iPhoneUsers.Net

Get synching with Things

The latest iPhone version (1.1) of Things – my favourite GTD app – now supports synchronisation with its desktop counterpart.

Setting up the sync is a doddle. Make sure both your iPhone and Mac are on the same network, select iPhone from the Preferences menu, start Things on your iPhone, enter the supplied access code and you’re all set. From then on, as soon as the app is open on both your Mac and iPhone, they’ll automatically sync themselves.

This latest functionality now escalates Things to being my favourite iPhone app.

Caught by the dreaded App Crash bug

I’m pleased to say I’ve had absolutely no issues with my iPhone 3G since I purchased it. Until yesterday. The dreaded and well publicised App Crash bug finally reared its ugly head, stopping me from running any third party applications.

I guess I’m one of the lucky ones, in that, having deleted many installed apps that I never actually use and synching with my Mac, the problem seems to have cleared itself. Still, this is a pretty major bug – I can imagine what the response would be if all Windows users were told “you may not be able to run any third party applications until we get the bug fixed next month”!

Have you been hit by the bug? Did you manage to resolve it?

Push Notification removed from latest firmware beta

AppleInsider reports that the iPhone Push Notification Service has been disabled in Beta 4 of the iPhone 2.1 update.

I’m sure this isn’t going to endear Apple to the many developers who have likely already started on developing apps that require this service and which has been in previous beta’s.

The official line is apparently that is has been pulled for “further development”.

Let’s hope it’s back in soon.

iPhone Things Sync coming any day now

I’ve just updated to the latest version of the Mac version of Things (0.9.4), the GTD app for the Mac and iPhone and it now contains the anticipated Sync code

Cultured Code have submitted the updated iPhone version (1.1) to the App Store, so it should be available soon. They did say when the app was first released that they were selling it at a lower price until syncing and other functionality were added. It’s currently still £5.99 on iTunes, so if you’re interested, I’d get it now while it’s still cheap.

I purchased the iPhone version last week, after spending a long time trying to decide between Things and OmniFocus. A colleague has purchased OmniFocus and I must admit, having seen both of them in action, I prefer the simplicity and ease of use of Things. Now Sync is on the way, it’s about as near perfect an app as I could imagine for GTD.

Well done to Cultured Code for coming up with the goods and continuing to develop the app as promised.

Streaming TV on the iPhone

As far as I know, there are at least two applications capable of streaming TV on the iPhone – SlingPlayer and Orb. SlingPlayer is currently at the “technology preview” stage, i.e. proof concept (see video below) and Orb is apparently stuck in the queue for release at the App Store.

I’m aware that there are bandwidth limitations imposed for apps added to the App Store, but surely something can be done about getting these released. These would both be “killer apps” on the iPhone. Orb is available now, but only for Jailbroken phones. Aren’t Apple encouraging people to Jailbreak their phones by not making these apps legitimately available?

I’ve got SlingPlayer on my Nokia E65 and if there’s one app that made people look they wanted to rush out and buy the phone when they saw it, this was it. So, imagine live video playing on that beautiful iPhone screen?

Mind you, maybe that’s part of the problem. Apple seem to be struggling to keep up with demand as it is, so maybe they’re holding back on apps that will make even more people want the phone! (Only kidding. Or am I?).

If you want to follow the progress of these apps, there’s a very active forum on the Orb web site and you can follow the SlingPlayer for iPhone rumour mill with this Google search.