appleJAC Users Group

Check one off the list.... add ringtones to your iPhone

We all knew the time would come.  A smartphone without the ability to add ringtones didn't make any sense.  iFuntastic 2 has been released and yit it, you can add ringtones to your iPhone.  I had added ringtones to my Samsung Blackjack so I had a few files available to put on the iPhone.  When I performed the procedure (which I must admit is well documented in the application but a little involved), I was able to put a ringtone on my phone.

The first version of iFuntastic was great, but it was limited to custom ringtones. Version two brings improvements to the custom ringtone feature, allowing you to add ringtones from anywhere you choose. The ability to change carrier logos has also been added, as well as the ability to change the icon display order on the home screen. Just like version one, iFuntastic v2 is super easy to use. There's been a lot of work done to make the instructions clearer, when they're needed.

I had said before that this was one of the top needs on my list for the iPhone, and Apple sould be ashamed of itself for not allowing this from the beginning, but this application fills the bill for now.

JukeDock: Memories of the Classic Wurlitzer Jukebox

a review by Tom Piper

Ever dreamed of having your very own color-changing CD jukebox, but didn’t have the 20 cubic feet of space or $3,000 to buy one? How about a minature version costing less than $50 for your bookshelf to host your iPod and feed your stereo sound system? The JukeDock from Pressure Drop Inc. might be delight you’ve been looking for.

Like their website (www.pressuredropinc.com) says: elegant, simple technology that is easy to install and soothing to watch. Not only does the JukeDock act as a fully-functioning iPod base complete with a USB connection to your Mac, but it can also be programmed to work with almost any remote control for across-the-room access to your iPod (3rd, 4th or 5th generation). Connections on the back include stereo audio output, video output, S-video, USB and power, with cables included for each. The directions are well-illustrated and quick to follow.

I use mine in my office every day in “rainbow” mode, but can easily change it to cycle through red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and back, or lock in on one of these colors, throb with the music, or turn off the lights entirely. Its a nice glow with three settings of brightness. It charges my iPod and allows me to sync with my laptop without removing it from the base. Now, if only I had a flat-screen TV next to it, I could also remotely watch videos too.

As you can see, the JukeDock is certainly smaller, less expensive and more versatile than the classic jukebox. With a flick of my remote, it still brings the same smile to my face that I had in the soda shop watching the old Wurlitzer bubbler. Not only that, we have a special offer below for three months. This is the kind of combination that gets my vote.

JukeDock: Save $30

Love your iPod but hate squinting at videos on the tiny screen and straining to hear your music on tiny headphones?  With the perfect fusion of nostalgia, modern design, and advanced.

Regularly $79, purchase JukeDock for just $49 - a 38% savings.

appleJAC Members: Get the promo code from the code list on the website with the monthly digest.

iPhone: The Missing Manual . . . Delightful Details

a review by Tom Piper

First Edition: August 2007 (est.)
ISBN 10: 0-596-51374-7
ISBN 13: 9780596513740
Pages: 304
Price: $19.99 USD ($24.99 including PDF)

Whether you’ve already invested in Apple’s incredibly innovative iPhone, or are still contemplating this model versus the next, David Pogue, New York Times columnist and Mac enthusiast, has once again produced a “must have” handbook to get the most out of this treasure. This publication is the 17th in his Missing Manual series building on his tradition of illustrating details, hacks, workarounds, tutorials, humor, and flaws.

A quick look at the Table of Contents shows the thoroughness of this book:

    Part 1: The iPhone as Phone
        Chapter 1: The Guided Tour
        Chapter 2: Phone Calls
        Chapter 3: Fancy Phone Tricks
    Part 2: The iPhone as iPod
        Chapter 4: Music and Video
        Chapter 5: Photos and Camera
    Part 3: The iPhone Online
        Chapter 6: Getting Online
        Chapter 7: The Web
        Chapter 8: Email
        Chapter 9: Maps and Apps
    Part 4: Beyond iPhone
        Chapter 10: iTunes for iPhoners
        Chapter 11: Syncing the iPhone
        Chapter 12: Add-Ons: Accessories and Web Apps
        Chapter 13: Settings
    Part 5: Appendixes
        Appendix A: Setup and Signup
        Appendix B: Troubleshooting and Maintenance
        Index

In a style which is refreshinigly candid, occasionally tongue-in-cheek, brilliantly entertaining and always educational, David patiently and deliberately walks the reader through the opening impressions directly into the meaty productivity details. Punctuated by insightful tips, notes, colors and caveats, to call it a “page turner” would be an understatement. Liberally illustrated with great photos, instructive graphics and loads of screen shots from the iPhone, his points are easy to understand and apply quickly.

While there are many parts of the book that are quite obvious in using the iPhone, every chapter seems to have a few tidbits that are really worth reading. It is amazing that David was able to, in such a short time, compile all the small hints that make you once again say to yourself “. . . this is one cool phone!” Of particular note are the explanations of all the settings that can configure the iPhone to work the way you want it to. Many of these settings truly enhance the iPhone experience.

The part of the book that seemed repetitive were the chapter on using iTunes and the Appendix on Setup and Signup. Both of these chapters, while thorough, really don’t add a lot to the iPhones use. Perhaps if right after the Introduction, rather than two-thirds the way through, Setup and Signup would have seemed more appropriate. Most people investing in the iPhone will likely already be iTunes users, and there is little point in reading about the Setup process again once you’ve been through it.

David always seems to add a humorous twist on rather dry facts, everything from initial setup to advanced features, you never feel like you are reading a training manual. Covering all the basic and advanced features with an in-depth instruction book, he leads you from feature to feature as you quickly walk through it. David also makes a strong push on informing readers about the Add-Ons made possible through the use of Safari and AJAX-driven webpages. Everything from a gas prices to movie show times, and to-do list making, he was able to show readers very quickly some of the best resources that are currently available.

Even if you’ve had your iPhone for awhile and think you have mastered it, a trick here and a hint there is bound to save time. The book is definitely worth the read. I highly recommend it.

SRS iWOW: Enlarging and Deepening Mac Sound

a review by Tom Piper

Disappointed with the “tiny” sound of your PowerBook, iBook or MacBook, with the built-in speakers or headphones? SRS Labs has produced a plug-in for any Mac with OS X 10.2  or better (and iTunes 6 or better) which enhances your audio for a richer, more powerful and brilliant experience. It’s the real deal!

Their website says it very well: “The SRS iWOW uses several patented SRS Labs audio technologies to provide full, 3D audio over headphones, desktop, laptop or monitor speakers. The plug-in delivers fully immersive stereo with cleaner sound, deeper bass and the ability for users to personalize their acoustic preferences using an array of music presets in the toolbox (i.e. rock, classical, jazz, blues, country etc.). The center control feature allows users to perfect the balance of sound by using a virtual “zoom” lens to dynamically extract and position the dialog in the foreground or background of the stereo mix.” This downloadable software (trial versions available) installs quickly, and displays an attractive and self-explanatory control box (see above) that widens, elevates and deepens the sound, just like the graphic below shows.

It has graphic selections for earphones, external speakers or laptops, and I’ve tried them all on iPods earbuds, Future Sonics Atrio earphones, and Bose noise-cancelling headset, as well as my MacBook Pro, iMac G5 and Mac Pro with Logitech external speakers . . . the promise of “bigger” sound was realized in every one of these setups. I was absolutely blown away. External speakers show the most benefit with the headphones close behind. While it is easy to tell a significant difference in the internal MacBook Pro speakers, there is only so much sound that can be driven from these small speakers.

My testing has found that iWOW had a great impact on the overall richness of the sound, which ultimately helps restore much of the lost dynamics when converting to MP3 (or other compressed format). While iWOW soars to life on smaller speakers (i.e. laptop or portable speakers) the effects on larger speakers must be made in smaller increments and often needs to be tweaked from song to song, especially in a mixed playlist. While working with a 2.1 set of Logitech speakers, the overall level of bass seemed to much more present then with the default equalizer. To compensate, the “TruBass” in iWOW’s settings had to be turned all the way down and sometimes the speaker size adjusted to focus a better treble to bass sound.

Overall iWOW is a great product that includes many great features that aren’t included in the default equalizer of iTunes. On a 2.33ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with 2gb of RAM, iTunes would generally use about 17% processor on a 320kbps 44.1kHz MP3 file. With iWOW running, it jumped to 26% utilization. With the added boost of processor usage, any gamers would definitely want to consider if they want more overhead being used before they enter their game. The other aftereffect of the added usage is on a laptop where it will definitely boost the heat and overall fan noise. While writing this review and listening to MP3s being pushed through iWOW, the fans on a MacBook Pro were spinning at an average 5990rpm.

iWOW’s preset functions seemed to work wonderfully, although they were pretty generic and didn’t allow the saving of “custom” sets. This would be nice if some tweaks were made for one set of music (i.e. Electronic) and moved to Rock, so that when I want to return to Electronic, I  wouldn’t have to manually reconfigure my settings.

SRS Labs in Santa Ana, CA, already has an established reputation as one of the world’s leading audio technology companies with a vast portfolio of audio, voice, surround sound and semiconductor solutions. To date, SRS audio solutions have been included in over 600 million products and broadcasted to nearly a billion viewers worldwide on Circle Surround-encoded radio and television programs. This software is immediately available to us at a discounted price (see below) of less than $16 . . . a great way to make your sound LARGE!

iWOW for iTunes: 20% Discount

The iWOW is the ultimate iTunes audio enhancement plug-in for Mac users. You can restore fidelity to all your music files, display a sleek easy-to-use interface design with energized light pulses and ensure an amazing "In Concert" experience using SRS Labs' state-of-the-art audio enhancement technology. Even smaller speakers will produce deep rich bass. Many cool presets are available with custom settings for desktop speakers or headphones.

Regularly $19.99 (US), iWow is available for only $15.99 (US) for Apple user group members.

appleJAC Members: Get the promo code from the code list on the website with the monthly digest.

Member Question on Keyboard Shortcuts

Q: Is there any key on the macbook keyboard that performs this function of deleting material to the right of the cursor?

A: if you use the Function (fn) and "delete" key combination, you get a Right Delete.

Q: Is there any place that would have such keyboard information?

A: for a great program DoubleCommand to reassign your "Enter" key to Right Delete, try this link.

in fact, there are almost 10,000 cool tips and hints at Macosxhints which are searchable with keywords.

Thanks to appleJAC Board Member Tom Piper for the answers.

Review: Case-Mate Signature Leather Case and Signature Holster for iPhone

I have always loved Case-Mate products.  They seem to me very well made and look very high end and beautiful.  This new case, designed exclusively for the iPhone is made of soft, supple Napa leather wraps that is perfectly contoured to fit the curves of the iPhone.   While it looks good, it is also made of leather that polishes easily while the impact resistant shell inside protects against everyday wear and tear. The case comes with a fully removable 360-degree ratcheting belt clip but the rachet mechanism is too week to allow for the phone to remain horizontal on the belt.  That should not be a problem though because the case is designed to integrate with the Case-mate Signature iPhone Leather Holster.  In this configuration, the screen is protected as the phone is slipped into the holster.

That brings me to the review of the holster itself.

The Case-Mate Signature iPhone Holster is marketed for people on the go who desire more complete protection for their Apple iPhone.  The above case works perfectly with this sleek leather holster.  The holster is also handcrafted from leather which is wrapped around an impact resistant molded shell.  The form-fit leather cradle will hold your iPhone while in the leather case so your phone remains fully protected at all times. I must admit, this pair is one of the most secure ways I have seen to carry your phone.

Sounds great, right.  Well, not so much.  As great as the holster is, the intent is to allow you to carry it on your belt.  The holster comes with a multi-directional, 360-degree ratcheting belt clip which allows for adjustability and maximum comfort while standing or sitting.  The ratchet portion of the clip is very positive and locks the case into any angle.  That part is great.  But the belt clip that is molded into the ratchet is horrible!

How can you manufacture such a nice case and holster and drop the ball completely on the belt clip.  This stuff is not rocket science guys.  Let me explain.  The clip is first off way too week.  I want the clip that holds the case to my belt for my $600 phone to be strong.  There should be no way to accidentally pull the clip off your belt but is this case, it is hard to keep it on the belt.  The clip takes almost no pressure to press the spring-loaded mechanism and release the clip.  In fact, on the first day of use, I came perilously close to popping it off my belt on to the asphalt.  The clip is just way too week.  Not only is it week, it is bowed on one side leaving an opening wide enough to accommodate a wide thick belt.  But an average business mans belt is more like 1 ¼” and very thin making the clip flop around on the belt and turn sideways.  Not the holster turning, but the clip being too loose on the belt.

In addition, the clip is so loose and so weak, I cannot even reinsert the phone in the holster without pulling the clip off my belt.

Case-Mate was very close to perfect but left this one part, the clip, completely unusable.  I highly recommend the case itself if you need a case that does not have a belt clip but if you need to clip your phone to a belt, this solution, whether the case itself, or most definitely, the holster, just doesn’t measure up.

Want to see what should have been done.... read on

appleJAC Member Peggy Landwehr in line for her iPhone

appleJAC Member Peggy Landwehr, right, and her daughter, Becca, who took her mom's place in line when she had to leave, were among those in line for the iPhone's release Friday at the AT&T store in Jefferson City. Leaning against the wall are brother and sister Vick and Ruby Sura, who held the No. 9 spot in line. Landwehr rounded out the first 10. (Jefferson City News Tribune photo)

Read the story on the tribune website.

TomTom connects to iPhone!

I have been trying many things to find out just what works with the iPhone and what dosent.  As you know, I am a big TomTom fan so I tried to pair my iPhone by bluetooth to use the hands free feature in the TomTom 510 I have and it worked easily.  The TomTom recognized the iPhone, made the connection and then..... told me it was downloading my phonebook.  Say What?  Oh yes, it downloaded my phonebook from the iPhone to allow me to dial from the TomTom screen.  Very cool!

David Pogue Sings the Praises of the iPhone

What can I say?  Here is an iPhone story from David Pogue of the New York Times.

Turbo.264: Video Export Speedster

a review by Tom Piper

You have a new video iPod (or Apple TV), and want to store some movies on them for easy viewing. Then you rip a DVD and convert the file to the required format, only to discover how torturously slowly the conversion process can be, particularly with an older Mac. A hardware accelerator is the answer, and Elgato makes a very good one.

As described online, the Turbo.264 is a powerful video encoder in the form of a compact USB 2.0 stick. Use the included software to convert your Mac videos one at a time or in a batch; The application drops the converted file(s) into iTunes for you, ready to synch automatically with your iPod or Apple TV. Alternatively, plug in Turbo.264 while you use the iPod or Apple TV export command of popular Macintosh video applications. Turbo.264’s hardware encoder jumps in to take over for your Mac’s processor, and does the hard work of encoding the videos to an H.264 format. Not only does Turbo.264 help get the job done faster, it frees up your processor for other tasks. Think of it as a “co-processor” for your Mac.

Turbo.264’s software application offers a choice of four presets: High resolution for Apple TV (up to 800x600), high quality iPod (640x480), standard resolution for even quicker exports to iPod (320x240), and Sony PSP (320x180). For Apple TV content, the quality of videos encoded with Turbo.264 software is unrivaled: Turbo.264 converts standard definition television recordings without scaling so that recordings appear on Apple TV in the same resolution they were recorded. Turbo.264 supports 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios as well as widescreen content.

I’ve tested this unit, and believe that it can significantly reduce your conversion time. I’m in the process of transferring many old family VHS tapes to DVD format which I also plan to view through my Apple TV. This USB device is certainly speeding up the process for me. I’m also delighted to report that Elgato has agreed to reduce the price of this unit by 25% until the end of September.

A Few iPhone Tips and Tricks

After working with the iPhone for a few days, here are a fw tips and tricks that I have found.  THe first one I figured out but the next two are from Mac Rumors.

Folders in Mail

I wondered how I could create folders to put some of my email in on my account.  Normally, I use POP to check my email and I found no way to have any other folders show up on a POP account.  I then tried using the IMAP server for the same account and found that any folders I created on the IMAP server show up on the iPhone.  This allows me to save a few emails in a folder to refer to later.

Here are a few I found on MacRumors

Safari Web Browser

I just found this today and thought it was a really useful feature. I was reading TUAW on my iPhone and got to the bottom of their news feed and wanted to go to another site. I was beginning to scroll back up to the top to get to the URL entry field and accidentally hit the top bar, the one with AT&T and signal strength and the time and battery life and found myself at the top of the page staring right at the URL field. So amazingly simple and brilliant.

In short:

1. You're at the bottom (or anywhere) of a webpage on your iPhone and want to go to the URL field.
2. Tap the top bar with the time and battery life indicator.
3. Boom! You're at the URL entry field!

Typing a Period (or and other Punctuation)

When typing, here's a quick way to input a period. Click on the .?123 button and slide your finger over to the period (or comma) and release. A period will be written, and the keyboard will go back to letters. Alternatively, click the .?123 button with your left thumb and tap the period button with the other. Again, you'll get the period and the keyboard will switch back to letters.

After seeing the demo... how could I resist?

I spent part of Saturday afternoon with appleJAC Member at Large, Tom Piper, doing a short test drive of his new iPhone.  I must admit, I had convinced myself that I did not want one and that my Windows Mobile Smartphone was just fine for what I do.  That was well and good until I touched the display... after that, all my objections melted away.

After doing a little work Saturday, I decided to stop by the local AT&T store to see when they get their next shipment in and the guy told me they had one 8gb iPhone left in stock.  They had sold out Friday night but got a few more in on Saturday.  How could I resist.

My activation was not as uneventful as Tom's.  He told me his was active in 10 minutes but mine took 22 1/2 hours.... Yes, AT&T said their system was being overwhelmed.  But it finally happened and I now have an active iPhone.  Beauty, simplicity, and function, all in one package.  More on it later I am sure.....