Get the most out of your iPhone! Avoid trouble, solve problems, discover hidden tricks, and use your iPhone like a pro.
This title was updated in April 2008, and it covers the iPhone 1.1.4 software!
The iPhone shoehorns a lot of snazzy features into a shiny package, but if you want to feel more in control of core features like syncing, setting up Mail accounts, using Maps, and connecting to wireless networks, Take Control of Your iPhone is here to help. The book explains what's happening under the hood so you can use your iPhone more effectively. If, for instance, you have questions about activating your iPhone, the nuances of the touchscreen and virtual keyboard, or customizing the settings, this book has the answers.
Written by best-selling Mac troubleshooting author Ted Landau, where this title outdistances competing books, is in its coverage of solving problems (and, in April, 2008, the book is pretty much the only one that covers recent changes to the iPhone software). Should your iPhone experience be less than stellar, you'll benefit from Ted's years of experience, whether you're suffering a syncing feeling, having trouble getting a charge out of a battery, or need to resuscitate a dead iPhone. The book walks you through dozens of step-by-step problem-solving procedures, while offering tips for smart ways to use the iPhone along the way.
For the adventurous, Ted also covers iPhone hacking and how to deal with updating (or not updating) a hacked iPhone.
More Info
Contents & Intro
FAQ
Quick Troubleshooting
Take Control of Your iPhone costs only $15.00. That's cheap insurance if you have a problem the night before you take your iPhone on a long trip. —David Weeks, in MyMac.com
Important lessons you'll learn from this book include:
What to do if iTunes won't see your iPhone or activation won't work
What to do if you get misbehavior, hanging, or error messages while syncing
Various ways to create ringtones and put them on an iPhone
Detailed advice on how to cope with crashing and hanging problems
Thorough steps for resetting and restoring an iPhone
How EDGE and Wi-Fi network connections work and interact
How the iPhone works with Bluetooth devices
Tips and tricks for getting the most out of the Maps application
Smart ways to set up email on the iPhone, and how to solve many problems that can arise
How to more fluidly and enjoyably use the built-in Safari Web browser
Book Info
195 pages
Version 1.1
Published 25-Apr-08
2.4 MB download
ISBN: 1-933671-32-7
Free 29-page PDF sample with Table of Contents, Introduction, Quick Start, and section starts.
About the Author
Thanks to books like Sad Macs, Bombs & Other Disasters, innumerable magazine articles, and the founding of MacFixIt, Ted Landau has become the undisputed guru of Macintosh troubleshooting. He is also a professor emeritus of psychology and in 1984 was the U.S. National Othello Champion.
Welcome to Take Control of Your iPhone. If something goes wrong with your iPhone, if anything unexpected happens while using your iPhone, or if you can't figure out how to make an iPhone feature work, turn to this book to find help. This book was written by Ted Landau, edited by Adam and Tonya Engst, and published by TidBITS Publishing Inc.
Introduction
This is a Take Control book, so it needs to be concise. I believe I have succeeded in this regard, although the page count does not exactly support this view. Because the iPhone is an entirely new platform, it needs more explanation in order to cover it properly.
I am confident that anyone who has used an iPhone for even a couple of weeks will have no trouble with the technical level of this text. My emphasis is to provide you with a deeper understanding of how the iPhone works, with an ultimate goal of putting you in control of your iPhone. In particular, if any aspect of the iPhone leaves you scratch ing your head, this book should provide the answer.
Most especially, I've included troubleshooting information, focusing on what to do when things go wrong or don't work the way you expect. In that regard, I pick up where other books typically leave off. For example, rather than be content to merely explain the basics of making a phone call, I delve into why you may be unable to make calls at times, and what to do to fix it.
Troubleshooting can also refer to figuring out how to do a task more effectively, even if nothing is "wrong." That's why I explain the details of several iPhone features (such as network settings and Mail accounts) that, if not understood, can become a source of problems.
Beyond that, Apple provides a wealth of troubleshooting information at http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/. It would be impossible for me to write this book without sometimes overlapping Apple's support documentation. When I believe that my efforts provide added value, I have no hesitation about covering similar ground. However, Apple's documentation is sometimes so complete that there is little to add. In such cases, in the interest of brevity, I typically provide a link to Apple's documentation for further insight.
The iPhone is for Mac OS X, Windows XP, and Windows Vista users. What about this book? I estimate that roughly 90 percent of the material is appropriate for both platforms. This is obviously so when covering the iPhone's features. Even when an iPhone is connected to a computer, differences are slight. Still, when it comes to troubleshooting, differences exist, such as when describing where iPhone information is stored on a computer's hard drive. In this case, the book has more information for Mac users, since I am a die-hard Mac user and Mac troubleshooting is in my blood. Still, I firmly believe this book is valuable for users of either platform.
However, when referring to Windows, I am careful to say "computers running Windows" (or something similar) rather than simply refer to "PCs." This is because Intel-based Macs can also run Windows, such as via Apple's Boot Camp software. When running Windows, a Mac follows the rules for Windows, not Mac OS X.
One more thing. I am truly excited about writing this book. I have not had such an enthusiastic reaction to a new product since I got my first Mac in 1984. I look forward to a long and happy relationship with my iPhone. Let's get started.
Quick Start to Taking Control of an iPhone
You needn't read this book from cover to cover. If you have a specific problem or question, you can go immediately to the section where the answer is likely to be found. You might especially like to try 8 Quick Troubleshooting Steps. However, reading the entire book does have its benefits—you'll learn a lot about operating your iPhone, and not only will you pick up useful tips but you'll also learn techniques for avoiding and solving problems before you get a chance to encounter them unexpectedly.
Start on the right foot:
If your iPhone doesn't show up in iTunes, learn how to Get iTunes to Recognize Your iPhone.
Solve iPhone Activation Problems.
Avoid navigation and typing hassles:
Avoid tapping when you mean to flick. Read Understand iPhone Gestures.
See how to Make Text More Readable, and Master the Onscreen Keyboard.
Manage iPhone syncing:
Avoid general problems with iPhone syncing by making sure you Understand Sync Basics.
Learn the special rules to Import photos from your iPhone , and find out why you should Choose Manual over Automatic Syncing.
Fix various iPhone sync problems that can occur: Solve "Not enough free space" Errors, Resolve Sync Failures, and Resolve Sync Conflicts.
Find out how to Create and Sync Custom Ringtones.
Learn troubleshooting basics:
Know what to do when the iPhone freezes (stops working) or crashes. See Handle Freezes and Handle Crashes. To avoid these errors in the first place, see Prevent Freezes and Crashes.
Discover how to Reset or Restore Your iPhone, and read background about the iPhone's backup files and recovery mode.
Worried that your iPhone may fall into enemy hands? See Manage Your Passwords.
Want to solve your problem as quickly as possible, without learning the basics? See 8 Quick Troubleshooting Steps.
Handle iPhone networking:
Learn how to set up and troubleshoot iPhone Networking .
If you have trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi network or getting EDGE to work, read Solve Network Connection Problems.
If you have a Bluetooth headset, check out Use Bluetooth.
Work smarter, and solve application-specific problems:
For help with making or receiving phone calls, see Phone.
In Mail, you may have problems sending or receiving email, coordinating email between the iPhone and your computer, and avoiding spam. To solve these and other problems, see Mail.
In Safari, Web pages may refuse to load or may load unusually slowly. To fix these issues and much more, see Safari.
If you have trouble importing or playing back iPod content on the iPhone, see iPod. To learn how to download music directly to your iPhone, read Use the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.
For help with widgets, such as Maps or Notes, see Widgets.
In Appendix A: Hack Your iPhone , find out why you might want to hack your iPhone and how to do it.
Understand the hardware, and solve hardware problems:
Learn how get the most out of your iPhone's battery, how to make sure that peripherals work with your iPhone, and when it's time to take your iPhone in for a repair. See Handle the Hardware.
Most of the topics in this book apply to the iPod touch as well. Get help using this ebook for an iPod touch in The iPod touch.
Does the book cover both using an iPhone with both Mac OS X and Windows?
Both platforms are discussed, but thanks to Ted's years of writing about troubleshooting on the Mac, there are more details for Mac users. The Windows coverage includes XP and Vista.
How useful is this ebook for people who live outside of the United States?
Although most of the information in the ebook applies to everyone, no matter where they are or bought the iPhone, the ebook does assume that you bought in the iPhone in the United States and are in the United States. So, some of the advice about activation and wireless connectivity won't apply if you are elsewhere on the planet.
The iPhone is a lot like the iPod touch... does this ebook cover the touch?
To the extent that the touch works like the iPhone, yes. There's even a 2-page section in the ebook that discusses differences between the two devices.
Ask a Question
Feel free to ask us if you have a question about this book!
Excerpt: 8 Quick Troubleshooting Steps
If you want a quick fix for an iPhone problem, and you don't want to read more than absolutely necessary, you may prefer the simple shotgun approach of trying a series of common fixes and hoping that one works. If that describes you, here's a list of quick troubleshooting steps (italics indicate sections in the full book).
Try each solution in order until one (hopefully) works:
Hold down the Home button for 6 seconds (described in Handle Freezes).
Restart the iPhone.
Force Restart the iPhone.
Update your iPhone to be sure you have the latest version of the iPhone's software.
Resync the iPhone. If you get an error, run through the tests suggested in Resolve Sync Failures.
Reset the settings that you've made on the iPhone: Consult How to Proceed, and continue with Reset All Settings.
Erase All Content and Settings on the iPhone.
Restore the iPhone (see Restore the iPhone from iTunes).
Thanks to books like Sad Macs, Bombs & Other Disasters, innumerable magazine articles, and the founding of MacFixIt,