iPhone/iPad Apps

[Simon]

Glad you like the iPhone, Niall. Then again, how could anyone not?

[Gary]

There's a Facebook app, you know?

And its free 

[Niall]

There's a Facebook app, you know?

Indeedy, that's what I'm using. I actually browse Facebook on my iphone now, it's so much quicker than viewing it through your PC

Battery life is shocking though. On my C905 it was constantly connected to the 3g network, checking emails etc, but the iphone seems to do the same with about a 300% increase in power consumption. Still, the plus points are still outweighing the negatives and I'm super dooper happy with it

Oh there's a hangman RSS game too, which is a great idea. It pulls the words from the latest news headlines across the globe, so you've got something other than the same old dull word game. It's a nice little idea that

[Niall]

Glad you like the iPhone, Niall. Then again, how could anyone not?

I imagine it's not to everyone's taste, especially if you're after something like a Blackberry.

[Simon]

I have an HTC HD2 as well as my BlackBerry Storm, and the battery life on the HD2 is also shocking.  2 hours connected to Wi-Fi kills 50% of the battery, just in stand by!  I have to charge my BlackBerry every night, but at least it does usually last the day, unless I've been making lots of calls.

[Sebby]

Battery life is shocking though. On my C905 it was constantly connected to the 3g network, checking emails etc, but the iphone seems to do the same with about a 300% increase in power consumption. Still, the plus points are still outweighing the negatives and I'm super dooper happy with it

You'll find that a lot of that is down to that fact that you're using it more than you normally would because it's new and exciting. Also make sure you have the recent 3.1.3 software update.

[Gary]

You'll find that a lot of that is down to that fact that you're using it more than you normally would because it's new and exciting. Also make sure you have the recent 3.1.3 software update.

I get about two and a half days standbye on mine if I dont hammer the wifi and apps which you tend to do less as time goes on and you just get the base ones you like. 3.1.3 did help the battery meter show the correct rate now though which helps.

[Niall]

I'm not using it as much as I did my other phone. With the C905 I was always taking photos with it, but I think the way the iphone is set up, it's constantly using the 3g where on my C905 it would only connect when an application asked.

I'm still not sure what all this pushing malarky is about though

[Sebby]

It's where emails are pushed to your phone by the server, rather than being pulled from the server, i.e. the message arrives in real-time, rather than at the scheduled check interval. To take advantage of push, you need a MobileMe account, a MS Exchange account, or a Google Apps account.

[Gary]

I'm not using it as much as I did my other phone. With the C905 I was always taking photos with it, but I think the way the iphone is set up, it's constantly using the 3g where on my C905 it would only connect when an application asked.

I'm still not sure what all this pushing malarky is about though

Push uses battery life quite hard as does 3G, I am in a low 3G area so I turn it off unless I go out and use my home router, certain applications will push information to your phone, like Beejive will push msn messages to your iPhone when you close the app down so you dont miss out on a message. Have a fiddle and find the settings best suited to you, also screen brightness will eat battery, saying that I have mine on auto which seems fine for my needs.

Also what Sebby said, but I think MobileMe is a bit of a waste of money, but we all need different things.

[Sebby]

On my 3G, I have push email on, but 3G off since I find O2's 3G coverage poor. My battery isn't bad at all, lasting almost 2 days.

[Gary]

On my 3G, I have push email on, but 3G off since I find O2's 3G coverage poor. My battery isn't bad at all, lasting almost 2 days.

I just check my email by hand Sebby and have push off for, except for Beejive but since im pretty much at home 24/7 i dont need to have it pushed, but I get good battery life it got better after a few charge cycles as well from new, I let it go down to 10% before I recharge, and once a month let it turn itself off then recharge overnight. Battery is fine 

[Niall]

Shame you can't carry a spare battery, Niall.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TeckNet-1900mAH-External-Battery-Classic/dp/B001B214II/ref=pd_cp_ce_3

Apparently you can. I think I'll bookmark this for next payday. That and the Dangermouse box set I desperately need

[psp83]

Opera have submitted there browser to the app store today.. hopefully apple will allow it..

Quick vid here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpTCS3g-cBY

It does seem alot quicker. 5 pages to 1 safari page! 

[Steve]

Thanks Paul we await with baited breath.

[Rik]

That's a pretty impressive demo.

[Niall]

I have to say, I'm a little suspicious about that demo. If I load a page, it loads as quickly as the demo shows that Opera does. As for the loading other pages, I'd like to see a clearer demo as it gave the impression they're hiding loading speeds by opening other things on top. That along with the fact those pages could be cached ones refreshing, and we'd never know from that demo.

I never load more than one page at a time when I'm browsing anyway, unless I'm at home doing multiple things. You can do that in Safari anyway, but in a slightly different way.

Overall I'd say I wouldn't use that unless they show a clearer demo. If it's free I'll give it a go though.

[Steve]

As I understand it,its quicker as some of the pages are  coming from Opera's internet file cache where ever that's located,perhaps there is one in this country?

[Gary]

I never used Opera for Series 60, the N95 browser was good enough, I think I am happy with Safari a few pages faster does not really worry me, tbh but it would be good for it to accepted.

[Gary]

Found a great app (pay for) called Instapaper here is what it does.

Save web pages for later offline reading, optimized for readability on your iPhone or iPod touch's screen.

Great for long articles and blog posts that you find during the day and would like to read, but don't have the time when you find them. Save with Instapaper, then read later.

Browse the Editor's Picks for more stories to read when you haven't had time to find any.

PRO FEATURES:

- Folders
- Automatic updates
- Save your position
- Dictionary lookups
- Tilt scrolling, pagination
- Adjustable fonts and text sizes
- Dark mode for night reading
- Send to Tumblr and Twitter

Its a great way of reading stuff in a great format, I have ElReg as one folder with automatic updates, if I see something on TV and want to know what it is I can google it on my phone, save it with the app and read it later, the auto tilt scroll is really handy as well.

[Tacitus]

I'm sure there must be some Conservative Party supporters on iDNetters     and, wondered if those with an iPhone have seen the Party's iPhone App.  

If they have, before they use and install it they may want to have a look at this article regarding the DPA.  Not noticed if NewLabour or the LibDems have produced a similar iApp, but quite possibly the same caveats would apply regarding the use of personal data.  

Welcome to modern election campaigning....    

[Rik]

If that isn't covered by the DPA, the legislation is wrong. If I had a friend called Peter, he'd be an ex-friend.

[Niall]

I'd apply reasonable force to Peters jaw area.

[Rik]

Delivered over a short period?

[psp83]

Opera browser for iPhone has been accepted by apple. Should see it in the app store soon.