a review by Tom Piper
We are now in the fourth generation of the iPhone which has become an incredible tool, toy and constant companion . . . but, do we fully understand it? As it evolves with changing iOS versions, the capabilities are expanding, and we need to learn how to master it.
One of the best new books to emerge is “Taking Your iPhone 4 to the Max” from Apress Media LLC (ISBN13: 978-1-4302-3255-1). At 312 pages, it is a very substantial resource for the beginner right on through the intermediate reader, and is available in print ($24.99), as well as ebook (EPUB, MOBI, PDF: $17.49), the latter of which is what I prefer to read on my iPad2, and is a quick reference on my iPhone4.
On their website (http://www.apress.com/9781430232551), Apress describes it this way:
“Unleash your iPhone and take it to the limit using powerful tips and techniques from tech consultant Steve Sande and gadget hacker Erica Sadun. Fast and fun to read, Taking Your iPhone 4 to the Max shows you how to get the most out of Apple's iPhone 4.
You'll find all the best undocumented tricks as well as the most efficient and enjoyable introduction to the iPhone available. Starting with an introduction to iPhone basics, you'll quickly move on to discover the iPhone's hidden potential, like how to connect to a TV, use Voice Control, have video chats with FaceTime, and call friends overseas with low-cost VoIP.
From the unified email inbox and surfing the Web with Mobile Safari, exploring the world of social networking, using the multitasking capabilities of iOS 4, taking and editing photos, shopping for apps, media, and books, or just managing phone calls, you'll find it all in this book. You'll even learn tips on where to get the best iPhone accessories. Get ready to take iPhone 4 to the max!”
A quick glance at the Table of Contents reviews the following chapter headings:
- Contents
- About the Author
- About the Technical Reviewer
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Selecting, Buying, and Activating Your iPhone
- Chapter 2: Interacting with Your New iPhone
- Chapter 3: Placing Calls with iPhone
- Chapter 4: iPhone Messaging and Social Networking
- Chapter 5: iPhone E-mail
- Chapter 6: Syncing Your iPhone with iTunes
- Chapter 7: It’s Also an iPod
- Chapter 8: iPhone Photos and Video
- Chapter 9: Browsing with Safari
- Chapter 10: The Shopping Mall in Your iPhone
- Chapter 11: Google Maps and Other Apps
- Index
I’ve frequently been surprised by a number of users who don’t understand the importance of syncing your iPhone with iTunes, but this book rightfully spends an appropriate amount of space illustrating why this is important, and how it to do it right. The fundamentals of use of this device are carefully presented to help understand its use as a phone, a camera, a music player, a video viewer, an internet surfer, a texting screen, an email exchanger, a shopping tool, and a micro-computer controlling a myriad of programs (apps). Attention to detail is a key aspect of this education.
All of the content is done in black, white and shades of grey. The text is well-organized and easy to follow, sprinkled strategically with NOTEs, TRIVIA and TIPs, plus generous displays of photos and graphics to illustrate each point. Each chapter ends with a great Summary of what had just been covered. As a user of the ebook PDF version, I really like to go to the Index, and just click on the page number next to my topic of interest (on MacBook Pro or iPad 2), and immediately jump to the right page to learn what I immediately need.
All in all, this is a book with a lot of information to share presented in a reasonable and knowledgeable fashion. Using full color would have been a nice touch to spice up the content, but the good use of white space balanced with clear illustrations makes for an easy and educated read. I would certainly recommend this book for your library.
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