Tag Archive for 'iPhone'

Google Sync: GMail From Alias Address

Published on September 25, 2009. Comments Tags: Aaron Krill, Account, com, description fields, email, GMail, Google, google apps, Google Sync, incoming mail server, iPhone, Mail, mail account, outgoing mail server, server host, server host name, Sync, web interface.

UPDATE
Due to a request I have modified the instructions below to include a complete step by step rather than branching to a different page for instructions.

Google recently updated Google Sync to include support got push GMail. This is very nice but I came across two problems.

First the search feature built into my iPhone does not allow me to ’search the server’ using the email associated with Google Sync [thanks to Aaron Krill of Krillr.com for finding this bug).

The second problem was one I found a way around. I normally send email from eric@nemchik.com using the GMail web interface thanks to their 'Send From' feature. But Google Sync did not want to let me do this.

Heres how to solve this problem;

Go to settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > [Your Google Sync Account] > Account Info
Change the Email field to the email alias you normally send from
Back out (don’t worry it will auto save what you enter)

Note: Setup instructions below are for iPhone or iPod touch devices running software version 3.0.To configure IMAP for your iPhone or iPod touch, just follow these steps:

Make sure you’ve enabled IMAP in your main Gmail settings

On your iPhone or iPod touch’s home screen, tap Settings

Tap Mail

Tap Add Account…

Tap Other

What if I tap ‘Gmail’ instead?

Archiving and deleting messages will work differently. Our instructions ensure Gmail works as designed.

Tap Add Mail Account

Enter your account information, being sure to use your full Gmail address (or full Google Apps email address)

NOTE: Before proceeding replace both the ‘Address’ and ‘Description’ fields with your preferred Alias address (full email address whatever@whatever.com) * see star below

Tap Save

For Incoming Mail Server:

Host Name is ‘imap.gmail.com’

User Name is your full Gmail address, including ‘@gmail.com’ (or full Google Apps email address)

For Outgoing Mail Server:

Host Name is ’smtp.gmail.com’

User Name is your full Gmail address, including ‘@gmail.com’ (or full Google Apps email address)

Tap Save

Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client’s settings as needed.

Once you have done the final save, tap on the account you just created and erase the Incoming Mail Server Host (imap.gmail.com) and leave this field blank (this will prevent you from receiving duplicate email but still allow you to send outgoing from your alias)

Explanation:
The IMAP account you just created will NOT receive incoming mail, so if someone emails you your phone will only show the mail on the Google Sync account. The only reason the IMAP account exists is to provide the SMTP server settings used for sending outgoing mail. The instructions above (when followed correctly) will trick the iPhone into using the SMTP settings for outgoing while still using the Google Sync for incoming, and you should not need to switch the ‘from address’ on the iPhone (the alias address should be used by default).

You will now see 2 email accounts in your Mail app. Mine looks like this:

The top one is the alias ‘Send From’ address and you can completely ignore it. Keep the Google Sync account open and try sending an email to a friend and ask what address it comes from.

* This post has been edited to provide instructions found on this Google Support Document. The instructions as they are seen on this page will NOT be kept up to date with newer material as it becomes available so I recommend checking the official page for any deviating instructions while still following the notes I have made in red above.

Forward Voicemail to Google Voice

Published on July 31, 2009. Comments Tags: amp, AT&T, call forwarding, Cancel, dest, Google, Google Voice, iPhone, iphone visual voicemail, nice thing, number, phone, Retain, T. In, T. The, voice number, voicemail, voicemail forward.

Thanks to a post on mobilitee.org I have found a way to send all my missed, ignored, declined, or any other unanswered call for any reason to my Google Voice voicemail rather than my AT&T voicemail.

Quoting their post directly:

Note that [dest] is the number you want to forward to (eg +12025551234) and [sec] is the number of seconds to let the phone ring before forwarding (in the no answer case). [sec] can range from 5-30 in 5 second increments.

Forward All:
Activate: *21*[dest]*11#
Cancel & Retain: #21*11#
Re-establish: *21*11#
Cancel & Forget: ##21*11#
Status: *#21*11#

If Busy:
Activate: *67*[dest]*11#
Cancel & Retain: #67*11#
Re-establish: *67*11#
Cancel & Forget: ##67*11#
Status: *#67*11#

if no answer:
Activate: *61*[dest]*11*[sec]#
Cancel & Retain: #61*11#
Re-establish: *61*11#
Cancel & Forget: ##61*11#
Status: *#61*11#

If Unreachable:
Activate: *62*[dest]*11#
Cancel & Retain: #62*11#
Re-establish: *62*11#
Cancel & Forget: ##62*11#
Status: *#62*11#

While testing, I found that the activate code works as expected (15 seconds seems about right for me), and the Cancel & Retain codes brought it right back to using the iPhone visual voicemail.

I followed the instructions to activate all of these features accept ‘Forward all’ because if you do that then your phone doesn’t ring, and all I want is to send missed/ignored/declined/unanswered calls to Google Voice rather than AT&T.

In order I dialed the following:
Dial *61*[dest]*11*30# and hit send.
Dial *62*[dest]*11# and hit send.
Dial *67*[dest]*11# and hit send.

Thanks to an article about Call Forwarding on Wikipedia, I found a much shorter way to do all that.

*004*[phone number]#

I replaced [phone number] with the number 1 and then my 10 digit Google Voice number, like so; *004*12223334444#

The nice thing is Google Voice sends me an email and sms message when someone leaves me a voicemail, so I am notified and can check it right away.

I Now Have Google Voice

Published on July 31, 2009. Comments Tags: Apple, apps, AT&T, donotcall gov, Google, Google Voice, invitation, invite, iPhone, number, phone, phone spam, sms, spam, text, text message, time, Voice, voice number.

I was pretty impressed just hearing about it. Now it’s time to test it out.

Feel free to call or text me at +1 (775) 393-9397

Over the next few days or weeks or whatever, I will decide how comfortable I am using it for different features. The more I like it, the more I am likely to straight up deactivate other services in favor of replacing them with Google Voice.

One thing is for sure already, I have every intention of using this as my primary phone number and will be making my best effort to remove any other phone numbers associated with me from any place I am able. I am even mildly considering changing my cell number and never giving it out for any purpose whatsoever, in favor of the Google Voice number (although that is unlikely to happen any time soon).

Also, since I am an iPhone user, my decisions about how usable Google Voice is for me will probably be affected by whether or not I find a decent app (whether through the Apps Store or Cydia) to make the transition easier.

Anyone who has not yet signed up for a Google Voice invite should visit their invitation website: https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/

On another note, I recommend visiting and registering at https://donotcall.gov/ which hopefully would stop phone spam (like telemarketers) from calling your number.

Jailbreak/Unlock Future Proofing

Published on July 17, 2009. Comments Tags: 3.0, 3G, 3GS, amp, app, Apple, apple updates, apps, Cydia, device, firmware, home button, iPhone, Jailbreak, keyboard, new features, NOT, software firmware, theme, Unlock, UPDATE.

This post is a quick FAQ and a must read for anyone who had me Jailbreak or Unlock their iPhone or iPod Touch.

What shouldn’t I update?
If an update for your device OR for iTunes comes out DO NOT UPDATE.
Let me repeat;
DO NOT UPDATE ITUNES ON YOUR COMPUTER!
DO NOT UPDATE THE FIRMWARE ON YOUR IPHONE/IPOD TOUCH!
Updating iTunes may prevent your device from syncing.
Updating your device will un-jailbreak and re-lock your device! If you are not on AT&T and you update your firmware you will NOT be able to use your iPhone.

What can I update?
You can and should update packages in Cydia, apps you got from Installous, or apps from the apps store.

Can I restore from a backup?
No. Even if you back up the device after it has been jailbroken or unlocked you CAN NOT restore. If you do your device will no longer be jailbroken or unlocked.

What if I accidentally undo the jailbreak or unlock somehow?
If you are comfortable doing it yourself I can guide you through it. Otherwise I would advise you come back to me to have your device set up again.

What is Cydia?
Cydia is a package installer. It allows you to add software that Apple did not approve to your iPhone. You should open Cydia periodically (once a week or so) and allow it to check for updates. If an option to upgrade “Complete” or “Essential” is presented it is best to select “Complete”.
Otherwise, aside from themes, Cydia has some pretty advanced stuff inside that you more than likely don’t need.

What is Winterboard?
This is where you turn themes on and off.

How do I get/use themes?
To get themes, open Cydia, tap the Sections tab, scroll through the list to find entries that look like “Themes (battery)” or “Themes (keyboard)” and then browse through those lists for the theme you want. Once you have found the theme there should be an install button in the top corner.
To turn a theme on after installing it open Winterboard, find your theme, tap it (this will add a check next to it’s name), then press the home button. Your phone will respring, which is kind of like rebooting.

There may be more to this guide in the future, but this should cover the important basics.

My Guide To The iPhone

Published on June 24, 2009. Comments Tags: Airplane, annoying sounds, app, Apple, apps, arrow icon, battery, battery life, blue arrow, bluetooth, Fandango, GMail, Google Maps, guide, handy tricks, Hey Where Are You, HeyWAY, how-to, iPhone, Keyboard Clicks, mail sound, phone, Social, Social Network, tips, tips and tricks, tricks, Tweetie, Twitter, Visual Voice Mail, Visual VoiceMail, voicemail, VVM, Wi-Fi.

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.