iPhone 3G

iPhone Tech Talk World Tour

Guest Author ∙ Updated October 16, 2017

I just got an email saying that apple will soon be "traveling the globe" to talk about technology and the iPhone. According to the email:

Learn about the tools and technologies you'll use to create great iPhone applications, then work with the experts to optimize your code, refine your user interface, and apply the knowledge you gain from the sessions.

Whether you're new to iPhone development, a seasoned professional, or an IT pro, you'll find a session designed just for you. Plus, learn how to get your application in front of millions of users on the App Store. Don't miss this unique opportunity. The event is free, but space is limited. Register for an iPhone Tech Talk today.

How does the first Google Android phone compare to the iPhone?

Sébastien Page ∙ October 8, 2008

There was a pretty good article yesterday on the NY Times about how Android will compare to the iPhone. The writer, Tim Haddock, actually compares the first Google Android phone, the G1, to the iPhone. Here are some interesting points about the G1 worth looking at:

touchscreen - just like the iPhone, except it doesn't support multi-touch trackball flip-out Qwerty keyboard - business users will like that removable batteries - I'm jealous 3-megapixel camera - I'm even more jealous 25% thicker and nearly 20% heavier than the iPhone 3G - that's big! no headset jack! - how am I supposed to listen to music with that? You'll need a special headphone adapter to connect to its proprietary design. maximum memory slot of 8GB - haha. no sync capability with iTunes or even desktop computer at all! apps available via Android Market - much better than the highly restricted App Store.

The G1 launches on October 22 and will cover only 22 markets in the US, due to T-Mobile 3G poor 3G coverage. This is supposed to improve with time. For information, AT&T's 3G network covers more than 275 markets.

Although I am very excited about Google Android, I will not be rushing to buy the new G1. I will wait a few months (years?) until Android is available on other phones and offers more to me than these poor features.

You may read the full article here.

Using your iPhone to Record Programs to your DirecTV DVR

Guest Author ∙ October 7, 2008

I was looking at a TV Guide app in the store the other day and I thought it was pretty cool, but because I am a DirecTV customer, it is often difficult to find TV Guides that are not aligned with zip codes but with Satellite Regions.

I remembered that the DirecTV page posted a great guide. So I tried to navigate to there page with my iPhone. I could see the page, but it wasn't formatted for the iPhone so it was really difficult to navigate. After a little bit more research I did identify a DirecTV mobile phone page that seems to work well on the iPhone.

This web app doesn't let you browse the DirecTV Guide, but it does allow you to do something even cooler. You can use this site to search and setup your DirecTV DVR to record shows remotely. You can also sign up to see Pay Per View shows and set up series. If you have more than one DVR, it lets you pick which ones to use to record a show.

This is a really cool feature because if you are away from home and you hear about a show you want to record you can now use this page and your iPhone to set it up remotely.

If you have a DVR, just go to the DirecTV.com page and create an account. Then navigate to the mobile compatible page and login.

It has a very basic menu, but pretty much lets me do what i wanted. It has "Search For Shows", and a "Manual Record" feature. No guide, but search is pretty useful.

The Search for Shows feature lets you enter a search string. It display a list of matching shows. Pick one, and it gives you a description and the option to "Record Once", "Record the Series", or see more show times. I have multiple receiver, so when i pick "record", I get a list of receivers. Once i pick the receiver, i can give it a recording priority. Since I can't see the list of what is already set up, I can say "record if possible" or "Definitely Record this".

The Manual Record feature lets you pick a channel, date, time, duration to record just like recording on your old faithful VCR. This is usually only useful when the guide data is not accurate, but neat to have.

Also, I had high hopes for the login part, because the sign in form has a "Remember Me" checkbox, but it doesn't seem to work. Each time I go to the web page, I have to enter it from scratch.

Creating an iPhone-Controlled Wireless Home Audio System

Guest Author ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

I am a bit of an audio geek and I have been longingly looking at the multi-room music systems for years. They have really started to get a lot cheaper lately but the price for most systems still start at $1,000.00. It is hard to convince my spouse that the idea of having a central music server and music piped into other rooms is $1,000 cool. So when I got the Remote [iTunes link] Application for my iPhone, i started to think about what I could do for a lot less money. Remote lets you control your iTunes library using wifi anywhere in your house.

We had already encoded all our music into MP3 and placed it on a central computer in our kitchen. We installed some really great speakers there, but what happens if we want to listen in the bedroom or living room? We could run speaker wires throughout the house, but we have an older house and it is expensive and/or unsightly to run speaker wires throughout the house. Also if we did have speakers wired in, we would need a multi-room receiver and we would still have to run back to the kitchen to change the song or pick another playlist.

I had looked in the Apple Store at Airport Express recently and read about how you could use it to create "wireless" speakers and noticed in my iTunes settings dialog box, the ability to send music to these "Airtunes" speakers. After purchasing a refurbished Airport Express from Apple Store, and a few hours fiddling with them, I came up with a pretty nice and cheap solution.

I used Airport Express and a pair of old but cute PC speakers to create a remote speaker set. I bought and installed Remote on my iPhone, configured it and now I am able to control my iTunes, sitting right next to the remote speakers.

It works pretty great so I thought I could share with you what worked for me. These instructions will let you broadcast music in iTunes. You can use Airfoil to broadcast music from other music players to your Airtunes Speakers.

What you you'll need to get started:

Apple Airport Express Airport Express Stereo connection kit (or a Monster mini-to-RCA left/right audio cable or Monster mini-to-optical digital Toslink audio cable A Mac or PC with wireless connectivity (Mac with AirPort or AirPort Extreme wireless capability - PC with 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g card) Powered speakers (computer speakers work great!) or a local amplifier and non-powered speakers. iPhone or iTouch with Remote [iTunes link] application installed.

Getting started:

Plug in the airport express wherever you want to place your remote speakers. Install the Airport Utility application on your Mac or PC. You can either download it at this link or use the accompanying CD to install it. Use the Airport Utility to scan for the Airport Express Hub. When it is located, click Continue to set it up. The Utility will read the configuration information and prompt you for a name and password. Name it something that will instantly let you know which speakers you are turning on and off. For example, "Downstair speakers" or "Kitchen Speakers" works well. Click Continue. Use this guide to continue making choices as you set up the Airport Express. The easiest path is to just add it to an existing wifi network, but if you don't have one you can set up one between your pc/mac and the Airport Express. When done, the airport Express lcd light should be a solid green. Plug in your speakers and then using either the Airport Express Stereo Connection Kit or individual connectors you can purchase at Radio Shack, connect the Airport Express to your speakers. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for each airport Express you want to install (ie for each set of speakers you want). Test that you can broadcast to your remote speakers from iTunes. Go to iTunes and purchase Remote application. Follow these steps to set it up and connect it iTunes on your PC or Mac. Launch Remote on your iPhones. Using Remote Settings, turn on the speakers you want to control. Sit back on your couch and pick playlists and songs to play.

iPhone 3G roundup

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 5, 2016

Now that everything cool off a little bit, let be sum up everything that happened yesterday at the WWDC 2008 regarding the iPhone.

From Apple:

pictures of the new iPhone 3G iPhone 3G pricing iPhone 3G details and specifications (also see here) new iPhone 3G ad enterprise interest in new iPhone MobileMe countries that will sell the new iPhone video of the WWDC 2008 keynotes new iPhone activation policy no dock with new iPhone iPhone 3G disappointments

From AT&T:

AT&T press release about the new iPhone free iPhone upgrade at AT&T AT&T memo to its retail stores AT&T 3G network coverage

iPhone 3G disappointments

Sébastien Page ∙ June 10, 2008

Yeahhh, that's great, iPhone finally announced the launch of the iPhone 3G with all these great new features such as 3G, GPS, and, huh, well, that's about it!

Although I'm really stoked about this new phone (and yes, I will buy it as soon as it comes out), I am very disappointed at the lack of new features.

First, let's see what we now have:

3G capability GPS Apps that we will have to pay for MobileMe, we will have to pay for that too

It seems to me Apple didn't really address some of the most important features a phone must have:

a good camera MMS a front camera for videoconferencing a video camera copy/paste file saving capability

Two years ago, I had all these features on my BlackBerry. That was 2 years ago. And BlackBerry never claimed to create the best phone ever... but they did provide all these features.

Something else I am really disappointed about is the price. Sure it's a great price and I'm glad I won't have to spend too much for this phone but my main problem is that everyone is going to have an iPhone. At risk of being taken for a snob, I have to admit that I like the "social status" the iPhone provides me (aka. OMG you have an iPhone?!). Now this time is over.

The more I think about it, the more I look into it, the more I think I might get a gPhone when it comes out. Google Android looks so much friendlier (to everybody: user, developer, etc) than the iPhone.

Credit Photo: Gizmodo