Prepare for the iOS 4 update for your iPhone.

To prepare yourself for the new iOS 4, backup your iPhone 3G or 3GS with iTunes 9.2. This version of iTunes is iOS 4 compatible and allows the backup of the folders which iOS 4 has.

To recap on the new features for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, check out Apple’s iOS 4 site.

iPhone 3G owners need to be aware that some new iOS 4 features are not available on the iPhone 3G hardware.

iPhone 4 and iOS 4 announced at WWDC

Steve Jobs introduced the next generation iPhone today. iPhone 4 features a front facing camera, 5 mega-pixel rear camera with LED flash, higher resolution screen, improved battery life and many other features. It is expected to be available in New Zealand and Australia in July.

Check out the iPhone 4 features here.

At the same time the mobile operating system that runs on Apple’s portable devices has been updated and renamed to iOS 4. This update will be available for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch from June 21st, however some features wont work on the older hardware.

Check out the iOS 4 features here.

WWDC Keynote – 7th June

Get ready, Apple’s Steve Jobs takes the stage once again to show us what the company has been up to. This year it looks like the iPhone and iPad will be the highlight – but the Mac faithful are holding out for something “Mac” in the keynote.

If you are interested in finding out more, check out this site.

Or check back here on the morning of 8th June (US 7th June) for details of the Apple announcements.

Flash CS5 development for iPhone off

Following on from the Adobe CS5 presentations by Digital Arena – we learned today that Adobe Flash CS5′s packager for iPhone will not be developed further by Adobe. They have turned their focus (and asked Flash developers also) toward the Android OS.

So while we were not sure during the launch presentations – here is the final word.

If you want to develop ideas for the iPhone, get in touch with a local iPhone development company – or learn Xcode yourself!

Apple iPhone OS 4.0 preview

The iPhone OS version 4.0 beta is now up for developers (like us) to work with and test. The public version will be out in a few months and runs on 3G hardware and up. (Sorry original iPhone owners!)

There are over 100 new features, but the main ones are:

• 3rd party application multi-tasking (3GS hardware or better)
• Folders to organise your screens full of apps
• Mail gets a single unified inbox
• The iAd platform for developers to put sponsored advertising into apps
• Access to iBooks (same as the iPad)
• Enhanced enterprise features

These are great new features for you to look forward to – especially the Multitasking and Unified Inbox. About time!

UPDATE: For more detailed information, follow this link…

iPad – post hype

The Apple iPad has been announced as many of you will be aware. It is a 9.7 inch tablet style device running a special build of the iPhone software. There are basically two models: a wifi-only version and a wifi/3G version. Both have 16, 32 and 64GB variations. The 3G version uses a microSIM (which can be handmade from a standard SIM if you are handy with a stanley knife!) and is unlocked to run on any carrier. It isn’t a 3G phone – it uses the 3G for mobile data.

The 140,000 applications in the Apple App Store mean that the iPad has one of the largest software libraries on the planet on launch. The screen of the iPad has a resolution of 1024×768 (the iPhone is 320×480) giving the ability to run the existing App Store applications in a standard size (floating in the middle of the screen) or in 2x mode – using a pixel double mode to zoom them up. With the iPad development kit, applications can be developed to use the extra screen size.

On the Apple website, there are some great movies which show the functionality of the iPad – and many of you will notice the differences in the built-in applications over the standard iPhone. For example, check out Mail and the Calendar applications. Apple also have iWork for the iPad which gives you a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation package.

So, will it be your main browsing machine? A recipe device mounted on the wall in your kitchen? Build it into your car for navigation, entertainment and music? Read books? Or a full time writing tablet using the optional keyboard dock?

We will give you a full review when our unit turns up in March.

iPhone Tips and Tricks

Here are some quick tips for using your iPhone.

Restart iPhone: Press and hold the home and top button together until you are requested to turn the phone off. Then press the top button to turn back on.

Take Screenshot: Hold down home button and press the top button. A white flash occurs and the photo is saved to your camera roll.

Scrolling to the top of a page: Tap the top bar, near the clock.

Copy a web-link or open in a new page: Double-tap and hold down on the link.

Save images out of Safari: Press and hold the image.

Photoshop.com Mobile for iPhone

Well here it is, Adobe has finally dipped their toes in the iPhone market.

Photoshop.com Mobile has some features that make it worth getting, and some that I hope are still in the development stages.

If you find yourself needing to Crop, Rotate or Filp photos, get this app.
If you need to adjust basic Exposure, Saturation, Tint, or even turn the picture Back and White, get this app.
If you want to apply filters, there are some but not the most exciting, this is where I can see Adobe developing the application.

It’s also important to note that the current release applies settings across the whole photo, you cannot do any masking or single out a part of the photo to edit.

This iPhone application is a good start from Adobe, I look forward to the development of this app and (hopefully) future Adobe iPhone applications.

TomTom 1.2 update for iPhone out now

The TomTom for iPhone is a great product – but it doesn’t have all the features of the full TomTom hardware. Each release improves this situation. TomTom have just released a free update to v1.2.

The latest 1.2 release gives you

• the latest map update for NZ
• “Safety Camera” locations and warnings
• Speed limit warning
• Improved accuracy with GPS Enhancer
• Support for the original iPhone and iPod Touch (TomTom cradle required for best results)

Some of these settings are OFF by default, so go to Change Settings->Alerts to turn on the camera and speed warnings. Click on Advanced to turn on the GPS Enhancer.

Safe driving!

TomTom for the iPhone – tested

The iPhone has a lot of useful applications – and the TomTom application is one of those! TomTom sell the maps and their software bundled by region which means you have to buy a New Zealand version ($119) and if you want Australia – you have to pay again. This is the same as the TomTom units themselves.

We tested it by mounting the iPhone up near the front of the center console of a car and set a few destinations. In open areas it works just like a ‘real’ TomTom – turn by turn directions – the works! In built up areas it starts to jump around a little bit – but this is when you are in the middle of high rise building such as Auckland Central. It still works – it just isn’t as smooth.

TomTom will be offering an iPhone specific car kit which provides power to charge the iPhone (yes, it does start to drain the battery quite quickly) and includes a further GPS chip and antenna to help in built up areas.

For casual turn-by-turn GPS use where you know generally where to go – but just need the GPS unit when you get closer to the area you don’t know the detail of – perfect solution. You can get it now on the iPhone Appstore – it supports the iPhone 3G and 3GS only at this point. (There is talk of iPod Touch support with the TomTom car kit – but lets just wait and see).