Motorola Study Shows Over Seven in Ten Manufacturers View Mobility as Key to Converting Downtime into Productive Time
June 30, 2009
Surveyed manufacturing IT decision-makers cite year-over-year increases in mobile solutions’ importance
iPhone Deal of the Day: Five App Store freebies
June 30, 2009
I love free stuff, and it seems like each day brings a wealth of new free goodies to the iPhone App Store. Here’s a look at five notable apps that won’t cost you a cent (at least for now–some are free only temporarily, so get ‘em while you can).
- 20! Top Man Things Men Must Know If you can excuse the sexist, unwieldy title, you’ll find some undeniably useful information here: how to bandage a wound, perform basic CPR, fix a flat, and so on. (Note to developer: Why not call it 20 Top Things Everyone Should Know?)
- BlueSwap It’s not quite PalmPilot-style beaming, but it’s close. BlueSwap lets you swap contact information with other iPhone/iPod Touch users. Bluetooth makes it possible, meaning there’s no need to use some third-party social network. (I haven’t tried this yet, as I’m the only iPhone owner in the immediate vicinity, so if you’re able to put it to the test, drop a comment.)
- C.A.R. - Accident Report Nobody likes a fender-bender, but if you absolutely positively must have one, this app will help you manage the details. It’s similar to the iWrecked app I wrote about last month, but a little more robust.
- Droste Effect This is better seen than described, so I’ll just say that if you like eye candy, you’ll find this one visually tasty app. Really cool.
- Space Trader: Moon Madness If you like strategy games of the Lemonade Stand variety, which challenge you to make money rather than blast aliens, you’re sure to get a kick out of Space Trader. True to its name, it casts you as a moon-based commodities broker. Buy, sell, profit. Perfect for Ferengi wanna-bes.
This free, sexist app explains the "20! Top Man Things Men Must Know."
OK, your turn: What fab freebies have you pulled from the App Store in recent days? Don’t keep ‘em to yourself–let your fellow iPhone users know about them in the comments!
White iPhone 3GS discoloration blamed on overheating
June 30, 2009
(Credit: David Martin)Reports of heat-related discolorations appearing on the white model of the iPhone 3GS are surfacing on the internet.
According to Wired.com’s Gadget Lab some white iPhones are getting so warm that their plastic cases are discoloring to pink or brown. The article continues with other examples and suggests that the issue could be related to faulty power-management software in iPhone OS 3.0.
Ben, an iPhone user in France, took this photo of an affected white iPhone.
(Credit: Le Journal du Geek via Wired.com)
<!– If true, these overheating issues may even end up in an exploding battery scandal. To add to the confusion, I have noticed my 2G iPod Touch getting a lot hotter than usual since updating to the v3.0 software. This happens while web browsing, and the battery is draining fast, too. I have no idea if this is related, but if it is it could point at some bad power-management software in OS 3.0.
Wired also includes links to other Web sites reporting on this issue: Overheating problems with the iPhone 3GS at Nowhere Else and Worries of overheating for iPhone 3G S? at Le Journal du Geek. Reports are also surfacing on iLounge.com and on Engaget.
–>
Other Web sites reporting the issue include Nowhere Else, Le Journal du Geek, iLounge.com and Engaget. We’ve previously covered heating complaints linked to Wi-Fi on the iPhone 3G and you can find the a discussion thread on the topic on Apple discussion forums.
<!– Apple products are notorious for pushing the limits when it comes to heat as is proven by many Apple product-related heat complaints in the iMac, Macbook Pros, etc. Many more can be found via Google search including our report above and others related to the older model iPhone 3G. Wired appears to believe that this might be a software related issue, and we hope so as well, but our sources that tested the betas of iPhone OS 3.0 did not report any heat-related issues on either iPods or iPhones as they suggested. Let’s hope that Apple finds a solution for this problem in the next firmware update.
–>
Is your iPhone 3GS overheating? Does it get noticeably warm when used with apps like AT&T’s Navigator? Has the case shown any discoloring? Let us know in the comments.
More major, minor iPhone upgrade problems and how to fix them
June 30, 2009
(Credit: Apple Inc.)Some iPhone Atlas readers, and posts on Apple’s Discussion boards, have reported additional problems–some large, some small–after upgrading to iPhone OS 3.0 or the iPhone 3GS. The following procedures will solve a number of the reported problems.
- Reset your iPhone by holding down the Sleep and Home buttons until the Apple logo appears.
- Restore your iPhone: In iTunes, click the Restore button under the Summary tab. Restoring the phone will erase contacts, calendars, photos, and other data on the phone, but will restore automatically backed-up information including text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, etc.
Yet, even after performing these steps additional issues have persisted. For more detail, read on.
Sound issues
Though listed on discussion boards here and here, I’ve also heard sound distortion when making a call, listening to the other phone ringing, and receiving an incoming SMS text message at the same time. The second sound, Glass (my SMS tone), has a buzzing noise as it plays.
An theAppleBlog report has mentioned an audible whine on recorded iPhone 3GS videos. There does not appear to be a fix for this at this time, so I’m hoping that Apple addresses it via a software update.
Here’s the video from theappleblog.com Web site and a direct link to the isolated sound here.
A suggested short-term workaround is easy enough to implement; some people might even learn to live with the problem. Prior to recording a video, either plug in your headphones or manually place the iPhone into “silent” mode by moving the ring selector to vibrate. The entire post is worth reading as it includes more examples and the steps to recreate the problem on the iPhone 3GS.
Wrong or “changing” icons
Apple’s discussion boards here, here, and here are reporting a problem that I’ve encountered as well. In my case the problem occurs when I remove apps from the iPhone using the delete feature in Springboard and then install new apps.
The newly installed apps can inherit the icons from the apps that were deleted from the same location. This is a known bug documented under Apple Bugfix 6906853. The only fix that I’ve been able to find is to reinstall the apps affected by the bug and hope it does not happen again. Hopefully, Apple will get this really annoying bug fixed soon.
Last week we covered a number of other issues with iPhone OS 3.0 and the iPhone 3GS. Check it out for additional troubleshooting advice.
Tell us about your iPhone OS 3.0 or iPhone 3GS upgrade problems in the comments.
Get the most out of your iPhone battery
June 30, 2009
A number of complaints regarding the iPhone 3GS’ battery have surfaced on Apple’s discussion board since the handset’s June 19 launch. Given Apple’s promises of a faster and longer lasting iPhone, it’s understandable that 3GS users, particularly those who have made the jump from the previous models, have higher expectations.
Preliminary battery testing on our iPhone 3GS review model showed positive results, but we won’t know the whole story until CNET Labs finishes its tests. Until that time, I can offer tips on making your iPhone battery last. They can be used individually or in combination to best suit your own needs. Some of these ideas are even recommended by Apple and some of them we’ve mentioned on iPhone Atlas before.
Reset iPhone
In addition to resolving signal strength problems, resetting an iPhone can fix a faulty battery indicator and end applications that are improperly consuming the battery. Hold down the home and sleep buttons simultaneously until you see the white Apple logo indicating that your iPhone has restarted.
Restore with original settings
You can restore your iPhone by launching iTunes and selecting the Restore option on your iPhone’s Summary page. This process will erase your iPhone’s software and data, including all settings. You can restore them later via iTunes.
Drain the battery completely
Instead of charging it midway through a battery drain, add more juice only after the battery dies completely. A full drain may reset circuitry that prevents a full charge from occurring, despite indication of a full charge.
Force quit applications
If an application quits unexpectedly and you begin to notice poor battery life, relaunch the application, then force quit it by following the directions in this post. This can eliminate problematic or hung processes that might be draining the battery.
Lock your iPhone
Make sure that your iPhone goes to sleep automatically when not in use. You always can press the Sleep/Wake button, but even better is the Auto-Lock feature in the General section of the Settings menu.
Auto lock screen
(Credit: David Martin)
Applications
Apps that keep the display from dimming or shutting off and that prevent your iPhone from sleeping can reduce battery life. This is particularly true for apps that use location services and push notifications. You can turn off Location Services in Settings > General menu. You’ll have to deactivate Push Notifications for each app individually, also in the Setting menu.
App Push Notification settings
(Credit: David Martin)
<!– Turn off location services
It appears that the Maps application and some third-party applications that use GPS functionality fail to power down the necessary hardware components when they are no longer in use. Navigate to Settings > General > Location Services and turn these services off when you are not using Maps or another location-enabled app. –>
Location Services toggle
(Credit: David Martin)
Push notifications for e-mail
The iPhone 3G’s Push functionality for Exchange and Mobile Me accounts also can destroy battery life. Turn this option off in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Fetch New Data before restarting your iPhone. Messages sent to your push e-mail accounts will now appear on your phone based on the global Fetch setting (every 15 minutes, every 30 minutes, hourly, or manually) rather than as they arrive. The manual Fetch setting will preserve the most battery life.
Push and Fetch
(Credit: David Martin)
Checking fewer e-mail accounts
Deleting e-mail accounts or turning them off can preserve battery life as well. You can remove an e-mail account in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, tap to choose an e-mail account, and tap Delete Account. To turn an account off but leave it on the phone, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, tap to choose an e-mail account, and set Account to Off.
Toggle e-mail account on/off
(Credit: David Martin)
Delete e-mail account
(Credit: David Martin)
Airplane mode
Even it you’re not flying, use the airplane mode while listening to music, watching a video, working in your favorite productivity app, or whenever you don’t want to be disturbed. Also, since constantly seeking a cellular connection also drains the iPhone’s battery, the airplane mode is useful if you’re in an area with poor cellular coverage.
Airplane mode
(Credit: David Martin)
Reset network settings
Restarting your phone will delete any stored Wi-Fi passwords, DNS settings, and more. And in some cases it also can resolve signal strength issues. Find it in Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Reset network settings
(Credit: David Martin)
Turn off Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth
Be sure to turn off these features when not in use. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and set Wi-Fi to Off. Go to Settings > General > Bluetooth and set Bluetooth to Off.
Toggle Wi-Fi
(Credit: David Martin)
Toggle Bluetooth
(Credit: David Martin)
Turn off 3G
The iPhone’s 3G radio consumes a lot of juice so turning if off will save power. Go to Settings > General > Network and toggle Enable 3G to Off. You’ll be able to make and receive calls and access some data while 3G is off, though your iPhone will run on the slower EDGE or GPRS 2G network.
Enable/Disable 3G
(Credit: David Martin)
Adjust brightness
Dimming the screen definitely can extend battery life. Go to Settings > Brightness and drag the slider left to lower brightness or right to increase brightness until you reach your desired settings. Turning off the Auto-Brightness settings also will help.
Brightness settings
(Credit: David Martin)
Turn off the equalizer
Just like on the iPod, this feature can reduce battery life. Go to Settings > iPod > EQ and select Off. Yet, since EQ settings in iTunes migrate to the iPhone, you’ll have to override those settings and set the iPhone to Flat. Go to Settings > iPod > EQ and select Flat.
iPod EQ settings (Credit: David Martin) |
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iPod EQ options (Credit: David Martin) |
More help
If you’re worried about your iPhone 3GS being defective, according to HardMac there is Apple’s Procedure for Users Experiencing Short Battery Life with the iPhone 3G S. Also, if you’re still experiencing severe battery problems after trying some of these tips, it might be time to take a trip to your local Apple Genius Bar.
Personal experience
So far, my personal experience has been that my iPhone 3GS lasts a bit longer than the iPhone 3G, particularly after I tuned the iPhone 3GS’ features to meet my personal needs. Yet, it still doesn’t last more than a day with heavy use, unlike other smartphones.
One typically intense day started at 100 percent battery capacity at 5:00 a.m. The battery then dipped to 80 percent at 9:30 a.m., 64 percent at 12:30 p.m., 39 percent at 3:30 p.m., and 25 percent at 6:30 p.m before showing the 20 percent battery warning at 8:30 p.m. With my iPhone 3G, I used to get that warning prior to 6:30 p.m. And after tweaking my iPhone 3GS using the tips below, the battery showed 49 percent capacity after 15 hours of heavy use. That’s not bad for smartphone battery performance.
Are you experiencing problems with your iPhone battery? Got some tips to share that might help conserve battery life? What kind of activities do you do on your iPhone that deplete the battery faster? Let us know in the comments.
What the iPhone teaches us about cloud adoption
June 29, 2009
Chris Hoff (now a colleague at Cisco, but long a phenomenal blogger in his own right) described in a recent post a fascinating analogy for the inevitable adoption of cloud computing–the adoption of the Apple iPhone:
While I have often grouped Cloud Computing with the consumerization of IT (and the iPhone as it’s most visible example) together in concert in my disruptive innovation presentations, I never really thought of them as metaphors for one another.
(Credit: CBS Interactive)
When you think of it, it’s really a perfect visual.
The iPhone is a fantastic platform that transforms using technology that has been around for quite a while into a more useful experience. The iPhone converges many technologies and capabilities under a single umbrella and changes the way in which people interact with their data and other people.
Hoff goes on to note several specific parallels: our willingness to be locked in to specific providers to gain the iPhone’s benefits; our admiration of those who work to innovate beyond proprietary boundaries through jailbreaks and “unapproved” application marketplaces; the desperate scramble by a variety of vendors to attach their star to the iPhone brand; and the constant rate at which features appear and evolve.
In the end, Hoff notes:
The thing I love about my iPhone is that it’s not a piece of technology I think about but rather, it’s the way interact with it to get what I want done. It has its quirks, but it works…for millions of people.
The point here is that Cloud is very much like the iPhone. As Sir James (Urquhart) says “Cloud isn’t a technology, it’s an operational model.” Just like the iPhone.
Hoff is referring to my earlier post pointing out that the cloud isn’t about new classes of technologies, but about technologies written to support the cloud model of self-service, on-demand, at scale operations. Corny nicknames not withstanding, Hoff also picked up on two fascinating things in his riff:
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The iPhone isn’t a technology–at least, not a new category of technology–but rather a platform that delivers a new operations model for mobile device consumers. iTunes and the iPhone App Store are services that simplify iPhone diversification to the point that it meets the needs of an incredible variety of users; from the biggest geeks to the technology illiterate. (OK, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the former dominated the latter.)
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Cloud computing will evolve much in the same way that the iPhone itself has evolved; early versions of the technology itself now lacks key features, but the operations model is what is compelling, and it keeps early adopters coming back for more.
You have to wonder if Hoff shouldn’t have included the Google Android in his analogy, as Steve Oberlin suggested on Twitter. There are choices in the cloud space–it’s not dominated by any one vendor, though Amazon may be the Apple of the cloud today.
I’m generally sold. I wonder what you think. Will cloud computing see massive adoption as more and more people (and companies) are seen benefiting from related services, and more and more compelling applications and services are available from the cloud? Or are both just trendy subjects that will eventually give way to more traditional technologies and getting things done?
iPhone 3GS retail availability Web tool
June 28, 2009
If you are interested in purchasing an iPhone 3GS, but are not sure about whether your local Apple store has any in stock or not then the Apple iPhone 3GS availability Web tool is for you. According to the page:
The Apple Retail Store likely has your iPhone 3GS in stock. You can check the most up-to-date availability right here. Shipments of iPhone 3GS arrive most days and availability is updated hourly. The 8GB iPhone 3G is currently available in all stores.
Select your state and then check the list to see which Apple Retail Stores currently stock iPhone 3GS.
You can access the tool to check availability in your state by clicking here.
If you live in Texas your chances of getting an iPhone 3GS are very good as you can see from the example below.
(Credit: David Martin)iPhone syncing app adds voice mail and memo transfers
June 27, 2009
(Credit: Mark/Space, Inc.)The latest update for Mark/Space’s The Missing Sync for iPhone, a popular phone-syncing utility, has fixed the app’s compatibility with iPhone OS 3.0. Released this week, version 2.0.2 also adds syncing support for transferring voice mail and voice memos between the iPhone and a Mac.
<!– Earlier this month, Mark/Space reported problems with compatibility between iPhone OS 3.0 and The Missing Sync for iPhone.
–>
According to an e-mail sent to users, the app is now completely compatible with iPhone OS 3.0, thus eliminating problems that the prior version had with syncing new notes, text messages, or call history. Now they can be imported into a SMS Log, Call Log, or Mark/Space Notebook.
Mark/Space describes the new features as follows:
- New in Version 2.0.2, The Missing Sync transfers iPhone voice mail and voice memos to the Mac to give you an archive of voice messages and notes. You can organize and play the content in Mark/Space Notebook, a full-featured note-taking application for the Mac that is included with The Missing Sync.
- Save to your Mac favorite and noteworthy voice mails, such as cute messages from the kids and birthday and congratulations wishes. You can archive voice messages to help track client and customer conversations for business purposes.
- Transfer voice memos recorded on your iPhone to your Mac and organize them with text notes in Mark/Space Notebook. This is great for students, seminar attendees, and conference goers.
We downloaded and tested the new version and saw only one issue: he Terms of Service in the installer contained the word “beta,” which makes us wonder if the update was final software. At the time of this writing, we could not confirm.
Are you experiencing problems with this application or other applications that interface with your iPhone on your Mac or PC? Did the 2.0.2 update resolve any problems you experienced with the older version? Let us know in the comments.
Two fun games go on sale: iPhone apps of the week
June 27, 2009
(Credit: CNET)Everybody loves a bargain. With the iTunes App Store, it’s getting to the point that apps go on sale almost every week. Of course, app sale prices can be either good or bad, depending on your perspective. If you bought that fancy game for $9.99 a few weeks ago only to find out it went on sale later for $1.99, you can’t help but feel a bit cheated. But it also gives you the opportunity to swoop in and grab apps you wouldn’t ordinarily buy.
This week’s apps are both games and are both on sale for a limited time. One has been around for awhile, while the other is brand new, with an introductory sale price.
You'll need several hits to take down some of the larger foes
(Credit: CNET)
Hero of Sparta (99 cents for a limited time) is a hack-and-slash adventure with great-looking 3D graphics and HD-quality sound. You play as King Argos, battling your way through hordes of monsters as you adventure through the underworld. The game uses onscreen controls with a gamepad for movement and some other buttons for attacks and blocks. For special moves, buttons will appear on screen that you’ll need to touch in sequence before they disappear to get the full effect.
In between all the hacking and slashing, Hero of Sparta does a great job of revealing the story during beautiful cut scenes. Though you might find yourself hitting the attack button repeatedly with little consequence, the game draws you in with extra items that add to your stats and give you enough power to battle some of the tougher foes. Frankly, I kept playing just to see what would happen next–it just looks and plays that good. Hero of Sparta usually goes for $5.99, so if you like games like Diablo or Dungeon Siege, definitely jump on this bargain while it lasts.
Between battles, you'll experience some of the games beautiful imagery.
(Credit: CNET)
Galactic Gunner (99 cents for a limited time) is a fun and challenging space shooter on rails, in which your job is to blow away enemies by touching onscreen targets. As your ship is flown expertly from battle to battle by a veteran captain, you get to listen to humorous tongue-in-cheek radio chatter between your captain and wingmen. Complete missions to earn medals and continue along the story path.
When I downloaded Galactic Gunner, I wasn’t expecting much–any game on rails is usually not my cup of tea. But the challenging aspect of the game is that you need to be precise in your shots in order to kill as many enemies as possible while they’re still on the screen. As the captain maneuvers the ship, you’ll need to pick your opportunities wisely. Galactic Gunner had quite a PR blitz in the weeks leading up to its release. With cinematic space scenes, a solid and often funny storyline, and challenging gameplay, this game lives up to the hype and is definitely one to grab at the low price point of 99 cents.
What’s your favorite iPhone app? Have you been waiting for Hero of Sparta to go on sale (like I have)? Were you pleasantly surprised by Galactic Gunner? Let me know in the comments!
Five must-have iPhone apps for your next trip
June 27, 2009
TravelTracker Pro keeps tabs on your entire trip, including real-time flight status.
I’m winging my way to San Francisco in a couple weeks, so I’ve been rounding up apps that’ll make my trip easier and more enjoyable.
Obviously I’ll stock up on e-books and movies for the flight (Wondershare’s DVD Ripper Platinum is proving a great choice for copying my DVDs to my iPhone), and I’ve already got old standbys like Urbanspoon and Yelp for finding local grub and businesses.
But there’s more to a trip than just food and in-flight movies. Here’s a list of the iPhone apps I’ve decided to pack:
- HazelMail Postcards Sure, you can always e-mail photos of your trip, but doesn’t grandma deserve a good old-fashioned postcard? HazelMail turns any iPhone snapshot into the real deal, then mails it (along with your custom wish-you-were-here message) to any address. First one’s free; after that, each card costs $1.50 (or get 12 for $12).
- TravelTracker Pro A bit more robust than competitors SplashTravel and Travel Assistant, TravelTracker Pro helps you keep tabs on every aspect of your trip: flights, car/hotel reservations, weather, and even currency exchange rates. Plus, it integrates with the excellent TripIt service to automatically import/update your travel plans, and provides live flight tracking via FlightStats. Only gripe: It’s a little pricey at $12.99.
- GadgetTrak A stolen iPhone could put a major damper on your trip. Free app GadgetTrak aims to help you get it back, and while it’s not quite as effective as MobileMe, it can’t hurt to install it before leaving.
- AroundMe A longtime favorite, AroundMe helps you find all manner of nearby businesses and services: banks, coffee shops, hospitals, movie theaters, and so on. A tap of the Nearby button reveals Wikipedia entries for nearby places of interest. Best of all, AroundMe is free!
- HearPlanet Like a tour guide in your pocket, HearPlanet delivers spoken-word information about 250,000 locations worldwide. At the Golden Gate Bridge, for instance, I’ll enjoy a 10-minute historical overview. Not bad for an app that’s currently on sale for a buck. A good companion to this is WikiMe, which is like a more robust version of the aforementioned local-Wikipedia-entries feature in AroundMe.
HearPlanet puts a tour guide in your pocket, letting you listen while you sightsee.
I also recommend browsing the iTunes podcast library for anything pertaining to the city you’re visiting. In short order I found all kinds of cool stuff on San Francisco, including half a dozen free Stroll San Francisco Audio Tours.
OK, your turn: What apps do you take when you take a trip? Hit the comments and nominate your must-haves.