IT Services - iPhone and Mobiles

Essential FREE apps for your iPhone, with links to the Appstore.

Advice and Troubleshooting for iPhone and iPad Users

I was late getting around to buying an iPhone, only making the decision after several of my customers had asked me to help them with their iPhone problems when I'd finished sorting out their Mac problems. My Apple using customers were shocked to discover I was using an old Nokia. Since then I have become quite a fan of the iPhone and recently added to my mobile armaments by becoming an early adopter of the iPad. I really hadn't planned to buy an iPad, let alone on it's release day but I unexpectedly happened to be in the vicinity of an Apple shop that morning, so popped in to observe the frenzy, not expecting to become part of it. It took a few minutes before I could get close enough to even touch one but within a couple of minutes of doing so I was totally hooked.

Press criticisms of the iPad such as the lack of a camera, which I confess had been a concern to me, in the event didn't influence my decision an iota - the plus points were, for me, overwhelming. I'm sure Apple will include a camera and other features next year to ensure further sales but frankly there's enough going on here right now to completely wow me. This is the most amazing computer experience I've had in years. I'm sure it will change the way we use and understand computers - it is a cultural event.

Of course while I have been using the iPad some people I know have been kind of sneering. No USB input? It can't be a seriously useful computer. I'm forever baffled when I see intelligent people become tribally motivated and blind themselves to what should be screamingly obvious. Just to make a point, this very piece I am writing now is being done using "Pages" on my iPad. I will edit the HTML and then upload it to my site all again using the iPad. Is that not useful?

Problems synchronising email between the iPhone and computer.
Properly synchronising messages between the iPhone and the users computer is a frequent problem. Sometimes it can seem like you have two accounts, one on the iPhone and another on the computer. If one sends a message using the iPhone, one expects it to display automatically in the sent items of their computer's email program. If you experience such inconsistencies your email is probably configured using POP3 instead of IMAP and will need correcting. Apple recommends new iPhone owners to start off by using their Mobile Me software, which will certainly provide the simplest all round solution. Mobile Me is worth considering because it provides many special features which are tailored for the iPhone and unavailable using other email services. Mobile Me is especially worthwhile if you are part of a group or family where everybody needs access to common calendars and contacts. However, not everybody requires such services nor wants to pay £60 annually if they can find a cheaper working alternative. GMail, free from Google, is an example of an IMAP service that syncs perfectly well with an iPhone and should be seriously considered if you're just looking for a simple yet solid mobile email service. In any event properly understanding how to reconfigure from your old email system can be a tease, especially if you need to run multiple accounts. Please call us if you need help.

Can the iPhone's functionality be extended beyond simply adding more apps?
Whether you already own an iPhone or if you're considering buying one, you may be concerned about restrictions that Apple places upon the phone when it's shipped. I was certainly surprised at some of the restrictions on my iPhone, compared for instance, with my son's Nokia. An example is the iPhone's inability to simply save a ringtone recorded directly using the device. Say you make a recording using the iPhone's Audio Notes app - instead of saving it directly to the iPhone it must be emailed back to yourself and later included as a ringtone when you next sync the phone with iTunes! Is it just me or does that seem like you're being run around the tree? If you're reasonably tech savvy, you might have heard about methods to overcome the iPhone's restrictions in order to increase it's capabilities. Modifying your iPhone system is something Apple strongly disapproves of and they want you to know that tampering with your device in this way will void your warranty. If you are considering going down this route be sure you understand all the risks involved. If you want some information about modifying your iPhone or whether it's a sensible move for you, I would be happy to answer questions. Please, never follow advertisements on websites offering iPhone unlocks or whatever, in return for payment - these offers are almost certainly scams. Check Wikipedia for more information.

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Essential FREE apps available at the iTunes Store

When I bought my iPhone the assistant in the Apple Store promised that I would eventually find the perfect "app" which alone would justify the expense of the iPhone itself. Perhaps he was a little over excited. I would argue that the real value of the iPhone is in it's range of capabilities, not in just one. Given the vast array of apps available, I've been more than a little surprised to discover some users who even after months neglect to download a thing. With that in mind I've put together this list of twenty one FREE apps to get started with. Bear in mind that these free apps are as good or better than many commercial equivalents.

Dictionary? from WordWeb - I experimented with a number of different dictionaries before settling upon this one, my favourite by a long measure. I'm still discovering 'wicked cool' features in this app.

Shazam - Identify music playing on any sound system. Great for finding out the names of tunes playing in public places. Identify the artists playing the rubbish you are forced to listen to in TK Maxx.

Around Me - Discover the nearest public services around you such as gas stations, restaurants, banks, cinemas and so forth. Using geographic positioning, "Around Me" connects your iPhone to vast service databases and also elegantly integrates with your Address Book and Maps apps.

Photoshop.com - There are several apps available for editing your iPhone's photos, most you need to pay for. This offering from Adobe is free and in my view an essential item in the iPhone toolkit. Crop, tint, adjust contrast and much more.

Units - from The MacBox. Convert units of weight, length, volume, speed etc. This app has a plain and simple interface but does it's job well. There are many alternative commercial apps with snazzier appearances but they don't convert units with any greater accuracy or speed. Another free unit converter worth a look is "Converter Plus". Converter Plus has a smarter interface but is supported by advertising (to be fair, the ads are discreet).

Met Office Weather - To be honest, the iPhone's native weather app doesn't amount to much. If you require something with a little more detail, this is it - providing of course, you believe the weatherman in the first place.

Tweetdeck - I can't say I've tried all the free Twitter apps available, there's simply too many! I've chosen Tweetdeck because it's clear, functions very well and isn't burdened by advertising. Tweetdeck is also a Facebook browser into the bargain. Only thing I don't like is the icon, do birds have chins?

Facebook - Even if you use Tweetdeck to view your Facebook activity, I would still recommend checking out this, the daddy of Facebook apps. Designed so well, even a gawm like me can understand what's what in Facebook.

Amazon UK - Instead of using Safari to browse Amazon, use this specialist app which makes life even easier. Very useful.

Ebay - Keep up to the moment with all your Ebay dealings. Of course this is only useful if you use Ebay a lot.

Telegraph - I have randomly selected one of a growing number of free iPhone news apps. Others include - ITN, Sky, New York Times, London Evening Standard, World Mobile News (BBC), The Independent. I cannot attest to their worthiness, that will be up to you.

Pic2shop - Scan the barcode of a product with the iPhone camera and Pic2Shop will attempt to compare the price with thousands of others online and provide you with the a cheaper alternative. A very useful money saver.

Pocket Informant Lite - Free version of a respected organiser and 'to-do' app.

Face Goo - Mess about with your photos. Distort the faces of your friends and family and then add moustaches and glasses etc. If you're happy to pay money, take a look at Face Melter Pro.

IMdB - Custom app improves the experience of browsing the world's largest movie database compared with an iPhone web browser. Watch trailers, browse photo galleries, find out the name of the actor who played Fredo Corleone in the Godfather.

Wikipedia - The official Wikipedia app. Specially tailored to remove the fuss experienced when using an iPhone web browser. All the graphics and hyper-links are correctly sized for fingers on a touch screen.

Handy Level Free - The paid for version of this app includes a plumb-line and rule. In my opinion none are seriously useful tools but they are certainly fun and beautifully made. This free spirit level gives you the best of the set.

Scramble 2 - A Boggle type word game. An addictive time waster - great for waiting rooms or airports.

All Recipes.com Dinner Spinner - Search a huge database of recipes supplied and rated by other users.

Evernote - An online scrapbook, useful for storing notes, photos and sound recordings. Evernote allows you to access and store well beyond the limit of your iPhone's onboard storage. Worth a look.

Mercury - Free - I've gotta say Safari is probably the most solid browser for the iPhone and renders pages as well as can be expected. However, if you would like to browse the web using full screen, use tabs and have a "homepage", then consider trying this alternative. Although not perfect, Mercury Browser goes a fair distance to provide all the whistles and bells missing with Safari. The 'paid for' version has a few extra features but the free one is as good or better than many other 'paid for' alternative browsers.
It is worth bearing in mind that you cannot easily change the iPhone's default browser from Safari to another. When you click on a hyper-link within another app such as Mail, the browser activated will always be Safari. It is also worth noting that when you quit Safari it doesn't really quit. In fact it remains open in the background for a time, continuing to use a chunk of your iPhone's memory. Alternative browsers quit when you say so.