I had an old Atari400 sitting arround and thought I could put it to good use as an iPad Dock.  It just required a little bit of a mod.  Here are some pictures of my new Atari400 iPad dock.  It uses the Apple Blue Tooth Keyboard and it fits in quite nicely.   

 

 

My Son quickly took to the new dock - it made it easy for him to watch Pinky Dinky Doo on the iPad and to control the volume with the keyboard.   

 

Here is a picture of the modified Atari400 with the top closed.  And the Apple BT keyboard snuggly in place.  

 

 

Here is a pic with the top open - I attached the cut outs to the lid -  The cut outs are 5/8th of an inch wide to support both the iPad1 and iPad2 with covers in place.  The lid when it is open supplies a nice support to lean the iPad against.  It makes a great iPad stand. 

  

 

Here is close up with the lid closed to show the slots are covered when the lid is closed.

 

 

With the Keyboard firmly in place - you can still get to the power button.  So you can turn the keyboard on and off without having to remove it.  

 

 

This mod supports the iPad both in Horizontal and Vertical orientations.

 

 

The opening for the keyboard is pretty much exactly the same width as Apple BT keyboard.  Which means it fits in place with no additional attachments.  You can just lift it out when you need to use it somewhere else.  The only real mod needed was a cut out in the upper right and a slight dremmeling to smooth everything out.  

 

Here is what the top case looks like with all the cut outs.  Remeber to be carefull with the top slot cut outs if you want to save them to attach to the lid. I left 1/4 of an inch space from the front of the top ledge and then cut them at 5/8th of inch wide and down 3/8ths of an inch on the side.  For the iPad 2 with a case a 1/2 inch wide would be fine.  

 

Half of the work in developing an App is promoting said App.  And where I can I like to help out Devs.  One way is saying what to do, but what is more fun is saying what not to do - by showing an example. 

 

The following is an email I received today. 

 

Hello,

My name is Oliver and I have developed an app that I think will interest you and your users/followers/viewers. I am sure you receive a lot of mail but my app is truly unique. With your device camera you are able to manipulate the graphics and even place yourself in the midst of all the action. Likewise with the sound, samples can be recorded and edited into the game. Redacted is intensely customizable game with limitless possibilities.

If you can find the time then I would be very interested to hear what your thoughts are on the game and it?s core design mechanics. Below is a link for your convenience:

Redacted

P.S. Big fan of your site/channel/blog

Best Regards,
Oliver 

 

Oh so many issues with this one.  Let me comment on this in Blue.

 

Hello,

 

Don't start an email with just hello - find out the persons name. No first name is a big red flag I am being spammed.  

 

 

My name is Oliver and I have developed an app that I think will interest you and your users/followers/viewers.

 

My users/followers/viewers ???  Take some time to figure out what type of producer someone is.  For me it is obviously listeners.  Not "users", Not "followers" and definitely not "viewers".  

 

 

I am sure you receive a lot of mail but my app is truly unique.

 

Yes - Yes I do get a lot of mail - but at this point I am not thinking about his unique app - maybe his uniquely bad email - but not his unique app.

 

 

P.S. Big fan of your site/channel/blog

 

Best Regards,
Oliver 

 

Again the amount of time you put into promoting your app should be equal to or greater than that you put into developing the app.  And part of that work is researching the blogger / podcaster / youtuber you are reaching out to.  Content producers are busy creating content - and if you have something interesting and you present it honestly - there is a good chance you will get some coverage.  But doing what Oliver did is a complete waste of everyones time.   Well except in this case it did make good fodder for the show. 

Hi Rob, Long time listener (listened to every episode since your first one) and have recommended it to hundreds of ios users. Just wanted to let you know that I appreciated your Articles responses to NY Times and CR you recently posted! By the way, can you please tell me what script or service you use to post your articles (that allows others to post responses and comment). If possible, I would like to use it (or if can recommend somehing similar) for my office website.  Thanks and love the great podcast and newly redesigned website! Sincerely, Dr. P

 

Hello Dr. P,

The following review of the ZAGGmate was emailed in by a Tii Listener.

===================

Hi Rob, and Happy New Year to you and all your listeners.

I got a ZAGGmate (www.zagg.com) a week ago and had never thought of reviewing it until I heard your request for reviews of similar devices in episode 158.

The ZAGGmate is an aluminum case that comes either as just a case or as a case with embedded Bluetooth keyboard. I got the keyboard version which I am using to type this review.

The aluminum is a little whiter and more coarsely pitted than the iPad shell but it is a close match and the two look good together.  It also seems to be a little softer than the iPad aluminum and mine has already taken a couple of nicks in the edges although I thought I was treating it with care.  You can get a ZAGG Invisible Shield specifically designed for it that will protect it from scratches and it ships with four little adesive rubber feet that you will probably have to put on the bottom of the case as it tens to slide around a little on slick table surfaces.  It is lined with rubber so it grips the iPad securely and prevents the screen from contacting the keyboard.  I don't know what will happen to my screen if I drop the closed iPad/ZAGGmate on a hard surface, but I am confident that the aluminum will protect my screen when the iPad is in a bag or backpack.  If you are out walking around with the iPad and there is no surface that you can set it up on there is no way to attach the keyboard to the back of the iPad while you are using the soft keyboard.  When closed up in the ZAGGmare my iPad is a little thicker than it is unprotected but only about half as thick as it was on my Simplism folio case and is about the same weight as when it is in the Simplism.

You pry the iPad out of the case with the tips of your fingers either at the USB connector cutout or at the cutout at the front of the keyboard that provides access to the first row of keys.  At the back of the case there is a little plastic easel that you snap into place which supports the iPad at about a 60° angle.  The iPad is inserted into a notch in front of the easel and can be inserted either in portrait or landscape mode.

The Bluetooth keyboard is as wide as the iPad is wide in portrait mode so it is a little tight but I find that I adapt to the key spacing quickly and can touch type about as well as I can on a full size keyboard.  There is adequate travel, resistance and tactile response from the keypad, which is a scissor design so feels really nice.  There are function keys across the top of the keypad which have primary functions as iPad control keys.  I say primary functions because you  have to shift to get to Function keys (which as far as I can tell are totally functionless), not the iPad functions.  Those keys are:
F1 = Home
F2 = Spotlight
F3 = enable/Disable Soft Keyboard
F4 = Screen On/Off [Boss Mode, not sleep]
F10 = iTunes Previous Track
F11 = Pause/Play
F12 = Next Track
(F13) = Mute (unnumbered Function keys)
(F14) = Decrease Volume
(F15) = Increase Volume
(F16) = Toggle through International Keyboards
(I was able to create that indented list using the tab key which didn't move me to another form field.)  Function keys F5-F9 are not used for anything but at this point they can't be assigned to anything by the user.  The jailbreak community will probably fix that shortcoming.  There are also Function, Control, Option and Command keys so many of the MacBook commands like Cut, Copy, Paste, Beginning of Line, etc. will work although I haven't taken the time to figure out which ones don't.  There are direction arrows (which are not in the inverted T formation and what give me the most problems) and an embedded numeric keyboard.  There is no noticeable lag between pressing a key and seeing the corresponding character on the iPad keyboard.

When you turn the unit on the Status LED glows red for a couple of seconds then goes out to conserve battery.  I find this disconcerting and wish that it at least flashed every minute or so to reassure me that the keyboard is still on when I am not actually using it.  My keyboard has been turned on for a week now and it still hasn't given me a low battery warning.  When battery power drops to 20% the Status LED is supposed to start flashing, although I haven't seen that yet, whereupon you are supposed to have about two days of use left before the battery is completely dead.  I haven't been able to get information on the battery technology used or how it needs to be treated for maximum life.  The battery is not designed to be user replaceable.  The keyboard goes into sleep mode after two seconds of no use and wakes up at the press of any key instantaneously.  Recharging is via a micro USB connector that can be plugged into the 10v wallwart  that came with the iPad or any other 5v powered USB connector and a completely drained battery is supposed to be nearly completely recharged in an hour.  They recommend an initial 8-hour charge.  The Power LED glows blue while the battery is charging and goes out when it has been completely charged.

Pairing is usually fast and simple.  Once the iPad and keyboard are both turned on you go into the iPad Settings>General>Bluetooth area and make sure Bluetooth is turned on and the iPad reports that it is discoverable. Press the tiny indented Bluetooth button on the ZAGGmate and the Status LED will begin to flash.  ZAGGmate will appear in the list of Bluetooth devices.  Click on the blue > button on that line and a dialog box will shortly pop up giving you a series of numbers to type on the ZAGGmate keyboard.  Type the numbers and hit enter and the keyboard is connected and the Status LED will go off.  There is an active threat on the iPad Forum (http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-accessories/14057-personal-review-zaggmate-bluetooth-keyboard-case.html) where there have been a few reports of people having trouble with pairing.  I had a problem after I accidentally upgraded my iPad to iOS 4.2.1 but it may have been because I may have neglected the click the blue > button step.  ZAGG has a presence in that thread and was even there on Christmas day to address issues new users were having.

My main issue with the keyboard is with the F3, Soft Keyboard toggle.  I invariably get into bed and find that my soft keyboard doesn't pop up when I try to enter text in a form.  I have to get up and walk across the room with a flashlight to press the F3 button of the keyboard that is sitting on the table.  It is a small price to pay for the convenience of having a real keyboard.  It is going to make the iPad more of a content creation device and a netbook replacement.  I have noticed that when I am typing on the ZAGGmate autocorrection doesn't seem to replace words as often and I haven't decided whether it is a compatibility issue or if I have mistyped those words so often that the iPad also thinks the correct spelling is what I typed.

Sorry to be so long winded, but I guess you can tell that I like my ZAGGmate.

                                 Charlie

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Analyst: 17% of Verizon Customers Waiting for iPhone - Mac Rumors

Wal-Mart slashes iPhone 3GS price to $97 - May. 24, 2010

Technology News: iPhone: Apple Consigns iPhone 3GS to Wal-Mart's Bargain Basement

Holman Jenkins: Apple's Second Date with History - WSJ.com

Nerd Alert! The iPhone 3G Is Dead To You And Me | Complex Blog

Report: 30% of netbook shoppers bought an iPad

Tii Post on Retrevo from Feb.

Apple makes iPhone dev deal -- with Microsoft? - Computerworld Blogs

YouTube - How Steve Jobs Beat Death

YouTube - Apple - Newton - Restaurant

Man arrested for shooting at car of iPhone theives - Boing Boing

Microsoft debunks rumor of Ballmer appearance at WWDC

AT&T Claims 40% of iPhone Sales Made to Business Customers - Mac Rumors

AT&T: 40 percent of iPhone sales are enterprise -- Engadget

Mac News: An iPhone for Verizon and Sprint: Dream On

NBC, TBS & Others Say No To iPad | Shelly Palmer

Apple iPad Launches Internationally, the Crowd Goes Wild

AT&T to offer iPhone insurance for $13.99/mo « Boy Genius Report

Bing to take over iPhone/iPad/iPod touch search? | 9 to 5 Mac

Apple To Face Regulatory Probe Over iAd Mobile Ad Product - ClickZ

Navigon cuts price of MyRegion version for a limited time

AppleInsider | AT&T's iPhone insurance to cost twice as much as SquareTrade

International iPad sale attracts long lines, 'crazy' atmosphere - CSMonitor.com

Has the iPad killed tablet innovation? - SlashGear

Next iPhone Screen Resolution Confirmed at 960x640 - Mac Rumors

iPhone security flaw: Using a PIN won't help you | Security | Macworld

Telus adds lone, scaling iPad 3G data plan | Electronista

Apps Mentioned in this Episode:
Tii App
Glow Doodle
Wolfram Alpha
QStatus
Whistle Phone
Angry Birds
Activator - Cydia
Top 100 by Year by Bing
AppAdvice
WiFi Sync - Cydia


BlueTooth Headsets Mentioned in this Episode:
Altec Lansing BT headset

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Wikipedia Launches Official iPhone App
Washington Post - Feds may be investigating Apples request for Palm
CNET - AT&T Steps up 850MHz roll out for enhanced 3G
iSmashphone - Everything you need to know about iPhone Video
iLounge - iPhone 3GS capable of 720p and 1080p hi-def playback?
USAToday - AT&T to take a fresh look at internet calling for iPhone
Apple Answers the FCC's Questions
The iPhone Blog - Apple iPhone is a restaurant not a super market
Dailymobile - DIY iPhone / iPod Dock
Groovin with the Grizas - An App for all iPhoners
4Wheelsnews - Mini Cooper iPhone App
Youtube - Evilgummyworm2 review of Tii App
Dealextreme - Phone Tools Page
Daves Lounge Podcast
Washingtonpost - Ultimate iPhone App organizer Hits the Web


Apps and Software Mentioned in this Episode:
WikiPedia The App
Wiki Tap
Wikipanion
Mini Cooper App
WarFare
MOVEMENT

Tii Podcast App Bonus Tip:
How to Get 12+ App Screens in OS 3.0

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Business Insider - No new iPhone or Stever Jobs at Apples WWDC
TUAW - First Look at Sling Player
NYTimes - Unofficial Software Incurs Apple's Wrath
The AppleBlog - iPhone 3G Now comes directly from Apple to your door
Mashable - How much money does a Billion sold iPhone apps get you?
Business Insider - New iPhone could still come at WWDC
Houston Chronicle - Rapper Willie D charged in iPhone Scam
Gizmodo - How to Hack the iPhone to use Sling Player on 3G
TechCrunch - About those iPhone App Stor Revenue numbers
iFixit - iPhone 3G front Panel replacement
Phonearena - Project Charlie
AppleInsider - Apple Execs disclose options for boosting market share
MacRumors - New iPod Touch to get Camera?
iPhoneNews - iPhone 2009 Rumors
Intomobile - Apple Rumored to allow limited multi-tasking
Online Marketing Rant - How to Market iPhone Apps
Internetsafety.com - Kid Friendly Apps
BusinessInsider - Apple serious about background App support
The iPhone Blog - iPhone 3.0 Best and Hardware issues
AppleInsider - AT&T may introduce $20 limited iPhone data plan
CNET - iMeem's new iPhone app
TUAW - Developers invited to test iPhone 3.0 Push
Wired.com - Next Gen iPhone specs and launch date revealed?
WSJ - Palm Pre Monthly costs lower than the iPhone
AT&T confirms iPhone service plan reduction
Fortune - Gartner Reports iPhone market share doubled
Engadget - 32 GB iPhone placeholder appears at T-Mobile Austria
CRN - Palm Pre Shortage a marketing play?
Apple Vibration - Screen shots of Push notifications in 3.0
Gartner - Worldwide mobile phone sales Q1 2009


Apps Mentioned in this Episode:
TNA Wrestling
ooTunes
iMeem
Flick Notes
Red Laser - Review
Tricker Three 3G - Jailbroken App
Live 365
Pandora
email n' Walk
Sling Player

Links Mentioned in this Episode:
GigaOm - How To Make Money from iPhone Games
iPhone Dev Journal - Seven Steps to the iPhone Developers World
Computer World - iPhone 3.0 Preview
JK on the Run - T-mobile Germany Blocks skype
the iPhone blog - iPhone 09 possible features
PC Word - "Experts" predict multiple iPhone Models
Crunch gear - I want to install you like an Animal
Boy Genius - Exclusive iPhone 3.0 screen shoots
Official Gmail Blog - A new mobile Gmail experience
Changewave - iPhone has nothing to worry about from Pre
Ars Technica - Survey Teen iPhone ownership Up
Triangle Biz Journal - ACS adding 240 iPhone support Jobs
Apple - iTunes 1 Billion App Countdown
Wired - Easter eggs give clues to next gen iPhone
Mac Rumors - All time Top iPhone App Sales figures
Computer World - Forrester - iPhone corprate users Happier more productive
Fortune - Forrester Top 4 reasons IT should support the iPhone
Mobilecrunch - iPhone OS 3.0 Beta 3 is out
AT&T in Talks to extend iPhone deal to 2011
iPhone Atlas - iPhone WiFi failures caused by batter heat?
Mobilecrunch - iPhone OS 3.0 Beta 3 is jailbroken
ReadWriteWeb - MEDL Mobile - The AppIncubator iPhone App
Mac Rumors - iPhone 3.0 Beta Galleries Illustrat new Features
Phonenews - Apple Consolidating AV cables ahead of iPhone HD launch
Average Betty Podcast - Check it out!!!
Crunchdeals - Refurb 16GB iPhone for $150 from AT&T


Applications Mentioned in this Episode:
NiN
Appincubator
JMDictate Lite
SpoofApp
mPlayer
HT Professional Recorder

A new Tii is on the way.  In the mean time you can catch me on the other side of the mic on Technocracy Radio episode no.17. Other guests on this episode include Apple Developer August Trometer and iPhone Hacker AriX. 

Link to Interview

If you want to see past push messages - there is now a list of past push messages in the Tii App.  When you open the Tii App tap on "Tii" in the lower left.  You should then be taken to the list of Episodes.  In the upper right - tap on the "!" It will then turn Yellow and at the top of the screen it will say "All Alerts".  You will now see the list of past push messages.  

 

If you are not getting Push messages on the Tii App please check the following.

 

A - See if push is showing as installed

1. Open the Tii App

2. Tap "Extras" in the upper right

3. At the bottom Tap "Upgrade to Premium"

4. At this point it should say "Installed" next to "Premium Upgrade".  If it says "Installed" go to Step B below.

5. If it is showing a Price - then Tap on the Price to re-purchase.  Make sure you are using the same iTunes account you originally used to purchase the upgrade and the App.  Please note you will NOT be charged again for re-purchasing the upgrade if you use the same iTunes account.

6. After you put in your password it will then say you have already purchased this do you want to download it again for free.  Tap "Yes"  

That should be it. Tap Done - then go back to confirm it now shows as "Installed"

 

===================================

 

B. See if Notifications are turned on.  

1. If step A showed Push as being installed it is possible it is not turned on.  

2. Leave the Tii app and go to the "Settings" App.  The one from Apple.

3. The third item on the first screen in the Settings app is "Notifications" tap on it.

4. Find the Tii app in the list.  Under Tii it should say "Alerts, Sounds" 

5. If it says "Off" tap on Tii to turn on either or both Alerts and Sounds.  

Note - If you don't want to hear a push come in at 3 or 4 AM you can turn just "Sounds" off.  Please note I have listeners in every time zone in the world - So every time I send out a push it is around 3 or 4 AM somewhere.  Sorry.  

 

===================================

 

C - Quick Re-install of Tii App.

If you are still not getting push messages you can do a quick re-install of the Tii App by doing the following:

1. On your iOS device locate the Tii icon and tap and hold.

2. Once it starts to wiggle - Tap the X to delete.

3. Sync your iOS device with your computer

4. In iTunes - select your iOS device and go to the Apps page and re-select the Tii App and click "Apply"

5. Follow the steps in A and B above. 

 

===================================

 

D - Full Delete and Re-Download and Re-Install 

In some very very rare cases if all the above is not working it may be necessary to completely delete out the Tii App and re-download and re-install.  Please follow these steps exactly in the order they are listed. 

1. Delete the Tii App from your iOS device.

2. On your computer in iTunes in the Library section for Apps - find and delete the Tii App.

3. Connect your iOS device to your Computer and Sync.

4. In the iTunes store re-purchase the Tii App - Note as long as you use the same iTunes account that you originally purchased the Tii App with you will NOT be charged again.

5. Sync your iOS Device again - this should re-install the Tii App on your iOS device.  

6. Follow the Steps in A and B above.  

 

Note - You do need to have purchased the Tii App and the Push notifications - using the same iTunes Account to get Push Notifications working.   If you downloaded the Tii App using Instal0us - you will not be able to get Push notifications to work. (That is a statement not a challenge)

 

As always - Thanks for supporting the show.