you up the wall. If you’re stuck in the middle of a radio block the DJ might not mention it. I’ve had days of flirting with lunacy because I could not figure a song out. Shazam is a life saver and something fun to play with.
Ocarina: You might be shocked by this, but I spent a lot time playing Zelda when I was younger. I know, I know I just don’t fit the bill right? Well my favorite version of the Zelda saga was “Ocarina of Time.” Our elf hero, Link, had to play different songs on his Ocarina, a flute like instrument, to warp through time and solve puzzles. So when I saw this app I had to give it a run. It’s pretty cool and mildly entertaining even after owning it for a few days. You take your iPhone and blow into the microphone like it’s a real instrument. You then move your fingers on the screen to make different notes. You can play set songs or come up with your own jams.
Sirius XM Premium Online: If you have a paid subscription to Sirius or XM then this app is worth it. You can get your favorite music and talk radio shows beamed right to your iPhone with this app. This way you make sure to listen to the Oparah channel all day; yeah, that’s right I don’t buy that you got Sirius just for Howard Stern!
Shoutcast: Why pay for satellite radio when you can get free radio stations streamed from around the world with the Shoutcast app. This radio-streaming app brings music and talk of every kind right to your iPhone. It’s pretty cool and has a lot of imitators in the app store. While I can’t intelligently say anything about the others I have always used Shoutcast and dig it the most. Rock on.
I am T-Pain: Do you ever wonder how no talent ass clowns become pop music icons? It’s not because of talent; I will guarantee you that. It’s technology stupid. A decent producer can find a pretty face or train wreck of the month, have some songs written for them, slap some professional musicians and back up singers behind them and smooth it all over with computers. If Paris Hilton can cut a track I’m pretty sure anyone can. I can’t say I know a lot about T-Pain or his music but just like me you will be able to pick out that synthesized voice he has become “famous” for. Basically, it’s the voice Stephen Hawking would pick if he wanted to sound cooler. Personally I would shoot for a Barry White computer voice. Oh yeah. Well with this app you can record your voice and manipulate it to sound just like this dude. You can then send it to your friends and they too can marvel how this guy is a millionaire.
Guitar Toolkit: If you’re looking to learn one of the over 500,000 guitar chord variations out there then this app will help you along the way. Just make sure to thank Apple and the app maker when you accept your Grammy for best heavy metal album of the year.
Oh, the seemingly endless music apps out there just go to show that we can never get enough of music, ourselves and the combination of the two. Check these out if you haven’t already!
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