Michael's Blog

Moving to a new domain …

michael — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:38:26 +0000

Hi all, I would like to announce that I am going to move to a new domain, weuseiphone.com and more focus on optimizing the use of an iphone. There will be apps/games review as well as guides and informations to ease up certain task. I hope you can join me there as soon as I get the site up and running.

Ping! 1.2 update available on App Store

michael — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:35:52 +0000

If you open up App Store on your iPhone, you should see an update for Ping! is available. As you might have heard or read about this update, the “new” feature regarding the ability to send a picture is actually appear to be an optional feature, available as an in-app purchase. The good news is that it is priced at $0.99, so I think it’s totally worth it.

I have tried sending images to a few of my friends and all was successful.

This update also provide you with a buddy list, though I prefer the list should displayed the contact’s linked name instead of the nickname. It also runs more stable as I have not had any crashes anymore. So go and grab your update now.

Magic Mouse review

michael — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:59:11 +0000

So here it is, the new magic mouse by Apple, as always, the case is simple in design.

Inside, you’ll find the mouse, a quick start guide (located under the mouse) and a brief instructions if you flip the case.

Just by chance, I decided to open the battery cover and found that the battery was installed in the opposite way (really strange), so I have to say, please check it before you turn it on. (the picture taken below is after the battery was placed correctly)

Ok, now for my impression on the mouse, first of all, the slimness of the mouse doesn’t matter at all, it works great, you turn it on both the mouse and mac’s bluetooth, then choose “Set up bluetooth device”, the select a mouse, it’s done, the mouse is connected for your use, but as Apple has mentioned, the mouse will only work in Leopard 10.5.8 or Snow Leopard and do a software update to download the required files.

Once completed, you will be prompted to restart your mac, after that, you can go to “System Preferences” – “Mouse” to configure the settings.

I really like the scrolling, though the two finger swipe needs a little get used to and screen zooming should re-render the display better, it’s blurry so I don’t really find it useful at all (I’m not sure if you can see what I meant by the picture below).

I think if you own newer MacBook that already has a multitouch trackpad (that can do 2-4 finger navigations), I don’t feel the “magic” in the magic mouse, I miss out the 4 finger gesture to activate expose / desktop the most, so when I use the magic mouse, I have to set my screen corner back for it. I don’t think the magic mouse is needed / meant for newer / latest MacBook (Pro), it is more for iMac’s mouse replacement, to get to know how great it is to have a multitouch trackpad just like on the MacBook (Pro).

Wordpress 2 bug and feature wanted

michael — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:30:09 +0000

Recently, wordpress app got updated to version 2.0 (which come as a surprised that it also appear as a whole different/separate app in iTunes App Store, just like tweetie 2, wonder why but who cares, it’s a free app anyway). It still has the same icon (i think) and named as only Wordpress underneath (instead of wordpress 2), why does it have to be a different app then? Anyway the splash screen will tell you that it is version 2.0.

Here’s one bug that I consider minor, when you want to write new post, the screen should be like this

But if you view any of your previous posts, the new post screen will still hangs on to the last viewed post’s title (as shown below)

And all navigation will reflect on that title as well

Other than this one bug, I also experience few crashes while switching between blogs and viewing comments (I also like how the comments are grouped together when viewed from inside a post) but hey, it’s a new release app, there’s going to be a couple of updates or more to fix it and adding new features (such as replying to a comment within the app? come on, wordpress on blackberry already has it on their latest beta version).

iPhone 3.1.2 is live on iTunes

michael — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:02:07 +0000

Just before I went to bed, I plug my iPhone to my macbook and a little habit of mine pressing check for update gets a surprising result, the iPhone OS 3.1.2 is available for download.

Here’s the list of fixes:

I experience the “not wake from sleep” on my iPhone 3G and my wife’s 3G[s] gets a few “intermittent issue of missing cellular network services” (usually have to “Reset Network Settings”)

I’m glad the update is here to fix these issues, so get yours now …

Make “Status Update” as default News Feed on iPhone Facebook 3.0 app

michael — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:23:56 +0000

I prefer the “Status Update” as the default feed when I open up facebook. From within the app, you won’t be able to set it as default and I don’t see any options to set it. You need to open facebook.com from your desktop/laptop and on the left side, you will have a list similar as shown below.

Next, click “More” at the bottom and you can rearrange the list as you like, where as the top of the list will be your default “News Feed” in facebook 3.0 app on iphone (for this purpose, I had moved the “Status Update” to the top).

Blackberry hype in indonesia …

michael — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:50:44 +0000

If you live in indonesia, you will notice that there’s a blackberry hype really builds up among the society. Why? I’ll point it out later. You won’t believe how many sms / conversations started with “what’s your bb pin?”, “give me your bb pin” and what amazed me is people assumed that you are using blackberry nowadays.

Coming from me, who loves gadgets and technology, I’ve once used a blackberry in 2004/2005 for a couple of years and only because my work requires it. At that time, blackberry is only known to be used in work related stuff, you know, the push email , VPN accessibility, and nobody really cares about blackberry messenger (BBM) (well, we got other ways for messaging, such as MSN/YM/ICQ) but really, who would want to carry an ugly looking device as a phone (I remember those days when my friends make fun of it as a calculator rather than a phone). I can say I’m a fan of phones with keyboard and have been using these type until now, the iphone (even if it’s not physical button).

Here is the reasons of why blackberry are so popular in indonesia:

the simple step needed to activate the service (here in indonesia, they let you activate by SMS or you can go to the provider store and activate through customer service), and what makes it even a better deal, there’s an option for daily, weekly and monthly, meaning you can deactivate and reactivate the service whenever you need it.

once activated, there’s no other configurations needed. It’s always on as long as you are in the coverage area of the data networks, compare to nokia & other phones you need to enter some settings (some request by OTA) but still it’s considered troublesome for many.

no email is needed for BBM to work, it already has a unique identification, called PIN burnt to it (as compared to other IM applications). You probably wouldn’t believe me if I tell you that many blackberry users here don’t even have an email, they don’t care about the email. The only thing they know is they can send messages to one another using BBM. One thing that always gave me a smile is the people think that they are not paying for the messages in BBM, this is always their reasoning, but actually you do pay for the service, remember?

the price of the service is damn cheap, US$10-18/month for unlimited data (as long as you use within the blackberry itself and does not apply when you tethered the device for your laptop/desktop). As for the daily program, you can find as low as $0.50 (50 cents). BELIEVE IT.

Few releases of blackberry devices do have some improvement over its design, especially the blackberry 8900 (Javelin) and the recently announced Blackberry Tour, while the curve 8300 series still remain to be widely used and wanted for new blackberry users.

I won’t recommend to anyone to use a blackberry unless all they want to do with their mobile phone is to chat among friends and because there’s no significant improvement (or dare I say, any improvement at all) applied to the OS since I last used it, maybe the internet browser improved a bit on Bold/Javelin or maybe some may claimed the new BBM 5.0, but for everything else, get the iPhone 3Gs or Nokia.

What Tweetie app for iphone should have …

michael — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:37:51 +0000

I’m sure every software has some improvements can be made, but this post is all about tweetie. What do you like tweetie app for iphone to have on the next version?

I’m going to compare with twitterfon free edition (ads supported), which I think is one of the best twitter apps for iPhone. Here is the list for me:

1. Scroll to the newest tweet
- though tweetie can remember the last position where you left the app, it doesn’t automatically go to the first new tweet, where as twitterfon does this well and also added a new shortcut in which you can tap the “Friends” on the tab bar to accomplish this.

2. Conversation view
- You can view which tweet does the reply meant to by tapping the bottom right “In reply to @user”, but it’s better to include conversation view instead.

3. Badge number / Different color for new tweets
- I just think this is important, especially for Replies & DM. I don’t need to go there if there isn’t any.

4. Able to tap link directly (without the need of opening the tweet first)

5. Groups
- this is probably useful for those who follow hundreds or maybe thousands users.

6. Shortcuts
- I like the way tweetie make use of the swipe gesture, but I also prefer that in twitterfon, I can tap directly on the profile pic for reply (which I know not useful if the user turn off profile pic in the options and swipe gesture is great to have), the username for the user’s profile and a link/URL without going to the individual tweet view. I would like to have the above as options and in tweetie defense, I guess it’s easier to tap on a larger area. I’m sure tweetie will come out with more interesting shortcuts.

7. Options / Settings
- I am hoping that I can rearrange the tabs just like in iPod app. Also maybe set the “More” tab to go directly to trends or other options (twitterfon has this control). Tweetie also need to add landscape orientation for its in-app browser.

8. Push Notifications (PN)
- Currently I’m using IM+ for pushing my replies/DM but it’s also important for tweetie to have this available (since in 3.0, it’s all about PN)

9. in-app features
- In iPhone OS 3.0, app developer should make use the features available, such as in-app email (share via email should no longer quit app), in-app video viewer (to view youtube videos or user’s uploaded video from 3Gs) or even in-app map viewer (to share location).

Currently for single user or if you are still new on twitter, I still recommend twitterfon free edition (ads supported), but according to @tweetie timeline, there’s an upcoming release in progress, so we have to see what tweetie is bringing to the table, once again, to defend it’s popularity as top paid app in Social Networking category. I hope all of the above are implemented on the next version.

Please add what do you think is missing from tweetie app in the comment below.

Tweetie’s trick you may not know

michael — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:36:30 +0000

It’s a simple trick for those who use multiple twitter account to quickly switch between accounts to post new tweet.

When you create a new tweet and notice that you want to use the other account, you can just tap the area where it mentioned “New tweet from @” (circled in the image below)

Then, you will be presented with the option of the accounts (shown below). You just tap on the account you want, then the new tweet will use the selected account instead.

IM+ 3.3 blocks in-app browser (Fixed/Updated)

michael — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:32:41 +0000

I was happy when shapeservices announced that it will include re-tweet option on the next version (3.3) of IM+ for iPhone. Few days ago, the update is available at the App Store, I installed the update, the re-tweet is there, but I found that IM+ 3.3 blocks the in-app browser from opening a site manually (from More – Browser). There is an error,

Seriously? I think this is a bad move, I like the way how IM+ integrates all kind of services, especially when it included twitter, this is when the in-app browser is made available. It has really become an all in one app for chatting, tweeting and browsing sites, but now, the browser can only open links given from tweets and chat messages. Is this a permanent change? Hopefully it’s not.
Update: I got this tip directly from @implus at twitter, you should use http:// in front of the URL, then it will work. I hope this small “bug” to be removed in future releases.