iPhone Tip: The Trouble with Doubles (When Syncing Contacts)

You sync Contacts with the Exchange Server at work, but also with your Contacts folder on your PC — which may be already synced to Exchange. This results in duplicates of every contact. It can also happen with MobileMe if you sync with MobileMe from your iPhone and also use iTunes to sync with your Mac or PC — especially if you set up MobileMe first.

Learn the details of fixing dupes when syncing Contacts on your iPhone in “iPhone Tip: The Trouble with Doubles (When Syncing Contacts)” in my blog, Bove’s Blips.

It’s Only Tunes and Videos (But I Like It)

Today’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” press event held by Apple (best of the live coverage here) held no real surprises other than the triumphant return of Steve Jobs to the stage. Rumors and insider reports had already clued us into the album-package feature of the iTunes Store, better apps management in iTunes 9, and the video camera for the iPod nano. What’s missing are the video camera for the iPod touch, and Blu-Ray support for iTunes. And, of course, the Beatles.

For the complete story, see my entry It’s Only Tunes and Videos (But I Like It) on my blog Bove’s Blips.

Come Together Over Me: Apple, Beatles, and iTunes

Sept. 9, 2009 (09/09/2009) will be both Beatles Day and iTunes/iPod Day as Apple rolls out new features for iPods (including cameras), a new version of iTunes (with support for Blu-ray DVDs), and, according to rumors, an album format for the iTunes Store that takes full advantage of the Beatles’ album graphics, lyrics, and liner notes. On the same day, Apple Corps (label for the Beatles) and Harmonix Music Systems (owned by MTV) will introduce The Beatles: Rock Band game for the XBox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii.

For the complete story, see my entry Apple and Beatles Come Together Over iTunes on my blog Bove’s Blips.

Find My iPhone – Will Someone Remotely Wipe Yours?

The Find My iPhone feature of MobileMe is cool, but how easy is it for someone to use it in a malicious way to remotely wipe your iPhone? As easy as getting your MobileMe password.

Fortunately if you are within reach of the computer you synced it with, you can restore your personal information and settings, as well as your content, by connecting the iPhone to your computer and restoring it from a previous backup using iTunes. Such an attack on your iPhone would therefore merely be a nuisance. But if you’re traveling without your computer, it could be a damn nuisance. You might want to disable the feature if you have enemies… but then, you won’t be able to find your iPhone if you lose it.

Find out more about what you can do with the Find My iPhone feature in “Find it and Wipe – But Can Find My iPhone be used Maliciously?” in my blog, Bove’s Blips.

In the Hour of Not Quite Rain-iPhone at the Brink

Or maybe you prefer that other Buffalo Springfield song, “Expecting to Fly”….

What certainly will fly — off the shelves — will be a lower-priced iPhone, rumored to be announced next week. What would truly stand the iPhone even more apart from the Palm Pre, Blackberry models, and Google Android smartphones would be video recording and videoconferencing.

As Microsoft grapples with search and Bing, the real battle over the platform that will capture the best developers have to give is between the Apple iPhone and Google Android. While RIM holds a higher share with its Blackberry models, the true momentum of innovation is occurring mostly on these two platforms. Palm has to spring up on its own, without the developer base it had a decade ago. Apple has all the momentum, most of the developers, and an extraordinary base of patented technology, while the rest of the industry is playing catch-up.

See my report, “Expecting to Fly – iPhone before the Start of the Apple WWDC” in my blog, Bove’s Blips.

The Musician’s iPhone and iPod touch

The iPhone or iPod touch is a potent platform for producing music that is capable of entertaining a stadium full of fans. There is no substitute for hands-on use, and musicians are especially adept at getting their hands onto something and using it.

See my roundup of iPhone/iPod touch apps for musicians in “In Search of the Lost Chord: The Musician’s iPhone and iPod touch” (in my blog, Bove’s Blips).

In Deadwood the Saloonkeepers Keep the Peace…

Apple has been criticized for kicking apps out of the App Store. Critics had pointed to Android as a free system, but just recently, Google also kicked apps out of its store. Expect the new Blackberry App World to be similarly policed. See my take on all this at “App Stores on the New Frontier” (in Bove’s Blips).

‘Tony’s Tips for iPhone’ Ships

I’ve been working steadily on an iPhone application called Tony’s Tips for iPhone Users Manual. It is available now, for $2.99, in the App Store (online or through iTunes).

I have tried to make something that is better than a manual in your iPhone — a reference that is always up-to-date, easy to search, and organized for quick reading. For a detailed critical overview, see “Does the iPhone Need Help?” by David Needle in InternetNews.

Developing an iPhone app is a painful process, but I applaud Apple’s strict adherence to guidelines to reinforce quality in the iPhone experience. For more about this topic, see my blog entry “Pocket Tips” in Bove’s Blips.

Beatles Mystery Track “Carnival of Light”

The Beatles’ mystery track “Carnival of Light” may finally see the light of distribution. The BBC reports that Sir Paul McCartney has confirmed that the 14-minute track exists and says he wants the public to hear it.

I have a pretty good collection of Beatles outtakes, though not extensive as those collected by music industry professionals and friends and associates of the Fab Four, and this track is not in the many hours of rare, unreleased gems. The discovery that this track exists leaves only one more mystery track that has appeared only on some bootlegs of outtakes, called “Peace of Mind (Candle Burns).”

For the complete story, see my entry And Tonight, “Carnival of Light” is Topping the Bill! on my blog Bove’s Blips.

Voice Search, Movie Ads and the Mystery Chord

New topics on my blog, Bove’s Blips:

“The Magical Mystery Chord” — You all know it when you hear it: the most famous chord in rock that reverberates on George Harrison’s 12-string Rickenbacker: the opening of “A Hard Day’s Night”. A mathematician has figured out the exact formula.

“All I Need is the Air that I Breathe” — Google has added sophisticated voice recognition technology to the company’s iPhone search software. You can speak into the iPhone rather than type with the iPhone’s keyboard, and Google will search for relevant info.

“iPhone Ad Apps — Shaken Not Stirred” — Hollywood studios are using free apps on the iPhone to promote movies. Bands are also getting in the act, though not in an innovative way (yet). All this stuff proves that the iPhone has shaken up, not just stirred up, the content industry.