iPad is a bombshell. There’s so much in it that it could take some serious time spent with it before one can actually use its full capacity. Here’s a quick view of some of little known features this multifunctioning device has.
Built-In Dictionary It’s a no-brainer that a device that has superb features for e-reading is also backed with a decent built-in dictionary. Both the word processor and the iBooks application has dictionary for quick reference to words that you may find vague. Apple is also thoughtful enough to include a quick search of the eBooks using a keyword, just as you would do with a website. As if this is not enough, it is also easy to get quick access to online dictionaries via Safari, so it really isn’t a big deal if some unfamiliar words make you stammer while you read Apple’s massive collection of eBooks.
Auto-Adjusted Screen Brightness The developers of iPad went so far as program the device to adjust its brightness according to specific environments to make eye strain less of an issue for users. This is particularly important for people who frequently use the device in different lighting conditions.
Don’t wish for perfection though. Despite the brilliant design and programming that went into the creation of the product, it still has some limitations. Text and images look washed under direct sunlight, for one.
Home Screen Bookmarking The home screen, is without a doubt among the most versatile features of the device. Aside from allowing the display of the shortcuts to specific applications, iPad’s Home Screen also displays your bookmarked websites. For the end users, this means that you can go straight to your favorite websites with just one touch of the bookmarked websites icon.
Browser Dashboard Forget tabbed browser, iPad’s Safari offers users a different view of opened ‘tabs’. Like the tabbed view we get from laptop or desktop browsers, the dashboard view allows the opening of multiple web pages, only with iPad’s Safari, the web pages are shown as thumbnail images of all opened sites. This allows for easy switching between websites. All it needs is a single tap.
Smart Links Mailing is more convenient with iPad. The device is programmed to recognize address, names, numbers and link these to relevant information. This function benefits users by cutting short the time spent on searching online or in the device’s storage for information relevant to the inquiry. For example, when addresses are tapped, maps and directions show up on the screen. When a name or a telephone number is tapped, the entire information on the contact list is revealed.
Slideshow Soundtracks We’re done with boring, quiet slideshows. Apple’s iPad brings forth the option of integrating music and sounds into its slideshow app. Now, that’s a good way of jazzing up any presentation you create using Keynote.
Background Music And you thought only slideshows can have a background music…Even while you are searching the web or playing any of Apple’s apps, you can have music continuously playing on the background.
Sunday 7 November 2010
IPhone 4 Accessories You May Need
Many individuals have gotten excited by the iPhone 4’s recent release. With all the new features available, it seems everyone’s anxious to get their hands on one of these phones and see just what they can do. Apple itself is undoubtedly the party most concerned with the success of the iPhone’s launch. But there are also those who make the accessories for the iPhone 4 who need to be watching the release carefully.
You already know you are going to need to buy some accessories for your new phone. One of these accessories that you should buy is a screen film to protect the sensitive touch screen. These vulnerable features, now standard on most electronics, can be scratched as easily as sliding your device into your pocket. Simply scratching the screen could cause your phone to work improperly, which could cause a lot of frustration on your end. Thus, every iPhone 4 should have its own screen film.
On the other hand, you may need a Bluetooth headset if you are going to use iPhone 4. Media reports have documented the fact that this device has encountered some call reception issues. When the bars of the phone frame are touched, the signal weakens, which results in a lesser ability to receive phone calls; if the Bluetooth headset is used, the need to touch the phone will be reduced. Therefore, chatting on the iPhone 4 would become much more convenient.
Other available iPhone accessory items include the Griffin GB001714 Elan Wallet Perforated iPhone 4 and the Dexim DCA192 Dock for iPhone 4 3GS iPod. One of the best screen protectors available is made by Zagg, a company specifically known for creating top notch screen protectors for phones. You will have no problem finding accessories including the Zagg InvisibleShield Full Body for iPhone 4.
Since the phones of this series are fragile, people are always advised to buy a case to protect the phone. And for this latest product of the series, customers are also advised to do the same thing. Yes, they should buy a case to protect the fragile device. When shopping for a case, make sure it has good shock absorption to prevent your phone from being damaged, should you drop it.
In fact, some of the necessary iPhone 4 accessories would be provided by Apple along with the package that you purchase. However, it is possible to purchase upgraded version of those basic accessories, which you are likely to find are well worth the extra expense.
You already know you are going to need to buy some accessories for your new phone. One of these accessories that you should buy is a screen film to protect the sensitive touch screen. These vulnerable features, now standard on most electronics, can be scratched as easily as sliding your device into your pocket. Simply scratching the screen could cause your phone to work improperly, which could cause a lot of frustration on your end. Thus, every iPhone 4 should have its own screen film.
On the other hand, you may need a Bluetooth headset if you are going to use iPhone 4. Media reports have documented the fact that this device has encountered some call reception issues. When the bars of the phone frame are touched, the signal weakens, which results in a lesser ability to receive phone calls; if the Bluetooth headset is used, the need to touch the phone will be reduced. Therefore, chatting on the iPhone 4 would become much more convenient.
Other available iPhone accessory items include the Griffin GB001714 Elan Wallet Perforated iPhone 4 and the Dexim DCA192 Dock for iPhone 4 3GS iPod. One of the best screen protectors available is made by Zagg, a company specifically known for creating top notch screen protectors for phones. You will have no problem finding accessories including the Zagg InvisibleShield Full Body for iPhone 4.
Since the phones of this series are fragile, people are always advised to buy a case to protect the phone. And for this latest product of the series, customers are also advised to do the same thing. Yes, they should buy a case to protect the fragile device. When shopping for a case, make sure it has good shock absorption to prevent your phone from being damaged, should you drop it.
In fact, some of the necessary iPhone 4 accessories would be provided by Apple along with the package that you purchase. However, it is possible to purchase upgraded version of those basic accessories, which you are likely to find are well worth the extra expense.
Iphone Solar Power Charger??
Don’t they claim that the gadget is only as good as the components you bestow upon it? Well, ok, so they don’t exactly say that but I think we can all agree that when you have an excellent device, for example the Iphone or Ipod, you really require the right accessories to get the most from your gadget.
The beauty of these devices is that you use them on the go so you need to be able to charge them on the go too. That is where the iphone solar power charger comes in handy. The charger converts sunlight into power, which is stored in the inner lithium battery, allowing you to charge your phone whenever and wherever you need to.
The iphone solar power charger offers an ideal backup power when you find yourself out walking or hiking and can’t get access to an electric socket to plug your iphone or ipod in.
If you wish to take your music along with you on the journey to your workplace or to keep your kids amused on holiday, then the ipod car kit is really a must-have accessory. With the 3-in-1 car kit you have a transmitter, charger and holder in one, meaning you just have to spend money on one device.
By using a car kit you not only make sure that you maximise the usefulness of your device but you also ensure you stay safe whilst driving as the kit allows you to make hands-free calls through your car speaker system.
Gadgets and devices like mobile phone handsets and Mp3’s exist to make our way of life easier and more enjoyable but if we want to get the most from them we need to invest in the peripherals and accessories that will maximize the mobility, productivity and functionality of these devices and where better place to start making these enhancements than with the iphone solar power charger or ipod car kit
The beauty of these devices is that you use them on the go so you need to be able to charge them on the go too. That is where the iphone solar power charger comes in handy. The charger converts sunlight into power, which is stored in the inner lithium battery, allowing you to charge your phone whenever and wherever you need to.
The iphone solar power charger offers an ideal backup power when you find yourself out walking or hiking and can’t get access to an electric socket to plug your iphone or ipod in.
If you wish to take your music along with you on the journey to your workplace or to keep your kids amused on holiday, then the ipod car kit is really a must-have accessory. With the 3-in-1 car kit you have a transmitter, charger and holder in one, meaning you just have to spend money on one device.
By using a car kit you not only make sure that you maximise the usefulness of your device but you also ensure you stay safe whilst driving as the kit allows you to make hands-free calls through your car speaker system.
Gadgets and devices like mobile phone handsets and Mp3’s exist to make our way of life easier and more enjoyable but if we want to get the most from them we need to invest in the peripherals and accessories that will maximize the mobility, productivity and functionality of these devices and where better place to start making these enhancements than with the iphone solar power charger or ipod car kit
Malicious iPhone Virus Takes Control of Your Phone
This one is a little more serious than Rick Rolling
About a month ago there was an iPhone worm that changed the user's wallpaper to Rick Astley. The Australian student behind that little piece of malware said the software did nothing else and those affected by it could un-Rick their phone very easily. Ashley Towns said that his sole intention was to highlight how easy it is for attackers to gain access to your phone if you haven't taken the proper steps to protect yourself.
Fast forward just a few weeks and we have a malicious iPhone worm that can steal data and even take control of the phone, acting like a botnet. Similar to the Rick Rolling worm, this virus also targets jailbroken iPhones with an SSH password that were never changed from the default to something more secure.
According to Symantec's John McDonald, the virus can steal data contained on the iPhone as well as connect back to the attacker giving them control over the phone including the ability to download and install malware onto it. McDonald says the root password may also be changed in order to prevent the owner from accessing the device and adds that this worm appears to cover a broader range of IP addresses than the Rick Rolling worm. "The first iPhone worm, this one appears to cover a much broader range of IP addresses, including UPC in the Netherlands, Optus in Australia, possibly a Hungarian and a Portuguese provider, T-Mobile and potentially many others."
About a month ago there was an iPhone worm that changed the user's wallpaper to Rick Astley. The Australian student behind that little piece of malware said the software did nothing else and those affected by it could un-Rick their phone very easily. Ashley Towns said that his sole intention was to highlight how easy it is for attackers to gain access to your phone if you haven't taken the proper steps to protect yourself.
Fast forward just a few weeks and we have a malicious iPhone worm that can steal data and even take control of the phone, acting like a botnet. Similar to the Rick Rolling worm, this virus also targets jailbroken iPhones with an SSH password that were never changed from the default to something more secure.
According to Symantec's John McDonald, the virus can steal data contained on the iPhone as well as connect back to the attacker giving them control over the phone including the ability to download and install malware onto it. McDonald says the root password may also be changed in order to prevent the owner from accessing the device and adds that this worm appears to cover a broader range of IP addresses than the Rick Rolling worm. "The first iPhone worm, this one appears to cover a much broader range of IP addresses, including UPC in the Netherlands, Optus in Australia, possibly a Hungarian and a Portuguese provider, T-Mobile and potentially many others."
iPhone 4 Fix: Many Questions Left Unanswered
Apple iPhone 4 Black Smartphone 16GB
iPhone 4 Fix: Many Questions Left Unanswered
While Apple’s press conference is a step in the right direction, there are a lot of loose ends to the iPhone 4 saga. (Ginny Mies)
Today's Apple press conference was a strange mix of finger pointing, random sales figures and statistics and--surprise!--some actual accountability and solutions for the iPhone 4's antenna woes. At the end of the conference, Apple CEO Steve Jobs finally offered disgruntled iPhone 4 owners a solution: All owners will get a free bumper case-at least through September 30. But, as both a consumer (and an iPhone 4 owner) and journalist, I feel very conflicted about the outcome of the conference. Free bumpers is a step in the right direction, but this saga still has some very loose ends. I'm left with more questions than answers.
Antennagate: Is it really just a myth?
After a long-winded spiel about the universal antenna problem within the cell phone industry, the iPhone 4's successful sales records, and the low number of antenna-related AppleCare complaints, it felt like "Antennagate" was something dreamed up by the press. I wish all of the dropped calls I've experienced were just a dream. And you can be certain that the personal iPhone 4 hell my colleague Melissa Perenson experienced with her three units (she's on her fourth handset now) was not just a figment of her imagination.
According to Jobs, Apple tested other smartphones--the BlackBerry Bold 9700, the HTC Droid Eris ad the Samsung Omnia II--and found that the phones' signal strength deteriorates when held in that special way. I would like to see some third-party testing-not Apple's testing--on this subject matter. If this is an industry-wide problem, why is it just coming to a head now?
One reason could, simply put, be the scale of the iPhone 4's sales. I can assure you that none of the phones Apple tested sold three million units in three weeks.
Free Bumpers: A Clumsy Cure?
When I first purchased the phone, I didn't experience any of the reception issues others were writing about. I was actually quite pleased with the phone's improved voice quality. The phone also did quite well in our data speed tests, which I praised in my original review of the phone. It wasn't until I was actually living with the phone that I began experiencing the antenna issues. Most of it came from how I was holding the phone-not where I was located when I was making the call. I waited on purchasing a bumper because I suspected that Apple would do something like this as the antenna-related complaints escalated. Call it trivial, but I don't really like the idea of being forced to wrap my shiny new toy in a not-so-pretty rubber casing. Sure, Jobs said consumers would have some choice (Apple's model as well as some third-party vendors' models), but what if that choice is between neon green and neon orange? It has been said before, but it really does feel like a clunky fix.
Why September 30?
Jobs said that Apple will provide the free iPhone 4 case to customers to everyone who has purchased a phone through September 30. Why the cut-off date? Jobs gave a cryptic answer: "We are going to wait and see, maybe we'll have a better idea. It's just a chance to say we'll reevaluate it in September."
The deadline strikes me as odd. Why wouldn't an iPhone 4 after September require a case to solve this established problem? Does this mean Apple will be giving customers who purchase the phone after September 30 a new hardware design that features a stealth fix? If so, this is incredibly unfair to customers who bought the phone at launch, and are then stuck using a phone with faulty hardware.
What About the Proximity Sensor?
I had a moment of panic during the press conference when I thought that Jobs wasn't going to bring up the iPhone 4's faulty proximity sensor. This issue has been overshadowed in the media by the antenna issue, but for me, personally, it is my biggest problem with the phone. On six different occasions, I have pulled up Gmail and began an e-mail to a job that I applied to three years ago. Only once did it actually send. Worst nightmare, much? How in the world could this happen? In other instances, I've hung up on various people with my cheek and started FaceTime.
Jobs did indeed acknowledge the buggy proximity sensor and said that the company will "try" and get it fixed them in the next software update. Hm, that's not very reassuring considering Jobs also did not mention when that update will happen. How many other accidental e-mails am I going to send between now and then?
Is a 30-Day Return Period Enough?
Right now, I'm still not sure whether I want to keep or ditch my iPhone 4. There are a lot of things I love about it: the camera, the display, the app ecosystem and the user interface. But if I can't make a simple phone call without it being dropped or sending out accidental e-mails, there's a major problem. I think Apple should have extended the return period to at least 60 days so people can give the bumpers a shot and allow enough time for the proximity sensor fix. 30 days just isn't enough time for a consumer to make this kind of decision--waiving the restocking fee or not
iPhone 4 Fix: Many Questions Left Unanswered
While Apple’s press conference is a step in the right direction, there are a lot of loose ends to the iPhone 4 saga. (Ginny Mies)
Today's Apple press conference was a strange mix of finger pointing, random sales figures and statistics and--surprise!--some actual accountability and solutions for the iPhone 4's antenna woes. At the end of the conference, Apple CEO Steve Jobs finally offered disgruntled iPhone 4 owners a solution: All owners will get a free bumper case-at least through September 30. But, as both a consumer (and an iPhone 4 owner) and journalist, I feel very conflicted about the outcome of the conference. Free bumpers is a step in the right direction, but this saga still has some very loose ends. I'm left with more questions than answers.
Antennagate: Is it really just a myth?
After a long-winded spiel about the universal antenna problem within the cell phone industry, the iPhone 4's successful sales records, and the low number of antenna-related AppleCare complaints, it felt like "Antennagate" was something dreamed up by the press. I wish all of the dropped calls I've experienced were just a dream. And you can be certain that the personal iPhone 4 hell my colleague Melissa Perenson experienced with her three units (she's on her fourth handset now) was not just a figment of her imagination.
According to Jobs, Apple tested other smartphones--the BlackBerry Bold 9700, the HTC Droid Eris ad the Samsung Omnia II--and found that the phones' signal strength deteriorates when held in that special way. I would like to see some third-party testing-not Apple's testing--on this subject matter. If this is an industry-wide problem, why is it just coming to a head now?
One reason could, simply put, be the scale of the iPhone 4's sales. I can assure you that none of the phones Apple tested sold three million units in three weeks.
Free Bumpers: A Clumsy Cure?
When I first purchased the phone, I didn't experience any of the reception issues others were writing about. I was actually quite pleased with the phone's improved voice quality. The phone also did quite well in our data speed tests, which I praised in my original review of the phone. It wasn't until I was actually living with the phone that I began experiencing the antenna issues. Most of it came from how I was holding the phone-not where I was located when I was making the call. I waited on purchasing a bumper because I suspected that Apple would do something like this as the antenna-related complaints escalated. Call it trivial, but I don't really like the idea of being forced to wrap my shiny new toy in a not-so-pretty rubber casing. Sure, Jobs said consumers would have some choice (Apple's model as well as some third-party vendors' models), but what if that choice is between neon green and neon orange? It has been said before, but it really does feel like a clunky fix.
Why September 30?
Jobs said that Apple will provide the free iPhone 4 case to customers to everyone who has purchased a phone through September 30. Why the cut-off date? Jobs gave a cryptic answer: "We are going to wait and see, maybe we'll have a better idea. It's just a chance to say we'll reevaluate it in September."
The deadline strikes me as odd. Why wouldn't an iPhone 4 after September require a case to solve this established problem? Does this mean Apple will be giving customers who purchase the phone after September 30 a new hardware design that features a stealth fix? If so, this is incredibly unfair to customers who bought the phone at launch, and are then stuck using a phone with faulty hardware.
What About the Proximity Sensor?
I had a moment of panic during the press conference when I thought that Jobs wasn't going to bring up the iPhone 4's faulty proximity sensor. This issue has been overshadowed in the media by the antenna issue, but for me, personally, it is my biggest problem with the phone. On six different occasions, I have pulled up Gmail and began an e-mail to a job that I applied to three years ago. Only once did it actually send. Worst nightmare, much? How in the world could this happen? In other instances, I've hung up on various people with my cheek and started FaceTime.
Jobs did indeed acknowledge the buggy proximity sensor and said that the company will "try" and get it fixed them in the next software update. Hm, that's not very reassuring considering Jobs also did not mention when that update will happen. How many other accidental e-mails am I going to send between now and then?
Is a 30-Day Return Period Enough?
Right now, I'm still not sure whether I want to keep or ditch my iPhone 4. There are a lot of things I love about it: the camera, the display, the app ecosystem and the user interface. But if I can't make a simple phone call without it being dropped or sending out accidental e-mails, there's a major problem. I think Apple should have extended the return period to at least 60 days so people can give the bumpers a shot and allow enough time for the proximity sensor fix. 30 days just isn't enough time for a consumer to make this kind of decision--waiving the restocking fee or not
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