19/02/2013

iOS 6.1.2. Released.

Apple has listened and acted fast to fix the small bugs that effected iOS users since iOS 6.1 was realised at end of January.

Update today even if you haven't been receiving the issues it's still best to stay on the most up to date software.

Like other updates either plug into computer to update or download via settings/general/software update.

iJoe

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17/02/2013

Do You Own An iPhone 4 or 4S?

If you do, developer of Smart Player Shad Deen needs your help.

To qualify you need to....

1. Own a iPhone 4/4s
2. Use Smart Player.
3. Possibly listen to the band XX.

If you happen to tick all those boxes get in touch via this blog with myself via the links below. Or contact Shad on Twitter @shaddeen_

Thanks.

iJoe

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iNews EP. 6

Here's the news.

iWatch Rumours 1
iWatch Rumours 2
iWatch Rumours 3
iWatch Rumours 4
iWatch Rumours 5
iWatch Rumours 6
Kickstarter App Launches for iOS
Kickstarter Project for an iPhone stand
Kickstarter Wallet Case.
iOS 6.1.1 released for iPhone 4S
Fix coming for Email bug in iOS 6.1
Lockscreen/Security Issue in iOS 6.1
This weeks top 30 games.
Comparing Twitter Apps for iPhone.
Comparing Twitter Apps for iPad.
Apple Tv (iTV) rumours 1
Apple Tv (iTV) rumours 2
Apple Tv (iTV) rumours 3
If you want an iPhone music app that you can only check the temperature of one place.
Comparing iPhone, Htc and Blackberry
One Browser buys another Browser
Skype updates its app.
Die Hard Game for iOS
Dropbox gets a nice update
Calendar Ultimate Guide
Tim Cook talks next iPhone
Sir Jonathan Ive receives special award.


Apologies for slow down In comms from the blog. However I'm taking on a small personal battle so I'm focusing a lot of my energy towards that. iJoe is still very much a part of my life and I shall return to the frequency of blogging as I had before.

iJoe

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14/02/2013

Bargains EP. 2.

Two stonking nice Bargains in the App Store today. Get them whilst there hot.

Two of the best games on iOS Gaming platform. For free.

Asphalt Heat - Free Saving of 69p
Infinity Blade - Free Saving of £2.99

iJoe

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11/02/2013

iOS 6.1.1 Now Released.

Apple has just released iOS 6.1.1 for iPhone 4S devices only.

This is an update to fix the connectivity issues for users experiencing difficulty connecting. As detailed in Vodafone's announcement earlier in the week. Vodafones Announcement

To download. Either connect your device to your iTunes or download via OTA on your device.

iJoe

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08/02/2013

Track8 Music Player.

Just a quick update.

I was planning to review Track8 Music Player this week on the blog, as I believed it could beat our current champion App of SmartPlayer.

However as I used it I failed to be overly impressed, some features are nice but don't really enhance the user experience which is ok but not amazing and in the end I removed the App and stuck with Smartplayer.

I'm not a fan of any websites creating negative or neutral reviews as it isn't worth the time to read them. If you can be constructive and attempt to help the developer add to the product then it's ok.

Personally I could give some constructive feedback to enhance app, but overall app didn't float close to Smartplayer.

Only posted this to inform anyone who saw during week on Facebook that I was going to review it and might be waiting.

Oh well, more articles coming next few days.

iJoe

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DON'T UPDATE!! - Updated

Pretty major news coming out of UK network Vodafone tonight. That affects iPhone 4S users.

The following statement was posted on their forums earlier tonight by a "Tech Team" member.

" We’re aware of an issue caused by Apple iPhone 4s handsets that have been upgraded to iOS 6.1 which impacts performance on 3G.

Some customers may occasionally experience difficulty in connecting to the network to make or receive calls or texts or to connect to the Internet. Apple is working on a solution to their software issue. These connection problems are intermittent.

While Apple’s investigations continue, we would recommend that anyone who has not yet installed iOS 6.1 on their iPhone 4s should delay doing so until Apple has confirmed that their problem has been fixed.

Thanks, "

This could affect a lot of people, posting on a forum which I have never used myself I don't think will be a great idea.

iOS 6.1 was released nearly two weeks ago and the general consensus of people will have updated, as iOS will already have informed them via push notification.

I think Vodafone need to communicate this much better, even if its a text to all users, even if they gave a iPhone 5 or another phone at least you've covered your back.

If you are in the position that you own a iPhone 4S and are running iOS 6.1 you can downgrade your iOS it's a tricky procedure and its likely you will lose your iCloud back up as it will need 6.1 to run. But if your really struggling with 3G then you might need to go down this route.
You could also switch your phone to back up to iTunes and restore from there.

No other iPhones, are believed to be affected.

Update 1.

Network 3 in Austria is also advising its customers not to update. If any other networks communicate issues I will update here.

iJoe

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07/02/2013

Bargains.

Just popped onto App Store this evening and found some real crackers at cheap prices.
Get them quick as these won't last long.
If the prices are not as advertised check tomorrow as it might be delayed.

Need For Speed Most Wanted - 69p - Save £2.30.
Tactio Health and fitness - 69p - Save £6.30.
Galaxy on fire 2 - Free - Save £4.99.
Disney Where's My Valentine - Free
Car Tunes Music - Free Save £2.99

iJoe

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Mailbox Is Out...Get in line.

The eagerly anticipated eMail client Mailbox has just been launched onto App stores worldwide.

Get it here - Free

Supports only Gmail and iPhone currently but will roll out more as updates come in.

You need to reserve your place in line. As Orchestra don't want to overload their servers. I'm currently 34642 and there's 273,000 people behind me. So get in sooner than later as the queue keeps growing.

See about it from my previous post here.

iJoe

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Apple Store Service.

This is a trivial type of blog post but a lot of iPhone owners don't realise the level of support that Apple give you after sale.

Let's firstly break down how unprecedented this is for a Phone manufacturer.

Ask yourself this question have you ever seen a Nokia, Blackberry, Samsung, HTC or LG shop in the UK? Answer No.

I'm not sure but I believe the US to be the same.

Granted Apple sell more than just Mobile devices but it's a one of a kind type of Retail outlet in the World.

Another question. Think back to your last phone before iPhone. If it developed a fault, you lost or damaged it what did you have to do? From my own experience you had to either deal with your Network provider or the place you brought the phone and they enjoyed making us spend more cash on getting devices sent off and fixed. Which was not only expensive but unsupportive and inconvenient.

Fast forward to now and what do we do we have.

APPLE CARE

They provide a unprecedented warranty that you can pay to extend. That offers not only Hands on support but telephone support. Yes it's £61 to extend it but that's £61 broken down over a year. That's 16p a day, £1.17 a Week or £5.08 a month for something that could save you hundreds of pounds if you had to buy a new phone sim free.

The hands on Support is what is truly breath taking and makes having an iDevice a pleasure. Now I've spent 6-8 times with a genius via an appointment and it gets better every time.

Apple actually has its own user experience for each customer. It also has an App that enhances the customer experience.

With the Apple Store App you can not only purchase "online" you can also purchase in store.
It offers many services extra if your in an Apple shop. Connect to the App and if you want the free Apple Store wifi and your presented with a store menu, where you can do anything of the following. Check in for your appointment with a genius. Ask a genius, you alert them and they come find you. Purchase via scan and pay. Where you scan via your camera and use your Apple id to pay.

So I had the need for A genius two weeks ago. I'd developed a fault with iPhone 5 that even iJoe and the Internet couldn't fix.
Basically my battery life was horrific. Now I look after my battery, follow everything your meant to do to save it - I'll create a guide next week - and so it was clear when this decided to change. I went from usual usage rates of surviving a full day with around 10% to losing all charge with in 6 hours of no usage.
Also charging was slower and less effective.

So I tried everything I knew, everything the Internet knew and booked myself an appointment with a Genius.

Now I'm blessed to have two relatively close Apple stores by me. One in the centre of Birmingham and one in Solihull.
The appointments are always earlier and quicker to get one on Solihull so I tend choose that one.
I went in on a Tuesday, explained issues and explained what I'd completed. The Apple genius ran a wireless Diagnostics on the device and despite not living up to the Apple mantra of 10 hours battery life it passed all the tests. However he wasn't happy with this and said we had one more option to try and then if that failed he'd replace device. He did offer me a chance to get a new device there and then but as I have a custom designed skin on my phone I chose Visuals over operation and gave it one last chance.

I had to clean install the phone no iCloud back up no nothing. I hadn't done this previously as I had a lot of data I didn't wish to reinstall.
This failed. To be honest I only gave it one hour as I couldn't cope without all my old data and I could tell the battery wasn't well. It lost 10% in the five minutes of leaving store to getting into car. Those 5 minutes I didn't touch my device at all.

So when I got home I rebooked for following day - an advantage for this store. Returned and got a different genius he however knew from my customer notes I'd been in and where I was - he told me the notes are done almost magically from the answers they put into their iPhones as they are dealing with you. Incredible. He told me he would sort me a new iPhone we just had to lie a little. As the device had passed all the standard tests we needed to create a little fault to swap devices. I'm not going to rat out this genius any more but rest assured I got a new device and he did his job 110%.

It was nice to not have to jump through hoops to get what I wanted. The genius knew what was happening wasn't right and knew what to do to give me, the customer, what I wanted.

Overall the Apple retail experience is second to none. Both enhanced by in store and via the App. If you have a slight niggle or problem I suggest you use them 5000%. They will fix the issue no matter what. Also if your outside your warranty they can replace your devices with refurbished ones for a fee, which it a lot less than a sim free phone.

Got a problem. Use a genius.