Apple Phone Show Episode 24
Jailbreak, Chris and his new book, and a tip from Andy's book.
Run Time: 32:59



Host:
Scott Bourne: Podcastgearguy.com, OnlineMediaTips.com and iLifeZone.com

Special Guests:
Andy Ihnatko The Colossal Waste of Bandwidth and The Chicago Sun Times
Chris Breen: MacWorld Magazine and Playlist Magazine

Let's talk about Jailbreak. Jailbreaking your phone is what you do to it to open it up to install applications and it's the start of what you do to unlock your phone. Scott thinks that people should be able to unbrick their phones and AT&T and Apple should help and that it's going to be a constant cat and mouse game between Apple and the Jailbreakers. A new version of some of the jailbreaking utilities is now available that will Jailbreak the new 1.1.1 firmware and even, in some cases, put you on the path to unbrickedness. Scott reiterates that it's not a good idea either way because it voids the warranty, etc. He's not particularly happy with Apple or AT&T for leaving iPhones bricked and thinks that Apple should be able to get the phone unbricked. If you can demonstrate that you have a method that will unbrick a phone, send it to us at applephoneshow@gmail.com.

Before we move on to our next segment, it's time for our Audible pick of the week! If you'd like a free Audible audio book, check out Audible at audible.com/applephoneshow. Scott recommends the Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Audio Collection. He was an avant garde author who's very witty, and he narrates this book himself. Of course, you aren't limited to our pick of the week. You're more than welcome to check out the entire selection and find something that suits you. We'd like to thank Audible for their continued support of the Apple Phone Show. If you have a recommendation for us, leave it in the comments on this post!

And now time for the news... Wait... No news yet... Chris is here to share some tips from his new book, The iPhone Pocket Guide! Chris also wrote the iPod Pocket Guide, in case you need help there too.

The primary goal of the book is to take people beyond getting the iPhone out of the box. The user guide is a bit sparse, and Chris' book is a lot more detailed and specific and goes into tighter detail with the different features of the iPhone. Chris is trying very hard to address both new users of smartphones as well as more advanced users. He points out that Apple understood that the phones out there were very powerful, but difficult to use and the iPhone is equally powerful, but much easier to use; something Apple really got right.

Scott points out that it's a good complement to Andy Ihnatko's new book because it goes into even more detail about more esoteric topics. Chris says Andy's new book is more of kitchen sink type approach. Scott says his book, coming in July, will be equally complementary. Chris points out that it's tough to figure out what angle to come at it from because of updates, etc. Scott says his target is experts.

The book starts with simple stuff like getting it out, activating it, making a call, etc. Instant gratification. Next, the general idea of how it works, what the apps look like, the gestures you need to know, etc. Once you get into that, it explains how to put new stuff on it. After that, it goes into the settings. Then, the details on using it as a phone (including SMS functionality). Next, Mail and Calendar. Then Safari and how it's different than the experience on a computer. Then the iPod stuff, how it connects to iTunes, how it's different than an iPod, a little about the iTunes store. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to get the 1.1.1 Update into the first edition, so another edition might be forthcoming. Then photo, camera, and YouTube. Finally stocks, calendar, weather, maps.

How about a few tips from the book, Chris?

Tip #1: Typing... New adopters hate typing because there's no tactile feedback. Here's the tip: KEEP GOING. The iPhone is very good at predictively guessing what you meant to type and it's smart enough to know when you're close to a word, it can suggest approximations. Don't type and correct, just type. You'll be surprised how often the iPhone gets it right. It takes about two weeks of getting "used" to it but it gets better. It also learns, and will start predicting what you're going to type better as time goes on. Scott agrees and says that he had to adapt also, and now it's very easy and he doubled his typing speed. You also have to learn to adjust your aim. If you're mostly a right hander, aim up and to the left of each key. Same with the URL bar, forms, etc. in Safari. Use the pad of your finger, not the tip. The iPhone wants you to use your full finger, and again, it's good at guessing what you want.

Tip #2: The iPhone produces a letter when typing when you let go, not when you press down. If you press the wrong letter, just leave your finger on the screen and move to the correct letter. When you let go, it'll put the character on the screen.

Chris is giving away three autographed copies of his book to three lucky Apple Phone Show listeners. If you've sent a link to us for one of our prior contests, you're already entered. If not, you have one week to get a link in place and let us know about it. Scott will randomly select three winners and Chris will autograph the book and send it out to you. Send an e-mail to applephoneshow@gmail.com with your link and enter now! If you don't win, go buy it, will ya?

Not to be outdone, let's talk to Andy Ihnatko who also has a book coming. Jeez, our hosts are prolific.

Andy has a tip to share for us too!

One of his favorite ways to get documents onto his phone is to convert them to pictures and then sync them using iPhoto. On the Mac, you can "print" to your iPhone with an Automator action (see here for the gist of how this all works). In Windows, you can use Snagit to grab screen captures. You can install it as a printer driver and print to it.

That last tip was for anyone complaining that we don't discuss Windows. Andy points out that his book applies just as much to Windows as it does to the Mac.

That's all for now... If you have any questions, comments, concerns, tips, etc., let us know at applephoneshow@gmail.com.



Thanks to Apple Phone Show producer Vincent Ferrari for the shownotes!

Thanks to Greg Martin for production assistance.

New Apple Phone Show theme performed and arranged by Scott Bourne.