After reading an insane article that was posted on the CNET UK, I read the article from HERE, this post is to fire back for the iPhone. I have never had a problem with my iPhone (except when I jumped in the pool with the 3GS still in my pocket). The article starts to name off some of the bad qualities of the iPhone and from reading the article; it makes me think the person has never used it.

Call Quality

The call quality is excellent with the speakers, I use them to talk to my fiancée while mopping floors and cleaning toilets at an elementary school, it’s sort of a cover up so everyone thinks I’m listening to music. I also went out to buy me a Bluetooth because it makes the iPhone that much better; the headphones are meant to be used as a listening device.

Lost Calls

I just dropped my First Call after having an iPhone for over a year now, I think that’s pretty impressive. I get signal in some of the Boondocks here in Indiana and the internet speed is always on point.

Can’t answer it if it don’t ring

Does the guy even know anything about the iPhone. Does this person even know how to use the iPhone. There is no need for a vibrate when it’s easy to create a free ringtone, I made a YouTube video on, check it out How to create an iPhone ringtone for free. Also, if the phone is jiggling in a pocket the vibrate button has probably been bumped. A case might be helpful as well, I have a leather case that connects to my belt/pocket made by Marware. This can lead to unnecessary hitting of any of the iPhone buttons, or for that matter, the iPhone is an expensive item and I don’t want to break it becuase $400 is way out of my budget. I also know what it’s like to go without an iPhone for a week. After the pool incident, the wait time to upgrade my contract was a nine days ( the backup phone is a an old Samsung flip phone. To make a long story short it sucks without the iPhone and I’m pretty sure a lot of people have gone longer without one and felt worse then I did.

The iPhone might burn your face-off.

The article tried to joke about holding the iPhone to their face. Once again the Bluetooth, if someone can afford to get a iPhone they should be able to afford a Bluetooth earpiece. Quit being a ******* cheap *** and buy one already. I don’t want to hear **** about a recession/depression, it’s over. The DJI finished at 10005.96 with a little over a two percent gain. The DJI is the Dow Jones industrial and two percent is over 200pts.

How would you like the ability to keep track of a lost iPhone or have peace of mind knowing that your iPhone can be located if stolen?  The iPhone has an app that allows the user to track the whereabouts of their iPhone, it’s called iLocalis.  In order to get iLocalis you must have a jailbroken iPhone.

iLocalis comes with two different packages, the basic and premium.  The basic package includes location-tracking, share your location with others, notify friends nearby, remote iPhone control, and send messages to your friends for free and remote SMS control.

The premium package comes with all the basic package features plus remote backup, remote wipe, alert zones, push support, remote audio recording, remote iPhone lock, and lock iLocalis uninstallation.

iLocalis is a paid app that comes with a free ten day trial.  After the ten-day trial, you are required to donate in order to extend the subscription.  To extend the basic protection for a year requires a donation of 5 Euros, and to extend the premium subscription for a year requires a donation of 15 Euros.

When you log into the iLocalis Web page it brings up a map of exactly where the iPhone is located.  The location is spot on and has pinpointed my iPhone right to the street.  I feel this is a must have app for every iPhone because we never know what can happen.  We could end up losing or having our iPhone stolen and this app will help us locate the phone.  Although the app is not free, the price is very small for such an awesome service.  Once Dee and I have exhausted our ten-day trial I will be donating to extend the premium service.  iLocalis also has a forum on their main Web site.  To read more about iLocalis click HERE.

Whenever I travel, I like to have all the important information at my disposal.  When I say important information, this includes places of interest, rest stops, gas stations, and directions.  Having a GPS can provide the all the information we need when traveling.

When I jailbroke my iPhone I searched on the internet for must have Cydia apps.  I came across a free GPS app for a jailbroken iPhone.  Notice that I said jailbroken iPhone.  You must have a jailbroken iPhone/iPod Touch to get this app.  This app cannot be downloaded via the App Store.  If you don’t have a jailbroken iPhone/iPod Touch you can read this article on how to jailbreak an iPhone/iPod Touch.

Here is a list of some of the features of xGPS.

• Offline maps support (no need to have an Internet connection to display maps)
• Multiple maps type (normal maps and terrain maps)
• Online routing functionality using Google Maps
• Turn-by-turn directions following your GPS position
• Voice instructions (only in English, using a synthesized voice)
• GPX Logging support
• Wireless managing mode using xGPS Manager
• Night mode (for better night time visibility)
• Support for multiple GPS devices (xGPS Module, iPhone 3G internal GPS, iGPSD cable for Holux GPS, iGPS360, G-Fi GPS)

Today I tested the app out on my way to work to see how good it was.  I entered in my work address then left.  The app guided me to my destination with the fastest route possible.  When there was a turn xGPS sent out a buzz and voice alert to turn right or left.

The app is easy to setup.  To enter in my work address I just click on the settings button and scrolled to driving directions.  I used my current position and entered my work address as my destination, the app easily programmed in the route.

There was one thing about this app that I didn’t like.  When there was a turn up ahead, xGPS didn’t send out an alert warning me of a turn coming up.  I was right next to the turn when xGPS alerted me.  This can be very inconvenient for those that are traveling at high speeds on a freeway and could possibly cause a person to miss their exit or turn.  Another thing to keep in mind is that the alerts are not loud.  If you like to listen to loud music (I do) you will not here any alerts.  I recommend keeping one of the headphones in one ear to hear the alert.

Overall, the app was great.  It found the fastest route possible and the configuration is self-explanatory.  The developers of the app could definitely charge a fee for the app.  I believe it to be very useful and the best thing about it is that it’s free.  Click HERE for more information about xGPS.

After owning an iPhone for nearly two years, I finally jailbroke my iPhone. I know there are some people that jailbroke their iPhone soon after they purchased it but not me. To be honest, I was scared shitless to do it. The reason I was scared is that an iPhone costs a couple hundred dollars and I didn’t want to cough up more money if I messed up the phone.

This past weekend I went searching for the easiest way to jailbreak my iPhone and came across the Blackra1n jailbreak. I thought that jailbreaking my iPhone was going to be difficult and I was very wrong. The jailbreak only took about 30 seconds.

Here is how I did it. I downloaded the Blackra1n jailbreak to my desktop and then backed up my iPhone through iTunes. Once I was done backing up my iPhone I ran the Blackra1n jailbreak and that was it. As I said, it only took about 30 seconds to complete. If the jailbreak was successful, you should see the Geo Hot boot logo.

Then I searched on my iPhone for the Blackra1n icon and opened it up, and then I downloaded Cydia. After jailbreaking my iPhone I found myself wondering why I didn’t do this sooner. I then spent the weekend customizing my iPhone the way I wanted it.

There are a few things to keep in mind when jailbreaking the iPhone. There have been many issues with trying to jailbreak the iPhone 3G on the 3.1.2 firmware. I will put a few YouTube videos at the end of this post to guide you through the process. These videos are from different YouTube users and I thought that it would be great to include these.

The Blackra1n jailbreak will work on the iPhone and iPod touch.  You can download the Blackra1n jailbreak from HERE.

This video was brought to you by tysiphonehelp.  This video shows how to do the jailbreak.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7DnqOS1njU[/youtube]

This video is brought to you by DreRandom.  This video shows you how to get past a known issue with the iPhone.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8UYSfPEKnQ[/youtube]

]]> http://www.technology-geek.com/easily-jaibreak-an-iphone-or-ipod-touch/feed/ 8 http://www.technology-geek.com/8-iphone-apps-for-a-stock-market-junkie/ http://www.technology-geek.com/8-iphone-apps-for-a-stock-market-junkie/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:49:32 +0000 DJ http://www.technology-geek.com/?p=559

When it comes to the stock market, there are eight must have apps for the stock market junkie.  A few months ago, I was very obsessed with investing and following the market.  I stepped back in the market back when the Dow was at 6500 and got out when it hit 9500.  I am happy to announce that I am getting back in the market (slowly this time).  I have compiled a list of ten apps that will help make investing easier.  Here is the list.

1.  Seasonalysis

Seasonalysis is a great investing tool for the iPhone.  Enter in any ticker symbol and see how the stock performed by specific months and years.  When you use Seasonalysis, go back as far as 50 years, and see how the stock performed.  Seasonalysis also displays charts, tables, and grids of the stock.  The information is easy to read and you don’t have to be a stock market guru to understand and interpret the results.  This app does carry a hefty price tag of $39.99 but if you watch out, it could be cheaper.  When I bought this app, it was at around $5.  Cyrillian Inc. creates Seasonalysis.

2.  StockMark

Another great app created by Cyrillian.  StockMark is a stock benchmarking tool and I have found it to be very useful.  Enter in any ticker symbol and see how it performed versus the Dow Jones, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 over different periods.  StockMark allows you to compare both the total return and the average compound annual return (C.A.R.).  This app carries a price tag of $2.99.

3.  CNBC RT

CNBC RT (real-time) is an app that provides real-time stock quotes, live market data, breaking news, and news videos from CNBC.  Switch between energy stocks, tech stocks and your portfolio.  One of my favorite features of this app is the ability to receive breaking news alerts.  Whenever there is a breaking news alert, the app will alert you with a chime and the news.  This app is free to download through the iPhone app store.

4.  Daily Finance

Daily finance is a free app that can track multiple portfolios, provides real-time quotes, and news from over 3000 different sources.  Get free real-time quotes from BATS Exchange, 15 minute delayed quotes from NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX.  Daily finance allows the user to view interactive charts to track current and historical performance of investments and compare them against peers and market benchmarks.  Gain access to the markets biggest gainers and losers.  In order to track any portfolios you must create an account with AOL Money.

5.  Yahoo Finance

Yahoo Finance is another free app that provides the user with the latest market news, and stock quotes.  Import and track your Yahoo portfolio in a few simple steps.  Conduct your own research of the markets, industries, currencies, commodities, and treasury bonds.

6.  Bloomberg

Bloomberg is another free app to read the latest headlines, world market updates, stock quotes, and charts.  Rotate the iPhone sideways to view the stock charts in full view and touch the screen to view charts of historical stock prices.

7.   NY Times

Keep up to date with the latest news in around the globe.  Easily switch from business news to technology news.

8.  Thomson Reuters News Pro

This app provides extensive coverage the people and events that drive markets from deals and merger news to global indices data.  This app covers breaking news from around the globe, a customizable watch list for monitoring your stocks.  Thomson Reuters is free to download.

Conclusion

Investors like to have as much news as possible when it comes to the stock market.  These are the eight apps I use to keep up to date on the latest stock market news.  If there are any apps that you feel should be on this list, please feel free to leave a comment so I can go and get the app :-)