7 Tips to Get the Most out of your iPhone

06 October, 2009

7 Tips to Get the Most out of your iPhone

If you’re an iPhone user, here are some useful tips to maximize the use of it.

1. Update the software version. Like any other internet device, the iPhone has an OS that needs to be updated from time to time. These software updates will enhance the features of your iPhone and usually fix common issues that you're having with it. Updating the software version is fairly easy, just go to the Apple web site to download and install the iTunes application on your computer. Once installed, connect the iPhone to your computer using the USB cable that came with it. iTunes will automatically detect the iPhone and will check if there is an available software update for it.

2. Create an iTunes account. Take advantage of the freebies by creating an iTunes account. You can download hundreds of free applications from the APP store. On the Home screen, tap on App Store. At the bottom of the page, tap on Sign In. Tap on Create New Account and follow the onscreen prompts. Once you’re done, you can browse the App Store and start downloading. Cool free games and applications are up for grab.

3. Create an e-mail account. Check your e-mail anywhere by creating an e-mail account on your iPhone. On the iPhone home screen, tap on the Settings icon, go to Mail Contacts and Calendars, then select Add Account. It has a pre-loaded e-mail settings for Microsoft Exchange, MobileMe, Gmail, Yahoo, and AOL. If you’re using one of these e-mail accounts, just tap on the name of your e-mail provider and enter your e-mail address and password. If you’re setting up an e-mail account from another provider, tap on Other.

4. Set up a voicemail. Once in a while, you'll miss a call, unintentionally or not. But with voicemail, the caller can leave you a message if they can't reach you. Call your wireless carrier for assistance in setting up your voicemail.

5. Create a backup. Imagine this, you have 1,000 songs, 500 contacts, 100 applications. Then all of a sudden, your iPhone will not work. And restoring it to its factory settings is the only way to fix it, which will also delete all the data that you have saved. Isn’t that a headache? Don't let this happen to you, create a backup! Go to the Apple web site to download and install the iTunes application on your computer. Once installed, connect the iPhone to your computer using the USB cable that came with it. On the left side of the iTunes window, right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac) the iPhone under Devices then select Backup.

6. Contact technical support. Do not slam the iPhone on the table if it won't turn on, it won't do you any good. Never experiment on it if it’s not working. Instead, contact iPhone technical support or visit the nearest Apple store and have them check your iPhone. Leave it to the experts.

7. Extend the limited warranty and technical phone support. Stay away from out of warranty repair and pay per technical support! Get the Applecare Protection Plan. When you purchase an iPhone, it comes with a one year limited warranty for the hardware coverage and 90 days technical phone support. With Applecare Protection Plan, you can extend the limited warranty and technical phone support to 2 years from the date you’ve purchased the iPhone.

So there you go. Apple’s iPhone is not just an ordinary phone and not the cheapest one around either. Understanding its features and knowing what it is capable of doing will bring out the best it has to offer.

iPhone MMS via AT&T launching! Tethering service not yet..

25 September, 2009

For iPhone users, this is the moment we've been waiting for. According to an official announcement from AT&T, they will activate the MMS feature on Friday late morning, Pacific time. This will be in the form of an iTunes update. If you don't have an iTunes application installed on your computer yet, you can download it for free from the Apple web site. Once you've installed it, connect the iPhone to your computer using the USB cable that came with it and iTunes will automatically detect if there is an available software update for your iPhone. So starting tomorrow, iPhone users can now send and receive photos using text message.

For the Tethering service, this is a feature of the iPhone where you can use it as a modem for your computer to be able to connect to the internet. AT&T hasn't announced a date yet for its launch, only that it will arrive at a later date. So hang on to your sit first and let's enjoy the MMS feature for the moment.

Handheld electronic games, good for hand to eye coordination!

22 September, 2009

I'm an avid fan of handheld electronic games. During my childhood days, I was lucky to have Nintendo's Game & Watch titled Green House, the object of this game is to protect flowers from worms and spiders using a can of bug spray. Way back then, I was really amazed of its two LCDs and how you can close it like a make-up kit. Then came Casio's LCD games, my father bought me Kangaroo Land and Canoe Slalom for my older brother. These are very nostalgic games. Recently, I went home to our province and found my 2 year old nephew playing with his Gameboy Advance. Nice graphics, cool color, you can close it like a make-up kit (what's with make-up kits and handheld electronic games? nevermind), and a cartridge slot for its cartridge games. I took the liberty of sneaking out on this little guy, grabbed his Gameboy Advance, went upstairs and locked the door (bad uncle). Wow! Spongebob and Men in Black, played it for hours until the little guy noticed his Gameboy Advance is missing, so I went downstairs and left it in a place where he could easily find it, in his father's hands!

So what's out in the market today? It's Sony's PlayStation Portable or PSP, known for its high-end graphics and a lot of games to choose from. Aside from its cool looks, this baby can play songs and videos, and can access the internet through a Wi-Fi connection. You can also customize your PSP system by changing the background, adding a wallpaper, or change it to your favorite PSP custom theme. And Sony is not done yet, they recently released PSP Go. It has an internal flash memory of 16GB and it's lighter than PSP 3000. The UMD feature has been removed and the screen got smaller, from 4.3 inches to 3.8 inches. Why is that? I really don't know why, but say goodbye to your Universal Media Disc. PSP Go comes with a sleeker finish and a slider feature, slide the screen to uncover the buttons. The smallest and mightiest PSP yet according to PlayStation 3 developers.

Handheld electronic games had undergone a tremendous innovation to help you relax, have some fun (or some fight with siblings), and a way to spend your money. So wether it's a PSP Go or a Game & Watch (ahh nostalgia), I'm thankful that these technologies came out in our generation.

3D modeling, anyone interested?

21 September, 2009

This is a raw 3D model of Rafael Nadal, a famous tennis player. I created it using Autodesk Maya, a powerful tool for creating 3D models for movies and games. This is also an advanced application for creating animations and visual effects. It's amazing how basic shapes like square, circle, and triangles can form a 3D model using Autodesk Maya. There are a lot of 3D modeling tutorials in the web, just google them and start your first 3D model. Check my animation below. Enjoy!

Take Video with the New iPod Nano!

20 September, 2009

Finally, capturing crazy moments can be done using the new iPod Nano with its built-in video camera and microphone! You can also playback the video and share it with your friends because the new iPod comes with a colorful 2.2 - inch screen and clear internal speaker. Also, listen to your favorite FM station because the new released iPod also got it. And if you want to know the title and the singer of the song you are listening to, you don't have to peek on the iPod screen because it comes with a VoiceOver function that will tell you the title of the song and who's singing it .

Ipod nano now has a polished anodized aluminum finish in nine refreshing colors! Visit apple website for more of its exciting features!

If you want to compare iPod models, click this:

Mom it's not an iPhone 3G, it has an S!

19 September, 2009

This is the latest iPhone of Apple - iPhone 3G S. Now with built-in 3 megapixels video camera with editing, improved performance which is twice faster than its predecessor iPhone 3G, voice control to place a call and play music, a compass to point you in the right direction, and all the features that the old iPhone 3G has. It has two memory sizes; 16GB and 32GB, more space for your songs and videos , and two colors to choose from; black and white. One of the coolest and must have gadget in 2009!

iPhone 3G S or iPhone 3G: Compare

It's a phone, it's an iPod, no it's an iPhone!

18 September, 2009

If you want a mobile phone that can play quality music, check your e-mail and surf the world wide web, then Apple's iPhone 3G is what you need. It's a phone, iPod, and internet device in one. It has a multi-touch display that will allow you to easily navigate through its features. It does even more when you install applications from the App Store - and there are hundreds of applications to choose from, paid and free apps. Another cool thing about this iPhone is that it uses Safari as its web browser, it's an advanced mobile web browser where you see the actual web site and not the mobile version of it, zoom in and out, and view the web site in a landscape mode by rotating the iPhone 90 degrees. Other features are: Messages - for sending SMS and MMS; Spotlight Search - searches your contacts, calendars, e-mails, and notes; Cut, Copy & Paste - cut, copy, and paste texts and images between applications and from the web too; Voice Memos - for audio recording; Landscape Keyboard - rotate the iphone and you'll have a larger keyboard for your e-mail, notes, messages, and Safari.