7 posts tagged “iphone”
Here is my situation. Most all I do and want sync'd to the iPhone is on my Macbook. This includes my personal contacts, music, video, podcasts, photos and bookmarks. What is on my work Windows XP computer is my schedule in Outlook.
I have tried multiple solutions. First, I connected to the work network via Entourage on my Macbook and sync'd the calendar via Entourage. Entourage had issues with any Outlook event that was and all day event. It put part of the event the day before and created duplicates. So that did not work.
Next, I tried the new Outlook to Google Calendar sync to get my schedule in Google Calendar and then subscribe to the calendar in iCal. However I could never get the Outlook to Google Calendar Sync to work. I may be due to the corporate firewall.
So I decided to try syncing just the Calendar on the Windows PC. I plugged in the iPhone, made sure no syncing at all would take place. Put a check mark only under syncing Calendar with Outlook and pressed sync. It gave me a notice that the iPhone was paired with another computer and did I want to merge or overwrite the data. I clicked on overwrite and prayed. It worked. I have my Outlook calendar on the iPhone and no other data was messed with.
I then connected the iPhone with my Macbook. I made sure everything was selected correctly EXCEPT the calendar. I also got the merge or overwrite question regarding the contacts and bookmarks. I believe this is due to the calendar, bookmarks and contacts all being on the same tab in iTunes.
Therefore, whenever I move from the Macbook to the Windows PC, it will ask to merge or overwrite. Not the most elegant solution, but it seems to work so far.
Based on Veronica Belmont's post regarding a Wordpress plug-in to make your blog iPhone friendly, I have installed this on my blog The Standing. It looks to have worked pretty good.
UPDATE 9/8/07: With Apple releasing iTunes 7.4.1 within hours of this process, they took away this ability and when I sync'd my iPhone, it removed my custom ringtones. However, thanks to Joe Maller, all I had to do was to go into the folder: /itunes music/rintones/ and rename the rintones from .m4r back to .m4a and resync my iPhone and back they came. Not sure what Apple is doing, but not too effective.
ORIGINAL 9/7/07: Thanks to TUAW for this. Here is how I was able to do it in OSX.
I first had a couple of .mp3's that were my ringtones I made for my old Razr. I played each of them so they would pull into iTunes. I then went into the Importing preferences of iTunes to make sure it was set for .AAC encoding. I then went to each of my mp3's in iTunes, right clicked, and said to convert to AAC (creates a .m4a). Once done I removed the mp3's from iTunes. I then went into the iTunes folder for the new AAC's and copied them out to my desktop. I then removed all 3 from my iTunes library via iTunes.
I then selected each .m4a on my desktop, right-clicked for Get Info and changed them to .m4r
I then imported each back into iTunes.
With my iPhone connected, checked under the ringtones tab and they were all there. I then sync'd and voila! They are on my iPhone as my ringtone.
No cost, no command line hacking, pretty simple.
I was looking for some type of stand in which I could prop my iPhone on to watch video while at my desk. I searched and searched and was finally pointed to the PED2 stand by Cali Lewis. With an adapter that you pay extra for, it says you can use it with the iPhone horizontally. Final price was almost $50!!!
When I received the stand, and used the horizontal option, the sides of the stand blocked both the headphone jack on the top of the iPhone and the iPhone connector on the bottom. You can only use it on battery listening via the onboard speaker, which is also blocked! Out came my dremmel and I had to cut the metal in a number of places to make this piece of expensive crap even work.
Then came my shopping trip to Office Depot. I found this cheap plastic business card holder which perfectly fits the iPhone, while still allowing access to the headphone jack and connector. All for the grand price of $0.89.
PED2 is a rip off and is not really for an iPhone. Stay away. Go for my $0.89 solution.
After using the iPhone for a few days, I thought I would share my thoughts, both good and bad, regarding the phone. Also some links for those that have an iPhone to make their experience better.
First, I will start with some issues. A few things that I have found that could be better or included. Since everyone else is talking about no 3G, no GPS and no flash drive slot, I will not include these.
- Only can sync or not sync - no manual abilities as with the current iPods. I prefer to manage what is added and what is deleted from my iPod and have done so since my first. iPhone does not allow this option.
- No easy multimedia messaging. Just have to email pictures to friends. Not an elegant work around.
- No chat. Can use SMS, but will cost if you do not have an unlimited plan.
- The phone is kinda slippery. I suggest getting a skin to protect the iPhone as well as make it easier to hold on.
- Not able to use the virtual keyboard in widescreen mode any time. Only in Safari.
Now Some things I really like.
- Unbelievable screen. You have to actually experience it in your hand to understand.
- After viewing completely any video (video podcast, TV, Movie) it asks if you want to delete to free up space right there on the iPhone. Do not have to connect with iTunes. Love it!
- Battery life. I have had no issue what so ever.
- Virtual keyboard is not that bad. The more I use it, the faster and more accurate I get. I like it.
Finally a few links. For some online applications being developed for the iPhone, here are a couple of sites to start at:
iPhone Application List
Top 25 Web Apps for iPhone - Rev2.org
Barcamp iPhone Developed Apps
Unfortunately, at the time of purchasing the iPhone, there were not many accessories. Here are some links of good places to find a new cases, covers, skins, etc... (updated July 31, 2007)
http://www.case-mate.com
http://www.speckproducts.com
http://www.senacases.com/Brands/Apple-iPhone-Cases
http://www.myincipio.com
http://www.dlo.com/
http://www.griffintechnology.com/
http://belkin.com/ipod/
http://www.ebcases.com
http://goincase.com/
http://ifrogz.com/
http://www.vajacases.com/
http://www.marware.com/site/Home.html
http://www.zcover.com/
http://www.iskin.com/
http://www.i-luv.com/iLuv/
http://www.vajacases.com/
http://www.contourcase.com/
I created this iPhone wallpaper. It is just the iPhone image with
reflection so you would need to center it on your desktop as wallpaper
with a black background. This way it will fit most all screensizes.
