How to Change Your iPhone Desktop/SMS Background

via iPhone in Canada Blog - Tips, Tricks, News, and Tutorials for Canadian iPhone Users by iPhone Fan on 9/21/09

I always get some interesting news and tips from the fantastic readership out there. These tips always lead to post ideas and today we're going to tackle how to change your iPhone's desktop/SMS background. It will require a jailbroken iPhone. Let's get started!

How to Change your iPhone Desktop/SMS Backgroud: Use the Desktop/SMS Background App

No, you're not seeing double. Recently a new app was released in Cydia called Desktop/SMS Background. What does it do? Well, it lets you add a background wallpaper to your desktop and SMS background–WITHOUT the installation of Winterboard!

If you recall, I previously wrote about how to speed up your jailbroken iPhone. The solution was to uninstall Winterboard. Now, for people using an iPhone 3GS like myself, I must admit even after being jailbroken, the phone is still blazing fast. However, any jailbreak will slightly bog down your iPhone if you have Winterboard installed.

1. Launch Cydia and search for "Desktop/SMS Background". Install.
2. Go to Settings–Wallpaper–choose any photo.
3. You'll immediately notice two "i" icons in the upper left and right of the chosen image.
Tap the left "i" icon: set your SMS background
Tap the right "i" icon: set your homescreen background.
4. To remove? Easy. Just hold down for a couple seconds then let go. The chose wallpaper will be removed.

If you're not into the whole iPhone themes and custom icons etc, but want to jazz up your jailbroken iPhone with some minimalist style, setting up a wallpaper for your homescreen and SMS background will brighten up your day (click here on how to create your own lockscreen). Give it a shot!

Thanks to Roger L. for emailing us the heads up!

Picture Gallery:

GoogleSync Delivers Push Gmail for iPhone!

via iPhone in Canada Blog - Tips, Tricks, News, and Tutorials for Canadian iPhone Users by X1Zero on 9/22/09

Google has finally released Push capabilities for the iPhone and Gmail. The new function allows you to sync either your email, contacts or calendars, or a combination of the three.

This is great for Gmail users who have been waiting for an integrated Gmail Push service without having to download an apps or pay for Apple's MobileMe service.

However, there is one thing to note. The new Push Gmail service is powered by Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (cringe) and the iPhone can only support one Exchange account at a time. What this means is if you are already using an Exchange ActiveSync account, you will not be able to use the Gmail Push service seamlessly. Also, if you have multiple Gmail accounts, you will only be able to choose one account to use with ActiveSync.

Nevertheless, it is great to see some kind of push email functionality finally integrated.

To check out it out, visit m.google.com/sync from your computer.

The Setup

If you want to get up and running ASAP, follow Google's steps below:

1. Open the Settings application on your iPhone home screen.
2. Navigate to Mail, Contacts, Calendars
3. Tap Add Account…
4. Select Microsoft Exchange

Enter Account Info

5. In the Email field, enter your full Google Account email address
6. Leave the Domain field blank
7. Enter your full Google Account email address as the Username
8. Enter your Google Account password as the Password
9. Tap Next at the top of your screen
9a. Choose Accept if the Unable to Verify Certificate dialog appears
10. A new Server field will appear. Enter m.google.com
11. Press Next at the top of your screen again

12. Select the Google services you want to sync

13. Unless you want to delete all the existing Contacts and Calendars on your phone, select the Keep on my iPhone option when prompted. This will also allow you to keep syncing with your computer via iTunes.

If you want to sync only the My Contacts group, you must choose to Delete Existing Contacts during the Google Sync install when prompted. If you choose to keep existing contacts, it will sync the contents of the "All Contacts" group instead.

Next learn how to choose which calendars to sync, if you'd like to enable multiple calendars.

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App Review: PocketPlayer for iPhone

via iPhone in Canada Blog - Tips, Tricks, News, and Tutorials for Canadian iPhone Users by X1Zero on 9/23/09

You know when you have your iPhone in your pocket and you want to see what song is playing or use the iPod navigation, you have to take the iPhone out and fumble around? Well a new iPhone app called PocketPlayer seeks to change all that.

PocketPlayer by Gi-Co

PocketPlayer enables truly blind iPhone navigation, at least for the iPod part of your iPhone.

PocketPlayer replaces the typical iPod functions pause, play, forward, back, and volume adjustment with gesture controls. The obvious benefit of this is if your iPhone is in your pocket and you either cannot or do not want to take it out but want to change the song. With PocketPlayer, all you do is put your hand into your pocket, do a gesture on the screen and you're done!

Gestures

PocketPlayer supports the following gestures:

• Double-tap the screen to pause/play
• Swipe left to right to go to the next song
• Swipe right to left to restart the current song or go back one song
• Swipe top to bottom to decrease the volume
• Swipe bottom to top to increase the volume

The gestures are generally easy to use but will take getting used to. This is especially true when the iPhone is in your pocket, and make sure that you don't mix up your rights and lefts when using the gesture controls. PocketPlayer also includes a neat "BIBP mode" (Battery and Image Burning Protection) that puts on a black screen so to conserve your LCD and battery life.

The app also comes with a few customization options such as adjusting the touch sensitivity, modifying the background color of the jeans and modifying the player color (mine in the images is called "Black Edition").

PocketPlayer vs Apple iPhone Headphones

While PocketPlayer is a great app to use with your iPod, I just could not help to realize that the included in-line mic on the iPhone headphones practically replaces all functions of this app. The in-line mic on the iPhone 3G (with atleast 3.0 firmware) for example can do the following:

• Click once to pause/play
• Double-click to go to the next song
• Triple click to restart the current song or go back one song

If you want volume control, you will have to buy the new iPhone headphones or if you have an iPhone 3GS, those headphones are already included. This in-line mic does the following:

• Click once to pause/play
• Double-click to go to the next song
• Triple click to restart the current song or go back one song
• Click the volume down button once to decrease the volume
• Click the volume up button once to increase the volume

I would say that an iPhone 3G user with the iPhone 3G in-line mic headphones would partially benefit from the app because of the inclusion of gesture volume controls. However if you are an iPhone 3GS user using the iPhone 3GS in-line mic headphones, that user would not really benefit from this app at all since everything that the app can do can be done from the in-line mic controller. Even the BIBP mode mentioned above can be replaced by simply tapping the sleep/wake button once.

Non-Apple headphone users

The real user benefit with this app is for those users who are not using Apple iPhone headphones or any kind of headphone with an in-line mic for controls. In that case, this app is a fantastic tool and gives you a convenient method to manage your iPod music controls.

Overall, PocketPlayer provides an interesting take on the controls of your iPod music player. The gesture controls work perfectly and the app is convenient if your iPhone is in your pocket or you happen to have headphones that are not the Apple iPhone headphones with the in-line mic. But if you have either the iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS headphones, PocketPlayer is mostly unnecessary and keeps your hands out of your pocket.

PocketPlayer is scored a 3.5 out of 5.

PocketPlayer is available in the iTunes App Store for $0.99.

Apple Stores Oakridge Mall and Fairview Pointe Claire Open Saturday

via iPhone in Canada Blog - Tips, Tricks, News, and Tutorials for Canadian iPhone Users by iPhone Fan on 9/23/09

Vancouver Gets Another Apple Store at Oakridge Mall

If you haven't heard by now, Vancouver is getting its second Apple Retail Store, and it opens this Saturday at Oakridge Mall. The first Apple Store in Vancouver opened downtown at Pacific Centre.

This new location is eagerly anticipated by myself and others included because of…FREE PARKING! Parking in Downtown Vancouver can get costly when you're having a marathon "visit" at the Apple Store to look around.

Apple Store Fairview Pointe Claire Opens in Montreal

Apple's not finished with its retail grand openings this weekend just yet. Quebec is getting its third retail location in Pointe-Claire. There's no word when Quebec City will get a retail location. This location plus Oakridge above will mark the 13th and 14th Apple Stores in Canada. J'aime Apple, mes amis!

Free T-Shirts For the First 1000 Store Visitors

Looks like this is becoming an Apple tradition to give away t-shirts to the first 1000 customers. But like the Rideau location, Pacific Centre, and the Winnipeg Apple Store (slurpees FTW), once again you can line up for some free swag. So if you're in Vancouver or Pointe-Claire this Saturday, get up early and be prepared to stand in line for these grand openings!

Grand Opening: 9:30am – 6:00pm
Apple Store Oakridge Centre
650 West 41st Ave.
Vancouver, BC V5Z 2M9
(778) 373-4500

Grand Opening: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Apple Store Pointe-Claire
6801, Transcanada Highway
Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5J2
(514) 630-8800

Who's going to be lining up this Saturday?

PS – Winner of our SimplyTweet contest: Richard Wong

Starbucks Card Mobile – Pay From your iPhone or iPod Touch

via Apple iPhone School by Brooke on 9/23/09

Available In: App Store

Price: Free

Today Starbucks released their official application, myStarbucks however they also released Starbucks Card Mobile. At first I thought the app looked slightly uneventful but then I took a closer look.

Starbucks Card Mobile allows you to view the remaining balance on your Starbucks card, reload your Starbucks card, view your recent transaction and… get this… allows you to pay using your Starbucks card right from your iPhone or iPod touch.

The "pay from your device" features is still in the testing phases but is available in 16 locations throughout Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and San Jose California and Seattle, Washington. Apparently your iPhone or iPod touch will display a barcode that you use just like your Starbucks Card to make purchases (see screenshots below).

Honestly, I'm not sure I want to be handing my iPhone back and forth at the drive through but… a very cool concept none the less.

If you live in any of those areas and get a chance to check out the "pay from your device" feature… totally let us know in the comments.

Note: Starbucks is also running a limited time offer in which you get a bonus $5.00 when you load $25.00 onto the Starbucks Mobile Card (see details below).

The 16 test locations include:
San Jose
5180 Stevens Creek Blvd
San Jose, CA 95129

Cupertino, CA
20520 Stevens Creek Blvd
Cupertino, CA 95014

Mountain View, CA
Mountain View
1037-C EI Monte Ave
Mountain View, CA 94040

Shoreline & Pear
1390 Pear Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043

Castro @ High School
750 Castro St.
Mountain View, CA 94041

Miramonte & Cuesta
809A Cuesta Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94040

Charleston & Independence
2410 Charleston Ave
Mountain View, CA 94043

Sunnyvale, CA
1685-87 Hollenbeck Road
Sunnyvale, CA 94087

Seattle, WA
Key Tower
700 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98104

Columbia Center
701 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98104

1st Interstate/Wells Fargo
701 5th Ave
Seattle, WA 98104

7th & Stewart
1700 7th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101

7th & Pike
1524 7th Ave
Seattle, WA 98101

University Village II
2650 NE 49th St
Seattle, WA 98105

Madison Park
4000 East Madison Ave
Seattle, WA 98112

ScreenShots

App Store Description:

YOUR STARBUCKS CARD IS NOW ON YOUR iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH
You already know the Starbucks Card is the fastest most convenient way to pay at Starbucks. Our new Starbucks Card Mobile is the perfect companion to your Starbucks Card. With Starbucks Card Mobile, you can check your balance, reload your card, view transactions and in 16 select Starbucks stores in Silicon Valley and Seattle you can actually pay with your Starbucks Card using your iPhone or iPod Touch.

BONUS $5 ON YOUR FIRST VISA CARD RELOAD WITH STARBUCKS CARD MOBILE
Take advantage of an exciting reload offer: Get a $5 dollar bonus on your Starbucks Card Mobile account the first time you reload $25 with your Visa Card on Starbucks Card Mobile (for a limited time)

LEAVE YOUR WALLET AT HOME
In select locations (currently Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, San Jose, CA and Seattle, WA) we're testing a mobile payment feature. In 16 stores you can pay with your Starbucks Card using only your iPhone / iPod Touch and this application. Your iPhone / iPod Touch will display a barcode that you use just like your Starbucks Card to make purchases. It's fast. It's easy. And it's a revolution in mobile payment.

FEATURES
Check your Starbucks Card balance
Reload your Starbucks Card with a major credit card
View your transaction history
Pay with your iPhone or iPod Touch at 16 stores located in Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, San Jose, CA and Seattle, WA. Participating stores are listed in the application.

USER NOTES
Application supports U.S. Starbucks Cards only, including Gold cards
Starbucks Duetto Cards and Starbucks Store Credit Cards are not supported.
Starbucks Card Mobile supports your personal Starbucks Cards. Cards may only be loaded onto one device at a time. If you wish to reload a friend or family members' Starbucks Card, please visit HYPERLINK "http://www.starbucks.com/card" www.starbucks.com/card.