John Dolan, Viant Solutions

Quickstart's guide to iPhone 4 and iOS4

I apologize for my absence!  Fortunately, work at Viant has been extremely busy.  However, with the release of iOS4 and iPhone 4 I realized I needed to put my lame excuses aside and get back to work on a new blog post.

 

First, if you are looking for some great reviews on the iPhone you can check out the links at the end of the article.  This is just a quick highlight of some key new features.
 

Hardware

The new phone is great to hold.  I love the new design as it doesn't feel like it's going to slip out of my hand and the buttons are very easy to access.  The screen is just as amazing as everyone says and it is reportedly 30% faster than the prior iPhone, has twice as much memory and much improved battery life.  Also added is an improved video camera (720P), improved call quality a front facing camera.  There are two items to be aware of.  First, the signal bar is going to show a weaker signal than it actually has.  This is a software issue that will be resolved in a software update.  Second, it has been reported that touching the iPhone in the lower left hand corner of the phone while on a call can cause signal

 

Software (iOS4)

The new software adds several new features:

1. Multi-tasking:  Only certain applications support this feature and in limited fashion.  However, I appreciate the fact that my GPS will continue running in the background while I take a phone call and that I can continue listening to music on Pandora while checking email.  It's not as functional as the Droid's multi-tasking, but it's a great step forward.
2. Folders for applications:  The first thing I did is take all of Apple's stupid applications that I can't delete (e.g. Stock Ticker, Weather and iTunes store) and dumped them in a folder called "Lame".  To do this simply tap an icon and hold it till it wiggles.  Then drag icons on top of each other to create folders.  It's really that easy.  You will be prompted to create a folder name.

3. Updated Double Tap:  Double tapping the home button now gives you a list of recently used applications (and if you scroll to the left you get the iPod controls).  This is also how you switch to a new application while leaving the current application running.

4. Email:  Emails are now threaded by conversation by default.  This is a great new feature and very intuitive to use.  You are also provided with the option of viewing each mailbox individually or viewing one consolidated inbox.  To toggle between views use the Mailbox tab in the top right-hand corner.

 

Well, hopefully this is a good start.  In my next blog post we'll begin digging into some of the new features in iOS4 and how to take advantage of them.

 

Reviews:

• Engadget
• Walt Mossberg (WSJ)
• David Pogue (NY Times)
• USA Today

Quick Tip - Paste Special

Knowing how to use "Paste Special" can be a great time saver when pasting content from one document to another.  By selecting "Paste Special" and then choosing the "Unformatted Text" option, you can remove all formatting from the content you are pasting so that what is pasted assumes the formatting of your current document.  This is especially useful when pasting information from the Web into a Word Document.  The hotkey for "Paste Special" is <Ctrl> <Alt> <V>.

Avoiding new wave of viruses

There are a host of new viruses that sneak onto computers by posing as anti-virus software.  These viruses have names like Antivirus2010, Total Security and the likes.  Unfortunately, the creators of these viruses pay money to legitimate ad-engines and so you get their pop-ups just like you would any other pop-up.  The difference is that their pop-ups look like a Windows message, not a pop-up, and the message tells you that your computer is infected with a virus.  (note:  A great way to avoid viruses of this nature all together is to run Firefox with the Adblock plus plugin which will prevent you from ever seeing most of these pop-ups.)

The first pop-up will often look something like the one below.  The key give-away that this is not a real virus warning is that it says Windows Internet Explorer on the bar at the top (note where it says "Windows Internet Explorer" in the blue message bar at the top).  The safest way to close this message is to press alt-F4 at the same time which is an easy way to close the open window without having to click on anything.

Your also liable to see a message that looks likes one of the messages below.  If you see any of these messages, reboot immediately and then run your virus scanning software.  The messages boxes can be very confusing and so it is very easy to accidentally install the virus.  By rebooting as soon as you notice the message you greatly reduce the chance of actually getting the virus.

 

If you do get the virus, Malware Bytes tends to do a good job of removing these viruses (although sometimes additional software is needed).  Do not try to remove these viruses manually as there are so many variants that any documentation you can find on manual removal is most likely incomplete and will not fully remove the virus.

Remember, be smart, read before you click, keep your computer and your anti-virus software up to date and you'll have the best chances of staying safe on the internet.

iPhone 3.0 - it's not just for entertainment anymore!

On June 17th Apple will be releasing the iPhone 3.0 software update.  I recently obtained a pre-release of the upcoming iPhone 3.0 software update and have been very pleased.  This update addresses a number of the key shortcomings in the iPhone that have been frustrating iPhone users for years.

1. Search - This is HUGE!  In addition to adding search to eMail, they've also added a page that provides a unified search of email, contacts and calendar.  From the main screen press the center button and you're ready to search.  This is a great way to look up phone numbers.
2. Cut & Paste - Apple has finally brought Cut & Paste to the iPhone.  They did a nice job of making this intuitive and easy to use.
3. Landscape email and text - This makes it easier to read certainly HTML formatted email and also provides a larger keyboard which can help make typing easier as well.
4. Turn by Turn navigation - Apple will now allow turn-by-turn navigation on the iPhone.  Expect to see some product releases soon after June 17th.
5. Meeting invites from Calendar - If you are an Exchange user, you can now create meetings and invite atendees from your phone.  I'm often scheduling meetings on the go, and so I'm very excited to see them include this in the new release.

So, while there's nothing flashy here, there are a number of foundational improvements that help transition the iPhone from simply being the coolest phone for business, to being one of the best phones for business.

Outlook 2007 Performance Issues Resolved!

I've been a huge fan of Microsoft Outlook 2007.  The changes from Outlook 2003 aren't overwhelming, but there are nice additions such as Integrated Search, the To-Do Bar and including Auto-Preview for attachments in the Reading-Pane.  I've also been a huge fan of Outlook's integration with SharePoint which is available in Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007. 

One issue I have had with Outlook 2007 is the frequent freezes during the send/receive process (especially when work remotely).  Microsoft is in the process of releasing SP2 for Microsoft Office which will include a fix for this performance issue.  However, we don't have to wait for Office 2007 SP2 to get the fix!  Microsoft has released the hotfix for Outlook performance issues that can be downloaded here.  The patch requires a password which is: IBLyKz[k

If you are a Viant customer and would like for us to assist you with this installation, just give us a call or shoot us an email and we will be glad to take care of this for you.  If you are not a Viant customer but would like to here about how we may be able to serve your organization, give me a call at 678-889-6089 x101 and I'll be glad to talk with you about our service offerings.

Foxit - A Great PDF Reader

I have always used Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing pdf files.  Not so much because I like the program, but because it is the mostly widely used program for viewing .pdf files.  I've never really liked Adobe's Reader, it's slow to open, hogs system resources, and is prone to security issues.

Several months ago I began using Foxit Reader as my primary pdf reader, and I'm loving it!  Foxit is compact, opens quickly and uses minimal system resources.  They took a tip from the web browser world and recently added tabbed viewing!  Instead of having to jump back between multiple windows, .pdf's are neatly arranged in a single window with tabs at the top for navigation.

Foxit reader can be downloaded from http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/.  They have a free version (my personal favorite) and a pay for version which includes a text converter, commenting tools and a few other features.

Troubleshooting Entourage Sync Issues

Below are a few quick steps to try if Entourage stops behaving properly (e.g. fails to sync, creates duplicate items, etc).  This is by no means an exhaustive list, but will resolve a large number of issues.

1. Update Office:  There have been a number of updates for Office that address a number of performance issues.  Using the automatic update feature in Office ensure you’re fully up to date.
2. Reset Cache:  In Entourage, right click on your account name in the Folder List on left column.  Select Properties and then click the “Empty Cache”  This will remove all items from Entourage and it will resync with the server from scratch.
3. Rebuild Database:  Hold Option Key while starting Entourage.  Run database repair utility.

iPhone Applications for Productivity

This is my top 10 iPhone application list.  In the list are my Top 5 Productivity Applications, my Top 5 Entertainment Applications and a few honorable mentions.  All of the applications are free unless otherwise noted.

Productivity

1. Evernote is the ultimate note-taking application for the iPhone.  Evernote's syncing and search capabilities separate it from the competition.  Notes taken in Evernote are synced to a central server and can then be accessed via the Mac or PC client or by a web browser.  I strongly encourage all of my clients to get in the habit of using Microsoft's OneNote or Evernote as their central repository for meeting notes, planning notes and other miscellaneous notes.  Having all of your notes stored in a centralized, indexed repository that one can easily search is a tremendous value both in timesaving and in preserving critical data that could have otherwise been lost if recorded elsewhere (e.g. a sticky note).
2. Zenbe is a basic task management application that can be accessed via the iPhone application or from the web.  There are number of very powerful and complex note taking applications available for the iPhone.  What keeps me using Zenbe is it's simplicity.  Define your categories then create tasks under those categories.  To access your Zenbe lists from the web (and to create your account) go to http://lists.zenbe.com.
3. Where is a location based application that provides several cool features including the following: 
   1. Eventful which provides a list of upcoming events in your area. 
   2. A Starbucks locater that also indicates if they have AT&T WiFi service (which is free for certain AT&T broadband subscribers). 
   3. GasBuddy which helps locate the nearest, cheapest gas.
4. Air Sharing ($6.99) allows you to store, view and share files on your iPhone.  Your phone must be on the same wireless network as the computer to which it is connecting and the Air Sharing application must be open on the iPhone.  Straightforward documentation is included with the product that explains its use.  If you set-up Air Sharing on your iPhone to require a password to protect access to the files you may need to install the following patch to access the files on a Windows Vista system.  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907306)
5. Google Mobile provides basic web search functionality with the added benefit of including your contacts in the search and providing auto-complete for contacts, words and web addresses.

Entertainment

1. Remote allows you to control your iTunes or Apple TV from your iPhone.  Especially useful when used with speakers connected to iTunes via an Airport Express.
2. Sportacular and SportsTap both present sports scores and news.  Sportacular has a better interface for keeping up with scores while SportsTap weekly recaps seem to be a bit more useful than Sportacular's newsfeeds.
3. Pandora is an online radio station.  If you're interested, create an account and some radio stations on your computer by going to http://pandora.com.  If you like what you hear, you can install Pandora on your iPhone and listen to the stations you have created.
4. Simplify streams music from your iTunes library to your iPhone.  It also allows you to stream music from up to 30 of your friends as well.  If you have a large iTunes library (or know someone who does), this can be a great application.
5. Aurora Feint - A very simple and addictive game.  Prior versions had tremendous stability issues which appear to have been resolved with the firmware update from Apple.

Honorable Mention

1. Bloomberg - Provides stock tracking and market news.  If you're into watching train wrecks, this is a great time to get the Bloomberg application.
2. Twitterific - If you're a fan of twitter you may find this to be a great utility for keeping up with Twitter posts.
3. Save Benji's - Ever been at a store and wanted to know if that sale price is really a great price?  Look up the product with Save Benji's and find out.
4. Bible - Of all the free Bible applications for the iPhone, I have found the LifeChurch.tv Bible to be the best one out there.  With the latest release you can now select certain versions to download for offline viewing.  Quick Tip:  By tapping More -> Settings you can change the icons on the shortcut bar at the bottom.  I removed the "Daily Read" and added "Books" which has made navigating to a specific passage a bit easier.

iPhone 2.1 now available (updated)

iPhone 2.1 is now available.  It took about 5 minutes to download and 15 minutes to install.  I have just installed it and have not yet noticed any changes.  If you have any questions on how to install the update, follow this link http://www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/ : 

 

My Experience (I will keep this updated over the next few days):

• Fewer dropped calls and fewer call failures.  If you still have significant issues, return your phone!
• Contacts are much more responsive
• Improved stability.
• No noticeable improvement in battery life (battery died around 6 PM today after moderately heavy use)

 

Apple’s story is that it will:

• Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
• Significantly better battery life for most users
• Dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
• Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• Faster installation of 3rd party applications
• Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third party applications
• Improved performance in text messaging
• Faster loading and searching of contacts
• Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

iPhone 3G First Impressions

(Last updated 9/11/08)

I have had the iPhone 3G for a couple months now and while I miss some of the features I lost from my Windows Mobile device, I am glad I made the move.  The iPhone has some tremendous strengths, but also has some pretty significant weaknesses.  Because of this, my recommendation is to carefully consider the weaknesses before deciding to purchase this phone.

The strength of the iPhone is doing a few things very well.  A few of the key strengths are listed below.

1. The user interface is what sets the iPhone apart.  Apple has given the iPhone a great user interface that makes for an improved user experience over other portable devices.  Emails are easier to read, applications are easier to navigate to and the web browser is the best I have seen on a mobile device.
2. Exchange Syncing works great with Calendar, Contacts, Emails and the Global Address List.
3. The Application Store provides a wide arrange of applications for use on the iPhone.  A number of these provide syncing between a web application you can use on your computer and an application that runs on your phone.  I will soon post another blog entry covering a few useful iPhone applications.
4. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, .PDF, Pages, Keynote, & Numbers documents can all be viewed on the iPhone.
5. Note:  MobileMe has no impact on Enterprise use!

Several weaknesses:

1. Poor battery life.  A car charger is a necessity with this phone and you may need to learn to turn off 3G, WiFi or Bluetooth depending on your usage.
2. No cut/copy and paste functionality.
3. Email cannot be moved or deleted without an internet connection (Edge, 3G or WiFi).  Sent Emails are stored in the Outbox until the phone has an internet connectivity.
4. Limited Search of content on phone.  No means of searching Emails or searching calendars.  Windows Mobile and Blackberry are far superior with regards to search.
5. No means to edit documents on the iPhone.
6. Limited Exchange syncing
   1. No task or notes syncing with Exchange.
   2. No syncing of categories
   3. Items can't be flagged on the iPhone
7. Touch keyboard is difficult to get used to.  Apple did a great job implementing the touch keyboard, but its still more difficult than a tactile keyboard for most people.
8. Only a limited number of apps switch from portrait to landscape viewing mode.  Would like to be able to view email in landscape mode, especially when replying.
9. I have to occasionally reboot my phone due to application crashes.  For a brand that sells itself on everything just working, this is a bit disappointing.
10. No Turn by Turn navigation.  It is rumored this will be coming, but at present it's not available.
11. If you have existing iPod/iPhone accessories that charge/play music, they may not charge the iPhone 3G.  In the past there were two ways of charging the iPod/iPhone.  Apple has eliminated one of those protocols, and unfortunately that was the protocol of choice for a number of accessories.  I have an iPod dock for my car and house and neither of them work with my iPhone 3G.
12. Less control of form and function than what one gets with a Windows Mobile device.

With all of those weaknesses, why did I choose the iPhone?  Apple majored on the majors and did those items very well.  They spent a great deal of time making sure the key items worked very well and they simply left out the other stuff.  At the end of the day I want a phone that works great as a phone, is easy to navigate, and allows me to stay on top of email.  This is where the iPhone excels and that is why it is my phone of choice at this time.