Apple

It's been a year in the coming but finally I have an iPhone. I managed to find one at a reasonable price and have unlocked it to use T-Mobile (so I don't need a new contract with O2).

I've been wary of smart phones since I had bad experiences with the MDA Vario, it wasn't that it was a bad phone hardware wise, it was the laggy software that let it down. I recently had the chance to play with a HTC Diamond whilst setting it up for a client, it has the stylish looks but again the Windows Mobile software let it down. The lag was still there when you tapped the screen (often twice or three times) and having to use the pen every time you wanted to use the phone was another annoyance.

Fortunately the iPhone makes up from where the other smart phones are let down. The phone itself looks great with a big scratch resistant screen. The software works well and when you press a button (with your finger) it works instantly.

Unlocking was very easy, much easier than with a Nokia or Sony Ericsson, you just download an application called ZiPhone and click 'Do it all', this upgrades/downgrades the firmware, activates and unlocks the phone.

It also installs Jailbreak which allows you to install third party applications and games. I installed a useful one that automatically uploads pictures to Flickr when you take them on the camera.I was expecting it to be slow to type on the iPhone but the speed is very similar to other phones.

If you can pick up a second hand iPhone then I would recommend unlocking it as its so easy to do!

Here are some of my top tips for additional OS X functions, most have come from my experience at home and work.

1. Plugging in a TV or Second Monitor

Most Mac models come with an external connector for attaching additional screens (normally a mini DVI connector). From this you need a mini DVI to DVI connector then another cable to plug into your screen, this can be a DVI to VGA cable, DVI to DVI cable or as I have a DVI to HDMI cable. All the cables are very cheap and can normally be picked up from Ebay.

OS X should automatically detect the second screen plugged in and you can open system preferences to adjust the resolution. You may have to play around with the settings, my 26" LG HD TV looks best on 1280 x 720 rather than its native resolution.

I've had my iMac plugged into my TV for the past 6 months and people still think its cool how I can move my mouse from one screen to another.

2. Sharing your Internet over Wireless.

While I was at University our local cable supplier didn't give out free wireless routers so to save buying one I shared the Internet out through my iMac's wireless. In Leopard the Internet can be shared from the Sharing section in System Preferences.

3. Bluetooth Internet Through Your Phone

It usually takes ISP's about two weeks to put ADSL on a phone line. Clearly I couldn't be without Internet for two weeks so I turned to my mobile phone provider (T-Mobile) to hook me up to the net. Now that 3G signal is well established (and I have a 3G phone) I got speeds of around 3mb for £12.50/month.

First you need to sync your phone via Bluetooth in iSync. If your phone isn't supported then check the manufactures website or Google to see if someone has written a plugin. My Sony Ericsson K850i isn't natively supported in iSync however fortunately someone had written what was needed.

Once you have paired the devices click on the Bluetooth icon on the menu bar, select your phone and click connect to network. With 3G you shouldn't need to enter any dialing information and as long as you have good signal you should be online within no time.

4. Watching TV through USB Stick

I was in PC World a couple of months ago and I wanted to buy something, I wasn't really bothered what I just wanted to buy something new to play with at the weekend. I've looked at USB digital TV adapters before but was never convinced to buy one. I ended up with a £25 Hauppauge USB stick for my PC, I brought it and installed it on my PC.

The Hauppauge software was useless and I was considering taking it back until I stumbled upon EyeTV and most importantly that it supported my Hauppauge USB stick. EyeTV works flawlessly and its PVR functions have completely changed how I watch TV. It has everything apart from an automatic advert skipper.

5. Running Windows Applications

There are a couple of different options for running Windows applications on an Intel Mac. If its just the case of needing Internet Explorer 7 for certain websites or for testing purposes then ie4osx is a great application.

Otherwise you have the options of Parallels or VMWare.

6. Using Mail to access your Email Through IMAP

Being able to use IMAP in Mail is nothing new but its still under used. I use Mail to organise my two Google Mail accounts, the main benefit to using IMAP over POP3 is that is can syncronise between the mail on Googles server and on my computer meaning I can view the same emails from at home in Mail and from a Web Browser at work.

7. Recording Internet radio with Audio Hijack Pro

A lot of Internet Radio sites make it very hard to record, fortunately Audio Hijack Pro makes it easy (as easy as using your PVR or tape recorder).

First find the radio show you want to record.

Next open Audio Hijack Pro and drag Firefox/Safari into Audio Hijack (you may have to restart Firefox/Safari) click the hijack button and then hit record. When recording from services such as the BBC you may have to boost the volume because of the poor audio quality (in the Effects bab).

8. Keeping an eye on memory usage with Activity Monitor.

If you find your Mac running slow it might be because you're low on memory. The usual suspects on my Mac are Firefox or Parallels, even with 4gig of memory a lot still gets used.

One easy way to keep an eye on what you're using is to open the activity monitor program and to set the dock icon to show memory usage.

Then just set activity monitor to open at login.

9. Saving You Tube videos with Get Tube.

Occasionally there might be a need to save a YouTube video. There are various programs for OS X but the best one I've found is Get Tube.

First find your favourite video on YouTube.

Next open Get Tube and select which browser you're using. The video will then download. You can use Tube Cart for multiple videos.

10. Take a screen shot

You maybe wondering how I've taken all these pictures for this article. The basic way to take a screen shot on your Mac is by Command+Shift+3, this takes a screen shot of the screen and save it as a file on the desktop, alternatively Command+Shift+4, then drag around the area - takes a screen shot of an area and save it as a file on the desktop.

Related

52 Ways to Speed Up OS X
The history of the iPod

It's been quiet here at ImAFish for the last week because we have been working on our latest project:

www.ipodhistory.com

iPod History has pictures and details on every single iPod including size, battery life, compatibility and launch date.

The site is a great place to find out what others have to say about iPod models they have owned and to put across your views. It's still early days for the site so all comments are appreciated.

We have tried to make the site as informative as possible but are open to suggestions. If you like the site then please stumble it or add it to your blog!

For more check out www.ipodhistory.com

HOW TO SPOT A RICH GUY... To all viewers and bloggers: Please read my comment
Originally uploaded by Rockers generation

Shrewsbury, UK - Pete White and world famous ImAFish have today launched three new niche environmental blogs to help people keep updated with news in their respective areas.

www.reachnews.info tracks industry trends and news for REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances).

www.rohsnews.info brings up-to-date news regarding ROHS (the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment).

www.weeenews.info covers a range of stories in and around WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

ImAFish takes the issue of the environment very seriously and helps where possible to spread environmentally friendly messages.

Holy crap-- somebody just went and TORE MY FREAKING USB CABLE IN HALF while it was still attached to my laptop!!! (No-- wait-- sorry. That's just my USB drive.)

read more | digg story

Brickarms can help you build your private army with everything you need, from the superadvanced Colonial Marines' Xeno Pulse Rifles to NATO's G36 Assault Rifles to vintage German Rocket Propeller Grenade launchers and even PPK pistols with Brausch silencers. It your private army is a bunch of LEGO minifigs, that is. Interview with the "arms dealer".

read more | digg story

The event was a huge success and thanks to everyone that came, here are some photos from the day.

The event floor just before we opened at 2pm. 

Me on the Web Orchard stand.

Simon on the Web Orchard stand.

Steve on his Phoot stand.

Paul from Remote New Media.

 Sophie from Lilac Sky.

Richard from Footprint Photography.

Helen from Ascendancy Internet Marketing.

Mint Video

Spa Creative

Knoc Design

Perfect Arc

My iMac has been in repair for the past week and has been given a clean bill of health ready for me to sell it. On Friday OS X 10.5 Leopard was released after two and a half years since Tiger arrived. I brought my last iMac shortly after the release of Tiger so it seems fitting that I finally upgrade to an Intel Mac.

The Ars Technica review of Leopard is the most in depth I've read and highlights a lot of interesting areas with the new OS. If you want to know many of the under lying technical changes to OS X as well as the more graphic changes then its well worth a read.

There are a lot of new features in Leopard but a few stand out with Time Machine looking to be one of the best. I currently use Super Duper for my daily backup but it only takes a snapshot of my drive rather than backing up file changes. Spaces are also a welcome improvement and after using multiple desktops on Ubuntu I can imagine they will just as useful in OS X. The updated

look in Leopard also looks exciting though I wont be convinced about the space theme until using it for a bit.

I hope to have a new iMac within the coming weeks and if I can find anything that hasn't already been covered elsewhere on-line I will post it on here!

Apple announced today in London that the iPhone is coming to the UK with carrier 02 for £269 plus a minimum of a 18 month £35/month contact. That £35/month gets you a pathetic 200 minutes, 200 texts and unlimited data.

Other 02 tariffs on 18month contracts for £35/month get you 600 minutes and 1000 texts or 730 minutes and 100 texts. So why is iPhone tariff so different considering you have to fork out an extra £269 for the phone? Similar contracts with Orange Dolphin get you a Nokia N95 for £89.99 plus 600 minutes and unlimited texts for £35/month on an 18month contact.

I was really tempted to get an iPhone but for the sort of minutes I use it will cost me at least £45/month for the contract plus the initial £269 for the phone. This makes the iPhone way to expensive for myself and most other people, I will be surprised if the iPhone sells well at this price and I would expect a price drop in the near future.

Anyone going to be queueing for an iPhone on launch day?