dfbills.com blog

Yes, this is a nice way to show your users that the service is unavailable.

Great job, Aardvark.  I’ve the additional screens as well.

LogMeIn Ignition allows you to connect to and control your desktop computers just like if you were sitting in right front of them.  The iPhone App works over any network connection, faster is obviously better, and is very easy to use.

With this software, you can:

• grab a file you forgot to take home
• start processes remotely
• show pictures from a remote computer
• logout or shutdown a computer
• check to see if you have a song in a remote iTunes library

After downloading, simply enter your credentials and you’ll be presented with of a list of computers where LogMeIn is installed and ready for action.  If you haven’t installed LogMeIn on a desktop computer, you obviously won’t have any available destinations.

If you haven’t tried the desktop software, you’re in for a treat.  The basic screen sharing is free and I’ve used it for years.  The service is fast and just works.  I’ve been able to connect in every network configuration I’ve tried, including firewall and double-NAT situations.

The iPhone software is pricey at $29.99, but considering how much I’ve used the free desktop sofware and the fact that there are no monthly fees, it’s worth it. 

LogMeIn - Remote Access and Desktop Control Software for Your Computer
LogMeIn Ignition (iTunes AppStore)

The Nike + iPod on iPhone 3GS is pretty slick.  Since it is an official Apple App, it gets the benefit of backgrounding.  This means you can respond to SMS, take a quick picture or video and even Twitter without interrupting your workout progress.  However, taking calls while in a Nike + iPod workout does indeed pause the workout according to Apple.

One of the more interesting things about Nike+ on the iPhone is that you can control the music with the Apple headphone remote.  You can pause, skip, rewind, adjust volume and even run Voice Control to find out what song is playing!  The only unfortunate thing about the Voice Control is that when it finishes, the song remains paused even though the workout is still running.  To fix, just pause the workout with the remote and resume with one more tap.  You’ll hear both the music and a confirmation that the workout has resumed.

I couldn’t help thinking how cool it would be if this product added GPS tracking similar to iMapMyRun.  The Nike site already supports routes, but they must be entered manually.  The accuracy of GPS plus stride tracking would be killler!  Here’s to version 2.0-

Apple has posted a handy support note: “Tips and Tricks when using Voice Control”-

Using the microphone

- Use the built-in microphone or the microphone on the headset. Bluetooth headsets are not supported for Voice Control

- For best results when you’re using headphones with a built-in microphone, let the cord with the built-in microphone hang freely. Avoid holding the cord with the microphone or bringing it closer to your mouth. When the headphones are in your ear and the cord dangles freely, the microphone is in the optimum position.

- For best results when you’re using the built-in microphone on iPhone 3G S, hold iPhone like you were on a telephone call. If holding it in front of yourself, you can hold it up to 12 inches with the built-in microphone facing you.

- If you are using a carrying case and experiencing some issues with Voice Control, the microphone may be blocked. Try removing the carrying case.

When to speak

- After you press and hold the Home button, you will be prompted by an audible tone to speak a command.

- Always wait until the prompt is complete before you start speaking. Any words you speak while iPhone is giving the prompt will be ignored.

- Be ready to speak when the beep has completed.  Long pauses may cause unexpected results.

For voice dialing

- Some short names may be too similar and may be hard to distinguish by themselves. For best results with these kinds of names, try saying both the first and last name.

- If you’re having difficulties getting iPhone to recognize a particular name, try editing the contact, tap Add Field, and add a unique nick name.

- Avoid possessive names. Instead of saying “call Frank’s mobile” try “call Frank on his mobile.”

For music playback

- You can play all songs in an album, playlist, or by an artist. iPhone 3G S will not recognize commands to play a particular song.

- If you can’t get iPhone to recognize the album or artist name, try telling it to play a particular playlist.

- If an artist has “The” in the name, make sure you say it.

Erica Sadun has posted a simple, nerdy method for checking the availability of the iPhone 3.0 firmware.  The idea is to grab the XML returned from the iTunes iPhone software check. 


curl -s -L http://phobos.apple.com/version |\
grep -i restore |\
grep ‘_3.’ | open -f


To understand the output, you need to know which model you’re looking for.

iPhone- 1,1
iPhone 3G- 1,2
iPhone 3G S- 2,1

iPod Touch- 1,1
iPod Touch 2G- 2,1

When I see this- I know I’m golden:

iPhone1,2_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw

[via TUAW]

If you’ve been wondering how to disable the Exchange serve PIN requirement, here’s how to remove it. (at least partially)

1. Jailbreak

2. Use PhoneView to download /var/Managed Preferences/mobile/com.apple.springboard.plist

3. Edit the plist file and adjust settings as needed:


<key>PolicyInformation</key>
<dict>
<key>maxFailedAttempts</key>
<integer>5</integer>
<key>maxInactivity</key>
<integer>5</integer>
<key>minLength</key>
<integer>7</integer>
</dict>


4. Use PhoneView upload and overwrite com.apple.springboard.plist

5. Reboot your phone

6. Go into Settings.app and turn autolock and pin off

Note: The KillExchangeLocks application from Cydia does not appear to work.  Some people have pointed to a tightening of Apple’s security policies as the reason.  The app hasn’t been updated since the fall of 2008.

The plist is automatically updated approximately once per day, so I’ll be looking into a cron-based solution soon.

On my system, only the “passcode required” value seems to reset.  I don’t mind a 4-hour lockdown.  It seems like a reasonable amount of security.  This is much better than the 1 minute interval I was stuck with and now I can actually keep my screen from auto-locking when I use SlingPlayer.

Skype, Inc. has just released the official Skype app for the iPhone.  Available for free today on the Apple App Store, you can now make free skype to skype calls, paid Skype-out calls & instant message. 

Wi-Fi is required to make calls, but this is to be expected as it is an Apple-imposed restriction. 

Reacting to the rejection of the latest Tweetie twitter client, Dan Moren wrote “Apple rejects Twitter app because there’s swearing on the Internet” for Macworld.

Regardless, the review process for iPhone apps needs to be standardized, and it needs to be done now, not later. Apple’s created an impressive business out of the App Store — it’s time to stop acting like it’s being run out of a garage.

The ending phrase: “run out of a garage” so perfectly sums up my feelings on the matter.

[via Daring Fireball]

Google has just launched Google Sync service for the iPhone in beta form.  Google Sync is a Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync push service that works with GMail’s contacts and Google Calendar. 

Can push GMail be far behind?

Apple announced a variable-pricing model for the music offered on the iTunes store.  The new, tiered pricing will be launched in the spring at the $0.69, $0.99 and $1.29 price points.  Phil Schiller assured the crowd that more tracks would be priced toward the bottom tier than the top.

Additionally and perhaps more importantly, all music from the major labels will be available DRM-free in the iTunes Plus format by the end of Q1 2009.

Finally, label and carrier restrictions have been lifted for the iTunes Mobile Store on the iPhone and iPod Touch allowing over-the-air downloading of music with no artificial restrictions.  Pricing and content is identical to the desktop offerings.  Hopefully, video will come soon-