iPhone App of the Day – Facebook

Raise your hand if you don’t have a Facebook account.

Now, the two of you with your hands up go set up your Facebook account. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

OK, now that we’re all set, let me tell you about the iPhone Facebook app. First of all, like most of the apps I’ve told you about, it’s free. You can never argue with free. Second, you can do most of the basic Facebook functions with this app. You can update your status, make comments on status updates, view your friends’ updates, answer friend requests, send and receive messages, and view videos (if they are iPhone compatible). The app isn’t going to replace using Facebook on the computer, but you can definitely keep up with your friends and check your messages on a regular interface.

Facebook app

iPhone App of the Day – Weather Channel

There’s nothing wrong with the built-in weather app on the iPhone. It will tell you what the weather is in multiple locations and you can switch locations with a simple swipe of the finger. All you get, however, is the upcoming week’s forecast, no current information.

The free app from The Weather Channel fills in the gaps. The WC app also supports multiple locations and will also give you the current conditions for whatever location you are viewing, including your current location if you have location services turned on.

You can also check out the hourly, 36 hour, and 10 day forecasts for any location. If you’ve watched the “Local On The 8s” on The Weather Channel, these features are like the iPhone version of this TV segment.

If all the above wasn’t enough, you also get severe weather alerts, video clips from The Weather Channel, and a Google Maps mashup with your local radar image. You’re getting tons of weather goodness for free!

Weather Channel app

iPhone + Hulu = Severe Productivity Drop

Imagine Hulu on the iPhone...Mmmmmm....

Over the past two weeks, I have seen multiple reports on the Web from various credible sources that a Hulu app is coming soon to the iPhone.  I don’t know about you, but there goes any work accomplishments for me once that app appears.

The original report came from Dan Frommer on the Silicon Valley Insider blog.  According to Mr. Frommer, the Hulu iPhone app:

• is as excellent as Hulu’s Web site
• is “badass”
• will work over both wi-fi and 3G

I’m going to go out on a limb and bet that the Hulu app, if it’s truly happening, will be released simultaneously with the iPhone 3.0 release in June.  I’d better get as much done at work as I can before the distraction starts.

iPhone App of the Day – Easy Email

Yesterday, I gushed about the WordPress app I found because it lets me type my posts (like this one) on my iPhone in Landscape mode. Unfortunately, typing in Landscape mode is not available in most native iPhone apps, including Mail. Apple will address this shortcoming in June with the iPhone 3.0 OS update but, until then, what can we poor iPhone users do? Download the free Easy Email app, that’s what!

Easy Email is an iPhone app which runs separate from the Mail app. You can type your message in Landscape mode, then send the text to the Mail app. It’s an extra step of two, but the time you save by typing in Landscape mode more than makes up for it. Besides, it’s free!  As you can see from the image (which, as you can clearly tell, is in Landscape mode) over to the left, you also have other text editing options which can transfer as well.

Easy Email Free at the iTunes store

iPhone App of the Day – WordPress

I am writing this post on my iPhone. This is thanks to the WordPress app I just installed. This app allows me to create and edit blog posts. It is also free. Does this get any better?

Yes, it does! Unlike most apps which involve typing, I can type my posts in WordPress in Landscape mode. Typing with my thumbs was never this good.

I’ll add more to this article as I discover more features.

WordPress iPhone app

We’ve Moved

Check out the address: http://iphonenoob.wordpress.com/.  Note the different spelling.  It was my wife’s idea.

I’ve looked at Blogger and WordPress and decided that I like WordPress more, not to mention the fact that WordPress has an iPhone app which will let me post to this blog.  With Blogger, I’d have to email the post, which is more steps than I wish to go through.

Let me know what you think of the new digs.

iPhone App of the Day – Skype

You may look at the image to the left and ask yourself, “Kevin, why on Earth would I want to install an application that makes phone calls? I have an iPhone for cryin’ out loud!!!” If you are asking me this, then you don’t know about Skype.

Skype was originally designed for use on PCs. After installing it, you could then instant message anybody who was also a Skype member (membership is free). The bonus is that you can also CALL other Skype members. For free.

That’s right, you can call any other Skype member, regardless of whether they’re in London, Ohio, or London, England. During these calls, you don’t sound like you’re on a phone, either. You sound like you’re in the same room. This is the beauty of making calls between Voice over IP (VoIP) users.

Now, you can also make calls to non-Skype users, hence the need for the keypad you see in the image. Those calls sound like regular phone calls and cost about 3 cents a minute, depending on where you’re calling. This was great on a PC, especially for myself and other podcasters who did interviews over the phone while recording their shows on their computer.

The beauty of Skype on the iPhone is this: If you’re in a low cell phone signal area, yet have access to wi-fi, you can make your call via Skype instead of AT&T. If you’re low on AT&T minutes, you can use Skype instead over either wi-fi or 3G to make your call. If who you’re calling is also on Skype, you can call them via Skype without spending any money and with better call quality. Oh, and there’s that IM functionality I mentioned earlier. Why call them if you don’t have to and why spend the money to text them when you can just Skype them?

The iPhone edition of Skype was released today so I am just checking it out now, but the latest edition of the MacBreakWeekly talks about the Skype app. You can find that episode here.

Skype – Link

Skype for iPhone – Link

iPhone App of the Day – Pandora Radio

Pandora Radio may be the biggest thing to hit streaming music in, well, ever. For those of you who haven’t heard of or used Pandora as of yet, here’s the breakdown.

1. Go to http://www.pandora.com/
2. Enter in a favorite song or artist
3. Pandora creates a “station” which will play songs similar to the song/artist you entered, including songs you won’t know, but may like.

Pretty simple, right? Here’s the best part: The Pandora Radio app for the iPhone works exactly the same way, except it’s totally portable on your iPhone and, with your data connection, will work just about anywhere. That includes your car.

Chances are, you have some type of setup in your car to plug your iPod or iPhone in so you can jam to your favorite tunes while crusin’. Now, when you get tired of your own music, you can just pop on Pandora and get treated to your own personal radio station.

Oh, and the icing on the cake is that an account with Pandora and the iPhone Pandora Radio app are both FREE.

If you’re not downloading this app to your iPhone by now, I don’t know what you’re thinking.

Pandora Radio – Link

Pandora Radio iPhone app – Link

iPhone App of the Day – MLB.com At Bat 2009

Oh, happy day!!!

You should all know that I am a baseball nerd. Not even a geek, which I am for just about everything else, I am an extremist when it comes to my love for baseball. I try to follow baseball, especially the Cleveland Indians, whenever I can. And now, thanks to MLB and Apple, my wish is granted.

MLB.com At Bat 2009 is released as of today.

Here’s what you get in At Bat 2009:

• Exclusive pitch type, location, and speed data
• LIVE regular season and Postseason game audio with choice of home or visiting team announcers
• Video highlights made available shortly after they happen
• Real-time game updates
• League standings
• Entire season schedule

Truth be told, I wanted this app mainly for the Gameday Audio option. I have GA for the PC ($14.99/year) and used GA for Windows Mobile ($4.99/month) so I could listen to games in the car and anywhere I didn’t have a radio or my laptop.

The best part? $9.99. That’s it. No monthly fee like the WM version.

It’s like they knew I wanted this.

MLB.com At Bat 2009 page – Link

MLB.com At Bat 2009 at the App Store – Link

3/30 Update – Gameday Audio will not be available until 4/6, the first day of the regular season for MLB.

Creating An iPhone Setup In The Car – Part One

I am lost without music while driving. Sure, I can turn on the radio and listen to the same 5-10 songs which I actually enjoy, but that only lasts so long. Fortunately, I have had an iPod in one form or another for the past 5 years and, thanks to various options, have been able to listen to my iPod in my car whenever I want. My current car setup, however, isn’t ideal for my new iPhone, which means it’s time to shell out some cash and upgrade my setup to iPhone standards.

This upgrade will take place in two parts:

1. iPhone car charger/audio adapter
2. iPhone car mount

I will be discussing the first part today – the iPhone car charger/audio adapter.

My current car adapter is a Monster iCarCharger. Unfortunately, while I can still use the Monster for audio, it will not charge the iPhone 3G. My wife has the same Monster with the original iPhone and can charge hers without issue, so I blame Apple and their nefarious microchip allowing only “authorized” third party hardware to work with the 3G.

I looked at quite a few options, but was limited by the fact that I needed a car charger with an aux out jack or cable. Any car charger with an FM transmitter wasn’t an option. I also did not want a car charger with a built-in iPod/iPhone mount as I had my own mounting option planned. This eliminated items like the Griffin TuneFlex AUX or the Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe. Monster had a newer version of the iCarCharger, but the iLounge website gave it a very bad rating (D+).

Fortunately, Kensington offered a standard version of it’s LiquidAUX. The LiquidAUX plugs into my cigarette lighter, just like any iPod charger, and has a Dock Connector cable as well as a separate audio out cable for the aux jack on my radio. The audio cable was just a tiny bit short to reach the aux jack, but Kensington also provided an extension cable to cover that potential issue.

I ordered my Kensington from AntONLINE and, when it arrived, was pleasently surprised to discover TWO LiquidAUXes in the package. I’m not sure if this was a packing mistake if this was the actual deal I purchased, but I’m not complaining. My wife got a LiquidAUX, too! She plugged hers in first and immediately reported improved sound quality in her car. I had nowhere to go, being Sunday, and was suffering from allergies, so I waited until Monday morning to test the LiquidAUX on my drive to work.

I am very pleased to say that the LiquidAUX does everything I want and more. Like my wife’s experience, the LiquidAUX’s sound quality is superb. No interferance from the phone portion of the iPhone at all. Also, the LiquidAUX comes with a remote control and a mount which velcros to the steering wheel, allowing me quick access to the Play, Back, Forward, and Shuffle options of the iPhone with my thumb without removing my hand from the wheel. The remote is removable from the mount so a passenger can also use it if they wish.

I am halfway to my goal. My next step, which I will report on in the future, is to put up my iPhone car mount and complete my iPhone car setup.

Kensington LiquidAUX – Link

LiquidAUX iLounge review – Link