August 24th, 2008
There have been a number of complaints about MobileMe’s Push email speed. Some users seem to be experiencing “push” delays of up to 5 minutes.
I decided to time exactly how long it takes for a Gmail message to be pushed to the iPhone over Wifi and over GPRS / EDGE:
Posted in iPhone | Comments »
August 22nd, 2008
John Gruber takes a detailed, technical look at the OpenClip project and why it’s not such a brilliant idea from a technical standpoint.
I think given that Apple has already admitted they’re working on native copy / paste support this framework seems like a non-starter.
Posted in JetLinks | Comments »
August 21st, 2008
Quite a revealing comparison by MobileComputer of browsing speeds on the iPhone 2G vs. the new BlackBerry Bold. Apparently the iPhone 2G even beats the Bold’s 3G connection using its much slower on paper EDGE connection.
Posted in iPhone | Comments »
August 20th, 2008
Well it looks as though us runners (well, wannabe runners at least) are in for a treat soon! Screenshots from a pretty authentic looking Nike+ iPhone app have surfaced on iPhon.fr. From the looks of things most of the core Nike+ website functionality is supported, as well as GPS route tracking, plus lots of snazzy stats and graphs.
From the screenshots it looks as though this app will also take care of music playback, which makes sense given Apple’s policy on background applications:
What’s unclear is how the iPhone will track your run, but three options seem feasible:
Posted in iPhone | Comments »
August 20th, 2008
I’ve been using iChat AV quite extensively recently, as my girlfriend is spending some time in Sweden - the land of insanely fast consumer broadband. iChat AV has been a great way to keep in touch, however thre have been a few glitches here and there. Here’s a few possible remedies for common issues.
Low call volume, background noise and feedback are some of the problems you might typically run into.You can avoid most of these by using a headset (luckily now also available in better-looking behind-the-head designs, but if you don’t happen to have one handy, try these tips:
Posted in Hints | Comments »
August 19th, 2008
I just received another email from Apple regarding MobileMe. It seems as though they’re giving all users (regardless of whether you experienced trouble or not) an additional free 60 day extension on their subscriptions.
Whilst 60 days might not seem like a huge deal, it does show a certain amount of goodwill on Apple’s part and a willingness to put things right. More importantly this comes at a point when most glitches seem to have been worked out, so this news should be received much more positively than the initial 30 day extension some members were offered previously.
Link to Apple’s Knowledgebase for full details.
Posted in Mac | Comments »
August 17th, 2008
As many iPhone owners may have noticed, the headset Apple includes with the device is pretty decent and very useful - but the sound quality is just not that great. Other headphones you have may sound better, but don’t offer the handy microphone / clicker functionality of the original.
Enter V-Moda. Despite being relatively new to the Apple accessory industry, their flagship Vibe Duo earbuds for the iPhone seem to be the ideal replacement for Apple’s stock ‘phones…
The Duo’s are in-ear headphones that are designed to block outside noise and sit just inside your ear canal. They feature an attractive all-metal enclosure and a sturdy fabric-shielded cable. Apart from “Gunmetal Rouge” (pictured), V-Moda also offer black and chrome versions of the Duos. The main selling point for iPhone users is the built-in mic / clicker that lets you answer calls and skip tracks just like you can with Apple’s headset.
Posted in Reviews, iPhone | 1 Comment »
August 13th, 2008
Last week whilst on vacation (without access to a computer), I really came to appreciate having my iPhone on me. Even on a slow E-Plus GPRS connection, it proved to be pretty invaluable (and yes, I know I’m pointing out the obvious and gushing).
- Checking the web for updates: Someone on the trip was expecting important exam results and I was able to check the appropriate websites and download several large PDF files to check the results.
- Budgeting: Pennies (AppStore link) is a great $2.99 app that lets you keep track of your expenditure. It uses a “fuel gauge” metaphor to indicate how much of your budget you’ve already spent and lets you add new expenses with a single tap.
- Combine multiple tools: I used the iPhone to tune a guitar someone brought, check the weather and route before we set of for a hike, send email snapshots to friends at home and provide music for everyone.
It’s not until you’re really without access to a computer that you realize just how powerful a replacement the iPhone is. Sure, it’s not quite as comfortable or as fast, but it’s still an incredibly useful - as well as fun - device to take on a trip.
Posted in Opinions | Comments »
July 29th, 2008
Since a few people have asked me, here’s the lowdown on how to cancel a MobileMe subscription within the free 60-days trial period.
Posted in Hints | Comments »
July 27th, 2008
A lot has been written about Skitch since it was first released as an invite-only and later as a public beta over a year ago, however I was just using it (like I seem to everyday) and was wondering why Plasq still hasn’t officially released this gem. It boasts an image editor, screenshot tool, free online image hosting, easy uploading to FTP or WebDAV servers and much much more…
So if you haven’t yet checked it out, do yourself a favour and go take a look!
Posted in JetLinks | Comments »
