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More on DynDns and Utorrent

Jan 23, 2010 Information, iphone

A lot of my readers are asking what dyndns is and what is it for. Well let me devote an entire post to that and clear things up.

DynDns is a free service offered to those that have a dynamic IP address that changes often.

See if you visit http://www.ipchicken.com right now it will show you your ip address. This is your address on the internet. Its like your home address only its in a digital world.

DynDns.com gives you a free sub-domain that points to that number so that you don’t have to remember it and especially remember it each time it may change.

In a previous article I wrote about downloading torrents remotely, I discussed how I use dyndns.com along with my router to keep my IP address pointing to the name thebatchfile.homeip.net which I got for free from dyndns.com. This way I could always access Utorrent while away from home using my iphone without the worry of remembering an IP address that could possibly change on me from time to time since I do not pay for a static IP address with my internet provider.

In order for dyndns.com to work for you, you will need to first visit their site and sign up for a free account. Then you will need to either use one of their free IP address update applications to run on your computer to keep your IP address changes synchronized with their database OR you may can set it up in your router if you have one.

I think its safe to say that almost all routers have a configuration page you can access from your web browser. To be able to access your routers web configuration you need to know its address internal to you network.

To figure out the address of your router do this. If you are on a windows computer click START then RUN and type the letters CMD and press enter. This will bring up a command prompt window. Now type in ipconfig /all in the window and press enter.

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Tags: dyndns, iphone, torrents

How To Use Your Iphone to Download Torrents Remotely

Jan 21, 2010 Information, Services, Software

Utorrent is great for downloading torrents. It has this wonderful web interface that allows you to paste in urls to torrents and have them download. You can use your browser to do this or even your iphone.

This is convenient if your work forbids you from downloading torrents.  I was once with some friends having dinner and one asks have I seen The Uninvited. I says no. Then I thought hey I can download that right now before I forget, so I broke out my iphone, opened safari, went to the bookmark I had set for thepiratebay.org, looked for the movie, copied the link, then opened a new page in safari and clicked on the bookmark I had set for my utorrent on my personal machine at home, then logged into it, pasted the url to the torrent in there and clicked go. It began to download. Everyone was amazed. About 25 minutes later as we were getting in the car, my phone churped and it was an email notifying me that the download was complete and ready to watch ( I still have not watched it yet).

Now I am going to show you how you can do exactly the same thing.

First we need to setup a http://www.dyndns.com/ account to turn your ip address into a name.

Your ip address is a number that your internet service provider or ISP for short assigns you to allow you internet access. Sometimes this number changes and it would be hard to remember so we need to turn this number into a name.

Here is a how to article from their website.

https://www.dyndns.com/services/dns/dyndns/howto.html

Register for a free account at  http://www.dyndns.com/.  Agree to the site’s terms, and use a legitimate email address to complete registration. Once in awhile, DynDNS will email you at that address asking you to confirm that it continue your service.

Log into your new account. Go to the “My Services” area on the left side. Under “Host  Services” click “Add New HostName.” There, fill in the name you want to use.  DynDNS will autofill your IP address (if you’re doing this from your home computer). Choose a domain and type in a custom subdomain, which can be anything from lifehacker.kicks-ass.org or john.is-a-geek.com or something, like below:

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Tags: download torrents remotely, iphone, torrents

Anti-Glare Film for Iphone

Nov 4, 2009 Information, iphone

I think it was over two months ago that I was in the Apple Retail Store and saw some Anti-Glare film sets for the Iphone all generations. I had seen these before on a friends Iphone and it looked great. There was no glare like a mirror and it resisted fingerprints and face oils usually left on the screen.

I recently installed the Tom Tom navigation application on the Iphone and thought that the Anti-Glare would make it easier to see in the day time.

I picked up a set of two for around $16 and that was the best money I have ever spent. To this day the one that I put on my phone is still as pristine as that day I applied it. My wife who is using the other one feels the same way. It is in and out of her purse all day long and there is not a mark on it. Fingers rub across the screen with ease, no dragging on the glass. I love it!

Now if only I could get compensated by Apple for expressing my feelings for a wonderful product in my blogs.

Check them out here

Power Support Anti-Glare Film Set for iPhone

Tags: anti-glare, apple retail store, film sets, iphone, navigation application, screen protector, tom tom navigation

Transfer Voicemails from the Iphone to your Computer

Oct 29, 2009 Information, iphone

Once you’re connected to the device using the iphone browser tool, browse to /private/var/mobile/Library/Voicemail/ to view the list of VM files.

The Manual Record Way

If you’re iPhone is not jailbroken (or not even an iPhone at all), you can also utilize your phone’s headphone jack and your computer’s line in.

Tags: iphoen browser, iphone, iphone voicemail, Voicemails

How to Force Quit Restart Reset iPhone OS 3.0

Jul 1, 2009 Information, iphone

You must have noticed lots of visible changes in OS 3.0 but there are many hidden changes.  One of them is Forcely Quit app in iPhone.  Sometimes an application (from the App Store or even like Safari) can start taking up so much memory that it starts to decrease the performance of the device.  In OS 2.X.X we used this trick “ Press and hold the home button.  Holding this home button for about 10 seconds will force that app or game to quit. ” But for iPhone OS 3.0 and iPhone 3G S there are certain changes.

If something isn’t working right, restarting, force quitting an application, or resetting iPhone will likely solve the problem.  Force quitting can be good avenues, not only to exit a misbehaving or frozen app.  It’s also a good practice to quit background apps like Safari and Mail, which take up precious memory, especially before starting a game.

How to Force Quit an App : To force quit an application in 3.0, press and hold the sleep/wake button until the slide to power off screen appears, then press and hold the home button until the application quits (about six seconds).

How to Reset iPhone : Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.

How to Restart iPhone : Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the red slider appears.  Slide your finger across the slider to turn off iPhone.  To turn iPhone back on, press and hold the Sleep/Wake until the Apple logo appears.  If you can’t turn off iPhone or if the problem continues, you may need to reset.  A reset should be done only if turning iPhone off and on doesn’t resolve the problem.

Tags: force quit apps, iphone, iphone 3.0, iphone 3gs, restart iphone

Sync your Iphone Contacts and Calendar with Google

Jun 14, 2009 Information, iphone

How to Sync your iPhone Contacts and Calendar with Google

When setting up Google Sync on your iPhone or iPod touch device for Contacts, the iPhone will delete all Contacts.
Please upload all your iPhone Contacts to Google before setting up Sync.

Only the following information can be uploaded:

* People’s names and job titles
* Company names
* Email and postal addresses
* Phone numbers
* IM names, including the type of service
* Notes

Other information, like custom ringtones and photos, are not uploaded. Please sync them to Outlook first.
Upload Instructions
1. Connect your iPhone or iPod Touch to your computer using the USB cable.
2. Open the iTunes application.
3. Select your iPhone and click the Info tab.
4. Check the Sync Contacts with option and select Google Contacts from the drop-down menu.
5. Click Configure and enter your Google username and password.

6. Press Apply to sync your device with iTunes.

(Note: After you have completed this step, your iPhone may contain unwanted Contacts from your Google account. Most of these will be removed when you complete the next steps and sync your iPhone directly with Google.)
Calendar & Contacts Sync: Set Up Your iPhone or iPod Touch
To set up Google Sync on your iPhone or iPod Touch device, please follow the steps below.

Requirements and Upload
1. Make sure your device has version 2.2 firmware or above. You can check your current version by going to Settings > General > About > Version.
To upgrade, follow the instructions at http://www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/.

2. Upload any Contacts and Calendars from your phone to your computer before proceeding. The iPhone will delete Contacts and Calendars during setup.

3. The contacts that are replaced on your device will be the contents of your My Contacts group. This is the only group supported at this time, so make sure to clean up your My Contacts before syncing.
Tip: If you have a Mac, make sure that Synchronize with Google in the Address Book app is OFF. Otherwise all of your contacts will sync to Address Book.

4. Mail sync is not yet supported. You may receive error messages if you attempt to turn on Sync for Mail.

Getting Started
1. Open the Settings application on your device’s home screen.
2. Open Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
3. Tap Add Account….
4. Select Microsoft Exchange.

Enter Account Info
5. In the Email field, enter the name of the account (anything you’d like).
6. Leave the Domain field blank.
7. Enter your full Google Account email address as the Username.
8. Enter your Google Account password as the Password.
9. Tap Next at the top of your screen.
10. A new Server field will appear. Enter m.google.com.
11. Press Next at the top of your screen again.

12. Select the Google services you want to sync. Currently only Contacts and Calendar are supported.
Make sure that you have uploaded your data before proceeding.

13. Press Sync twice when warned about data loss.

You’ve set up Google Sync for your iPhone. Synchronization will begin automatically if you have Push enabled on your phone. You can also open the Calendar or Contacts app and wait a few seconds to start a sync.

Tip: If your business, school, or organization uses Google Apps, your administrator will first need to enable ActiveSync before you can take advantage of this feature.

Tags: address book, calendars, google, iphone, sync

My Top Ten Wish List Items for the Next iPhone Update

Jan 6, 2009 Information, iphone

Hopefully a new update to the iPhone is on the horizon, possible slated for release next month.

Just in case Apple is listening, here is my My Top Ten Wish list Items for the next iPhone update.

1. Backgrounding – How many times have you been in an application like IRChon for instance (irc chatting program), then had to press the home button to get to your notes or simply answer a call or text message, then when your done you have to relaunch your program and reconnect? This is terrible and I don’t want to resort to jail breaking my iPhone to get this functionality!!

2. The ability to add more than one photo attachment to an email – The last time I attached a photo to email on my iPhone I needed to send three to the same person and had to compose 3 separate emails.

3. Forwarding of text messages – There have been many many times when I have needed to forward a message and cant. Its a real shame something so simple, something that has been a part of text messaging since it began has been withdrawn or overlooked. If I could copy and paste I would copy the message and at least paste it in an email, but simple cannot. This brings me to my next gripe/wish for the next iPhone update.

4. Copy and Paste – We are all tired of asking. Think of how convenient it would be if I could copy text from an email, text message, web page, or whatever and do with it as I wish. I know without a doubt my productivity on the iPhone would increase dramatically. C’mon Apple!

5. Save a text message as a draft or canned response – I am in dire need of this really. I like to have a few canned responses to text message handy and cant do it on the iPhone. Canned responses like “Be right there”, “On my way”, “Call me when you can”, “Cant talk right now”, you get the idea. It would be nice to make these messages and have them saved to drafts or templates as I have always done.

6. The ability to cancel a text message – At this time if you are typing someone, and decide not send them a text, there is no cancel. You can press the back button, or actually its called “messages” or even the home button to get out of it, but you will be right back at the unfinished message when you want to text this person again. Best you can do is backspace over the message, thats it. Who has the time for that? The iPhone is supposed to make all things better. A simple cancel would save much time.

7. The ability to take video and upload it to YouTube or any other video site – This is long overdue, just think of the possibilities.

8. Time and date stamp on photos – This seems like it can be handled with about 3 lines of code inserted into the correct place. This is OS X in your pocket right? Well everything done on it should create a time and date stamp of the actions so why not reflect that on each photo so that I will know when I took it. Instead I have to download them to the computer to know.
Not satisfactory Apple!

9. Organize photos – I think I would be nice if I could create folders and manage my photos on the iPhone. I recently had a folder with many sub folders on my computer and as I used iTunes to move the photos to the iPhone, and everything was organized perfectly on my Windows Computer. Once it was synced, the only folder that stayed true to form was the root folder, all the sub folders I created vanished. Itunes dumbed all 1054 pictures into one folder. Thanks!

10. Do not lock my screen while using GPS – Not sure who to blame here, Google or Apple. When I use the Google Maps as a navigation device, my screen will lock after my preset time. Many use this app as their main GPS in their vehicles. If you are following along the route that Google calculates for you and your screen dims, then 20 seconds later locks, you will have to tap/slide to unlock. This seems like more than you need to be doing while driving. Google should either add the function in the settings to turn the locking feature off while the application is in use, or Apple should maybe not allow the device to lock while the GPS is in use, and their should be a setting to turn that on or off as well.

Feel free to leave a suggestion of your own that you would like to see in the next iPhone update in the comments section.

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Tags: canned response, copy and paste iphone, forward text messages, iphone, iphone updates, iphone wish list, text message

AT&T – Fewer Bars in Fewer Places

Jan 6, 2009 Information, iphone, Tech News

How many of you out there have the 2g iphone and have yet to upgrade to the newer 3g model?

Sometimes we need a push to get going in the right direction and it seems AT&T is wanting to push its 2g users into getting new phones.

Timothy Butler over at OFB did some sleuthing and found that AT&T is downgrading its EDGE/2G service to the weaker 1900 MHz band. Their response to those with newly-lousy service? Buy a new phone.

What this means is that instead of the “More Bars In More Places” motto that you often hear on the commercials it will be more like “less bars in less places” like inside your homes and offices, and out of the way places.

Additionally, this makes a lot of us wonder what will happen to iPhone 3G users in 2G-only areas? Will AT&T leave the 850 band for them until 3G rolls in? And what about users switching to 2G to save battery life? Will it now come at the expense of their signal?

What about the users that are still in contract that have no way to purchase a new 3g device, whether it be an iphone or blackberry? If your new phone sees a drop in reception and reliability due to a change in network coverage, you have no choice but to suck it up, or buy a new device outright.

AT&T’s executive director of analyst relations, Mark Siegel, is denying reports that salespeople are telling customers to switch from 2G to 3, but that’s to be expected. The really sad part is that AT&T’s 3G service leaves much to be desired, too.

It is not even offered in my area

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Tags: 2g service, 3g, ATT, cell phone reception, iphone, lousy service

Google Mobile App for Iphone

Jan 2, 2009 Hacks, Information, iphone

I just love my Iphone 3G. I have installed many applications from the app store onto it one of them being the Google Mobile App which is very handy. It allows you to search with your voice so you don’t have to type, search using your location making finding businesses, weather, and movie info easy, suggestions appear as you type to save you time, and you can launch Gmail, Google News, and more from one place.

Recently discovered that there is a hidden settings panel called “Bells and Whistles” that lets you customize the colors and sounds. To reveal the new pane, go into Google Mobile’s Settings area, scroll to the bottom of the page, and swipe up several times until the “Bells and Whistles” entry appears. Then tap it to set the applications theme color, sounds (chicken or monkey), and turn on a live waveform for voice search.

Tags: bells and whistles, easter egg, google news, hidden settings, iphone, search google

Recently got a new Iphone 3G

Nov 25, 2008 Information

I recently got a new iPhone and really like it a lot more than I thought I would.

I was against getting one when they first came out (first gen), because it lacked so many things I thought a cellphone should have.
Some of these things were:

No copy and paste
No video recording
No voice/memo recording
No Multimedia Message Sending
No Removable battery
No 3G Connectivity
No GPS
No Voice Dialing
No MP3 as a ring tone
No Over The Air Downloads
No integration with MS Exchange
No Office support for Word and Excel docs
A recessed headphone jack that made you have to get an adapter to use regular earphones
There are probably some things that I am forgetting but you get the idea.

At the time when it came out I had the Nokia 6682 and it did most of those things, so I just laughed at the $599 price tag for a 4gig iPhone that didn’t do as much as my current phone did.

I kept thinking it’s always best to not buy anything in its first year production.
You should let the manufacturers work the kinks and bugs out of new products before you buy them, so I waited.

After the second generation iPhone came out, some new things were added.

Better battery life
GPS (really good I might add)
3G Connectivity
Exchange Support
Office Support
Over the Air downloads (FW2.2)
An earphone jack that accepts common earphones

There is still no Voice Dialing, Video Recording, or MMS but really these are features I find myself not using much at all anyways.

As my contract was coming to an end I was thinking about getting an iPhone but they were still high in price so I got the BlackJack II red (really its maroon).

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Tags: iphone, multimedia message, nokia 6682