If you have an iPhone and don’t know how to use it or have questions about how to do something check out Apple’s How-To.
This guide assumes you know how to use the iPhone and are looking to learn some handy tricks.
Adding addresses to contacts:
The easiest way I have found to add addresses to contacts is to search for and find them through the maps app first, then view the details of the location (the little blue arrow icon on the right) and click ‘Add to Contacts’.
This saves an accurately formatted address that the iPhone can easily read as opposed to having to try and figure out the gibberish you might be typing.
Airplane Mode:
Most people probably won’t have a use for this feature, but there are ways to make it handy if you need it. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception and don’t plan on going anywhere for a while, turn on airplane mode to conserve battery life.
Also if you happen to live in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception but you have wi-fi, it will work with airplane mode on, and still conserve your battery life.
Also if you want to make it seem like your phone is off but still be able to use it, airplane mode will send calls straight to voicemail.
Airplane mode will stop your cell phone from making or receiving calls and text messages, but since you have an iPhone with wi-fi, you should be able to keep in contact with most people anyway.
Sound Etiquette:
Everyone likes having their own ringtone when people call, that’s fine. There are however sounds that are unnecessary, like the ‘Sent Mail’ sound. Do you really need to know what it sounds like to send a mail? Other annoying sounds are the ‘Lock Sounds’ and ‘Keyboard Clicks’. If you press the button on the top of the phone, the screen will go black. You dont need a noise to let you know that you did it. Pretty much the same goes for keyboard clicks. Do you really like the sound it makes when you type? Does everyone need to know you’re typing? I don’t know about you but I like my privacy.
Turning off 3G:
Saves battery life. If you’re near wi-fi all the time you wont need it anyway.
Turning off Bluetooth:
Saves battery life. What are you using bluetooth for anyway? My opinion on this might change once more multiplayer apps come out since 3.0 allows better use of the bluetooth api.
1 minute Auto-Lock:
Saves battery life. This will turn off your screen after 1 minute of you not doing anything with it.
4 hour Passcode Lock:
Relieves irritation. Your phone will require a passcode 4 hours from the last time you used it. If you use your phone more than twice a day, you will only have to type your passcode in once when you wake up (because it will probably only lock while you’re asleep).
Erase Data:
Is BAD if for any reason you have trouble remembering your passcode. It’s a wonderfully security feature once you get used to typing your passcode all the time though.
Calendar & Contact Sync:
Google offers a free service to anyone with a Gmail account. Details and full instructions can be found at Google’s Mobile website.
I dont feel like going into a ton of detail for this but if you have any questions about it feel free to contact me for help.
Fetch New Data:
My best recommendation for this would be 15 minute fetch and push turned on.
Show 25 Recent Messages & Preview 1 Line:
Download less data at a time, don’t make the phone work harder than it needs to. Can you really read 50 two line previews in the blink of an eye? I cant even read 25 one line previews that fast. Use the load more buttons, they are nice.
Turn off the Equalizer:
Listen to the audio the way it was meant to be heard. Not filtered. Running the equalizer actually requires the iPhone to process the song before playing it. Processing takes power. The phone will perform slower and drain it’s battery faster.
“There’s an app for that”
If you normally do anything at all on the internet, from twitter to myspace, from games to boredum, from monitoring your bank account or bills to online shopping. “There’s an app for that”.
My app recommendations:
Tweetie – the perfect twitter app.
Fandango – great app for movie showtimes and purchasing tickets.
Hey Where Are You (HeyWAY) – tell your friends where you are and ask them where they are, with a map.
Instant Messenger & Social Network apps – whatever you prefer.
As mentioned above, if you have any questions feel free to ask me.
