DropBox

DropBox

Does anyone have experience with DropBox on their iPhone/PC? Files saved to the 'Box' file are automatically sync between Pc and iPhone. Thoughts?

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I use DropBox between my iPhone, iPad, work PC, and home PCs. Works pretty well for me.

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I use dropbox...iPhone....mac desktops and laptop...no probs.....Yes...it synchs perfectly fine....

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Use it every day and I am very happy with it. Works very well.

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Ditto, I'm using it on my iPhone, a WIndows laptop, and a Ubuntu desktop and I find it to be a brilliant solution for syncing files.

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The idea sounds good but:

- you need a fast internet connection all the time

- works with smaller files otherwise it would take forever to transfer

- You have to pay if you start using a little bit more

- worst of all, what would happen if dropbox closes?

Remember, like the real thing, clouds are here now and in the next minute they are not. and that applies to all online services that keep your data and info.

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Of course, you keep copies of the original files. Tried it with 100+ MB files and did not have any problem.

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"The Cloud" is not evanescent vapor. The Cloud is thousands of tons of hardware — server farms scattered around the countryside.

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Jim, those are good points. However, Dropbox also stores the files on your computer. If you open up Dropbox on your computer without a network, you'll see your file. Granted, it won't be the latest if you've changed it recently elsewhere.

What are some other viable solutions? I've done the email transfer thing but definitely prefer this way. TL

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There's Apple's iDisk, but oddly enough it isn't as well integrated as is DropBox.

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I have lots of experience with dropbox on the iPhone, just not PC related. I'm a Mac head. Dropbox is great. I use it all the time. It syncs with bot my iMac and MBP and all my iDevices. I consider dropbox the best cloud app out. I've tried a few other cloud apps that are similar to dropbox but they were limited either by allowing 1 file upload at a time or the free amount of space was lower than dropbox or the monthly pricing was more. Dropbox all the way :-)

Emergency iPhone Tech problem

Apple iPhone - Emergency iPhone Tech problem

for no reason at all my Phone button wont bring me to my Phone Dialing screen.
All other phone functions work, like mail, texting, etc. and I can even call someone if I Text them first then use the Call button from the text message screen.

But, Pushing the Green Phone Button makes a totally white screen then it bounces back to the main menu.

I tried Syncing, didn't fix it, I checked my memory usage, still have plenty left.

any ideas, or where would I find the answer to this, I need to use my phone out in the field all day on Wednesday.

iPhone Tutorial
Have you tried a restart? Press the top button until the slider appears. After it's shut down, press the top button again.

http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/assistant/phone/

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Have you rebooted the phone? (as in, power down, wait 30 seconds, power up)?

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Have you tried to reset your phone? Hold the home and lock buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

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With a corrupted Apple app, I would think that it would require a Restore.

Make sure that you make a fresh back up first, and copy over things like your photos and other docs, that a sync or back up do not touch.

All 5 authorisations exceeded !!

Apple iPhone - All 5 authorisations exceeded !!

How to authorise a new computer if all 5 are exceeded

iPhone iTunes
You must deauthorize one of five

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You can 'de-authorize all' in iTunes once you've reached those five and then re-authorize the one(s) you want to again.

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FWIW you can only do this once per year unless you contact iTunes support and explain why you need to deauthorize all machines again - I have had to do this twice....

Backup files

Apple iPhone - Backup files

Can anyone tell me please where the backup files for iPhone are in Windows 7? I can't locate them at all. Ex-Win XP user - easy to find in XP.

iPhone Tutorial
This article covers backups.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766

Under Syncing and Backups > Where backups are stored,
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*Windows Vista and Windows 7:* \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple
Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

*Note:* If you do not see the AppData or Application Data folders, you may
need to show hidden files (Windows
XP http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/hidden\
files.mspx
, Windows Vista and Windows
7 http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/27e9a81a-fac7-457f-896b-e0\
017a04a59f1033.mspx
).
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Antivirus and Antimalware programs

Apple iPhone - Antivirus and Antimalware programs

When I went to use my 3GS today the following message appeared on the screen with a red bar over it:

Your computer remains infected by viruses! They can cause data loss and file damages and need to be fixed as soon as possible. Return to Security Tool & download it to gaurd your PC.

Is this a real message. If there is such a thing as Security Tool I've never been there. (Where is it?) Suggestions please.

iPhone Tutorial

Well this would be your pc which is not an iPhone!

You need to run whatever antivirus and antimalware programs you have installed on your pc.

It was just a coincidence that you got the message when you had your 3G connected.

And the warnign you probably got may well have been one of those virus things so do not click on it, run your installed AV program asap!

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That's a scam. It's surprising to hear you got that on an iPhone though. I was only aware of that malware on Windows.

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I take it this is on your PC, not your iPhone...

That is a fake virus alert, but your pc is infected.

Don't touch it and install and run malwarebytes.org

Tab Key

Apple iPhone - Tab Key

Is there a "tab" key hidden somewhere on the iPhone keyboard? Am I missing something obvious?


iPhone Tutorial
No one uses a tab on a phone? ;)

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I've been wanting it all along. It's especially wanted when you want to indent a paragraph while writing an email. Like this one.

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You want to indent a single line?

So space 5 times. Or get a BT keyboard. If you are typing that much on a iPhone, you probably want a keyboard anyway.

Archie, you and I are no youngsters, but I don't even think they are teaching indentation in school anymore. And when you and I went to school, no indentation was usually taught for typed business letters. For handwritten letters on unlined paper or manuscripts, maybe.

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You might not find it useful but I, and many others, think otherwise. Every time I find the need for a Tab key, I miss the old Windows Mobile, although I wouldn't trade iPhone for that.

And N.A., it's not only business letters that people write. I personally find Tab key especially useful when I write notes. Makes it easier to align indentions.

But then again, it's all about personal preference.

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The "tab" function is usualy done with the "next" key. Like filling out forms on a web site. Otherwise, no "tab" key.

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Filling out forms is exactly why I inquired about the "tab" key. So if the keyboard doesn't show a "next" key I'm out of luck?

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Scroll down and tap the next field needing input.

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I was curious about this so I waited to see if anyone responded with an answer. None appears to be coming.

No, if there is no next button, then either scroll down the page and tap the next box needing filling, or hit the done button and scroll down to the next box that needs filling. Either way scroll.

Wiped all my data

Apple iPhone - Wiped all my data (again)

For the second time in a year, my iphone 3G has inexplicably wiped a large number of my Notes - just gone!

I sync with a Windows XP desktop to MS Outlook using iTunes. I do not sync with any other machine. Sometime about last Summer, a number of Notes just vanished, and I had a session with an Apple guru lasting several hours (yes - hours) before we got stability again. All has been well since, but, looking for some data today, I suddenly find that only 9 out of 22 or 23 Notes are still on the iPhone. They are missing from Outlook too so this must have occurred before the last sync. This is my impportant data and this ............. iPhone is simply destroying it. My impression has been all along that the iPhone is not really quite compatible with the MS software - only 99% stable, not 100%.

Help! Will the backup (or an archive in Outlook) have the data? Last time there was another source to reconstitute much of it from but not this time.

iPhone Tutorial
I quit using the notes app because of that kind of stuff...things missing & sync problems all the time. I don't have time to be fighting my phone or worried that something won't be there next time I need it! I am an extremely busy mom to 3 young children & have my own business. I bought the awesome notes app (corny app name I know) & it is my favorite! I had tried about 10 others before I settled on this one... It syncs everything with google

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I too had issues with Notes from apple on the iphone. This was early in the iphone emergence. I lost valuable data and at that time there was no way I could figure out to back it up. I've abounded apples notes and have mored over to a web based app called Evernotes. They have an app for the iPhone and with Safari on the mac it's easy to retrieve. I can also retrieve on any machine, windows and mac the info in Evernote. This works for me and I love it. Do some research. Evernotes.

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I don't do a lot of notes (iPhone4), so I just email them to my home address occasionally. I haven't lost any on syncs anyway.

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When I attempt to go to my Evernote web address a pop-up warning says it is a possible phishing site and it won't let me override it even though it has an ignore button.

I am testing two note apps trying to decide which I will keep. Simplenote and YouNote. Both are easy and free, and allow email backup.

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Make sure it is www.Evernote.com
It is not a phishing site.

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I also recommend Notebooks.

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Sorry to hear that Nick. Could it be the syncing software and not the iPhone that is losing the data?

I use a Mac and I have not lost a note or any data in the almost 2 years I have had my iPhone. Problems with duplicates, yes, but no problems with losing notes.

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Have located the umpteen bits of data now. I agree with those other users who have found the MS/iPhone combination a tad less than reliable. Now could that ever be said of any other of Mr Gates's products - now be honest.

Last Summer, I had a major loss, and, as I said in my first message in this thread, was literally hours on the phone to one of the Apple techies before he got my Notes back and the combination stable and predictable. I was struck by his volunteering, without me offering question or comment, that "We know the software to be stable with Windows", almost sounding like he was talking to himself. It sounded to me like he was convincing himself. All I can say is that the Calendar does slightly odd things (that aren't always deletable) with the Outlook Calendar, particularly on repeating appointments. And the Notes are liable to duplicate themselves when amended, synced to Outlook, then synced back. And sometimes they vanish (twice for me). It is, as I said before, only about 99% reliable. I'd set up a file in Windows to save the Outlook *.pst file daily to a different place if it wasn't going to fill the HDD in no time!

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Get a MobileMe account and synchronise both your Outlook and iPhone through there.

Happens over the air and seems to work much better with Outlook and it's flakiness.

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I had the same thing happen 2 me but all of my notes were wiped out I powered off the phone & turned it back on & all of the notes were back it only happened once & hasn't happened since I asked a couple of friends that have an iPhone & it's never happened 2 them no one can explain it so I chalked it up as a tweak & forgot about it

Tivo to iPhone

Apple iPhone - Tivo to iPhone

I have transferred a recording from my TiVo to my Mac using Toast 10 Titanium TiVo transfer but cannot figure out how to get that recording onto my iPhone so that I can watch the recording at a later time. Is there a way to get it into iTunes?

iPhone Tivo
This subject may be a matter of copyright violation.

I am not familiar with "Toast 10 Titanium TiVo transfer", so I don't know what form it leaves it in. There is probably DRM protection, probably MacroVision. This may prevent you from going further.

If you have it in a digital version, it maybe too large to move to your iPhone. You can use an app like Handbrake to change it to a digital version that is appropriate for your iDevice.

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Thanks for the reply. I did a bit of further research and found a free program that does exactly what I need to get TiVo recordings onto my iPhone. Sweet little program that I found pretty easy to use.

http://code.google.com/p/itivo/

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You can transfer directly to iTunes and then sync with the iPhone.

In the Tivo Transfer (I'm assuming this is still it, I have an older version of Toast), select Toast It. This will launch the DVD burning application. In that app, select all the recordings you want to put into iTunes and select Export rather than Burn. When you select Export, it will give you multiple options on how you want to export it - i.e. for Apple TV, iPhone, iPods, etc.

Upgrade Without Plan Change?

Apple iPhone - Upgrade Without Plan Change?

I have a 2+ year-old 3G on an unlimited plan, and I wondered if there is any way to upgrade the handset without changing the plan. Any ideas?

iPhone Tutorial
I have upgraded iPhone every time a one has come out and never had to change plans. Since you have the 3g, you may have the 200 free SMS per month. SMS is not included with the new handset so you will have to ad a plan for that. Call 611 on your iPhone and talk to a sales rep. The call is free.

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You don't have to change your plan but watch it closely after you upgrade. I recently upgraded from a 3G with unlimited plan to an iPhone 4 and they automatically changed the data plan to the new 2GB capped plan. The guys at the AT&T store said they entered the info correctly but it just got changed. They also said they've seen it happen multiple times. You can have your original plan but you might have to spend some time talking to AT&T to get it right.

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Happened to me too when I upgraded to the 4. Got it changed back without trouble.

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I just upgraded my 18 month old 3Gs to an iPhone 4 and kept the unlimited plan with no problem. That being said, I think AT&T is more than a little bit unhappy with my data usage. They sent me a cute little mailer with a note saying that my current plan was an appropriate one for me, but noting the amount of my data usage with a note to "watch it"

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Can they really say anything to you. I mean with having an unlimited data plan. What cam they really say?

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What they can say is, "Your contract with ATT is terminated due to excessive data use."

"Unlimited" really isn't unlimited. In fact, I've heard that one way to get out if your contract without paying an early termination fee is to start downloading many gigs of data; lots of movies, for example. You will first receive a warning from ATT, then a contract termination notice.

Seems like a method worth trying if you really want to switch to Verizon but are locked into a two-year contract. ONLY if you have the unlimited data plan, however.

Clock alarm question

Apple iPhone - clock alarm question

I like to use the standard clock>alarm app when I am traveling but I don't like all the alert sounds, like arriving email, during the night. I have been scaired to silence the phone by using the hard button on the side for fear that it will silence the alarm clock, too. Has anyone figured this out?

iPhone Apps
It doesn't silence the alarm

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My phone is on silence most of the time...the alarm still works.

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you know, for your peace of mind, test it!

set the alarm for 5 minutes from now and then silence the phone. if it goes off then you can feel confident about the result!

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Why not set a alarm for 5-10 minutes later and try it?

:)

Alarm

Apple iPhone - Alarm

I still cant get my alarm to work.

Any ideas?

iPhone Tutorials
It's a known iOS bug. Apple says it will fix itself on the 3rd.

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This might explain:

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Go8vL8XOJ_Y/iphone-alarms-not-working\
-right-now-heres-how-to-fix-it

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Wait a couple of days.
It isn't clear from my reading whether a fix is coming, or whether the bug is only present for the first 2-3 days of this year.

Removing audio book from iPhone

Apple iPhone - Removing audio book from iPhone

How does one remove an audiobook from my iPhone once I've listened to it?

iPhone Tutorials
Just de-select it in your sync settings the next time you sync. Look under the 'books' tab.

If for some reason (the way it was imported into iTunes) it's not under 'books' look for it under 'music'.

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Just like you would music, movies and TV shows. Delete it from iTunes.

Disappearing keyboard

Apple iPhone - Disappearing keyboard

Sporadic problem..,.when entering text using my iPhone 4 keyboard, text messages, emails, any program that I need to type, the keyboard will sometime disappear and will only reappear after I reset the phone.

Any suggestions on why and how to remedy the problem?

iTyped with my iThumbs on my iPhone 4....

Keyboard disappeared iPhone Tutorial
The iPhone has been behaving strangely of late. The mail ap will freeze and some undeleteable mails appear. However after a sync with the mother the child behaves well again.

Slow responding

Apple iPhone - slow responding

I am getting really tired of my 3g... its slow to respond to all key entries... Either using notepad, or txting, or opening up MAPS.... I have tried the following...
1) hard reboot, home key and power button
2) clear cache of safari
3) system restore

Ive also note that forever when I use my COMCAST email app, when i login the very first letter i touch comes up or gets big and stays for 3-5sec. and this keyboard is also slow as in txting or maps

any ideas on things to try before I go back to standard non smart phone

iPhone Tutorial
The aspects of my iPhone that are the LEAST important *to me* are just those things you can get on a "non smart phone". If they are indeed all you need, then I agree that you should revert to the non smart phone.

If the smart-phone functions are as important to you as they are to me, upgrade to a smart phone with more RAM and a faster CPU - iPhone 4.

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Yes I'm getting to the point that my fav app, MAPS is getting less and less desirable. I love my phone because of maps, I'm sure there is other phones with similar apps. I also like apples free app program, and my old ultimate bandwidth plan. However, I'm almost to the point of dumping my iPhone.

No my phone has never been like this so Im not wanting to upgrade because of it. this slowness is as if I have spyware adware on a PC system.

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I agree, I have a 3g with the same problem. It was not always this way. No solution, just commiserating.

Manage contacts

Apple iPhone - Manage contacts

I'm a new user of an iPhone 3GS.

I was wondering if anyone is using a software to backup, edit contacts that could point out. I've searched the internet but didn't find anything useful.

I've used outlook to backup but I wish I could use something else, I just don´t like the idea of mixing my cellphone contacts with my emails.

iPhone Tutorial
I’m not happy with the way the iPhone syncs with outlook either but for a different reason. It seems new/updated outlook information makes its way to the iPhone fine but new/updated iPhone information never finds its way to outlook.

Does anyone know if Gmail syncs both ways with the iPhone?

I guess I could pay for mobile.me but I’m only interested in syncing contacts.

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So how good is to have all your contacts on iPhone and no where else and if it breaks, get stolen etc you loose everything?

Since I´m new to iPhone world, I decided to do some testings with contacts update/backup and came to this conclusion when using iTune 10.1, MS outlook 2003 from MS Office and (not outlook express which I use for emails and didn't want to mess up with) on Windows XP to sync:

When you sync first time with outlook and it is empty, all contacts goes from iPhone to outlook It will ask you if you want to merge, and since my MS outlook was empty, it was OK to do.

Every time you switch places to sync your contacts in iTunes, it asks this question, which is good.

Then:

If you add a new contact on iPhone and sync, it will go to outlook if you delete a contact on iPhone and sync, it will delete on outlook too and it works the same way around, both ways.

In other words: The newer action on either side will prevail when you sync But the most important thing you can do if you really care about your contacts:

When you have outlook updated with iPhone contacts and it is all OK, I strongly suggest, on outlook, export your contacts to a file and then choose MS Excel, as soon as possible and every time you sync, and with a different file name every time.

I prefer excel file format, because Excel is widely available, and you still have a tool to edit them, the MS Excel itself and it worked perfectly.

To test it out, I deleted all contacts on outlook and synced to iPhone..guest what: All contacts on iPhone had vanished.

Since I made that Excel file, I just imported it back to outlook and synced again, and all the contacts on iPhone went back to normal. Remember, the last action prevails.

The good thing about outlook you can edit, fix, delete... you contacts using your computer screen/keyboard which is easier than on the iPhone itself.

If you want to make a test that your contacts are safe:

Sync your contacts with Outlook 2003, make sure they are OK.

unplug the iPhone USB, so you don´t delete the contacts by accident.

On outlook export your contact to a file, Excel if you prefer and/or other formats that are available, to make sure.

Delete all contacts from Outlook.

Import that excel file back. If outlook shows your contacts back like before, than you are safe!

It should work like that, if not, there is something wrong with your computer, excel etc.

-- BUT REMEMBER, DO IT ALL AT YOUR OWN RISK --

I also managed to sync my contacts with yahoo http://address.mail.yahoo.com/ and it worked too...you can even export from Yahoo to a file (excel or many others) back to your PC to be on the safe side. It is a good idea to do that first, before playing with outlook just to make sure.

I did not not manage to test contacts with pictures since I don´t have them on iPhone, so I don't know what would happen.

The steps of working with excel, export/import files, iTunes etc...I assume you already know that and are beyond this matter.

To copy pictures and movies from the iPhone, just use copy/paste on your PC, just like a flash drive, which is way better and safe than any dedicated software, because you have full control.


PS. All that above already came in handy. I was trying to do some other updates on my iPhone lately and managed to totally erase it!

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I use address book to synch it to. Its in two places.

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I know that works on a Mac. Does it also work on a PC?

Speaker problem

Apple iPhone - Speaker problem

I find my left side speaker does not work in the hands free mode. I am not sure whether it is a real problem and how to fix it.

iPhone tutorials
There is only one speaker on the bottom of an iPhone. The other side is the microphone.

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Oh. Thanks. I thought one of my speakers was broken too. Good to know.

Convert media files

Apple iPhone - Convert media files

I'm looking for a program to convert media files to a smaller, I guess compressed file size. I recorded some movies with my Hard Drive recorder. It was recorded in the WMV file format. Which is very large...Does anyone know of a program that will compress the video. Also, that is a workable and user friendly editor.

iPhone Tutorials
There is a free software: Format Factory. It has a special format for iPhone also. Can change nearly every type of media to any type. Can be downloaded from:

http://www.formatoz.com/

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The RealPlayer Converter can do the job well. And you can use it even with the free version.

Transmission choppy between wireless headset and iPhone4

Apple iPhone - Transmission choppy between wireless headset and iPhone4

I have a iPhone 4 and use Motorola S9 wireless headsets when I work out. This morning the transmission was choppy. Songs would drop out and come back on and it seemed to be exaggerated as I moved around. Is there a way to fix this transmission issue?

iPhone Bluetooth
I have had similar issues with my iPhone 4 and Jawbone ICON. Sometimes everything is fine, and sometimes choppy. I didn't know if it was a problem with the phone or the ICON, but if you are having the same problem with another brand of earpiece, it appears it could the the phone. Maybe a future update
will address this.

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I use a Sony wireless headset and it gets choppy when used together with Nike+.

The receiver of the Bluetooth headset is on the right piece, so I transferred the iPhone on the right arm. Problem solved.

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That has happened to me when I'm out and about. *I* always felt the BT was getting interrupted by someone else's BT. Seems to happen a lot with bluetooth sets I have used. So I have my motorockers SR9 for around the house and use wired headsets while out and about.

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I have a S9-HD headset and the same thing happens.

I talked to Apple, and this is what they said. It works.

Opening settings, general, bluetooth, Motorola S9, and forget the device.
then turn off the bluetooth.
Then turn off the iPhone.
Turn on the iPhone
turn of the bluetooth.
re-syn the headset.

Works..

I've tried to just reboot, nope. I've tried to just re-syn, nope. I've tired to just turn off bluetooth and back on, nope.

So until there is a fix, this is what you have to do.

I happen about once a week for me. Both firmware 4.1 and 4.2.1 do the same thing.

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I have the same problem with my Plantronics. The only cure I found was to turn off 3G and WiFi.

Number blocking

Apple iPhone - Number blocking

Can you block a number from calling? If so, how do you do that?? I have 3GS.

iPhone tutorials
Unfortunately no... You can set that number up with a silent ringtone and pretend you don't see your phone light up, but there is no way to just block the number, or send it to oblivion.


Well I take that back, you can get terribly complicated, send all of your calls through Google voice and let it block numbers for you and I had to go there once. It wasn't pretty, but it worked.

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The iPhone has no method for doing this except for selecting a silent ring tone for that particular contact.

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I would love to be able to do this. The Droid does have this ability. Someone made up a number to a credit card company and it is mine. I do not have that credit card and no matter how often I told them they still called. I finally had to write the CEO and his assistant finally stopped the calls. But it would have been so much easier to just block them.

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You can download a free app called YouMail and you can designate certain numbers to receive a message that says your number has been disconnected.

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If you're AT&T, there's "Smart Limits" that lets you list numbers to block calls/texts. It's more of a parental control thing, but does block numbers. It's an extra $5 a month, or something like that.

Copy contacts

Apple iPhone - Copy contacts

Is anyone can help me i want to transfer my contacts from my iPhone to the PC then transfer them back.

iPhone iPhone tutorials You can use microsoft outlook via itunes. Sync your iphone, especialy at the info tab to microsoft outlook. It will copying your contact at iphone to outlook. Then if you want to transfer from outlook to your iphone, do the same steps as before

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Is there any other way

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Most PC users do not use their Windows Address Book, instead preferring to use Outlook, Eudora, Thunderbird, or Gmail, etc. Thus this database is usually empty.

Happily, iTunes is ready to sync your contacts with your Windows Address book. Assuming yours is empty, you can simply sync your iPhone with the Windows Address Book, and all the contacts will show up on your PC. (The checkbox for this action is under the "Info" tab on your iPhone page in iTunes.)

You can also import contacts from other databases as VCards into the Windows Address Book to add back onto your iPhone, but I recommend reviewing them once they're on you iPhone. Most of my 800+ contacts transferred unscathed, but some were strangely merged with others.

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Thanks for ur response but i'm using windows 7 and there is no windows address book installed what shall i do ? And i don'f prefer using outlook .

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WAB is something that came with Outlook Express, which is *no longer available* since OE is no longer supplied or supported. So unless you already have it from XP (& I don't know if you can somehow import it over into a newer Vista or W7 system), you just *don't have WAB*.

I've never used Outlook (overkill for most home users) or Eudora, can't stand TB, don't even want to think about GMail, etc. LOTS of people are still using OE -- which uses/maintains WAB. I don't know why you think "most" PC users aren't using WAB.

I use Windows Live Mail for email & Usenet; it has a contacts section -- but that does NOT sync with iDevices through iTunes. Apple/iTunes apparently ignores the fact that WAB just isn't *there* anymore except for some old fogey types. I do still have it on my computer since I'm still using WinXP;

I can still access it -- but its days are numbered and new contacts don't get put in there automatically when I use a new email address (for a new contact) through WLM. The only new contacts put in my WAB are the ones I've put on my iPhone & synced to it, or a few I've made specific efforts to add (after remembering that I had to do it that way, it isn't just happening because I've been emailing someone new.)

I don't want everyone on my phone anyway, just a few selected groups.

I have no idea what I'm going to do about contact-list-management if/when I update my system.

Hope to muddle through, I guess.

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I am using Win 7 Home and "Contacts" is built in. That is where I backup my contacts. There is no email program built in.

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Does iTunes sync to that?
Otherwise how are you backing up your contacts that you enter directly on your phone?

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Yes iTunes does sync with Windows Contacts. It is one of the choices that iTunes gives me under "Info" and "Sync Contacts with".

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Glad to hear it.

I guess it's just the WLM version it doesn't "get" at least under XP.
I can still use WAB under XP, even though I'm not using OE but was wondering about what would happen if/when I go to Win7.

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The same things recommended here work with Outlook 2011 for Mac. In Prefs / Sync Services, set to sync Outlook with Address Book and MobileMe. Seems to work well (so far).