Hi Rob,
I created this artwork with PerfectPhoto and PhotoWizard on my iPod touch.
I made the leaf photo with my cannon camera.

Regards,
- Ben

In iOS 5 there are three ways to be notified of an alert.  You can have an audio alert or a vibrating alert and there is also now visual alerts via flashing of the LED.   

This third option is new in iOS 5 and it is turned off by default.  To turn it on go to

Settings --> General --> Accessibility --> LED Flash for Alerts .  And then turn "ON" 

Sadly at this time it is not customizeable, where you could have different flash patters - like you can for vibrations.  Nor can you pick and choose which contacts get the flash alerts.  Hopefully those options will be added in the future. 

Links Mentioned in this episode:

iPhone - AppleCare+

AT&T's iPhone 4S is Tops for Web Browsing

Hackers modify iPhone 4S to run on T-Mobile

4S - Steps on How to Unlock

iPhone 4S owners complain of persistent echo

iPhone 4s, echo Apple Support Communities

Android app revenue is 7% of iPhone's - Fortune

Kindle Fire getting shoppers hotter than iPad?

A human review of the Kindle Fire – Marco.org

Non-Apple Tablets Maintain Small Market Share

Production starts for iPad 3 QXGA display

iPad 3 To Get Thinner, Have Sharper Display - Forbes

Black Friday teaser

Samsung Sends Up Apple

Apple allows subscription-based iPad gaming - TUAW

Apps Mentioned in this episode:

Tii App

Garageband

WordFoto

Orchestra To Do

iXpenseit

YouTubeToMP3 - Cydia

Wizzard Media Apps

One issues with the Auto correct is when Apple constantly replaces a word or name you type with one it thinks you meant.  This is really bad for some people with thier last name or first name.  For instance I go by "Rob" - but iOS autocorrect constanlty tries to change it to "Ron".

Well with iOS 5.x there is help.  It is via the customized keyboard shortcuts.  To access these go to:

Settings -->  General --> Keyboard --> Add New Shortcut

Note most examples you may see are for short accronyms like "omw" that when you type it iOS 5 replaces it with "on my way".

But again I find it very usual where each time I try entering a word that Apple will change on me with autocorrect - to go in and add that word to the short cut list.  Thus overriding the Autocorrect feature for that word.  I did it right off the bat for "rob" and "walch" and now iOS does not try to change my name to the wrong spelling.  

Hi Rob,

I created this using Wordfoto.

Regards,

Tash

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,

My question is this

I run 2 iPhone 4 & 1 iPod touch on 1 iTunes account.  Will we be getting 5 gig of storage per device or 5 gig of storage per iTunes account when ios5 & the icloud goes live next week?

Cheers

Craig L

Liverpool England  

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

iOS 5.0.1 Software Update now live

What's Wrong With Apple's iOS 5.0.1 Update? 

The 5 biggest gripes so far about the iPhone 4S - CNN.com

iOS 5 hides an Android-like autocorrect keyboard bar - 9to5Mac

Mac News: iTunes Store: Apple Strikes Up Match

Hover Tutorial on Domain Transfers 

iPhone 4S chaos in Hong Kong - Fortune Tech

iPhone apps: A DIY skill that's in big demand

Standford iPad and iPhone course - iTunesU

Stanford's latest iPhone and iPad apps course now free on iTunes U

Sprint pushes SIM lock to iPhone 4S customers - Engadget

msnbc video: Annie Leibovitz says go for the iPhone

Amazon Kindle Fire: The reviews are in - Fortune Tech

The Death Of The Spec | TechCrunch

Qualcomm Gobi 4000 Platform for 4G LTE Connectivity

Android leads the way in mobile malware - CNET News

Android Security Threats Surge With Infected ‘Angry Birds’

U.S. Kids Looking Forward to “iHoliday” 2011 | Nielsen Wire

Google fixes Gmail iOS app - CNET Reviews

Listen to This Drunk Idiot Call 911 About His Broken iPhone

Apps Mentioned in this Episode:

Tii App

Photo Wizard

Bibilicious

Abacas Cadabra

Freelance Classifieds

HomeBudget with Sync

Mint

Ynav

MyClips

iConProject

AirPrint Activator

Printopia

Hi Rob,

This is my latest and, I think greatest work. I created it with, my all-time favorite app: PhotoWizard. Hope you like it.

Regards,

Ben.

If you don't want to create shortcut icons on your homepages for your settings.  You can still use Siri to access the short cuts.

To do this create a contact in the contacts app with first name per the Preference short cut below.  

Then for the Website URL for that contact put in the code next to the Shortcut name below.  That is it - nothing more.

So for example for Airplane Mode - you would create a contact with "Airplane Mode" for the first name.  Then for the Website URL you would enter "refs:root=AIRPLANE_MODE"  With the case as shown.  Case does matter.  That is all you would enter for that contact - First Name and Website Info.  Then Tap "Done"

Previously if you asked Siri to Turn Airplane Mode On - she would have replied "I'm Sorry, I'm Afraid I can't do that" 

Now simply ask Siri to "Show Airplane Mode Contact".  Siri will now say "Ok here is the contact" and then just tap on "prefs:root=AIRPLA..." and in this case it will take you to the settings screen and turn airplane mode on.  

The one downside of Siri shortcuts - is that they do not work when in airplane mode - so you will not be able to use any of the others when in Airplane mode.  But still this is a quick shortcut to get to the settings - rather than having to try to find where on your iOS device you hid those shortcut icons or the settings app.

Preference Shortcuts

About — prefs:root=General&path=About
Accessibility — prefs:root=General&path=ACCESSIBILITY
Airplane Mode On — prefs:root=AIRPLANE_MODE
Auto-Lock — prefs:root=General&path=AUTOLOCK
Brightness — prefs:root=Brightness
Bluetooth — prefs:root=General&path=Bluetooth
Date & Time — prefs:root=General&path=DATE_AND_TIME
FaceTime — prefs:root=FACETIME
General — prefs:root=General
Keyboard — prefs:root=General&path=Keyboard
iCloud — prefs:root=CASTLE
iCloud Storage & Backup — prefs:root=CASTLE&path=STORAGE_AND_BACKUP
International — prefs:root=General&path=INTERNATIONAL
Location Services — prefs:root=LOCATION_SERVICES
Music — prefs:root=MUSIC
Music  Equalizer — prefs:root=MUSIC&path=EQ
Music Volume Limit — prefs:root=MUSIC&path=VolumeLimit
Network — prefs:root=General&path=Network
Nike + iPod — prefs:root=NIKE_PLUS_IPOD
Notes — prefs:root=NOTES
Notification — prefs:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID
Phone — prefs:root=Phone
Photos — prefs:root=Photos
Profile — prefs:root=General&path=ManagedConfigurationList
Reset — prefs:root=General&path=Reset
Safari — prefs:root=Safari
Siri — prefs:root=General&path=Assistant
Sounds — prefs:root=Sounds
Software Update — prefs:root=General&path=SOFTWARE_UPDATE_LINK
Store — prefs:root=STORE
Twitter — prefs:root=TWITTER
Usage — prefs:root=General&path=USAGE
VPN — prefs:root=General&path=Network/VPN
Wallpaper — prefs:root=Wallpaper
Wi-Fi — prefs:root=WIFI

Hi Rob,

 

I was reading a post about how you could create shortcuts using siri and contacts which is cool but it is limited and seems like in many cases it still takes more time than just clicking the program icons. Then I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool to just have an icon on your iphone/ipad homescreen that was a shortcut to various system settings, programs, contacts etc using the available url schemes. This is obviously a work around but is still faster than anything that I've seen.

 

1. Go to the website ( tinyurl.com ) or similar service. Create links for all of the url scheme shortcuts that you want and copy the links down in your iphone/ipad notes program.

Preference Shortcuts

About — prefs:root=General&path=About
Accessibility — prefs:root=General&path=ACCESSIBILITY
Airplane Mode On — prefs:root=AIRPLANE_MODE
Auto-Lock — prefs:root=General&path=AUTOLOCK
Brightness — prefs:root=Brightness
Bluetooth — prefs:root=General&path=Bluetooth
Date & Time — prefs:root=General&path=DATE_AND_TIME
FaceTime — prefs:root=FACETIME
General — prefs:root=General
Keyboard — prefs:root=General&path=Keyboard
iCloud — prefs:root=CASTLE
iCloud Storage & Backup — prefs:root=CASTLE&path=STORAGE_AND_BACKUP
International — prefs:root=General&path=INTERNATIONAL
Location Services — prefs:root=LOCATION_SERVICES
Music — prefs:root=MUSIC
Music  Equalizer — prefs:root=MUSIC&path=EQ
Music Volume Limit — prefs:root=MUSIC&path=VolumeLimit
Network — prefs:root=General&path=Network
Nike + iPod — prefs:root=NIKE_PLUS_IPOD
Notes — prefs:root=NOTES
Notification — prefs:root=NOTIFICATIONS_ID
Phone — prefs:root=Phone
Photos — prefs:root=Photos
Profile — prefs:root=General&path=ManagedConfigurationList
Reset — prefs:root=General&path=Reset
Safari — prefs:root=Safari
Siri — prefs:root=General&path=Assistant
Sounds — prefs:root=Sounds
Software Update — prefs:root=General&path=SOFTWARE_UPDATE_LINK
Store — prefs:root=STORE
Twitter — prefs:root=TWITTER
Usage — prefs:root=General&path=USAGE
VPN — prefs:root=General&path=Network/VPN
Wallpaper — prefs:root=Wallpaper
Wi-Fi — prefs:root=WIFI

(Short cut list via idownloadblog)

 

2. On your iphone or ipad go into settings and turn off your wifi and cellular data. It's important to not have any connection to the internet.

 

3. After you've turned off the data connections, open up the task manager and close out the safari app to remove it from memory, then open up safari. You'll have some alert boxes pop up, just close them, then paste in your tinyurl shortcut and press go. Close some more alert boxes and now your tinyurl link will be loaded into safari. You won't see anything on the screen, but it is loaded to the point where you can now click on the button where you can create an icon on the homescreen for the tinyurl link that you just loaded.

 

4. After you complete the 3rd step a white icon will be on your home screen with whatever you named it. Do this same thing for all of your shortcuts before turning on the data connections.

 

5. Turn your data connections on and start clicking on your icons. Safari will open up with the tinyurl which will transfer you to your shortcut.
 

Regards,

Dee Jay S

Hi Dee Jay,

Thanks for the tip.  I had also seen the tutorial / post on how to do this with the app IconProject over on iDownloadblog.com.  But this is a nice way to do it with out having to buy the IconProject App.  

For those that are looking for prettier looking iCons - you might want to check out the App iConProject.  

Regards,

Rob W

Hi Rob,

Is there anything special I should do before updating iOS to version 5.0.1? 

Thanks

Bobby D

Hi Bobby,

Every time there has been a new version of iOS - there have been a small - usually a very very very small percentage of users that have had issues with the upgrade.  Every time.  However I think if you follow the instructions below - you will greatly reduce your chance of being one of these people.   

The following is what I recommend before updating to any new versions of iOS.

1.  Wait at least 1 week after an update is out before you update.  Ideally wait until after my next episode - as I will let you know of any major issues. 

2. Back up your iOS device with your computer.  Yes I know many now back up with iCloud - and you can do a backup with it as well.  But you definitely want to make sure you back up on the computer.

3. After you back up to your computer - open up iTunes and go to "Preferences" and then to "Devices".  There you see a box with your iOS devices backups listed.  Confirm you see the one you just did with "Today" and the time next to it - in the list.  This is one reason to back up on your computer - it is easy to confirm the back up is there - plus it is faster to restore from back up from your computer if needed.  

4. Force Quit every open App on your iOS device.  To force quit an app - double tap on the home button - this will display the tray with those apps that are active.  Hold down on one of them until it starts to wiggle.  Then tap on the Red X in the upper Left corner of the App icon.  This is not deleting the app - it is just force quiting the app. 

5. After all of the Apps have been force quitted. Go to Settings --> General --> Reset --> Reset Network Settings.  I like this option as it reboots the iOS device and seems to clear up any issues with your network connection.  Which you want to make sure you have a good connection when downloading the upgrade. You may need to re-log into your Wifi Hot spot if you have a Wifi only device.  

6. After the iOS device is fully rebooted and you confirm it is connected via Wifi or 3G (But I highly recommend Wifi) you will need to connect the device to a power supply.  While the downloads are much smaller than the past non-Over-the-air updates - you still need to be conntect via a power source - as network congestion can cause the upgrade procedure to talk a long time. 

7. Next go to  Settings --> General --> Software Update.  Then if the update is availalbe you will see a description of what the Update addresses.  And below that you will see a button "Download and Install".  

8. After it downloads - Tap "Install" or just let it be and in a few seconds after the download is complete it will start the download process.  

As always Jailbreakers and Unlockers should avoid the latest version of iOS as it often takes weeks or even months before a good reliable Un-Tethered jailbreak is available and usualy a bit longer for the Unlock. 

It is always best to wait a week to 10 days before trying to upgrade - the first couple of days should really really be avoided if at all possible.  With over 200 Milion iOS devices out there - when they all try to upgrade - it can and has been an issue.  And again every iOS update has seen some small percentage of users with issues.  But if you follow the steps above you should be able to greatly reduce the chance you will have an issue.

Regards,

Rob W

iOS 5.0.1 is now available as an over the air update for anyone with iOS 5.0 installed.

First make sure you do a back up.  

Then to install the new version goto Settings --> General --> Software Update 

Then tap "Download and Install"

After it downloads tap install or just let it be and it will install on its own.  

As mentioned on Ep 198 - this fixes bugs effecting battery life and adds multitasking gestures to the original iPad.

It also resolves bugs with documents and iCloud, Plus improved voice recoginition for Australian users.  

Even though the overall update (40 MB) is much much smaller than the old updates (>650 MB) - you should still make sure you have a good wifi connection for the download / update and that your iOS device is fully charged and / or plugged into power.  Depending on how many people are doing the update when you are - past experience shows it can be a slow process.

My recommendation - if you are not having battery issues - is to just wait until early next week (November 15th) after ep 199 of Tii comes out before updating.  

And as always - Jailbreaker and Unlockers - STAY AWAY from this update. 

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Battery Issues confirmed by Apple with iOS 5.

C Spire Wireless pre-register

AirPrint Activator v2.1b1 « Netputing

COAT Mourns Passing of Steve Jobs

Kindle Fire vs. iPad heats up for holiday shoppers - ZDNet

retrevo - blog post by Tii

Apple Testing Siri On Devices Other Than the iPhone 4S

iOS 5 Hidden Panorama Mode Revealed 

how to enable panoramic mode without jailbreaking | 9to5Mac 

New Case Device Adds Dual SIMs To iPhone 4 | TechCrunch

Access The Hidden Field Test App For iPhone | Cult of Mac

Adobe abandons mobile Flash

Consumer Reports Recommends IPhone After Apple Fixes Antenna

icloud Control Panel on Windows XP also

Apps Mentioned in this Episode:

Tii App

Garageband

Brushes

Typedrawing

Biblicious

Abacus Cadabra

Display out - Cydia

Softsign

Hi Rob,

Just wanted to tell you that AT&T moved my upgrade eligibility date
up, and I'm going to My local Appe Store today after work to pick up
my 4S.

Initially my upgrade date was November 16th, and I was patiently
waiting.  But I was eligible immediately when I dialed *639# on a whim
yesterday!  At 9 pm last night I reserved one from Apple Store app for
pick up today.

I know you also had to wait till late November...hope you get your 4S
soon, if you haven't!

Will be looking forward to listening the next show.

Best Regards,

Emiko

Hi Emiko,

Thanks for the heads up.  I just checked and I to am now eligible for the upgrade.  Which previously was saying Nov 25th.  Now it is just the $18 upgrade fee.  Before it was $250 + $18.  

So yes - off to AT&T store this week to get the 64 GB white iPhone 4S.  If they have it in stock.

Thanks for the heads up.

Rob W

Hi Rob, 

My name is blue, and I'm a huge fan!
Figured I would give a go at the episode art. This piece was done in brushes, and TypeDrawing.

Love the show. 

Regards,
Blue

As mentioned on ep 197 - there were reports of some users having battery drain issues - and a proposed fix.  Turn off the update time zone option in Location services.  Apple has now admited to the batter issue saying the following.

"A small number of customers have reported lower-than-expected battery life on iOS 5 devices," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison said in a statement. "We have found a few bugs that are affecting battery life, and we will release a software update to address those in a few weeks."

Expect more on this in the near future. 

Hi Rob:
 

iOS 5's default voice for English is Nuance Vocalizer Samantha.  

You can get a higher quality voice Jill.  

Go to Settings> General> Accessibility>VoiceOver and turn "Use Compact Voice" off.  

Stay connected to wifi, best plugged in, after a while system will download Jill as your default voice.  

If you decide you don't like the voice just turn " use compact voice" back on.  

Regards,

Jim, East Lansing

Hi Rob,  

I enjoy having messages and other notifications read to me while driving, but have not purchased the 4s Siri and have not had luck with apps like drivesafe.ly or textndrive.  Here is how to Enable this functionality on iPhone 4 running ios5.   

Turn on notifications for mail in notification settings. Make sure the toggles for show preview and show on lock screen are selected.

In accessibility settings under settings then general, select voiceover menu but keep voiceover off.  Turn on speak selection toggle. At bottom of VoiceOver select triple click home and select the toggle VoiceOver option.

When ready to have mail and notifications read, shut off display then click home 3x.  When you want to use iPhone again and stop this feature, click 3x again. 

Regards

Rick Aranson 

Links Mentioned in this Episode:

Apple's iPhone 4S now available in additional launch countries

Yes, Prisoners Carry iPhones in Their 

Apple reportedly investigating iPhone 4S battery drain - CNET News

iPhone 4S Battery Life Problems Befuddle Apple Engineers, Owners

iPhone 4S battery concerns and tips for better performance | TUAW

iPhone 4S battery life problems: bug in location services suspected | guardian.co.uk

Despite early subsidies, Sprint hopes iPhone pays off - KansasCity.com

iPhone 4S consuming 50 percent less data than Android 3G/4G phones, Sprint says | 9to5Mac

iPhone exceeds Sprint's expectations - Computerworld

How to Use iCloud to Share Your Reminders on iOS 5

Apple’s Daily iPad Sales Exceed Q3 Moto Tablet Shipments | The Mac Observer

iPhone for Steve Rear Panel Mod

Install Siri On iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G 

Siri Ported To iPad and iPod Touch But

Siri Ported To iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4G | TechCrunch

Siri cannot understand the Scottish accent | ZDNet

Youtube - Introducing Siri - iPhone 4S (Parody)

Apple airs impressive new iPhone 4S iCloud, Siri, and Camera TV ads | 9to5Mac

What's Really Next for Apple in Television - NYTimes.com

Rumor iPad 3's dense display a challenge for manufacturers - CNET News

the understatement: Android Orphans: Visualizing a Sad History of Support

Apps Mentioned in this Episode:

Tii App

Garageband 

Sketchbook Pro

My Travel Coach

Active Spectrum

Bluetooth Mode - Cydia

Smart Folders for Mail - Cydia

The Nerd Code