When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the technical bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the software, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Technology and of Technology's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all iPhones are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Dev teams are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the served, — That whenever any Form of Terms of Service becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Software, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Terms of Service long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Terms of Service, and to provide new Software for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these early Adopters; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Software. The history of the present King of Cupertino is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these Devices. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Apps and Software Mentioned in this Episode: Big Boss Fantasy Pack2 SBSettings Backgrounder Cycorder Qik SpoofApp Tricker Three G Swirly MMS iBluetooth Event Horizon
Listener Feedback on Question of 2 iPhones / 1 Computer.
This is a solution I developed for my family - it sounds obscure, confusing and a bit involved - but once it is working it has been great for us! It does have some cons and isn't a perfect solution - but it demos a neat tool Google provides.
4) Multiple Windows Users - for this example let's say me and my wife - each user has their own iTunes library under their own Windows login, each with their own music, calendar and contacts. Each user also has their own Outlook profile and calendar established under their windows username/login.
5) Each family member has a G-Mail account and a Googlel Calendar that is "shared" with other family members. Sharing these calendars is done right through Google Calendar settings.
So far, this is fairly typical of most setups - nothing special - except the addition of the Google Calendar Sync Application.
Basically, this method uses Google Calendar as the synching point by and through which Outlook Calendars are shared between users.
Flow:
On iPhone:
User can add items to their Google Calendar by hitting the plus sign when they are viewing their Google calendar. By adding an item it is instantly added to the Google Calendar on the server side. The next time the Google Sync runs on the home PC - those items are pulled down and added into the local Outlook Calendar of that user. Users could also add something directly to the native iPhone calendar - but these items would not be sync'd with the Google Calendar until the phone is plugged into the home PC, sync'd and the Google sync runs again. The first option is the better way. By adding the Google Calendar item, this item is then visible on the user's Google Calendar and because the user has shared that calendar with another G-Mail user, say my wife, it immediatly appears on her Google Calendar. Google even permits "color coding" the calendars, so when I view my Google Calendar my items are blue whereas hers are red.
On PC:
User can add the item directly into their Outlook Calendar, next time Google Calendar Sync runs, those items are fed up to the Google Calendar, and because they are shared, appear for everyone. User could obviously also add it directly to Google Calendar from the home PC. I can also send Outlook Calendar Items from work to my home email address, when I "Accept" them at home in Outlook they are added to my shared Google Calendar via the Google Calendar Sync application. (I happen to have it set to run every 15 minutes.)
CONS:
You do need seperate Outlook profiles - which requires a PC with more than one user created on it. It sounds like other listener made have been talking about syncing to just one single Outlook profile on the same computer. Also, the computer has to be running under the particular user's login at least for a bit each day (in my case the sync time is 15 minutes - so at least that long) in order that at least one sync occurs for items that weren't added to Google Calendar directly. Since my home PC is always on throughout the day and my wife logs in at least once a day, this is not a problem - but might be for some. To avoid this, we have trained ourselves to add calendar items to Google Calendar directly, our Outlook calendars on the home PC are then updated the next time we are at the PC and signed in. We see each other's new additions immediatly.
Small warning: If you use Google Calendar Sync incorrectly at first, you will end up causing a duplicate entry to be created of every calendar item you have. I had this problem once and it is not for the faint of heart. I basically had to remove my Outlook database and create a new one. I then had to re-import all my calendar items from a handy-dandy backup .PST folder I made, of course, PRIOR to trying this.
All and all it took some experimentation - but it works GREAT for us now. Perhaps a bit convoluted for a PodCast "how-to" but with a bit of thought and other perspectives - their may be a way to clean this method up. Of course, the alternative is to just simply work in Google Calendar (both from the PC and from the iPhone) all of the time and let the sync application make everything move seamlessly over to Outlook so it's available their when you sit down at home.
Lastly, alerts become an issue. Obviously, things in the native iPhone calendar can generate an audible reminder alert. Google Calendar will not, per se. However, Google Calendar has added a feature that allows you to have reminder emails sent to you for Google Calendar items, so set your iPhone to fetch every 15 minutes and be sure to set longer reminder periods - all set! If you don't want to go that far and make things too complicated and if you are patient then - the completion of the circle.... drum roll.... if your Google Calendar items are syncing back to your Outlook and you regularly sync your iPhone on your PC using iTunes, those Google Calendars which ended up in your Outlook then end up sync'd with the native iPhone Calendar resulting in a normal native iPhone reminder! (If that makes any sense)
I don't expect to hear about this long drawn out method on your show - but perhaps there is a take-away with the Google Calendar Sync application. For us it was setup and forget - it's the setup that takes some thought!
I will talk about this on the next episode - but long of the short - I talked with 3 different people within the FCC that work on Qualification of cell phones and other devices. I asked them if a manufacturer would actually need a new FCC qual if they were going from an Edge phone to a 3G phone. Well we have a split decision - 2 felt that as long as they did not change their baseband frequencies - No they would not. The third person - who the first two pointed me to as being the better source - said that it would depend on the difference in the phone. He felt that a simple software update would not need a new qual - but if there were new hardware on the transmission side - even at the same baseband freq's - then yes it would need some sort of qual.
What does this mean? Well - That most likely Apple will need to get approval from the FCC before introducing the 3G iPhone. So we should get some warning prior to the official release of the 3G iPhone but then again maybe not.
Also let me say the People I talked to were very nice and very helpful.
Recommended Native Apps: Lights Out Vnotes Mobile Twitterific Send Song Sketches
Native Apps I do NOT recommend: Zune2 iPong Mines Doom
Extended Show Notes - Thanks to Stacey in Youngstown.
Sun, 9 September 2007 TODAY in iPhone - Episode 34 Time to get Native on your App!
Dave in California, sounds off - Apple screws their best customers- US! Speaks for the masses and swears we won't buy a first gen product again. Ever. No really... then predicts Apple rebate might keep us happy.
Jimmy crack head wins the Vmoda headset. Jawbone winter announced - winner has one week to claim prize.
Episode 33 feedback - Greg says Rob's lost interest in iPhone (Rob disputes) Dave in southern Cal tastes sour grapes
Rob announces- if you bought a phone in the two weeks before the price break - $200 rebate is yours!
iPhone update coming soon, Rob predicts - firmware that date should support iTunes mobile, composite video out ( Matching iPod Touch) late September.. Rod daydreams of "copy" "paste" feature
You heard it here first - iTunes mobile will not to support podcast/subscriptions ( one reason we still need our Macs. Our iPhones are too young to take over the World)
Steve (iPhone newbie) wants in-ear headphones with clicker and to play .mp3 from his e-mail. Rob promises to look for an app - hasn't found one yet.
Reviews Rivet iPhone Headset - Two Thumbs up (an understatement) no contest on this one folks- Rob's actually keeping this one!! Wow! Very comfy, no urinal drop woes, blocks out background noise, switch works well.
Convert Ringtones: instructions available for 7.4 iTunes version ONLY (don't upgrade to 7.4.1 until after you listen to this!) Engadget's work around. Rob walks you through it step by step. How to convert .mp3 to .aac to .m4a to .m4r
Jason - UK rumor launch date 15 December? Rob tries to dispel the myths - don't believe what you hear. Wait for the big Apple to tell all.
Tmobile $20 unlimited date plan for unlocked iPhone?
Jimmy in Maine e-mails Rob The Street.com article - Why Apple got it right (and what they got wrong going with AT&T)
Seven out of eight iPhones have been sold from Apple store. (Tell me again why Apple went with AT&T on this one?)
Software: App Tapp - From Null River gets two thumbs way up - allows you to install apps and play in airplane mode.. the first upload should be Community sources
Native apps Doom= nothing like the real thing Zune2= cute, not practical iPong= (ditto) Lights Out= Rob's on level 10- it must be good Mobile Twitterific= work's great Sketches= not practical, unless your 17 mo. old is cranky Vnotes= finally! a voice recording app for your iPhone! Send Song= email out songs to others (when can we listen to them from our Phones?) Minesweep= not like the original... a bit too easy? iLight= turns iPhone into the most expensive flashlight in America iBrate= Rob turns red over possible female reviews? references HP broomsticks..
Detailed Show Notes for Episode 32 - From Stacey in Youngstown
Mon, 20 August 2007 Today In iPhone: Episode 32 - Feedback and User Centric Interview
Intro: Soundbyte from Danny (Raleigh) 7th in line on iPhone Day
Rob forewarns his Out-tro is an interview with Gavin (regarding the study circulating online about texting), and plugs his recent guest appearance on the Typical Mac User Podcast (with Victor).
Listener Feedback: *John (Wisconsin) waited for longer line to form on iPhone Day? *Kevin (fratpackpodcast.com) disputes Rob's stance (from last episode) on not purchasing anything on iPhone; as does *Ken (NJ); as does Jake (NYC) sites HTTPS; as does James who sites SSL
iPhone tip of the week: *John (Santa Claira) hacks the Belkin Power adapter to work with iPhone. *Joe (minus Ben from Eugene, OR) gives us a new way to ignore calls and points out that if you utilize the dock you can plug in any headphones you want without the stinkin' $10 adapter. (Note: I tried this while it was plugged into my iMac with semi-disastrous results and would definitely recommend using the dock alone, NOT plugged in to anything else!) *John (Rochester) having problems with his WiFi home connection (using Belkin router) – update fixed it lickety split!
Q and A: *Kevin (fratpackpodcast.com) wants the skinny on sports pages for scores/ stats on games (the lite version please). Rob delivers iPhone Sports Scores page on silver platter. (More to come on next show)
Feedback: * Alvin (Virginia) loves his Plantronics 640 Bluetooth headset, says comfortable with glasses on! * Randy (iphone-VT.com) driving in his Prius (sadly) notes that hands free audio not currently possible in his car. Uses Apple earbuds frequently and shares how to wake iPhone from sleep * M(something something?) Paul(?) from Pittsburgh asks about iFuntastic, do you lose data on phone? Is there a way to backup notes? Rob answers no reset needed for first download, and promises iFuntastic version 3 coming out soon! *Tommy (LA) having probs with phone after doing the update. *Former Windows user says that he used screen protector on Windows mobile phone and had problems with his phone. Rob puts out a call: if you are having screen issues with your iPhone, please call in and give your specific details: what case are you using, are you using a screen protector (and which one) and what is your screen number (5 or 7)?
Software: iFuntastic – Version 3 coming out soon! Drag and drop games, ringtones, more!
Contest JawBone Bluetooth Headset giveaway in a little over a week!
Out-tro: Gavin (of the User Centric Study) does an interview with Rob (warning- this Out-tro is actually a show in itself- 30 min long)
Detailed Show Notes for Episode 31 - From Stacey in Youngstown (Thanks Stacey)
Mon, 13 August 2007 Today In iPhone: Episode 31- I am feeling Blue -- tooth that is
Intro: Soundbyte from Ben and Joe (not to be confused with the ice cream hippies) from Eugene, OR on iPhone Day
FACT or FICTION? Follow up to the web rumors that man had his thumbs surgically altered for iPhone- prove to be false (whew- I (stacey) was worried it would become a trend)
iPhone Tips: *Alan (Newport) tells us how to lighten our wallets without spending a dime by scanning membership cards into iPhone *Ken (Maine) gives activation tips for rural listeners just out of Edge netwark range *Chris warns that the screen dot issue is random and not specific to a verision 5 or 7.
Q and A: *Alan (Newport) disappointed in Bluetooth headset- can't listen to music / audiobooks through his headset. Jonathan (CO) Uses cassette adapter in car for audio listening and Bluetooth for calls.. Is there a better way? Rob found a hack for streaming audio to your Bluetooth Headset *When will next patch be released? Why Rob is holding out for stereo blue tooth headset, and his guess as to firmware release dates. *David (Birmingham) questions hands free streaming. Rob notes the Prius already streams (wants listener feedback) and Scoscehe has a universal Bluetooth receiver for stereo. Will iPhone recognize these devices? *Are iPhone purchases through Safari safe? Rob breaks it down by kilometers and gives a warning *Is there danger in using non iPhone specific accessories in a car? Rob answers – danger, what danger? And dishes about Griffin FM transmitter and his Bose dock. *Chris in CANADA is dying for release date info. Rumor is Q4, but you could blindfold yourself, spin around and throw a dart at the calendar and come up with a better guess. Rob doesn't buy Q4. * Ray in Philly heard about a 16 G iPhone ? Rob believes it's possible for the European crowd as early as November! *Listener wants ringtones through iTunes. Rob directs to Hack The iPhone for Custom Ringtones *Jody (Atlanta) wants to buy second gen iPhone- when's it coming out? Rob wagers a vasectomy on release date. Warns, stop chasing the white rabbit.
Apps: *RockLighter.com – wins award for most useless app *AddPhone - Iphone Application Search Engine up to 447 apps and counting! *MockDock – fake iPhone doc controls for your favorite apps
Listener Feedback: *Listeners call using Jawbone *Alan rips apart two earphones (literally) *More Jawbone soundbytes from various listeners – *Joe (Eugene, OR) thrilled to be first to get iPhone at his local store *Ed (CA) gets lucky, his touch sensors malfunctioned and AT&T game him new phone. Moral: Apple backs it's products. *Listeners report screen issues, dead spots *Mark (NJ) corrects Rob, lithium ion vs lithium ion polymer battery *Guy gets crapy job to buy a Mac (take another drink from the well my friend). Rob shares his crapy job story, wants yours too (no vulgarity please). *youngest known lister, Mitch (13), saving for an iPhone gets pat on the back from Rob
Product Review & new contest: *Rob dishes about the Jawbone's audio quality, background noise levels, comfort and even packaging.
*Speaking of contests… xxx xxxxx is the vModa headset winner and has one week to claim his coveted prize!
Intro: Soundbyte from MyiPhonePodcast.com host while waiting in line.
Rob is new VP of podcaster relations for Wizzard media! Congrats Rob!
FACT or FICTION? Mr. Johnson's vasectomy for an iPhone
iPhone tip of the week: Maury warns~Don't change your cell plan without saving voicemails, data, etc! Jonathan says~Delete txt messages (eventually) or suffer the consequences...
Q of the week: *Another listener (Paul) asks about the battery. Rob dishes about Lithium ion vs NiCad. *Battery only good for 300 charges? Rob disputes. *Ryan from St. Louis asks about European carriers and rate plans.. Chris from bumpodcast.co.uk answers (in a posh accent) the O2 vs Vodafone. *Joe asks All Knowing Rob when will iPhone 2.0 come out. Rob replies- go forth and multiply..
Promo: Apple Review cast
Out-tro: Listener feedback from iPhone Day~ Ryan in Cinci
Don't forget to Phone different! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Detailed Show Notes for Episode 29 - From Stacey in Youngstown
Wed, 1 August 2007 Today In iPhone: Episode 29 Never blame on Malice what can easily be blamed on incompetence –
Intro: Soundbyte from JoJo (Miami) on iPhone Day
Chuck Hudson disputes rumors that iPhone My eBay is illegitimate. Rob apologizes for his candid comment to a listener (and explains what he meant), praises the site.
iPhone tip of the week: *Mike explains how to check mins without connecting to the 'net.
Q and A: *Edward (Virginia) asks about iFuntastic. Rob exhorts the ease of use to changing ringtones, moving buttons. (Warning crops up later in show) *Sebastian follows up his games Q (previous episode) with profit concerns for Apple. Rob answers- no worries, and takes off his hat to the (sweet) Bejeweled creator, Arkadiusz. *Danny (Miami) waited in line 26 hours for his prize possession, and wonders why Safari is cheating on him and crashing. Rob nudges him to update the phone, as the first iPhone update (1.0.1) fixes Safari bugs and stability issues. Rob warns, however, you will loose unsynced elements from iFuntastic (users beware). *Adam wonders why can't he view his video podcasts. Rob explains how to get the full Monty (audio and video at the same time! Oh my)
Feedback: *Tricia (windy NYC) happy with Apple's Bluetooth headset. Rob questions differences between it and Jawbone (invites listener feedback) *Jorge (Miami) loves his iPhone *Gina (Key West) checks in on iPhone Day while being checked out by a police patrolman.
Software: iFuntastic
Contest v-moda - Headphones
Out-tro: Listener feedback, John purchases iPhone online- takes a week to get.
New Apple Ad's confirm that the Launch date is June 29th 2007 for the US release. Here is a link to the Apple Site with the new Ad's that have the date in them.
Today we are joined by Don Palmigiano from The iPhone Blog. We talk about hte latest posts on The iPhone Blog plus other Rumors and News in the iPhone world.
Today we are joined by Gregory Ng - Editor-in-Chief of iPhone Matters. We talk about the latest posts on the iPhone Matters site plus other Rumors and News in the iPhone world.
