From the monthly archives:

July 2008

Video Example of iPhone 3G lagging: Are you affected?

by Techno Witch on July 21, 2008

We have reported a few times now of the problems the iPhone and iPhone 3G are having and this is becoming such a major problem that is ticking off customers.

We have seen these problems personally and yes at first thought we were the only ones, but this is not the case as many users are experiencing the same, this has been confirmed also by many readers over on the Apple site.

Over on the Apple Discussions page there is a title called ?iPhone 3G Lag is intolerable? which like our source below found this pretty interesting. This is what the person said on the Apple site:

?We are a couple of Swedish guys that have been talking about the Iphone 3G since we bought it and then we started to compare the old phone and the new and everyone had extreme problems in lag in the interface on the Iphone 3G compared to the 1st Gen Iphone. So we decided to make a video so people can really see and compare.

This lag that people are having is not the only problem but is followed by Applications crashing; OS is freezing, safari going haywire. touch not responding.

Also ive gotten info that upgraded 1st Gen Iphones that have updated to 2.0 is getting the same lag?.

Below you can see a video of the iPhone being used and how much lag time the device is showing, we know for a fact that you have to reboot your iPhone a few times to make it work again but this is unacceptable in my eyes.

Apple really need to sort the problem out, this is a service that many of us can do without.

Motorola push out new W-series but have no colour sense!

by Techno Witch on July 21, 2008

Motorola has just pushed out a string of new W-series mobile handsets, and although they don?t look the prettiest mobiles around they do pack in some features into these candy-bar and flip mobiles that won?t hit your wattle too hard.

First up is the Motorola W231, a candy-bar design mobile which features Motorola?s CrystalTalk noise reduction software, FM radio with RDS and record capability, streamlined interface for texting , media player and the old faithful microSD expansion slot.

Then there is the Motorola W388 and the Motorola W396 both virtual mobile twins but with the W388 being a candy-bar while the W396 is a flip design. Both handsets offer Windows Media compatibility and VGA cam, along with the same list as the Moto W231.

Probably the best of these mobile handsets is the Motorola W6, this particular handset comes with a few quite unique features such as A2DP, and a host of built in training software along with the ability to export recorded data to the user?s PC using Excel format. The down side though is that gaudy yellow colour, which is a tad sickening to say the least.

Tiscali may sucker punch BT in Broadband war

by Techno Witch on July 21, 2008

It looks like Tiscali and BT are having a few hot words with each other, the two big firms look like they will be going head to head.

Words have been said between Tiscali and BT over the former provision of home broadband services.

To put it in simple terms not to bore you BT has told all Tiscali customers that their broadband provision may be in doubt but Tiscali has responded in a big way by threatening to take legal action against BT.

There was a letter sent to Tiscali and Pipex with the headline of ‘Tiscali chief plots sell-off’, it also invites customers to switch to an alternative provider.

Tiscali is Italy?s largest internet service provider have indeed denied reports that they are to be sold off by mid-August, Tiscali has been looking for a buyer since Mario Rosso took over as chief executive officer in February.

Exclusive iPhone 3G News: Weekend sees O2 with NO stock

by Techno Witch on July 21, 2008

We have the latest news about the Apple iPhone 3G stock, through a secret source who we will not mention has given us some interesting news.

Some O2 stores did not have any iPhone 3G stock whatsoever delivered to their stores this weekend, but funnily enough some Carphone Warehouse stores did, now work that one out considering O2 has the exclusive rights to sell this phone.

Now we know that stock is limited and that many may not see the device until late summer, but we want to know the real reason. Could this be true that Apple has limited stock or do you think they are not selling the iPhone 3G simply because they are going to have a recall.

This is just pure speculation but a bloody good one, could Apple really be considering a recall seeing as the iPhone and iPhone 3G are having problems.

I have been to a few O2 Stores and they keep apologising for the lack of stock, this is not O2?s fault as they can only supply what Apple give them. We was all told on July 11th when Carphone Warehouse and O2 stores ran out of stock that they would definitely have stock the following week, but they have not.

My Apple iPhone is still having major problems: Is Yours?

by Techno Witch on July 20, 2008

Now I told you about my Apple iPhone having major problems of it freezing all the time (See Here), well let me tell you why I am still ticked off.

After the latest iPhone update via iTunes I have had nothing but troubles and oh yes still the troubles continue, not only does the iPhone freeze on me but loads of other problems are occurring.

Here are a few examples: When I want to send a text message each time I press a character key it has lagging time, meaning text messages take twice as long to send.

Open up an application that I have downloaded via the Apps Store and it will freeze then lock the iPhone, this means I have to turn the iPhone off and back on again.

When I press the phone icon to ring someone it takes a lot longer to open, this is a major pain in the backside especially if you want to make a very important phone call.

The battery life seems to have halved, the battery life does not last as long as it used to do which in my eyes is not good enough.

Not only is the iPhone having problems, it seems the iPhone 3G is having the same problems as well and we can confirm this with some of our readers comments, here are a few.

I just bought the new iphone 3g and I am having serious issues. I installed many applications on my computer through the iTunes app store and installed them on my phone through iTunes sync. When I tried opening the apps which now appear on my iphones desktop, they open, then quit immediately?every one of them! I looked around online and many people are having the same problem. In addition, when I went to delete the apps from the desktop, the phone would freeze every time, and reset after some time, then when it started up, the apps I had deleted before it froze were there again?.I?m very unhappy so far, owned the phone for 5 hours and have already had it freeze and reset well over 10 times, still cant open any of the apps I downloaded either

My old iPhone, with 2.0 loaded, freezes quite often. At times I can?t even answer an incoming call. I see it, hear it, but am unable to do anything except get angry at it. What good is a great product if it doesn?t work?

It goes on, people complaining about their troubles.

I have the new iPhone 3g and was playing tap tap revenge about an hour ago, and all of a sudden it froze. I couldn?t do anything on the screen. So I held in the sleep/wake button, and the home button until it reset. But when it went to turn back on it would not turn on at all, it would just stay at the apple screen. So I had to force it into recovery mode for the third time to restore it. This is the second iPhone 3g I have, since the first one wouldn?t even get recognized by iTunes. Now I don?t know about anyone else but, having to restore my phone almost every day is getting really frustrating and annoying. Apple must put out an update or something to make this stop.

People, my iPhone thinks I am in California, when I can assure you I am not!
I, along with many of you, had to suffer the frustration and upset at how yesterday was handled. I finally got sorted out late last night and have been enjoying the App store ever since. Everything is fine with my phone and has synced a number of times since 2.0.
But, why does my iphone think I am in California, right now (12:06 GMT) my phone is reading 04:06 Sat 12th. I am not in California, I am just outside London, and it is not some dark hour in the middle of the night, there is much light outside? I do however have the time in time setting for London, this is, of course correct, but when I sync with itunes the time does not update? Is Apple trying to control time now? Anyone with an idea of what to do short of trying a full restore?

The list goes on and on and on, Apple really needs to sort this problem out.

The latest info we have heard is that Apple is preparing another update which will sort out these bugs. The question is, will it really sort out the problems? Because if it does not we can see Apple losing a lot of custom.

Best Music from Apps Store on iTunes for Apple iPhone

by Techno Witch on July 20, 2008

We all know that the Apple iPhone was lacking in music apps, but when the brand new Apps Store on iTunes was released it offered pretty cool apps for all you music fans.

iPhone users will be happy now as there are quite a few music apps that you may like; below we have listed nine of them that Reuters seem to like as well. These music apps are specifically designed for the iPhone that are ready to download now straight from iTunes.

It seems the new App Store has been pretty popular with over 10 million applications being downloaded, some of these apps are free and some you have to pay for. Now check out these nine below, oh and remember there are many more to choose from but these ones seem to stand out.

JAMD
Getty Images has been making its catalog of celebrity photos available to the public through its Jamd.com Web site. Under the Jamd banner, Getty has created an app to enable iPhone users to browse and buy celebrity photos on the device.

SHAZAM
A pioneer in the music ID market, Shazam allows users to learn the title and artist of virtually any song by simply holding up the iPhone’s microphone to a music source. Users can tag songs they like to a saved list of favourites, buy them straight from iTunes, find related music videos on YouTube and send track details to friends. I love this application because many times I have listened to a song and have no clue who it is; well with this app it is simple. After pointing the iPhone at the speaker of where the music is coming from the iPhone will send the info and then return with the songs names, the artist, watch it on YouTube and much more.

PANDORA
The personalized Internet radio service created an app for the iPhone that allows Pandora users to access and stream all their stations, as well as create new ones. It quickly became the third-most-popular free download in the App Store’s first week.

AOL RADIO
This app lets users stream any AOL or CBS Radio stations via the iPhone’s Wi-Fi connection. CBS stations can also be streamed over the wireless network connection on new models, and the company plans to add wireless-network support for AOL Radio streams soon.

MOOCOWMUSIC: BAND
This $9.99 app generated a lot of excitement when demonstrated at a recent Apple conference. Users can create their own music using virtual instruments on the iPhone’s touch screen, such as guitar strings and piano keys. Final tracks can be mixed and saved for later playback.

TAP TAP REVENGE
This is very addictive indeed and must admit I play this myself; it is sort of like Guitar Hero. Players must tap keys or shake the device in one direction or another to the rhythm of the playing song, new songs can be downloaded plus you can enter the free tournament. What I like is that you can register your score online, get tapping people.

LAST.FM
The streaming music site offers an app that provides access to the same catalog of full-song streaming as the Web-based version of the service, as well as links to purchase tracks on iTunes via a Wi-Fi connection, the ability to share songs with other Last.fm users and access to artist info like bios, upcoming events, etc.

MIDOMI MOBILE
This music discovery engine lets fans find songs by singing or humming a few bars, saying or typing the name of a song or artist, or playing a recording through the iPhone’s microphone. Once a song is identified, the app allows users to buy it on iTunes, watch the song’s video on YouTube or view an artist’s bio, photos or other related info.

INTUNA, GUITARTOOLKIT
InTuna ($4.99) and GuitarToolkit ($9.99) turn the iPhone into a guitar tuner, using the device’s built-in microphone to recognize chords and notes. GuitarToolkit includes a metronome function.

Lego Mindstorms NXT Robot solves Rubik?s Cube

by Techno Witch on July 20, 2008

How do you make a Lego Mindstorms robotic kit solve puzzles independently, without the need of an aid computer? Just ask Hans Andersson, the designer behind the Tilted Twister, an autonomous robot which was made using nothing but pieces from the Lego Mindstorms NXT kit.

A set of ultrasonic sensors detect when you place the Rubik’s Cube on the Tilted Twister. The Lego bot can then calculate the moves needed for a solution and executes the proper movement. And the coolest thing about it all? It does this all on its lonesome.

The Tilted Twister flips the cube around to scan each side using a HiTechnic sensor color detection system. The real challenge was creating an algorithm that both complied with the NXT’s computing capabilities and didn’t take years to finish. Lucky for Andersson, he’s figured out a way for the whole process to be finished in an average of 60 moves.

The whole solving process takes about 6 minutes total. While it might not be a pure speed demon, it’s pretty impressive what some people can do with nothing more than a set of Legos. For a more in-depth look at the Titlted Twister and for your own building instructions, check out the official website.

Spotlight Torch

by Techno Witch on July 20, 2008

The Spotlight Torch is one gizmo that you should carry around with you or place at a convenient section of the house just in case you experience a sudden blackout, or need a light source desperately.

The Spotlight Torch’s portable 50mm size yet mighty illumination make it great for outdoor types and vehicle owners who want something tough but lightweight, powerful but pocket-sized. Upcoming camping trips or festivals, where emergencies and badly lit scenarios require a quick and reliable solution, are where the Spotlight LED Torch comes into its own. The Spotlight Torch comes with a rechargeable battery that can be recharged via your car’s cigarette lighter, making it great for the environment, and giving you the freedom to power up your rechargeable torch while on route and throughout your trip – it’s a must-have car gadget!

This fully submersible gadget retails for just £12.95, making it an essential tool to have just in case an emergency happens. Perfect for those who want to be prepared at all times.

No free Wi-Fi access for AT&T iPhone users after all

by Techno Witch on July 20, 2008

Man, I’d be pissed if I were an AT&T iPhone user, and I’m pretty sure you would be too, after reading all about your mobile carrier offering free Wi-Fi access to the precious iPhone, only to retract that statement shortly thereafter. I don’t mean to place the importance of having free Wi-Fi access alongside more important things in life, but to have a company offer the hope of such convenience only to pull back its statement a while later can be quite a killjoy. Worse still is the fact that this is not the first time as it has happened before, which pretty much reminds me of Aesop’s Fables and the boy who cried wolf. While any publicity (good or otherwise) is supposed to be good, one such as this leaving no goodwill whatsoever will be viewed with disdain by the majority.

This gaffe comes about within less than half a year as AT&T mistakenly published a notice on its Web site indicating that Apple iPhone users would get free access to the wireless operator’s more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots around the country. This news has been reported since Friday morning with claims that the notice has been live before 8:30 a.m. PDT, but it is presumed that AT&T folk managed to catch wind of it shortly thereafter, removing it by 9.30am. I wonder whether it was a blog-reading employee who traced down this error?

The notice published in error before it was removed is as follows: “AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and free Wi-Fi even hotter, which is why we are proud to offer iPhone customers free access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi hot-spot network with more than 17,000 hot spots, including Starbucks. Now users can relax and access music, e-mail, and Web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their favorite location.”

Here Comes The Airplane!

by Techno Witch on July 20, 2008

We’re not really sure how the airplane became the vehicle of choice for parents to use as a meal incentive for children. You’d think an airplane flying towards a baby’s face would scare the living hell out of them. But nope, apparently pretending a fork is a flying vessel is an effective way of getting your kid to eat. It’s all about catching the young one’s interest.

But to me this is sort of deceptive. We spend two years or more telling kids that their fork is an airplane, and then another ten years telling them NOT to play with their food. Is this not a tad counterproductive? If you want to play mind games with your kids, at least do it with some realism and dignity. The Airfork One at least LOOKS like a plane.

Encased in food-grade, dishwasher-safe silicone, the 6.5-inch stainless steel Airfork One means that you take some of the guess work away from your kid. Sure, now when you tell them that their fork is an airplane, they no longer need to flex their imagination to not feel totally deceived, but something tells me that the Airfork is much more apt to catch a child’s eye than your baby voice and a standard utensil.

When it comes to feeding your kids, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. We understand that some children are so stubborn that they would starve if it weren’t for a few mind games. Sure, why not, it’s an airplane. Just eat your food, for the love of God.

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