Derek Punsalan - 5ThirtyOne

3 Enhancements worth Jailbreaking your iPhone for

Derek — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:28:29 +0000

Every four months or so, I get the urge to do one of two things:

If the iPhone is running an official OS build from Apple, I jailbreak it citing reasons of (a) flexibility, (b) customization, and (c) access to enhancements Apple either blocks from the App Store or blocks developers from offering users.
If the iPhone is running an unofficial build (jailbroken), I restore it citing reasons of (a) poor battery life, (b) application incompatibility, (c) instability, or (d) having to wait for the green light to upgrade safely.

Three weeks ago I restarted the cycle, downloaded a copy of PwnageTool, and 15 minutes later found some real gems inside Cydia (the App Store for jailbroken iPhones). For those who have returned to the non-jailbroken side since the early iPhone OS releases, Cydia has matured considerably now offering free and paid for apps which I believe has lead to quality releases. Great developers should be rewarded right?

It didn’t take long for me to find some really useful iPhone OS add-ons. Enhancements which I know I would miss when I return to an official iPhone OS build.

01. Move over Apple copy ‘n paste for Action Menu Plus

Expanding on the copy ‘n paste functionality baked into iPhone OS, Action Menu Plus Pack ($2.99 in Cydia) by Ryan Petrich offers a handful of new actions to the popup tooltip menu. Highlighted features include:

History: Action Menu maintains a history of items copied to your clipboard.
Lookup: Highlight a word or phrase in an email, note, or web page and lookup definitions, similar words, Wikipedia entry, or translations.
Tweet: Copies selected text for Tweeting in your native Twitter client – Tweetie, Tweedeck, and more supported.
Favorites: Maintain a custom list of frequently pasted clips accessible from any application. Customized inside the Settings.app.

Although having access to clipboard history is incredibly useful, the best feature is the ability to create and maintain a list of clipboard Favorites – great for saving frequently used signatures or other longer chunks of text.

02. SpotSMS, Spotlight extension for SMS / MMS

The iPhone Spotlight search offers quick access to applications, emails, calendar events, contacts, media, and notes. Thanks to SpotSMS (free in Cydia), you can add text messages to the list of indexed items. You can tweak SpotSMS settings to search both sent and / or received messages, specify after which character to begin searching, and the ordering of search results.

This Spotlight extension adds much needed functionality – especially for those who send and receive hundreds, if not thousands of messages in a single month.

03. QuickReply to messages without leaving your current screen

I’ve tried a few applications which promised quick replies to text messages but none performed reliability like QuickReply for SMS ($2.99 in Cydia) by Gaurav Khanna. No matter what application you’re running, QuickReply offers four options inside of the new message notification:

Close: Standard behavior which closes the message notification.
View: Standard behavior which opens the messaging app.
Call: Optional action to replace the View button. Upon receiving a new message, you now have the option to immediately dial the number associated with the message.
Reply: Overlays the screen (or the application you are currently using) with a messaging dialog + keyboard. Compose your reply, press send, and resume without ever leaving your current app or opening the messaging application.

Stable and incredibly useful. QuickReply settings also offers the option to double tap message notifications on the lock screen for replies without unlocking or opening the messaging app.

Extra: Teehan+Lax Lock Screen coming soon

Recently announced lock screen project by Teehan+Lax and Jay Freeman (man behind Cydia App Store). More reason to consider jailbreaking your iPhone.

Running a Jailbroken handset?

What are some of your favorite apps or utilities? Have you ever had a bad experience with Jailbreaking software? Did you notice decreased performance or instability after jailbreaking your handset?

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Looking for Google Voice? Voice invites inside

Derek — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:58:44 +0000

I managed to get my hands on a GrandCentral phone number before the service was acquired by Google in 2007. Armed with a truly mobile "mobile" virtual number, I’ve managed to maintain better control and organization of my personal and non-personal phone calls – almost granular depending on who may be calling.

Although I have not yet made use of the option to ring multiple lines – home, work, or cellphone – with an incoming Google Voice call, I have made use of some of the other useful features. Features like voicemail transcription & delivery via email (bonus option to listen to VM attachments) or SMS, customized voicemail groups, and smart screening are all features a typical wireless carrier would enjoy seeing you dream about.

As I continued using the service, I’ve realized that Google has truly changed my view of the phone number. There was a period when I considered changing my voicemail greeting to instruct callers to email instead of leaving a message.

Has your view of the boring "old school" phone number changed after reviewing what Google Voice offers?

Naturally, privacy nuts will challenge the security and safety of personal privacy by entrusting Google with yet another data rich form of communication. What are you thoughts? Personally, I’ve warmed up quite a bit to the Google suite of services.

Two Google Voice invites up for grabs

Most of my contacts are using Google Voice already which leaves me with extra invites to share with readers. To claim one of the two invites, simply post a comment below. Bonus points for sharing how you think Google Voice will help you. Winners will be selected on Wednesday Nov. 4th.

Update: Invites passed out to two lucky readers. Hopefully the emails used in the comments were legit. Check your inboxes for a confirmation people.

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Gmail IMAP vs. Push, sanity more important than Push?

Derek — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:29:00 +0000

UPDATE: Thanks to reader comments, I discovered that this mini-rant concerning Gmail Push was due to my handset being unable to sync properly. Formatting the phone and following the Google Sync setup instructions agin resulted in a properly synced phone. Thanks Camron.

iPhone toting Gmail users with a knack for pulling out their phone to check for the latest emails raved when Google announced Gmail Push. What’s not to like? Instant notification of unread emails on your iPhone without looking like "that guy" pulling out the phone to refresh in the middle of dinner. Exactly what you wanted right?

As soon as the setup info went live, I enabled Google Sync, flipped the Email toggle and waited. Minutes later, 5 unread email notifications ~~popped up~~ (exaggerated, more like audible notification alerts). Twenty minutes later, another 7. A short time later, even more emails.

Browsing the web, playing a game, or reading a Kindle book. There it was, yet another Push notification from Gmail.

What had I done? I realized that Gmail Push suddenly became the service I wished for and hated all at the same time. I mean, how could I focus on beating my personal best score in Orbital (iTunes) or Chain Rxn (iTunes) ~~if the screen was routinely hijacked by Push notifications~~?

Understandably, the average internet user receives a manageable set of emails on a daily basis but I’ve moved everything online [which means all sorts of notifications]. Filters can only go so far and a lot of info lands in the inbox (despite the option of selecting which labels can Push alerts). A barrage of Push notifications wasn’t the only nuisance. I discovered another trade-off enabling Gmail Push.

Addicted to IMAP

In order to understand why IMAP is so slick, you’ll need to understand the difference between POP and IMAP. For a good walkthrough on the differences between the two, check out this the Official Gmail Blog.

The benefits of accessing your email via IMAP could not be any clearer. So you go on, accessing and reading your email from your fancy iPhone via IMAP. Then Google announces Push. You jump for joy and follow the setup instructions to add the Google service as an Exchange Server. Guess what, if you didn’t delete your existing IMAP Gmail account, you now have TWO Gmail accounts on your phone.

Gmail #1 syncs your unread / read and deleted email with your inbox. Downside, emails are fetched automatically at set intervals OR manually fetched on refresh.

Gmail #2 pushes new messages alerts to your device but has zero sync capabilities. Those 30 emails marked as read you had in your inbox a few minutes ago aren’t showing up in your iPhone inbox. Confused, you back out of the inbox and climb back up the Mail tree and are reminded of your two different accounts.

What do you? Do you continue accessing Gmail IMAP and leave Gmail Push enabled for a hybrid overkill system to satisfy your email addiction? Or, do you disable Push, marvel at the convenience of IMAP access and wait for Apple to put a little more attention into managing Push notifications?

Somewhere in the middle: Gmail IMAP + Boxcar

So you want the convenience of IMAP but the instant gratification of Push notifications at the same time? Try the Gmail IMAP + Boxcar (iTunes) combo. Boxcar is the best choice for Push notifications from services too slow to deliver their own solution(s) without having to rely on Exchange.

With Boxcar, I can fine tune Push notifications from both a personal and work Gmail account, change sound settings, and keep my Exchange account open and unused.

How can Apple make Push notifications better?

Apple’s lack of fine grain control over Push events can easily drive a iPhone user mad. Your Push options are either on or off. You can toggle sounds, alerts, and badges off, but what’s the point of Push with those limited notifications disabled?

Why can’t standard iPhone users enjoy the same useful utilities available for jailbroken handsets? Don’t actually answer that. There’s a great utility which adds a icon to the iPhone menubar for new notifications. What changes to the Push notification settings would you like to see in order to make Push a little more to your liking?

Gmail IMAP vs. Push, where do you stand?

Which method do you prefer for accessing Gmail from your mobile device – IMAP, Push, or mobile version of Gmail? How about Push notifications, have they improved or taken away from your mobile experience?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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WithWaves AmazonBot is ready for Google Wave

Derek — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:30:54 +0000

Over the past couple of months I have been keeping an eye on the latest news and announcements for Google Wave. Why? Because the next communication platform from Google is going to change the way we communicate in real-time. For an explanation of Google Wave, check out this thorough post on Mashable.

Despite the fact that I have yet to receive developer Sandbox Access, I have been working with a few friends developing a Google Wave bot. We’ve created a new site at http://withwaves.com/ to share our experiences developing Wave bots / gadgets and to showcase our latest work. Our first release is now live – the AmazonBot.

Introducing the WithWaves AmazonBot – a Google Wave robot and gadget – which enable social product research and shopping on Amazon.com. Wave participants can share products & reviews with contacts in real-time thanks to automatic queries by the AmazonBot against conversation keywords. The AmazonBot gadget can detect products and return inline product links or a custom full product browser.

To find out more about the AmazonBot, check out the full introduction at WithWaves. Based off of what you know about Google Wave so far, what do you think? Will you use it?

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Correctly map iPhoto ‘09 Faces to contacts on Facebook

Derek — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:38:15 +0000

Apple’s latest iPhoto ‘09 has grown up and gone social. The updated version includes Facebook & Flickr integration – to supplement the existing MobileMe support – for your photo sharing needs. From Apple’s description page:

Facebook – To publish photos to your Facebook account, just select the photos you want to share and click the Facebook button. iPhoto even converts names you added using Faces to Facebook name tags.
Flickr – Sharing on Flickr is just as easy: Click the Flickr button. When you share your photos on Flickr, the locations you added using Places appear on Flickr photo maps.

I recently helped Syl setup a new MacBook Pro which meant migrating all of her files and photos. Once the data was moved and organized, we setup iPhoto ‘09 to access both Flickr & Facebook. Before long, a large percentage of the photo library was analyzed by iPhoto’s Faces. Then the frustration began with incorrectly tagged contacts.

Sharing photos via Facebook

When it came time to share a small album of photos directly to Facebook, the process couldn’t have been any easier. Simply identify the photos to share, then select the Facebook button towards the bottom of the window.

Uploading photos requires no other interaction or input once Facebook is selected. Edits and recognized Faces tags are uploaded with the photos. And so begins the frustration and tedious cleanup of mistakes.

Correctly mapping iPhoto Faces with Facebook contacts

Apple does not make the most important detail for integration between iPhoto and Facebook easy to find. In order for Faces tagged in iPhoto to correctly link to their corresponding profile(s) on Facebook, the email address for the contact in iPhoto must match the address on file in Facebook.

If the email addresses do not match, contact tags in Facebook will not link to a profile page or notify a contact new photos have been uploaded.

Fix incorrect Faces meta data

First, navigate to the Faces view in iPhoto. Hover over a contact polaroid until the subtle info icon appears. Select info to view a expanded contact info panel.

Edit the Faces title & first and last name (optional). The important field to edit is the email address. The email address should match that found on your friends Facebook Info page under Contact Information. Fortunately, iPhoto automatically updates any edits (including Faces info updates) and sends them to Facebook automatically when you select the set in the sidebar.

As long as you have the correct email in iPhoto which matches that on Facebook, your Faces tags will always link to the appropriate profile page. Now if only Apple updated Address Book with Facebook contacts integration…

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Screenshot much? Get TinyGrab – Snow Leopard ready

Derek — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:53:50 +0000

GrabUp. Heard of it? Last year I started using the tiny utility to quickly grab and share select areas of my screen with contacts in emails or instant message conversations. I enjoyed the idea and convenience so much that I opted for the Pro version which offered automatic uploads to my own server.

Some time afterwards, GrabUp went to auction and was sold. Judging by the activity on GetSatisfaction, updates and customer support seem to have gone the way of the dodo.

When I upgraded from 10.5 Leopard to 10.6 Snow Leopard, I began to experience what others were complaining about – GrabUp just stopped working. The culprit probably caused by Apple’s update which identifies a screenshot with a timestamp in the filename as opposed to a generic "Picture 1.png". An easy fix? You would think so, but no updates have been made as of this posting.

Maybe GrabUp should update their current footer from "GrabUp not working? Blame this* (web host)" to "GrabUp not working? Blame this* (web host) & Apple" Seriously? Pointing fingers in jest?

TinyGrab, same CMD+Shift+4 idea – better execution

Chris from TinyGrab introduced me to their version of quick simple screenshot sharing. Rather than being a System Preference pane utility, TinyGrab is a standalone application which resides in your menu bar.

Used in tandem with the hosted service, users can share screenshots quickly using a convenient short URL generated by TinyGrab (http://grab.by). Note that the link generated and copied to your clipboard is meant for sharing e.g. URL structure http://grab.by/ysa.

Free users are limited to 10 screenshot uploads per day with tiny URL support. Premium users have access to long URLs (direct file URI), online image manager (edit, delete, etc), unlimited uploads, search, and custom server setup (save images to your own server). The price for Premium access? £10 for a lifetime license. Check out the comparison chart for more info and registration.

But wait, there’s more… Photos & iPhone

TinyGrab is not limited to sharing screenshots. Drag any image or photo on top of the TinyGrab dock icon, or select "Upload Image" from the menu bar drop down.

Your screenshots or photos are automatically uploaded to TinyGrab (free users) or your personal directory (Pro users option).

The future of TinyGrab will extend the quick image sharing convenience to mobile users with a polished iPhone application.

Are you using a software to quickly capture and share screenshots on a regular basis?

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Logitech SqueezeBox Duet review, simply awesome

Derek — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:43:07 +0000

There once was a time when I assumed that setting up a quality home music network would be challenging and costly. I thought that my main options were either the (1) Sonos Music System or (2) Airport Express + iTunes combination. Two different methods of music network bliss – each with their own caveats.

Sonos System – Capable of streaming a personal library plus a handful of internet services like Pandora without a computer. Purchase the core hardware, connect speakers, and start listening. Downside? Cost.
Airport Express – Significantly lower cost in comparison. Plugin, connect speakers, start iTunes, grab iPhone or iPod Touch (wireless controller), and start listening. Downside? Computer with iTunes installed.

The ideal home music network?

Easy to setup – No one wants to spend time reading instructions on how to get setup. It’s not rocket science.
Cost effectiveness – The idea of being able to walk from room to room and playing the role of DJ Home shouldn’t break the bank.
Connectivity – Wired or wireless. The idea is to send music to speakers wherever they might be.
Compatibility – Personal library and / or free and subscription based internet streaming services?
Flexibility – Music doesn’t need to be permanently stored on a single computer. Access any computers or external storage devices on a network.
Always on – Music should stream instantly without waiting for a computer to wake from sleep or boot-up.

I yearned for a simple piece of hardware which would meet all of the above criteria. I was already familiar with Slim Devices SqueezeBox but had no idea of the updated product line and discovered the Duet.

Meet the Logitech SqueezeBox Duet

Logitech acquired Slim Devices back in October 2006. Since then, the SqueezeBox series has seen new additions including the release of the SqueezeBox Duet.

SqueezeBox Receiver – Wired or wireless network connection. Audio output options include analog or digital out. Once connected to the internet, the receiver talks to your [free] SqueezeNetwork account grabbing account info and service logins. For personal music playback, the receiver checks your local network for SqueezeCenter – the downloadable client which runs in the background on your computer. (Full Specs)

SqueezeBox Controller – 2.4" LCD with a iPod-esque scroll wheel to navigate and control. 802.11g wireless support means complete control from a different room. Like the Logitech Harmony remotes family, the display shuts off after a specified interval and turns on whenever the remote is picked up.

Together, the two work in perfect harmony providing you with complete access to your personal or online music libraries.

Bring the internet, speakers, and more storage

Setting up the SqueezeBox Duet to send audio to my Samsung speaker bar required very little work. And thanks to its discrete size and appearance, the receiver disappeared quite easily into the TV stand.

Within 10-15 minutes, I had the receiver and controller unpacked, plugged in, connected to the wireless network, communicating with my SqueeezNetwork account, and streaming a station from my Pandora account. Beyond the initial language settings, wireless network configuration, and account setup for streaming services, the SqueezeBox Duet is music when you want it within seconds of powering waking up the receiver.

The beauty of this little gem shines even more so when configuring multiple rooms in a household for music playback. Assuming separate speakers in each room, the only additional networking hardware required is the receiver. Once added to the network, your controller will add the device to your SqueezeNetwork for management.

The ability to access my entire music library (and then some) without a computer is an awesome feeling. I am already making plans to offload all of my non-DRM files to a network storage device (NAS) for access through the Duet. Now to find a good NAS… Ideas?

Music playback is limited to non-DRM protected tracks with support for MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, MP2, MusePack, WMA, and Lossless (Apple, FLAC, WMA).

SqueezeBox Duet issues

Clunky web interface for managing your different service accounts and devices. During setup, I was never sure if account info was saved properly or accepted.
No unified music library. Listening services like Pandora or Last.fm require that the Duet connect with your SqueezeNetwork account. In order to listen to your local network libraries, you will need to disconnect from SqueezeNetwork and connect to your installed SqueezeCenters.
Occasional slow startup time for the controller. I noticed that that using the iPeng iPhone app does not experience the same sluggish start.

Supported internet services

The SqueezeBox Duet supports the following services out of the box: Classical.com, Last.fm, Live365, Mediafly, MP3tunes, Napster, Pandora, RadioIO, RadioTime, Rhapsody, Sirius, and Slacker.

Music entertainment is new again

In short, music is now a constant source of entertainment at home. Rather than turning on the television I turn on the sound bar and relax with the controller in hand.

For those who carry their iPhones around the house regularly, you may want to check out the iPeng (App Store). iPeng provides every feature provided by the SqueezeBox Controller. Note that if you are sitting at a computer, you can control the Duet through your SqueezeNetwork account in your web browser.

For those who do not own a stereo system, the SqueezeBox Boom may be a good option. Are you running a music network at home?

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Spain – beautiful, vibrant, and full of color

Derek — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:08:42 +0000

Syl and I enjoyed an awesome 2.5 weeks visiting parts of Southern Spain with a group of friends and their significant others. We made our way through Chiclana, San Fernando, Cadiz, Granada, Seville, Conil, El Bosque / Benamahoma (for a 5km hike) and Gibraltar.

As I type this, our bags have yet to be unpacked. Both lay haphazardly across the entry way to our condo – a makeshift obstacle course to stumble over as we leave or return home. Mentally, I am still in a state of disarray. Our return flight departed at 7AM, our final arrival into Seattle was 9PM (the same day).

The Flickr slideshow above is comprised of photos from my Nikon D90. I tried something new carrying a larger Sigma 70-300mm zoom lens rather than the lighter Sigma 18-200mm. I frustrated myself a few times with missed opportunities because I did not have a wider lens. Syl carried a smaller point and shoot and hasn’t found the time to pick her favorites to upload (post will be updated with her slideshow).

Memorable notes

Spain is a beautiful country. Hills covered with sunflowers and olive trees, distant mountains with small towns nestled in the cracks, vibrantly colored buildings, smiling people… The list could go on and on.
Next time I visit, I better know Spanish. The basics like bathroom, beer, favorite tapas, coffee, and bathroom can only go so far. Fortunately, most people we interacted with understood what we were trying to say.
Food. Absolutely delicious. Fresh seafood (daily catch if you’re near a body of water), tasty Tapas, and Jamon – cured Spanish ham. How special is Jamon? Try ordering Jamon outside of Spain and your price can be anywhere between $70-$120 / lb.
Kiss the standard 12 hour day good bye. Your typical day in summer starts around 10AM with a small meal or walk through the city, return home for a nap during Siesta (2PM-5AM), and out again for dinner and drinks until the early morning (3AM-5AM). If you’re not a fan of mid day naps, you’ll find yourself adjusting. Shops and restaurants close during Ciesta because of hot weather.
Owning a large sedan or SUV would be a great disadvantage if you ever plan on visiting a small town or city. Parking is a premium which means your tiny car will get bumped, moved, or boxed in. We rented a Citroen Jumper 9 seater for the duration of our trip. It would be much more convenient to jump on a train to travel between cities.
Scatted along highways or throughout parts of any small town or city you will find historical remnants of the past – old castles, fortresses, and roman ruins.
It was fascinating to see rolling hills covered with giant wind turbines and vast solar panel fields surrounding small towns which looked as though they had been frozen in time.
Jaw dropping hand carved detail in the Alhambra fortress / palace.

There is much more to share but doing so would turn this post into a short story. The entire vacation could not have been possible had it not been for Raul and his awesome family (who extended all of us a place to stay). So thank you Raul, your home country is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

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Four real-time options for collecting user feedback

Derek — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:18:26 +0000

If you are writing for an audience online, one of the first services you should enable is real-time analytics. You might find yourself adding a snippet of code from Google Analytics (free), Mint ($30), Reinvigorate (beta), Clicky (free), or something else. If you currently use some type of analytics service, which one do you use?

Your website analytics data contains valuable information. Most services offer real-time updates so you know exactly where your traffic stands at any given time. Know what content is popular, where visitors are coming from, and where visitors go (Cliff Notes on why you should consider adding analytics to your site if you haven’t already). Armed with your fresh analytics data, you can make informed decisions about content to publish or changes to make on your site.

But what about the "real voice" of a users? Page comments are limited to the current page topic and contact forms are private 2-way exchanges between yourself and the sender. Ten people may have taken the time to fill out a form and send feedback, but think about the countless individuals who may have considered sending feedback but stopped because it was just too much work or assumed no one was really listening?

Four social feedback tools better than that other thing

One of the greatest aspects about the internet is that everything can be delivered in real-time. If feedback is submitted, users want to know that someone will act on it. For anyone running a website who is open to feedback, it can become challenging very quickly. To control the flow of feedback, here are 5 free or paid services which can aid in collecting feedback and empowering your website(s) visitors.

TwiFeedback – Recently announced beta web service which leverages the real-time power and reach of Twitter to collect feedback. Suggestions, questions, support issues, or anything else. A fixed tab triggers a modal Twitter client pulling in existing feedback tweets + the option to tweet your own. Strongly recommend that if you use TwiFeedback, make sure to @reply to users because their unanswered messages will be floating forever in the Twitterverse.

Skribit – Free web service which focuses on the topic of "things to write about". Available as a sidebar widget or modal client. Users suggest topics while other visitors vote in agreement or create their own recommendation. Accompanying web service allows site owners to comment on or reply to individual suggestions. Skribit tallies the total votes submitted giving you a good idea about what topic you should consider writing about next (if you are fresh out of ideas).

Get Satisfaction – Primary focus on collecting feedback and providing customer support. Used by both small and large companies to save costs while providing customer feedback which is indexed and made available via search. Individuals who believe they have a genuine support request may log in and search for similar issues before submitting their own ticket. Available as a free service with plans priced out for larger customized deployments. Primary integration options include a modal client or dedicated feedback page.

UserVoice – Modal client which collects user suggestions and allows for others to vote suggestions up and add comments. Full integration includes forums, analytics, user moderation, custom domain aliasing, and voting. Available as a free service or via a monthly plan which up the number of votes at a cost starting at $19 / mo. Note that the free plan includes 100 votes / mo. and a discussion forum.

The pros and cons of real-time feedback or support

If you are considering integrating a tool which will facilitate the process of submitting feedback in the "open" you should understand the pros and cons. Take TwiFeedback as an example. The service builds upon the immediacy and reach of Twitter to do a couple things:

Dear site owner, I’m on your site and I have something to say. You implemented TwiFeedback so I know you’re going to receive this #feedback as soon as I send it. Good.
Followers of the above individual will see their update and discover the positive or negative feedback. Essentially, anyone on or searching Twitter will know what’s going on and possibly retweet. Good or bad.
You as the site owner @reply via Twitter. Answer the feedback or support question. Everyone sees your quick response. Good.
You as the site owner fail to @reply. The Twitterverse knows, and you feel ashamed to tweet anything until you respond to the feedback or support question. Bad.

Real-time feedback via Twitter or basic email support. Which one works best for you?

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MobileMe subscriber? Make sure to enable Find My iPhone

Derek — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:41:04 +0000

Just a friendly reminder. If you are a MobileMe subscriber and have upgraded to the latest 3.0 iPhone OS, make sure to enable Find My iPhone on the device.

Here’s a real life scenario to understand just how useful the service could have been. This morning Syl and I carpooled into work. Four hours after dropping her off, I receive a call from a unknown number. It’s Syl calling from work and she has no idea where her phone is. Immediately, I think of Find My iPhone and log into MobileMe. Shock and horror: Find My iPhone is not enabled.

If the service had been enabled on the handset, I could have had a good idea whether a) Syl had simply forgotten the phone at home, or b) left home with the phone – which had accidently fallen out of her bag. It’s an interesting technology. Not entirely accurate, but a useful approximation of where the phone might be.

I’m kicking myself right now because the feature is disabled. I plugged her phone in, upgraded the handset to 3.0, enabled OTA contact syncing, but neglected to dig down a few more menus to enable Find My iPhone. I logged into at&t wireless to check call history and discovered last call activity was 8:50 PM (previous evening). I’m hoping the phone is simply at home somewhere. Assuming the phone is somewhere at home, I pushed a reminder to enable Find My iPhone. If it’s not at home, it’s probably a goner.

Need more proof on how useful the feature can be? Check out this story about pursuing the handset in real-time using MobileMe. Don’t have MobileMe yet? Purchase it through Amazon and kick a little something back my way.