I wish Rutabaga, instead of censuring adult and competitive products, they would take care of encouraging good products. Please watch the video of a several iPhone apps opening:

And for some apps it would be ok if they take long time to open. You don’t use them that often. The instant messenger and navigation application on the other hand are two apps that I would like to use that all the time. And I payed for them!!!

Anyway, so I send them the bug report.

From: *******
To: *******
Sent: 04.02.2010 23:25
Subject: IM+ for iPhone/iPod Touch Full Application slow to launch and not responsive

Support request

Internet Connection:3G

Application version: Full 3.5

iPhone or iPod Touch generation: 3G

iPhone or iPod Touch OS/Firmware:3.1

Name of your wireless carrier: AT&T

Brief Description: Application slow to launch and not responsive

Description of issue experienced:
Application takes long time to launch compared to other applications that have the same look and feel (not IM). Once the app is up, it still takes almost a minute to “Restore”. Once it “restores”, if there are a lot of new messages, it will do a long series of beeps and vibrations.
The best case starting time with 6 accounts on WiFi is about a minute. On 3G it sometimes takes several minutes to load.

Since IM is an integral application on a mobile device, I would really like to see the start time to be closer to couple of seconds. Just by collapsing all the new message sounds into a single sound would shave a lot of time. Also, some local caching should make starting of the application much faster.

Thank you for a quick response.

Error message text:

Here is their response:

Hello,

Thank you for your request.
If the issue reoccurs persistently, please delete IM+ from your iPhone / iPod Touch, then reinstall it.
You may download IM+ for free from AppStore on your iPhone / iPod Touch or from iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=296246130&mt=8

If the issue persists after reinstallation, please send us your IM+ log file from the menu More / About / Support,
selecting “I have another question” menu entry.

If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Best regards,
*******
SHAPE Support Team
SHAPE Services
———————————————————
Short survey: Are you satisfied with our Support Service?

Follow IM+ on Twitter http://twitter.com/implus

Check also RDM+ Remote Desktop for Mac OS and Windows

—– Original Message —–
From: *******
To: *******
Sent: 04.02.2010 23:25
Subject: IM+ for iPhone/iPod Touch Full Application slow to launch and not responsive

< Support request
<
<
< Internet Connection:3G
<
< Application version: Full 3.5
<
< iPhone or iPod Touch generation: 3G
<
< iPhone or iPod Touch OS/Firmware:3.1
<
< Name of your wireless carrier: AT&T
<
< Brief Description: Application slow to launch and not responsive
<
< Description of issue experienced:
< Application takes long time to launch compared to other applications that have the same look and feel (not IM). Once the app is up, it still takes almost a minute to "Restore". Once it "restores", if there are a lot of new messages, it will do a long series of beeps and vibrations.
< The best case starting time with 6 accounts on WiFi is about a minute. On 3G it sometimes takes several minutes to load.
<
< Since IM is an integral application on a mobile device, I would really like to see the start time to be closer to couple of seconds. Just by collapsing all the new message sounds into a single sound would shave a lot of time. Also, some local caching should make starting of the application much faster.
<
< Thank you for a quick response.
<
< Error message text:

Here is a similar comment from Navigon’s MobileNavigator application:

What can I do to improve the GPS-Signal of my iPhone?
Answer:

During the following process the memory of your iPhone will be reorganized. This will have a positive effect on the quality of the GPS-Signal. The internal memory will be entirely deleted during this process. Therefore it is extremely necessary to make a backup of the software as described in step 1.

1. Please connect your iPhone to iTunes and perform synchronize it. After that please click with the right mouse button on the iPhone-Icon (in the left menu of iTunes) and choose “backup”. iTunes will now create an entire backup of your iPhone data and settings.
2. Then disconnect your iPhone from the computer and connect it to the power supply.
3. On your iPhone choose “Settings” -> “General” -> “Reset”.
4. Then choose “Erase all Content and Settings” and confirm this.
5. The following steps can take up to two hours and more, depending on the model and storage capacity of your iPhone
6. After the procedure is finished please connect the iPhone to your computer again.
7. Now using the backup install your data and settings.
A limited GPS signal can have many different reasons:
bad positioning of the iPhone in the car. Like with every portable navigation device, the iPhone should always have a free view to the sky.
metallized thermally insulated windshield
usage of design or protective covers
While using our NAVIGON Software please avoid using covers since these influence the reception of a GPS signal.

Yup… No comment…

But hey, at least looks like Navigon will add support for Facebook and Twitter. Just what I need.

Tags: iPhone,Video
Categories: Geeky, Random, Rants
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The guys at TestMyIPhone have a tool to test the performance of the iPhone’s network.

Here are results from my tests:

Tags: iPhone
Categories: Geeky
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I am bored, so I’m testing the WordPress app for the iPhone.

Tags: iPhone,Joke
Categories: Geeky, Random
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I had an experience with a company, I will not name with the name but with made up name SI&I. They seem to be pretty archaic when it comes to their customer service and clearly they are all about money. But let’s start from beginning. I got an iPhone. Yes, I got assimilated. But hey, “I got to have more cowbell“.

So, I went to the SI&I store and asked for the iPhone. Of course they did not have it, so they put me on the list. For that, I left lots of my personal information including my credit card number. Weeks later, after all the Rutabaga stores had iPhones, SI&I finally called me and told me my iPhone is there. Oh, did I tell you I ordered the 16GB black iPhone?

Anyway, I come to the store and started the sign-up process. So, why does it take 30 minutes to sign-up for a phone? Also, why does the person need to type my personal information to ten different screens? And why do I have to sign the electronic thing 5 times? Why does SI&I need my social security number? People who bought the first generation iPhone had significantly easier process. My coworker said he bought two iPhones, took them home and did everything through the iTunes. Took him 10 minutes. And he is not payed for it. Also, the new plans from SI&I charge you $.2 for every text message, whether you send it or receive it. Then they try to sell you this crazy 200 free messages for $5 per month plan. Even with Badizon, which is not that great of a company I was able to order the phone over the phone and not give any social security number. And they only charge couple of cents for incoming SMS. I would imagine with the unlimited data plan, all data would be included. I will so use e-mail instead of SMS.

Finally I have an iPhone which seems to work fine. Then I wanted to install the must have app “More Cowbell“. However, since the SI&I setup is so extensive that the sales specialist takes 30 minutes to do just about anything, at the end of the day the phone can only be used to make phone calls. Until you go home and go through an surprisingly painful registration process. I would imagine that Rutabaga would make the process much more streamlined. Also, it would be nice to be able to register via the iPhone itself and not by doing something on the web, something in the iTunes and something with a plunger in your bathroom.

Ok, after all this madness, I have an iPhone. It seems to work fine and we will see what the future brings.

Couple related articles:

• Video Tutorial: How to Get Out of Your Verizon Contract Without an Early Termination Fee ~ does it work on SI&I?
• Bell, Telus face class action over text message fees ~ somebody should file a class action suit against SI&I. But I guess congress would bail them out.

Tags: iPhone,Phone
Categories: Geeky, Rants
No Comments »

Ok, new iPhone is out and this time it has enough I guess for me to splurge and buy it for myself. However, I am really disappointed that it still does not have A2DP or wireless sync. That said, with GPS and fast internet… Hey, why not.

So, but my real problem with Apple. Why are they calling it cheaper? It is not cheaper. I was waiting to see how long before people figure that out. Finally, there are some articles about it. According to my naive math, the phone is $200 cheaper, but the monthly fee is $10 more, so after 24 months the phone costs $40 more. That said, turns out people in Europe have way better plans. And they get the device for free.

So, here is my list of suggestions for the “next” iPhone or next software release:

• Full bluetooth including A2DP and OBEX
• Wireless syncing
• Wireless subscription to podcasts (I don’t want to sync with iTunes every time I want to listen to a new podcast).
• Support for shoutcast/icecast/whatever cast Internet radio
• Better PDF reader for free ebooks (Should remember position, scale fonts, wrap on the screen etc)
• Instant messenger and VOIP

I probably missed something, but this is a good start. So, July 11th, where are you?

Tags: iPhone,Phone
Categories: Geeky, Rants
No Comments »