Apple iPhone Reviews, Themes, User Guides and Downloads - Know Your Cell

How to set a passcode lock on the iPhone 3G with iOS 4

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:40 +0000

We show you how to set a passcode lock to protect your personal data on the iPhone 3G running iOS 4

The expression "better safe than sorry" applies to many things when it comes to mobile security, and setting a passcode lock on your iPhone 3G is no exception.

Apple's iOS includes a feature that lets you block access to your iPhone until a password -- either numeric or alphanumeric -- is entered on the device.

It might be a bit annoying at first, but this minor nuisance is far better than having all of your personal data compromised in the event that your iPhone 3G is lost or stolen.

Follow these simple steps to set-up Passcode Lock:

Go into Settings
Open General
Scroll down and tap on Passcode Lock
1. The default passcode in iOS is four digits -- if you would like to set an alphanumeric passcode, slide the Simple Passcode toggle to Off
Now, select Turn Passcode On
Enter a four-digit passcode, or an alphanumeric passcode of any length
Re-type your passcode to confirm
Set Require Passcode to the desired time -- this will be the amount of idle time before your iPhone will require you to enter the passcode

That's it!

How to sync your iPhone 3G with iTunes

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:38 +0000

We show you how to sync your iPhone 3G with iTunes

When you first receive your new iPhone 3G, Apple requires that you use iTunes to activate the device. Syncing your iPhone's content with iTunes is completely optional, however.

There are many benefits to syncing your iPhone 3G data with iTunes, not the least of which is ensuring that all of your Contacts, Calendars, Email settings, Web page Bookmarks, Notes, Ringtones, Music, Photos and Videos, Podcasts, Books and Audio Books are backed up. This way, if something goes wrong and you lose data on your iPhone, a quick restore is all you need to recover your files.

To set-up syncing between your iPhone 3G and iTunes, follow these simple steps:

Connect the iPhone 3G to your PC and launch iTunes
Select iPhone Option in the iTunes sidebar
Now, select which things you’d like to have synced – so, music, email and contacts for example
Once you’ve done this, click Apply – it’s in the bottom right corner of iTunes
Wait for Syncing to complete

That's it!

We recommend that you sync your iPhone 3G with iTunes at least once a week. In the unfortunate event that data on your iPhone is lost, this will ensure that you have a recent backup file to restore with.

How to lock the orientation on the iPhone 3GS with iOS 4

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:23 +0000

We show you how to lock the orientation on your iPhone 3GS running iOS 4 to prevent accidental rotations

The iPhone 3GS running iOS 4 can automatically switch between portrait and landscape orientations in many areas of the iOS interface.

This can be tremendously useful. For example, many people find that viewing Web pages is better in portrait mode, but typing a URL into the address bar is much easier in landscape mode.

Follow these simple steps to lock the orientation of your iPhone 3GS:

From any screen, double-tap the home button
Scroll as far left as you can on the multitasking dock
The first symbol to the left will be a circular arrow
Select this to either lock or unlock the orientation of your iPhone 3GS

That's it!

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to set a passcode lock on the iPhone 3GS with iOS 4

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:20 +0000

We show you how to set a passcode lock to protect your personal data on the iPhone 3GS running iOS 4

The expression "better safe than sorry" applies to many things when it comes to mobile security, and setting a passcode lock on your iPhone 3GS is no exception.

Apple's iOS includes a feature that lets you block access to your iPhone until a password -- either numeric or alphanumeric -- is entered on the device.

It might be a bit annoying at first, but this minor nuisance is far better than having all of your personal data compromised in the event that your iPhone 3GS is lost or stolen.

Follow these simple steps to set-up Passcode Lock:

Go into Settings
Open General
Scroll down and tap on Passcode Lock
1. The default passcode in iOS is four digits -- if you would like to set an alphanumeric passcode, slide the Simple Passcode toggle to Off
Now, select Turn Passcode On
Enter a four-digit passcode, or an alphanumeric passcode of any length
Re-type your passcode to confirm
Set Require Passcode to the desired time -- this will be the amount of idle time before your iPhone will require you to enter the passcode

That's it!

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to sync your iPhone 3GS with iTunes

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:17 +0000

We show you how to sync your iPhone 3GS with iTunes

When you first receive your new iPhone 3GS, Apple requires that you use iTunes to activate the device. Syncing your iPhone's content with iTunes is completely optional, however.

There are many benefits to syncing your iPhone 3GS data with iTunes, not the least of which is ensuring that all of your Contacts, Calendars, Email settings, Web page Bookmarks, Notes, Ringtones, Music, Photos and Videos, Podcasts, Books and Audio Books are backed up. This way, if something goes wrong and you lose data on your iPhone, a quick restore is all you need to recover your files.

To set-up syncing between your iPhone 3GS and iTunes, follow these simple steps:

Connect the iPhone 3GS to your PC and launch iTunes
Select iPhone Option in the iTunes sidebar
Now, select which things you’d like to have synced – so, music, email and contacts for example
Once you’ve done this, click Apply – it’s in the bottom right corner of iTunes
Wait for Syncing to complete

That's it!

We recommend that you sync your iPhone 3GS with iTunes at least once a week. In the unfortunate event that data on your iPhone is lost, this will ensure that you have a recent backup file to restore with.

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to lock the orientation on the iPhone 4

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:04 +0000

We show you how to lock the orientation on your iPhone 4 to prevent accidental rotations

The iPhone 4 can automatically switch between portrait and landscape orientations in many areas of the iOS interface.

This can be tremendously useful. For example, many people find that viewing Web pages is better in portrait mode, but typing a URL into the address bar is much easier in landscape mode.

Follow these simple steps to lock the orientation of your iPhone 4:

From any screen, double-tap the home button
Scroll as far left as you can on the multitasking dock
The first symbol to the left will be a circular arrow
Select this to either lock or unlock the orientation of your iPhone 4

That's it!

How to set a passcode lock on the iPhone 4

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:02 +0000

We show you how to set a passcode lock to protect your personal data on the iPhone 4

The expression "better safe than sorry" applies to many things when it comes to mobile security, and setting a passcode lock on your iPhone 4 is no exception.

Apple's iOS includes a feature that lets you block access to your iPhone until a password -- either numeric or alphanumeric -- is entered on the device.

It might be a bit annoying at first, but this minor nuisance is far better than having all of your personal data compromised in the event that your iPhone 4 is lost or stolen.

Follow these simple steps to set-up Passcode Lock:

Go into Settings
Open General
Scroll down and tap on Passcode Lock
1. The default passcode in iOS is four digits -- if you would like to set an alphanumeric passcode, slide the Simple Passcode toggle to Off
Now, select Turn Passcode On
Enter a four-digit passcode, or an alphanumeric passcode of any length
Re-type your passcode to confirm
Set Require Passcode to the desired time -- this will be the amount of idle time before your iPhone will require you to enter the passcode

That's it!

How to sync your iPhone 4 with iTunes

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:00 +0000

We show you how to sync your iPhone 4 with iTunes

When you first receive your new iPhone 4, Apple requires that you use iTunes to activate the device. Syncing your iPhone's content with iTunes is completely optional, however.

There are many benefits to syncing your iPhone 4 data with iTunes, not the least of which is ensuring that all of your Contacts, Calendars, Email settings, Web page Bookmarks, Notes, Ringtones, Music, Photos and Videos, Podcasts, Books and Audio Books are backed up. This way, if something goes wrong and you lose data on your iPhone, a quick restore is all you need to recover your files.

To set-up syncing between your iPhone 4 and iTunes, follow these simple steps:

Connect the iPhone 4 to your PC and launch iTunes
Select iPhone Option in the iTunes sidebar
Now, select which things you’d like to have synced – so, music, email and contacts for example
Once you’ve done this, click Apply – it’s in the bottom right corner of iTunes
Wait for Syncing to complete

That's it!

We recommend that you sync your iPhone 4 with iTunes at least once a week. In the unfortunate event that data on your iPhone is lost, this will ensure that you have a recent backup file to restore with.

How to opt out of Apple iAd targeted advertising

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:45 +0000

We show iPad users how to opt out of Apple's iAd targeted advertising and help protect your privacy

Apple's iAd platform has the potential to make mobile advertisements infinitely more engaging to users. It also has the potential to make advertisers boatloads of cash.

While many of the features touted by iAd are quite impressive, users concerned with privacy may prefer to opt out of Apple's targeted advertisements.

Targeted ads uses unique data such as location to serve more relevant advertisements. While this might be attractive to some, others may wish to prevent having their locations shared in the name of advertising.

Luckily, Apple makes it very easy to opt out of targeted advertising.

Simply point your iPad browser to http://oo.apple.com.

That's it!

You'll now see an on-screen confirmation that you've opted-out, and a few nice bullet points about the benefits of targeted ads. Feel free to close your browser window to skip Apple's pleas.

How to opt out of Apple iAd targeted advertising

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:44 +0000

We show iPhone 3GS users how to opt out of Apple's iAd targeted advertising and help protect your privacy

Apple's iAd platform has the potential to make mobile advertisements infinitely more engaging to users. It also has the potential to make advertisers boatloads of cash.

While many of the features touted by iAd are quite impressive, users concerned with privacy may prefer to opt out of Apple's targeted advertisements.

Luckily, Apple makes it very easy to opt out of targeted advertising.

Simply point your iPhone 3GS browser to http://oo.apple.com.

That's it!

You'll now see an on-screen confirmation that you've opted-out, and a few nice bullet points about the benefits of targeted ads. Feel free to close your browser window to skip Apple's pleas.

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to opt out of Apple iAd targeted advertising

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:42 +0000

We show iPhone 3G users how to opt out of Apple's iAd targeted advertising and help protect your privacy

Apple's iAd platform has the potential to make mobile advertisements infinitely more engaging to users. It also has the potential to make advertisers boatloads of cash.

While many of the features touted by iAd are quite impressive, users concerned with privacy may prefer to opt out of Apple's targeted advertisements.

Luckily, Apple makes it very easy to opt out of targeted advertising.

Simply point your iPhone 3G browser to http://oo.apple.com.

That's it!

You'll now see an on-screen confirmation that you've opted-out, and a few nice bullet points about the benefits of targeted ads. Feel free to close your browser window to skip Apple's pleas.

How to opt out of Apple iAd targeted advertising

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:24 +0000

We show iPhone 4 users how to opt out of Apple's iAd targeted advertising and help protect your privacy

Apple's iAd platform has the potential to make mobile advertisements infinitely more engaging to users. It also has the potential to make advertisers boatloads of cash.

While many of the features touted by iAd are quite impressive, users concerned with privacy may prefer to opt out of Apple's targeted advertisements.

Luckily, Apple makes it very easy to opt out of targeted advertising.

Simply point your iPhone 4 browser to http://oo.apple.com.

That's it!

You'll now see an on-screen confirmation that you've opted-out, and a few nice bullet points about the benefits of targeted ads. Feel free to close your browser window to skip Apple's pleas.

Click here to view
our iPhone 4 photo gallery

Apple iPhone 4 review

Zach Epstein — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:55 +0000

We review the Apple iPhone 4 to see if it really is the greatest iPhone thus far

Love it or hate it, June is the most exciting time of the year in the mobile space for one reason and one reason alone: Apple, the most talked-about company in tech, unveils the newest installment in the ongoing iPhone saga.

Sure, there are plenty of other great smartphones launching this summer, but none attract attention, adoration, fear and loathing like the iPhone.

Apple's new smartphone was hardly a surprise this time around, as a string of leaks that began with a blog purchasing a stolen iPhone 4 prototype spoiled the surprise in epic fashion.

The iPhone 4 has since been poked, prodded, photographed, video taped, torn apart, analyzed, scrutinized, idolized and criticized.

But who are we kidding? This is the new Apple iPhone we're talking about here -- the latest version of the most highly sought-after smartphone on the planet.

The leaks had no impact on the hype surrounding Apple's latest creation, and there was quite a bit of excitement as over 600,000 pre-orders were taken on the first day of pre-order availability alone.

But can the iPhone 4 possibly live up to the hype and carry Apple's smartphone series a sizeable step forward?

The Outside

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And when I first saw the iPhone 4 back in April, I thought it was hideous.

I was always of the opinion that Apple's first-generation iPhone was its best design by a wide margin. The thin frame, the smooth surfaces, the combination of metal and glass...it all came together to form a gorgeous and unique device that looked nothing like any cell phone before it.

Then came the iPhone 3G. The brushed metal on the back of the case was tossed aside and replaced by glossy plastic. In my eyes, it took a huge step backwards in terms of design. It looked more like a phone and less like something special.

The iPhone 4 seen in early leaks appeared to be another big step toward more common, humdrum smartphone designs seen in a variety of competitive products. The back looked like flat plastic, the bezel looked like silver plastic (which it may have been on the early prototype) and I found the overall design to be a bit boring.

The release version has completely changed my mind.

Don't call it a comeback -- but when it comes to design and build, the iPhone 4 makes each model before it look and feel like a toy.

It also feels much more like a luxury item than any iPhone before it. In fact, it's easily the most solid and elegant cell phone in the world, discounting ultra-high end offerings from the likes of Vertu and Mobiado.

Competitive "high end" offerings like the EVO 4G, DROID Incredible and DROID X can't even come close to comparing to the new iPhone where build is concerned. Treated glass and stainless steel make the iPhone 4 extremely rigid and there is nary a wiggle to be found or a creak to be heard.

Actually, I'm not quite sure how I'll go back to using "normal" phones now. Great devices like the EVO 4G, DROID Incredible, Palm Pre and so on, are still fantastic when it comes to function but they all feel like cheap toys now.

The bar has been raised.

This is the start of a trend that will push cell phone manufacturing to the next level. A large group of consumers will come to expect this caliber of form to match their smartphones' function.

As I touched upon, iPhone 4 users -- and there will be tens of millions of them before you know it -- will have a very, very tough time moving away from the iPhone 4. The difference in build and feel will simply be too great.

It would be like ditching a top-of-the-line Mercedes for a Scion. The Scion still gets you where you need to go, but it doesn't feel anywhere near as solid or sophisticated while it's getting you there.

Even when new, exciting, feature-rich smartphones are brought to market, they'll have to look the part and adopt sturdier materials before the bulk of iPhone users will ever consider switching. Thin plastics and creaky cases just won't cut it any longer for this crowd.

In terms of design, I don't want to describe the new iPhone design as more manly, but it definitely warrants such a descriptor when compared to the 3G and 3GS. Older models were smooth and shapely while the iPhone 4 is sharp and much more linear.

Since the device is now flat and only 9.3mm thick, the iPhone 4 feels much thinner in the hand than previous models. It has a great weight to it though, and it will obviously slide comfortably into just about any pocket or purse.

As we've known since the initial leak, the iPhone 4 features a slightly smaller display compared to earlier generations, though the diagonal measurement remains at 3.5-inches. In real world use, the difference is negligible. And what the display lacks in size, it makes up for in resolution.

The updated iPhone display is, in a word, amazing. I mentioned in my iPad review that the Samsung Galaxy S was the first phone I had seen that bested Apple's iPhone display. Well, the Galaxy S isn't even out in the U.S. yet and we've already seesawed.

Apple's "Retina Display" is crisp and vibrant, and the massive number of pixels Apple crammed in there do an amazing job of displaying the UI, videos or anything else you send their way. The clarity is remarkable.

Left, iPhone 3GS display || Right, iPhone 4 display
image source: Engadget.com

The iPhone 4 display also retains Apple's oleophobic coating to provide a level of oil resistance. You'll still smudge the screen up every time you touch it, but a few quick swipes on your shirt or pants will dispense with nearly all of the grease.

It's also still the most responsive touchscreen on the planet as well. The comparison many use to describe interaction with the iPhone's screen is the paper on a table scenario:

Place a single sheet of paper on a table. Now place your finger in the center of that paper and move it around. The paper shifts direction on the table with each and every movement, as if glued to your finger. The point of contact between your finger and the piece of paper never changes, regardless of how fast you move.

Apple hasn't truly achieved an experience that mirrors this scenario yet, but there is absolutely no question that it comes the closest.

Simply put, it's the best cell phone screen on the market.

The Inside

For my money, here's where the real fun begins.

The iPhone 4 ushers in the newly renamed iOS 4.0 and as I stated in a feature entitled Apple attacks naysayers with upcoming fourth-gen iPhone, this phone and OS combination is a direct response to iPhone critics in many ways. It's a one-two punch like none other.

Almost all of the remaining major gripes are covered in this new iOS build. Most importantly, of course, is a solution for third-party app multitasking.

While the OS still does not allow apps to run background processes, it does provide improved application state-saving along with access to seven background APIs that handle the bulk of functions desired by smartphone users (background music streaming, GPS, uploads and downloads, etc).

To accommodate these new background processes, which of course result in more resource and power consumption, Apple has tossed in its 1GHz A4 CPU and a bigger battery.

I've only been using the iPhone 4 for a short period of time so I obviously can't comment on battery life. The beefier processor definitely gives the iPhone 4 plenty of pep though, as it somehow seems even more responsive than the 3GS, though only marginally when compared to the 3GS running iOS 3.1.3.

Then again, the iPhone 3GS is a mess when running iOS 4.

While a 1GHz processor is nothing new in the mobile space -- we might even see speedier offerings in the next six to nine months -- it's important to remember that numbers only tell half the story.

Because iOS 4.0 continues to limit the amount of resources eaten up at any given time, iPhone 4 performance devastates most other 1GHz smartphones in terms of responsiveness and overall user experience.

Apps open, close and switch with the blink of an eye, and I've yet to see the iPhone 4 stutter or stammer a single time. It's impossible to make these claims about other 1GHz phones like the Nexus One, EVO 4G or DROID Incredible.

Of all the qualms iOS 4.0 alleviates, however, one of my biggest still remains. The iPhone notification system is still terrible. It's disruptive. It's illogical. It's annoying. It's abrasive. It's abysmal. It's just plain stupid.

I have covered this issue several times in the past, most recently in a feature entitled Here's what Apple missed with iPhone OS 4.0.

Complaints have been sung far and wide, but the basic idea is that iPhone notifications are disruptive. They're as disruptive as notifications can possibly be on a smartphone. A message pops up in the center of the display and the user is unable to perform any other action on the device until the notification is dismissed.

Make no mistake about it: Apple knows exactly how horrendous its notification system is, and it is undoubtedly working on a revised solution that will be introduced some time in the future. I just wish it was a bit higher on Apple's list of priorities.

Continued...

Apple iPhone 4 hands-on gallery

Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:35 +0000

The iPhone 4 is easily the most photogenic smartphone we've ever handled - check out our high-resolution photo gallery

Apple's new iPhone 4 is, simply put, absolutely gorgeous.

It's unbelievably thin, ridiculously solid and it could very well be the most impressive piece of hardware Apple has ever created.

New features include a 960 x 640 pixel "Retina Display", a front-facing camera for video chat, a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 720p HD recording capability and Apple's 1 GHz A4 processor.

Click any image to enlarge

While we put the finishing touches on our full iPhone 4 review, sit back and enjoy this collection of high-resoution images.

Click here for our full iPhone 4 review

How to use the iPhone 3GS's camera in iOS 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:37 +0000

We show you how to use the iPhone 3GS's new camera features

The iPhone 3GS features a 3-megapixel camera with new features brought about by iOS 4, such as the ability to zoom.

We show you how to use these features in our tutorial:

How to use tap-to-focus
Although the iPhone's camera features auto-focus, you can also choose what to focus on using tap-to-focus.

Tap the iPhone's screen to find your focal point, such as a person in the background rather than the foreground.

A green box will appear to confirm that point has ben selected and is now in focus.

This method also automatically adjusts exposure and white balance.

How to use zoom
The iPhone 3GS's camera now features a 5x digital zoom. To zoom into a shot, press the volume up and down keys to zoom in or out of a picture.

Alternatively, an on-screen zoom slider will appear if you tap anywhere on the display.

How to switch to video mode
Along the bottom bar of the iPhone's camera screen, you'll see a slider to switch to video mode.

Simply swipe across to activate it.

How to share photos
You can share photos direct from the camera app on the iPhone 3GS.

Once you've taken a photo, tap the share icon and you're given the option of emailing a photo, sending it by MMS, sending to MobileMe, Assign to a contact or use as a wallpaper.

Tap on one of these options and your photo will be sent to a friend or a service along with geo-location data if enabled.

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to use folders on the iPhone 3GS

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:36 +0000

We show you how to use home screen folders on the iPhone 3GS

The iPhone 3GS and iOS 4 supports home screen folders, allowing you to organize your home screen and group relevant applications together in a single folder.

This is a great advantage, because there is limited space across the iPhone's home screens.

Here's how to create and use folders on the iPhone 3GS:

How to create a folder on the iPhone

Touch and hold an app until it wiggles
Drag the app onto another application to create a folder
You can put up to 12 applications into any one iPhone folder

How to launch an application from a folder

Identify the folder that houses the app you want to open
Tap on the folder
Tap on the application you want to open within the folder
Alternatively, use the Spotlight search function to find the application and open it from there

How to rename a folder

Tap on a folder
Select the text bar at the top of the dock that will appear
Type a new name to rename the folder, then tap Done

How to remove items from a folder

Tap on a folder to open it
Tap and hold one of the items in the folder
Tap on the 'x' in the corner of the item
The item will be deleted from the folder

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to use multitasking on the iPhone 3GS

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:35 +0000

We show you how to use the new multitasking capabilities in iOS 4

The iPhone 3GS can now be updated to iOS 4.0, the first version of iPhone operating system to support multitasking for third-party apps.

Note: For third-party apps to allow state-saving, they'll have to support iOS 4. All stock Apple apps support state-saving.

The home screen button now operates as the multitasking button.

All you have to do to switch between applications is double tap the home screen button (the button below the screen) twice and up will pop a dock displaying all of your recently-used apps.

Simply tap on the app that you want to switch to and you can carry on where you last left off.

To view all of the open applications, you can slide your finger along the dock.

You can also use VoIP apps such as Skype while you're using another application. Simply double tap the home screen when on a VoIP call and you can check your emails or read the latest news headlines without disconnecting.

If you're waiting for a page to load in Safari, you can just double tap the home screen button and switch to another app without Safari stopping.

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to add website shortcuts to your iPhone 3GS home screen

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:33 +0000

We show you how to add website shortcuts to your iPhone 3GS's home screens

The iPhone 3GS with iOS 4 features a revamped home screen compared to older models, including a new dock graphic, the ability to create folders and the ability to set a wallpaper.

Even though a lot as changed, however, Apple still gives users the option to add website shortcuts to their home screens.

Here's how to do it:

Open Safari
Navigate to the website you want to add to your home screen
Press the '+' icon
Select 'Add to home screen'

When the shortcut has been added to your iPhone's home screen, you can move it around as you can with app shortcuts.

Just press and hold the website icon and drag it to where you want it to appear. Tap the home key to set it in position.

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to use iMovie on the iPhone 3GS

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:32 +0000

We show you how to edit videos using iMovie on the iPhone 3GS

The Apple iPhone 3GS features video recording capable of capturing good quality video -- though it obviously can't compare to the HD video quality of the iPhone 4.

Despite SD resolution, those video files can get large pretty fast, so the ability to edit movies is paramount. As was announced at WWDC, Apple has made an iOS version of iMovie that can satisfy all of your basic video editing needs.

In this guide, we give you a rundown of some essential functions:

iPhone iMovie basics

Open up iMovie and either choose an existing video from your iPhone or record a new video by tapping the record button.
Once you have the video imported into iMovie, the clips for each project will appear at the bottom of the screen, whether in landscape or portrait mode.
To trim clips, you can just drag your finger to control the pins on either side of the clip.
To zoom into the timeline, pinch your fingers together. To zoom out, pinch fingers apart.
If you want to quickly scroll through your video, slide your finger faster along the timeline.
To give your movie a theme, head to the themes sub menu and tap one of them to choose it.

Adding transitions to your iMovie masterpiece

There are a whole load of transitions you can apply to your iMovie project, that all appear in the transitions sub menu. They include cross dissolve and theme transitions.

Select the transitions menu and then choose a transition.
Change the duration of the transition by selecting a duration.

Adding photos to your iMovie project

Select your iMovie library where all of your videos, photos and music is stored.
Tap on the photos tab
Select the photo album
Select the photo and drag it to where you want the photo to appear in your timeline

Adding music to your iMovie project

Select the iMovie library
Tap on the music tab
Your iTunes music as well as pre installed music will appear
Choose a track and it will be added to your movie. You can also trim the clip as you would with video to fit it where you want to

Adding a title to an iMovie project

Double tap on the clip
Select Title Style
Select which of the titles you'd like to implement
Type in the title using the keyboard
The geo-location will also be added, taking the information from where the video was recorded

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to use FaceTime on the iPhone 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:12 +0000

We show you how to use the iPhone 4's FaceTime video calling feature

FaceTime is the iPhone 4's video calling function and for the time being, it is the only video chat feature currently supported by the iPhone 4.

The iPhone 4 features two cameras - one on the front for video calling and a more advanced one on the back for taking photos. You can use both of these cameras for making FaceTime video calls.

Here, we show you how to make a FaceTime call, switch to a FaceTime call and switch cameras during a FaceTime call.

How to make a new call with FaceTime

Select the Phone icon from the home screen
Select a contact
Select the FaceTime icon from the contact's phonebook entry
When the person you're calling accepts the FaceTime invitation, the video call will start

How to switch from voice to FaceTime call

Make a voice call by selecting the voice call button from the contacts screen
While you're on the voice call, tap the FaceTime icon on the screen (it looks like a video camera)
The call will switch to a FaceTime call when the person on the other end accepts the FaceTime invitation

Note that this will end the voice call. FaceTime calls do not use voice minutes.

How to switch between the front and back camera on a FaceTime call

Make a call using the FaceTime functionality (Steps 1-4 above)
Tap the switch camera icon in the bottom right of the screen
The camera view will automatically switch to using the rear-mounted camera

How to use iMovie on the iPhone 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:11 +0000

We show you how to edit videos using iMovie on the iPhone 4

The Apple iPhone 4 features 720p HD video recording capable of capturing stunning video at 30 fps.

Those HD video files can get large pretty fast, however, so the ability to edit movies is paramount. As was announced at WWDC, Apple has made an iOS version of iMovie that can satisfy all of your basic video editing needs.

In this guide, we give you a rundown of some essential functions:

iPhone iMovie basics

Open up iMovie and either choose an existing video from your iPhone or record a new video by tapping the record button.
Once you have the video imported into iMovie, the clips for each project will appear at the bottom of the screen, whether in landscape or portrait mode.
To trim clips, you can just drag your finger to control the pins on either side of the clip.
To zoom into the timeline, pinch your fingers together. To zoom out, pinch fingers apart.
If you want to quickly scroll through your video, slide your finger faster along the timeline.
To give your movie a theme, head to the themes sub menu and tap one of them to choose it.

Adding transitions to your iMovie masterpiece

There are a whole load of transitions you can apply to your iMovie project, that all appear in the transitions sub menu. They include cross dissolve and theme transitions.

Select the transitions menu and then choose a transition.
Change the duration of the transition by selecting a duration.

Adding photos to your iMovie project

Select your iMovie library where all of your videos, photos and music is stored.
Tap on the photos tab
Select the photo album
Select the photo and drag it to where you want the photo to appear in your timeline

Adding music to your iMovie project

Select the iMovie library
Tap on the music tab
Your iTunes music as well as pre installed music will appear
Choose a track and it will be added to your movie. You can also trim the clip as you would with video to fit it where you want to

Adding a title to an iMovie project

Double tap on the clip
Select Title Style
Select which of the titles you'd like to implement
Type in the title using the keyboard
The geo-location will also be added, taking the information from where the video was recorded

How to add website shortcuts to your iPhone 4 home screen

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:10 +0000

We show you how to add website shortcuts to your iPhone 4's home screens

The iPhone 4 with iOS 4 features a revamped home screen compared to older models, including a new dock graphic, the ability to create folders and the ability to set a wallpaper.

Even though a lot as changed, however, Apple still gives users the option to add website shortcuts to their home screens.

Here's how to do it:

Open Safari
Navigate to the website you want to add to your home screen
Press the '+' icon
Select 'Add to home screen'

When the shortcut has been added to your iPhone's home screen, you can move it around as you can with app shortcuts.

Just press and hold the website icon and drag it to where you want it to appear. Tap the home key to set it in position.

How to use multitasking on the iPhone 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:09 +0000

We show you how to use the new multitasking capabilities in iOS 4

The iPhone 4 ships with iOS 4.0, the first version of iPhone operating system to support multitasking for third-party apps.

You can also use this feature if you've upgraded your iPhone 3GS to iPhone iOS 4.

Note: For third-party apps to allow state-saving, they'll have to support iOS 4. All stock Apple apps support state-saving.

The home screen button now operates as the multitasking button.

All you have to do to switch between applications is double tap the home screen button (the button below the screen) twice and up will pop a dock displaying all of your recently-used apps.

Simply tap on the app that you want to switch to and you can carry on where you last left off.

To view all of the open applications, you can slide your finger along the dock.

If you're waiting for a page to load in Safari, you can just double tap the home screen button and switch to another app without Safari stopping.

How to use folders on the iPhone 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:07 +0000

We show you how to use home screen folders on the iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 and iOS 4 supports home screen folders, allowing you to organize your home screen and group relevant applications together in a single folder.

This is a great advantage, because there is limited space across the iPhone's home screens.

Here's how to create and use folders on the iPhone 4:

How to create a folder on the iPhone

Touch and hold an app until it wiggles
Drag the app onto another application to create a folder
You can put up to 12 applications into any one iPhone folder

How to launch an application from a folder

Identify the folder that houses the app you want to open
Tap on the folder
Tap on the application you want to open within the folder
Alternatively, use the Spotlight search function to find the application and open it from there

How to rename a folder

Tap on a folder
Select the text bar at the top of the dock that will appear
Type a new name to rename the folder, then tap Done

How to remove items from a folder

Tap on a folder to open it
Tap and hold one of the items in the folder
Tap on the 'x' in the corner of the item
The item will be deleted from the folder

How to use the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel camera

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:06 +0000

We show you how to use the iPhone 4's 5-megapixel camera

The iPhone 4 features a 5-megapixel camera with extra features, such as the ability to zoom. It also features an LED flash to accommodate low light situations.

We show you how to use these features in our tutorial:

How to use tap-to-focus
Although the iPhone's 5-megapixel camera features auto-focus, you can also choose what to focus on using tap-to-focus.

Tap the iPhone's screen to find your focal point, such as a person in the background rather than the foreground.

A green box will appear to confirm that point has ben selected and is now in focus.

This method also automatically adjusts exposure and white balance.

How to use zoom
The iPhone 4's camera features a 5x digital zoom. To zoom into a shot, press the volume up and down keys to zoom in or out of a picture.

Alternatively, an on-screen zoom slider will appear if you tap anywhere on the display.

How to use the flash
Although the iPhone 4 features an illumination sensor to automatically sense if there's enough light to take a photo or not, you can also manually switch it on by tapping on the flash icon that appears in the bottom left of the iPhone 4's screen in landscape mode, or top left in portrait mode.

How to use the secondary camera
The 5-megapixel camera is set as the default camera, but you can switch to the VGA camera on the front by tapping the camera switch icon.

This is situated in the top left if you're in landscape mode, or top right in portrait mode.

How to switch to video mode
Along the bottom bar of the iPhone's camera screen, you'll see a slider to switch to video mode.

Simply swipe across to activate it.

How to share photos
You can share photos direct from the camera app on the iPhone 4.

Once you've taken a photo, tap the share icon and you're given the option of emailing a photo, sending it by MMS, sending to MobileMe, Assign to a contact or use as a wallpaper.

Tap on one of these options and your photo will be sent to a friend or a service along with geo-location data if enabled.

How to record HD videos with the iPhone 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:04 +0000

We show you how to use the iPhone 4's HD video recording functionality

The iPhone 4 is the first iPhone to support HD video recording. It records video in 720p at approximately 30 frames per second.

Here, we show you how to use the key features of the iPhone's video camera:

How to use tap-to-focus
The iPhone 4 features tap-to-focus when using both the camera and the video camera.

To use tap-to-focus, simply tap the part of the shot that you want in focus and the iPhone will automatically adjust the lighting to ensure that part is in focus and crisp.

If you want to change the focus while recording, just tap another part of the scene to change the focus.

How to get the most out of your recorded videos
You can download iMovie to edit all of your iPhone 4's video. Take a look at how to use it in our guide to iMovie on the iPhone.

How to share video on the iPhone 4
Not only can you send pre-recorded videos as an attachment in an email, but you can also record a video clip while composing an email and it'll automatically attach when you stop recording.

To do this, simply tap the camera icon to record, or select a video from the camera roll to attach a previously recorded video.

The iPhone 4 also gives you the option of sharing video on MobileMe and YouTube. From the video gallery, tap the share icon and then select how you want to share it.

How to change the wallpaper on the iPhone 3GS running iOS 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:39 +0000

We show you how to choose and set the wallpaper on your home screen and lock screen

iOS 4.0 is the first version of Apple's mobile operating system that allows you to set a home screen wallpaper on the iPhone and iPod touch.

You can choose your wallpaper from Apple's stock images included with the OS, or you can select an image from your Photo Roll or any image folder on your iPhone.

Selecting your wallpaper couldn't be easier -- we show you how in seven simple steps:

On your home screen, tap Settings
Tap Wallpaper
Tap the image depicting your wallpapers
Choose the Wallpaper folder to select one of Apple's stock images, or choose one of your image folders
Tap on the image you would like to set as your wallpaper
Move and scale the image to your liking, then tap Set
Choose Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen or Set Both

That's it!

You can also browse your images from with the Photos app to set your wallpaper, but then you will not have access to Apple's stock wallpaper images.

Click here for our full Apple iPhone 3GS review

How to change the wallpaper on the iPhone 4

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:35 +0000

We show you how to choose and set the wallpaper on your home screen and lock screen

iOS 4.0 is the first version of Apple's mobile operating system that allows you to set a home screen wallpaper on the iPhone and iPod touch.

You can choose your wallpaper from Apple's stock images included with the OS, or you can select an image from your Photo Roll or any image folder on your iPhone.

Selecting your wallpaper couldn't be easier -- we show you how in seven simple steps:

On your home screen, tap Settings
Tap Wallpaper
Tap the image depicting your wallpapers
Choose the Wallpaper folder to select one of Apple's stock images, or choose one of your image folders
Tap on the image you would like to set as your wallpaper
Move and scale the image to your liking, then tap Set
Choose Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen or Set Both

That's it!

You can also browse your images from with the Photos app to set your wallpaper, but then you will not have access to Apple's stock wallpaper images.

How to restore your old apps, files and settings to your new iPhone 4

Sat, 12 Jun 2010 14:38 +0000

We show you how to get all of your apps, files and settings onto your new iPhone 4 from your old iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone

Congratulations! You're one of millions of giddy iPhone fans who purchased Apple's latest and greatest offering, the iPhone 4.

If you're upgrading from an older model -- the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or first-generation iPhone -- you'll be happy to learn that it's extremely easy to move all of your current apps, music, movies, photos, files and settings from your old iPhone to your shiny new iPhone 4.

In fact, thanks to the iTunes backup and restore feature, getting all of your data onto your new handset can be accomplished in a few quick clicks.

Get ready

First, it's a good idea to ensure you have the latest version of iTunes installed.

If you're using a Windows PC; open iTunes and click on Help in the top menu, then select Check for Update.
If you're on a Mac; open iTunes and click on iTunes in the top menu, then select Check for Updates...

Now simply follow the on-screen prompts to update iTunes.

Before you move all of your data over to the iPhone 4, it's also a very good idea to ensure that your current iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone has the latest iOS version available.

Open iTunes on your Windows or Mac PC
With your iPhone powered on, connect it to your computer using the supplied USB cable
After a few seconds, your iPhone will appear in the middle of the left-hand iTunes column under Devices -- click on it
1. If your iPhone currently has an older version of iOS, you should automatically be prompted to update
2. If you are not prompted; click Check for Update, then follow the on-screen prompts to update iOS
Now, simply follow the on-screen prompts to update iOS on your iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone

Back up your current iPhone

Your iPhone was likely backed up during the update process, but you should create another backup file now that your iOS version has been updated.

With your iPhone still connected to your computer, right-click it in the left-hand iTunes column under Devices
Select Back Up

Your iPhone will now be backed up and all apps, games, music, movies, settings and other date will be saved to the new backup file

Set up and restore your new iPhone 4

Here's the really easy part. When you first connect your new iPhone 4 to iTunes, you will be walked through the setup process.

Near the end of the setup process, you will see the following message appear:

An iPhone has been previously synced with this computer.

Beneath this message, select Restore from the backup of: and choose your old iPhone by name from the drop-down menu.

Click Continue, then follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process.

That's it!

Your iPhone 4 will now be restored and all of the apps, games, music, movies, photos, settings and other files from your old iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G or iPhone will be loaded onto your new device.

How to add U.S. holidays to your iPhone 4 calendar

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:34 +0000

We show you how to add U.S. holidays and any other subscribed calendar to your iPhone 4 calendar in just a few easy steps

Do you find yourself constantly forgetting Mother's Day each year? Are you always confusing Labor Day with Memorial Day? Or perhaps you're afraid you might miss out on some local Cinco de Mayo parties?

Apple provides a great feature in its iPhone 4 Calendar that lets you subscribe to any public Internet Calendar. To make things easier, Apple also provides its own Internet Calendar containing all of the U.S. holidays each year.

Here, we show you how to add Apple's calendar of U.S. holidays to your iPhone 3GS:

Tap the Settings icon
Tap Mail, Contacts, Calendars
Scroll down and tap Add Account...
Tap Other
Tap Add Subscribed Calendar
In the server field, input: ical.mac.com/ical/US32Holidays.ics - then tap Next
On the next screen, change the name of the calendar under "Description" if you choose - then tap Save

That's it!

You'll now find each and every U.S. holiday within the iPhone 4 Calendar app, and they'll appear just like any other appointment.

This procedure can also be used to add any other public Internet Calendar to your iPhone 4 calendar. You can find a list of Apple's here, and there are many more available on various sites around the Web.

How to set up Google Voice voicemail on the iPhone 4

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:32 +0000

We show you how to forward unanswered calls to Google Voice and have transcripts of your voicemails delivered via email or SMS

Google Voice provides a wide variety of functions to users, but many people aren't looking to take advantage of all the features Google Voice affords.

Even if simultaneous ringing and free SMS don't appeal to you, Google Voice can still be used as a great replacement for your carrier's standard voicemail system. What's more, Google Voice offers a free voicemail transcription service that uses voice-to-text to transcribe messages. Voicemail transcriptions can then be delivered to you via email or SMS.

In this guide, we show you how to set up Google Voice voicemail on your iPhone 4 and configure the attached voicemail transcription service.

Activate Google Voice voicemail on your iPhone 4

Log in to the Google Voice website and click Settings in the top right corner
Locate the phone you wish to activate voicemail for and click Activate Google voicemail on this phone
On your iPhone 3GS, dial *004*xxx-xxx-xxxx# (where xxx-xxx-xxxx is your Google Voice phone number) and press Call
A forwarding confirmation will be displayed on your screen
On the Google Voice website, click Done

Configure voicemail transcriptions and delivery

Log in to the Google Voice website and click Settings in the top right corner
Click on the Voicemail & SMS tab
Next to "Voicemail Notifications", check the box next to Email the message to and select an email address to receive your voicemail transcriptions via email
Beneath "Send a text (SMS) message to", check the box next to each cell phone on which you want to receive SMS voicemail transcriptions
Next to Voicemail Transcripts, check the box next to Transcribe Voicemails
Click the Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen

That's it! Google Voice will now replace your AT&T voicemail, and it will deliver transcriptions of each message via email or SMS.

If at any point you wish to deactivate Google Voice voicemail, simply dial #002# on your iPhone 3GS and press Call. This will deactivate all call forwarding and the iPhone 4 will use the standard AT&T voicemail system once again.

How to get iPhone push notifications using your favorite Twitter app

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:30 +0000

We show you how to enable push notifications using Twitter for iPhone, Seesmic, Tweetdeck, Echofon or your favorite Twitter app on the iPhone 4

There are dozens of fantastic Twitter apps for the iPhone 4, but many of them omit support for push notifications for one reason or another. Examples include very popular Twitter apps like Twitter for iPhone, Seesmic, Tweetdeck and Echofon (free version).

If you've grown to love a certain Twitter app on your iPhone 4 but wish you could make use of push notifications, there's no need to switch to a new app.

Boxcar, a great application for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, allows you to enable Twitter push notifications for free! What's more, Boxcar can be configured to automatically open your favorite Twitter app automatically when a push notification is engaged.

Here, we show you how to install Boxcar and configure it for use with your favorite Twitter app.

Setup

Download Boxcar [iTunes link] from the App Store
Once installed, launch Boxcar by tapping on its icon
If this is your first time using Boxcar, create an account by following the on-screen instructions -- otherwise log in
Tap the plus sign in the top right corner to get started
Under "Add a Service", tap Twitter Account (while each service has a fee listed next to it, your first service is free)
Sign into Twitter by entering your username and password

Configuration

Once your account is set up, the next screen allows you to configure settings
1. The first section specifies which types of messages you would like push notifications for: Timeline, Mentions, Retweets and/or Direct Messages
2. The next section allows you to choose an alert sound, enable or disable icon badges and toggle private alerts
When you're done adjusting settings, tap Save in the top right corner
On the Services screen, tap the field under "Quiet Time"
1. If you would like to disable alerts between certain hours, adjust these settings and tap Save
Back on the Services screen, tap the field under "Open Twitter Notifications Using"
Now you can choose which app you would like to open when you engage a Boxcar push notification -- options include Twitter, Seesmic, Tweetie, Twitterrific, Echofon Pro and Lite, Twittelator, Twinkle, SimplyTweet, Twitterena, Birdfeed, Hahlo, TweetDeck, TwitBird Pro, TwitBird Premium and TwitBird Free!

That's it! You will now get instant push notifications for each message you receive as configured in step 1 under Configuration above. When you engage a notification (tap View or Slide to View), your favorite Twitter app will automatically launch.

How to get a refund for an iPhone app purchase

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:18 +0000

We show you how to get a refund from Apple in the event an iPhone app isn't up to snuff

Did you just purchase an iPhone app that doesn't work as described? Perhaps you're using an app with bugs and the developer is no longer supporting it.

Apple seemingly does its best to make the App Store refund procedure a bit of a mystery, but luckily Know Your Cell has put together a simple guide that will help you get your money back in the event an iPhone app developer just isn't providing the support needed to remedy your issue.

First, open iTunes and select the iTunes Store link in the left-hand column
Near the top right corner, click the arrow next to your user name (email address) and then select Account

About half way down the screen, click the Purchase History button

In the bottom portion of the screen, you will see your App Store purchase history -- click the Report a Problem button

Locate the iTunes invoice with the application you would like a refund for, and click the Report a Problem link

Fill out the form that follows and be sure to be as detailed as possible -- when finished, click Next

If your reason for requesting a refund is valid, Apple should respond within a few days and process your refund within a week. Remember to not abuse this process -- when Apple refunds your money, the developer's commission is lost as well.

How to monitor MiFi usage on your iPhone 4

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:06 +0000

We show you how to monitor a Sprint or Verizon Wireless MiFi data session from your iPhone 4

The Novatel MiFi is currently available from both Verizon Wireless and Sprint in the United States. The device, however, comes with a data plan that is limited to 5GB of usage per month before per-MB penalties are incurred. There are several ways to monitor your MiFi usage, but we show you how to monitor MiFi data when it is being used by your iPhone 4.

Download and install the MiFi application from the iTunes App Store (figure 1)
Power on your MiFi and connect your iPhone to its wireless network
Launch the MiFi application and you are presented with data on the current session (figure 2)

While this will not show you your total monthly usage to date, it will certainly help you to see how much data you are using per session from your iPhone 4.

How to improve the battery life of your Apple iPhone 4

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:55 +0000

We give you 15 ways to help ensure your Apple iPhone 4 is still ticking at the end of the day

The iPhone 4 and accompanying iOS 4 introduce tons of new functionality that squashes many of the problems people had with older iPhone models. Now that those qualms are behind us, it is safe to say that the most common complaint among iPhone 4 owners is sub-par battery life.

Love it or hate it, iPhone owners are forced to pay attention to battery life more so than owners of some other smartphones.

There are several measures that can be taken to drastically improve the battery performance -- some at little or no cost to usability or convenience.

1. Charge responsibly

Most people tend to get into the habit of charging phones overnight. While there is certainly much debate regarding whether or not charging habits affect battery life and longevity, many experts agree that over-charging a Lithium Ion battery can definitely reduce its performance over time.

In other words, over time a full charge will not last as long for someone who regularly leaves his or her iPhone 4 plugged in overnight as it would for someone who unplugs the iPhone 4 once it is fully charged.

As a general rule, try to wait until your phone battery is nearly empty before charging it. Once your battery is full, unplug it from its charger. Getting into this habit is good for your battery and it is good for the environment as well. The battery in the iPhone 4 charges in about an hour, so there is certainly no reason to leave your handset plugged in overnight while you sleep.

2. Get a second charger

This may seem like common sense to some, but buying a second charger for your office is a great way to help ensure that your iPhone 4 never runs out of juice. Some people carry one charger between their home and job but it's just too easy to forget it while rushing.

A second iPhone 4 charger can be purchased on eBay for as little as $7 shipped. Car chargers are just as inexpensive, so those who spend a fair amount of time on the road would be well served to consider one as well.

3. Get a portable charger

Frequent flyers and those who spend a good deal of time on the go with infrequent access to a wall outlet should certainly consider purchasing a portable charger. The most common form of portable charger consists of a battery pack, a cable and a variety of connector tips to ensure compatibility with a wide variety of devices. While just about every option these days includes an iPhone/iPod touch adapter tip, two recommendations are the USB TurboCharger 3400 by Proporta (3400 mAh) and the Solar Charger by Devotec Industries (1800 mAh).

4. Adjust display brightness

A very simple tweak that will have a dramatic impact on iPhone 4 battery life is decreasing the display brightness. Apple uses fantastic displays in its portable devices but they require a significant amount of power to illuminate them. The good news however, is that they are still extremely viewable when the brightness is turned down. Try lowering the brightness in Settings -> Brightness to between 60% - 75%, the lower the better of course.

5. Adjust auto-lock

Further to number 4 above, the less time your display is on, the better. In Settings -> General -> Auto-Lock, choose the 1 Minute option.

6. Turn off Bluetooth when not in use

Bluetooth headsets and car kits are fantastically convenient but when they're not in use, Bluetooth should be turned off. Bluetooth on the iPhone 4 is constantly searching for a new device to connect with when it is not in use and unfortunately, there is no way to turn the search feature off. While powering a Bluetooth radio takes a minimal amount of energy, the constant searching will indeed dramatically reduce battery life.

7. Adjust data fetch settings

A smartphone's ability to keep email, contacts and calendar items in sync over the air is an absolute necessity. The process of connecting to remote servers and exchanging data however, is an obvious drain on the battery. The iPhone 4 is no exception of course, but Apple has given users a great deal of control over how often the iPhone fetches new data. In Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Fetch New Data, try setting Fetch to Every 30 Minutes or even Hourly if possible.

Moreover, for email or calendar accounts that are used infrequently go to Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Fetch New Data -> Advanced. Set each trivial account to Manual rather than Fetch. With this setting configured, these accounts will only retrieve new data when their relative applications are opened. So, email accounts set to Manual will only grab new emails when the Mail app is opened and calendar accounts will only sync when the Calendar app is opened.

8. The Wi-Fi debacle

Wi-Fi is another big area of debate in terms of iPhone 4 battery life. Logic might dictate that if Wi-Fi is on, energy is being used so the result will be shorter battery life. In practice however, moving data via Wi-Fi requires much less power than moving data via 3G. As such, many find that leaving Wi-Fi on will actually increase battery life -- dramatically in fact.

If you don't often have access to a Wi-Fi network then obviously this tip is not for you. For those who have wireless networks at home, at the office or at a local coffee shop however, the more you can use Wi-Fi, the better.

9. Keep GPS usage to a minimum

Unlike Wi-Fi, there is really no question that GPS usage is hard on the iPhone battery. While the temptation to play with a new voice-guided navigation app can be overwhelming at times, try to avoid using it as a novelty to navigate known areas. Similarly, Location Based Service (LBS) apps like Yelp, Layar and others will deplete the iPhone 4 battery at a rapid rate, so use them sparingly.

10. Turn off vibration

In public areas and other noisy environments, a phone's vibrate function is absolutely essential. In quieter environments where you will definitely hear your iPhone 4's audio notifications however, disable the vibrate feature by going to Settings -> Sounds and toggling Vibrate under the Ring heading to off. Similarly, disable the vibrate feature within games and other apps whenever possible.

11. Disable iPod EQ

Ensuring Settings -> iPod -> EQ is set to off will have a major impact on battery life, especially for heavy iPod users. Some of the EQ settings in Apple's iPod app will make your music sound amazing but the cost to battery life is far too significant to leave EQ enabled all the time.

12. Don't update apps while on the go

There's nothing better than finding out one of your favorite apps finally received an update, but try to wait until you're connected to Wi-Fi before downloading any updates. Each time an app is updated, the full application file must be downloaded from the App Store.

If the app is large, downloading it over 3G will undoubtedly impact battery life negatively. Downloads over Wi-Fi are much faster and require significantly less power. The best option however, is to wait until you're connected to your computer and to download any app updates in iTunes on your Mac or PC. To apply the newly downloaded updates, simply sync your iPhone 4.

13. Don't download music/videos while on the go

Just as app updates can often be large files that will result in significant battery consumption, music and video files purchased from iTunes are even larger. Sometimes downloading on the go is necessary but if you can, wait for a Wi-Fi connection to minimize the impact on your battery. If possible of course, make music and video purchases on your computer and sync the new files across to your iPhone 4.

14. Always apply OS updates

Any time Apple issues an update to iOS, apply the update. New features aside, Apple often makes tweaks that have a positive impact on battery life and the only way to obtain them is by updating your OS.

15. Disable 3G

This tip should only be used if absolutely necessary of course, but 3G is without question a battery killer. If you absolutely need to stretch your battery life out for as long as possible, disabling 3G is the best way to do just that. Go to Settings -> General -> Network and toggle 3G to off.

Note that data speeds will be reduced and the phone will no longer support simultaneous voice and data while 3G is disabled.

How to show battery life as a percentage on the iPhone 4

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:43 +0000

Find out how to view the battery life of your Apple iPhone 4 as a percentage as well as an icon

The iPhone 4 is able to show remaining battery life as a numeric percentage rather than just an icon. Battery life is always an important issue, so having a percentage to view can help you to know wxactly how much juice you have left.

To enable the iPhone 4's battery life percentage reading:

Tap on Settings
Tap on General
Tap on Usage
Switch on Battery Percentage

iPhone 4 voice controls explained

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:25 +0000

Find out how to use the voice controls on the Apple iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 is the second iPhone to offer voice control. You can use voice commands to call a contact, play music and more.

To activate voice control press and hold the Home button for two seconds until you hear a double-beep. Then speak clearly into the iPhone or headset microphone.

Hold the iPhone 4 the same way as you would when making a call. If using the headsets with built-in mic then let the cord hang freely rather than pulling it up to your mouth. If your iPhone 4 has a case and you are experiencing problems then try removing the case as it may be obscuring the mic.

Reminder: You can hold down the hold button or the handset button to activate voice controls even when the iPhone 4 is asleep and locked

Below is a full list of the recognized voice commands:

To call someone in Contacts...	Say "Call" or "Dial" and then the name of whoever you want to call. If the person has more than one number listed you can add "Home" or "Mobile". Full example: "Call Dave Crane Mobile" or "Call Dave Crane on his Mobile"
Dial a number...	Say "Call" or "Dial" and then the number. Full example: "Call 0208 675 2762"
Correct a mistake...	Say "No" or "Not that" or "Not that one" or - really - "Nope"
Music playback controls...	Say "Play" or "Play music". Other controls are "Pause" or "Pause music", "Next song", "Previous song"
Play a specific album artist or playlist (not song)...	Say "Play" then "Album" or "Artist" or "Playlist" then the name of the album/artist/playlist. Full example: "Play album Born to Run"
Shuffle the current playlist or album...	Say "Shuffle"
Get info about the current song..	Say "What song is this" or "Who sings this song" or "What's playing"
Play similar songs...	Say "Genius" or "Play more like this" or "Play more songs like this"
Get Voice Control help	Say "Help"
Exit Voice Control	Say "Cancel"