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➶ A wiki for prepaid (iPhone compatible) SIM cards around the world
Ridiculously useful, including all the tips on how to enable PAYG data on AT&T. If you’re globe-trotting with an iPhone this summer (as I will be) this is essential reading.
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➶ Bad Connection: Inside the iPhone Network Meltdown
Wired’s previously-mentioned feature on the relationship between AT&T and Apple is now online.
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Early on when an AT&T representative suggested to one of Jobs’ deputies that the Apple CEO wear a suit to meet with the AT&T board, he was told “We’re Apple. We don’t wear suits. We don’t even own suits”.
Wired on the iPhone network meltdown - Wired’s August edition has a piece on Apple & AT&T, however it’s not yet online. ZDNet offers some tidbits. -
Every iPhone 4 TV ad Apple EVER does from now on is going to show people holding it left-handed, just to screw with the complainers.
Peter Cohen, via Twitter -
➶ iPhone 4: The Perception
This short piece pretty much sums up my experience mentioning that I have an iPhone 4 to non-technical users. Even though there may not be that big an issue with the iPhone 4, the damage to Apple’s image is being done by the mainstream perception that the device is fundamentally flawed.
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Calamari? It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since the original iPhone. Here’s one of the ads that kicked it all off.
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8 More Subtle Changes You May Not Notice in iOS4
After yesterday’s post I was inundated with other small tweaks. Here’s a selection of others, spotted by eagle-eyed readers. Thanks to all those who sent them in!
1. Voice Control
Voice Control now responds to “What time is it?”. Some folks also tried “Where am I?” - a great idea - but to no avail. Only “What time is it?” works.
2. Voice Memos
I’ve never been a fan of the Voice Memo app, but iOS4 at least brings in a slightly more stylish render of the microphone.
3. Mail
I’ve been using the iOS 4 Betas for so long that I forgot that Gmail accounts (when explicitly set up as Gmail accounts in Settings.app) you can now set it up to Archive when pressing Delete instead of having to manually set this up.
Minor Gripe: MobileMe recently introduced a similar archive feature in the web mail UI. It’d be nice if MobileMe accounts also switched to ‘Archive’ instead of ‘Delete’.
4. Mail
Mail now shows avatars besides message subjects.
5. Messages
I’ve not been able to replicate this one, however if an SMS or picture message fails to send, you’ll get an alert badge on Messages.app to warn you.
6. Quick International Keyboard Switching
If you’re in a rush to switch to another keyboard, pressing and holding on the globe button reveals a new popup.
7. Push Notifications
Applications that are push-enabled are now listed alphabetically.
8. Data Settings
In iOS4 the user has the option to turn off cellular data entirely.
Found More?
If you’ve found any more little tweaks, either enter them here or drop me a note with them, and I’ll collate them for another post!
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8 Subtle Changes You May (Or May Not) Notice in iOS 4
Every time Apple releases a new OS update, be it on the Mac or iPhone, there’s a bucketload of smaller - lesser-spotted - changes that appear in the system. iOS 4 very much continues this trend, so whilst you’re busy perusing the new update today here’s 8 little changes you may (or may not) spot.
All screenshots taken on an iPhone 3G
1. Call Screen
The”End Call” button is now simply “End” - and a different shade of red to boot - whilst a contact’s photo now flows beneath the “End” button itself.
2. Mail
Whenever you create a draft email (in Mail.app or in any other application that uses the Mail framework) you’re now prompted discard or drafts with a destructive button in the action sheet.
3. Safari
Whenever the web address or search field is active they take up less screen space than in previous releases.
4. iPod
When viewing album listings in the iPod application, you’re presented with a far more spacious view (similar to the on-device iTunes Store) for browsing songs complete with album artwork.
5. Springboard
Every Apple OS release improves the copy shown in error messages and dialogues, and iOS 4 has some tweaks too. Applications with an age rating are now explicitly named when downloading them - a huge improvement over the previous releases where you’d be left in the dark as to which application you were approving.
Sidenote: Whilst I’m talking about copywriting, there’s also some improvements in the error messages from the system too. For example, this error message from NSURLConnection:
iOS 3: “no Internet connection”
iOS 4: “The Internet connection appears to be offline”
If you’re a developer that uses these localised error descriptions you may want to check your UILabels have enough space to fully display the more verbose warnings.
Update: As pointed out by Brandon Walkin this still isn’t great: using ‘Click’ on a touch-screen device is flat-out wrong…
6. Maps
This isn’t entirely new in iOS 4 - it’s been in the iPad since launch - however it never ceases to amaze me how the map tile fade-ins improve the (already brilliant) Maps application. As you’d expect, developers get this new animation for free as part of MapKit too.
7. Homescreen Animations
Again, another that’s from the iPad (but, it’ll be more noticeable to those who upgrade from iOS 3.1 or earlier). The application dock slides up when returning to the homescreen and down when launching an application (a la Mac OS X dock animation). In iOS 3 the dock would stay in place when you quit or launched an application.
8. Homescreen
When pressing a wiggling homescreen icon to remove an application, the (X) button found in the top left of the application icon now has a depressed state - shown on the Twitter for iPhone icon.
Found More?
Update 22nd June: There’s 8 more little changes listed in this followup.
If you’ve found any more little tweaks, either enter them here or drop me a note with them, and I’ll collate them for another post!
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➶ iPhone 4 Confirmed to Have 512MB of RAM
Next Thursday is going to be a smokin’ fast upgrade from my lowly iPhone 3G…
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For all those trying to beat the iPhone…
© Nik Fletcher 2010 ~ Contact
