Extending Battery Life in iOS 11

In Apple’s iOS 11 {as 11.0.3 (15A432)}, shortened battery life/power has been a source of continual complaint form many.

Part of the reason why, is that in iOS 11, the Bluetooth & Wi-Fi features can NOT be turned OFF from the “swipe” menu, which is accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

Instead, what that “switch” does, is to

Apple Recall: iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program

Apple has determined that a very small percentage of iPhone 5 devices may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently. The affected iPhone 5 devices were sold between September 2012 and January 2013 and fall within a limited serial number range.

If your iPhone 5 is experiencing these symptoms and meets the eligibility requirements noted below, Apple will replace your iPhone 5 battery, free of charge.

Eligibility

If your iPhone is in working order and exhibits the symptoms noted above, use the serial number checker below to see if it is eligible for this program.

Only iPhone 5 smartphones sold between September 2012 and

Microsoft pulls Skype v5.0 from Apple App Store: Is Skype dead for Apple iOS?

Apple App Store iPhone screenshot of Skype, by Microsoft, shows unavailable software when attempting to update Skype.

Microsoft announced two weeks ago that their Skype software division had produced a new version for iOS devices.

According to MSFT, the highly anticipated version 5.0 was supposed to be “remastered for iPhone,” and described as “the most refined version yet,” and was promised to be “faster, smoother, more integrated, smarter.”

Suddenly, to the dismay of many iOS device users, the Skype software was no longer available, and had pulled from the Apple App Store.

The solitary cryptic response Microsoft/Skype offered was “We are in the process of

Could Not Activate Cellular Data Network

iPhone 5 Error message: Could not activate cellular data network

Ever had this problem?

You’ll notice one other thing about the display on the iPhone.

As you look atop the image, you’ll see numbers instead of the “bars” used to display signal strength. The number -103 is a numerical signal strength indicator, which the proper, and only way to indicate signal strength.

Just in the case you’re not aware of the technical aspects of signal strength, or what the number means, signal strength is measured as a loss.

The number itself is

iPhone Field Test Mode

Tired of those useless crummy bars for signal strength indicator for cellular or Wi-Fi service?

Ever tried to figure out how to get a numerical signal strength indicator on your iPhone?

Wonder no more!

How to get numerical signal strength indicator on iPhone

Simply enter

iPhone is disabled try again in 1 minute

As promised, here’s a look at the temporarily disabled screen shot.

Again, this screen appears only after entering the wrong passcode several consecutive times.

iPhone is disabled try again in 1 minute

Note also the numerical signal strength indicator appears for the cellular & Wi-Fi radio signals.

For those who may not know, signal strength is

Wrong Passcode – try again

Got iPhone?

Sure.

Chances are, you do.

Wrong Passcode iPhone screen shot

The iPhone is the world’s most popular selling cell phone.

This screen shot was made after entering the wrong Passcode.

Once the wrong Passcode is entered several consecutive times, the iPhone

How to FINALLY fix sparsebundle errors on Apple’s Time Capsule/Time Machine

IN AN EARLIER ENTRY I’d written that I had successfully resolved sparsebunlde errors on the Time Capule/Time Machine which I use to back up my computer.

At the time, I thought I had.

However, when I examined the disk, I found there was a duplicate sparsebundle.

Typically, unless the file name is changed by the user, on the OSX (Apple’s Macintosh Operating System) duplicate files are indicated by the presence of an Arabic numeral (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) following any file name. Because the sparsebundle, and any errors arising from it are created by the system, they are therefore not available to be changed by the user. Thus, the file names would be appended with a number as explained.

However, problems can be readily noted because either

Sparsebundle problems with Apple’s Time Machine & Time Capsule? Here’s an easy fix!

Time Capsule offers automatic backup for your Mac. And it’s a full-featured 802.11n Wi-Fi base station with simultaneous dual-band support in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously. It delivers great performance and range. And it’s easy to set up from your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, or Mac.

If you’re like me, enjoying the benefits of Apple’s Time Capsule and Time Machine are among the best, of the many wonderful things Apple has done with computer programming.

However, like all things electronic, or computing, not everything always works 100% properly, 100% of the time.

And, while Apple’s OSX is as good, robust and simple an operating system as it is, it’s not without problems.

One of the problems that occurs is with TimeCapsule’s sparsebundles.

The sparsebundle is the name given to the disk image file that is the backup.

Instead of a single big file, a sparse bundle is a bundle (directory) containing

Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer gives new iPhone 5 to all Yahoo! employees & pays their cell phone bills

In reality, she offered a choice from among 6 smartphones.

She is also also going to pay its employees data and phone bills.

—

Marissa Mayer Just Gave Every Yahoo Employee An iPhone 5

Nicholas Carlson | Sep. 15, 2012, 11:32 PM
New Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer just sent an email to all of Yahoo’s full time and part time employees in the US, promising them a new Apple, Samsung, Nokia, or HTC smartphone.

Yahoo! CEO Marissa Meyer with Michael Arrington founder and former co-editor of TechCrunch at TechCrunch Disrupt September 14, 2011. Photo by Kevin Krejci

“People are happy,” says a source at the company.

A couple weeks ago, we reported that new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer was considering giving every Yahoo employee a new iPhone or Android smartphone.

Mayer has now put that plan into motion through a program Yahoo is calling “Yahoo! Smart Phones, Smart Fun!”

We learned about this plan from an internal memo, which we received from one source and confirmed with another.

Through the program, Yahoo employees will have a choice of phones: iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X, HTC EVO 4G LTE, or Nokia Lumia 920.

Yahoo is also going to

AT&T to allow iPhone 5 FaceTime to access Cellular network in iOS6

Remember: “Free” is just a come-on word.

In reality, it’s totally, utterly, wholly and entirely worthless and meaningless.

—

AT&T to Allow Free FaceTime Calls Over Cellular With Mobile Share Plan

August 17, 2012 at 2:23 pm PT

As added incentive to sign up for its new shared data plans, AT&T announced today that it will

The Ultimate iPhone Apple Mac Google Contacts Address Book iCal Calendar iTunes sync post

2/26/12 Update: Be sure to read also “Sync-ing your iPhone’s Google Contacts/Address Book got you sunk? Fear not!”

***

Okay, maybe it’s not the “ultimate.”

But, perhaps it’s the penultimate.

That’s good too, eh?

Yeah.

Well, you dropped the bomb, bought a Mac and or an iPhone, and you have a Google account already. Welcome to the club.

You’re loving Lion and iCloud and probably wondering, “how can I get all my stuff all synced up?”

I can understand why it might all seem confusing.

First, you have iTunes sync.

Then, you’ve got Address Book and Calendar sync.

And then… you’ve got iCloud.

Good grief! How does it all fit together!?!

Sure, it can be

iPhone Photography Tips & Tricks III

Perhaps you’re read the two preceding entries in this series.

That would be “iPhone Photography Tips & Tricks,” and “iPhone Photography Tips & Tricks II.” (Had to clear that up, you know. It never hurts to be certain, right?)

Apple continues to improve the camera application on their iPhone, and in the 4S, the resolution of the camera has reached 8MP, and sports all-new optics. Not only does it shoot 1080p HD video, but it boasts a  f/2.4 aperture, improved backside illumination sensor, excellent auto white balance, advanced color accuracy, face detection, and reduced motion blur.

As well, the 4S model iPhone has 60 percent more pixels than the camera on iPhone 4.

While the improved camera sensors in the iPhone 4S have increased its sensitivity, it is ultimately the glass that makes any camera’s pictures worthwhile. And the appearance of a five element lens in conjunction with a larger aperture allows better quality light, and more light to reach the camera’s sensors, which results in a clearer focus and significantly improved pictures, overall.

However, those hardware improvement don’t say much about other really cool integrated camera features in iOS 5. And just so you’ll know, iOS 5 will work on the iPhone 3GS,  iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad, iPad 2, iPod touch 3d & 4th generations.

One useful feature available on all iOS devices is

Sync-ing your iPhone’s Google Contacts/Address Book got you sunk? Fear not!

2/26/12 Update: Be sure to read also “The Ultimate iPhone Apple Mac Google Contacts Address Book iCal Calendar iTunes sync post“

***

Some folks have expressed difficulty synchronizing their contacts on their iPhones with iOS 5.

That should NOT be a problem.

Because iOS 5 has incorporated features into it that make synchronization seamless and virtually invisible, losing a note, email, address or contact is a thing of the past.

However! To take advantage of those built-in features, they must be turned ON! It’s a bit like

Stanza Reader Updated: Now compatable with iOS5

Fear not!

There’s GOOD NEWS for every Stanza user!

Previously, Apple’s update to iOS 5 rendered the Lexcyle Stanza reader obsolete – and many were in an uproar over what to do – particularly given that Amazon.com had purchased Stanza and indicated they had no plans to continue updating or working on the software.

However, the GOOD NEW IS…

iPhone Screenshots – Excessive Temperature Warning

How do you know if your iPhone is too hot?

If you can’t hold it in your hand?

No.

Developers obviously considered that issue, and created a screenshot just to let users know if the phone overheated.

Undoubtedly, there are numerous other iPhone screenshots about which many – save developers – are unaware.

Here is another.

iOS 5 Crashes & Kills Stanza reader

UPDATE: 12/25/11 Please read the updated entry on this issue: Stanza Reader Updated: Now compatable with iOS5.
—
If you use an iPhone and the Stanza e-book reader app, you may want to consider NOT upgrading to the iOS5.

Why?

According to numerous emerging reports, it is buggy – so much so, that it crashes the app, which in many cases, will not work at all.

Macworld reported Nov 2, 2011 12:20 pm that “Stanza version—3.1 – which was originally developed for both the Mac and iOS platforms by Lexcycle – last updated in February, is barely useable on iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads running the iOS 5 updated released by Apple a month ago. And Amazon, which owns the app, has

Apple’s iOS inherently more secure

Once again, Apple Computer rises to the top!

How?

Their iOS does NOT use Flash.

McAfee reported that Adobe software products such as Flash and Acrobat were the “clear choice of malware authors and cybercriminals.”

Okay… they “fixed” it. We can all go home now.

Image via Nestle's CrunchBase

Perhaps you’ve read the previous entry to which I sarcastically allude in this entry’s title. If not, here’s the linked title – “Apple Update creates problems on Toktumi’s Line2 for iPad, iPhone, iPod, iOS.”

Here’s the “Ta – DAH!” e-mail which I received trumpeting their “success.” (As an aside, don’t you feel privileged to read my “personal” e-mail?) Be sure to

Apple Update creates problems on Toktumi’s Line2 for iPad, iPhone, iPod, iOS

Image via CrunchBase

iOProblems, iOBrother!

I’m a die-hard, long-time, Apple Macintosh only computer user. End of conversation. Period.

However, that hasn’t and doesn’t prevent me, or anyone else, from criticizing Apple products.

I use the iPhone 3GS model, with iOS 3.1.3 – jailbroken and unlocked – and

Apple confesses: iPhone Signal Strength Indicator “totally wrong”

Apple Computer (NYSE: AAPL), stunned the world today by announcing a critical error in the design of their iPhones, which has been present since the devices were first manufactured and sold in 2007.

It seems that the “bars” indicator – which has been used as a signal strength indicator, albeit an inaccurate and faulty one – is even more faulty than previously thought! In fact, it’s AFU – All Fouled Up. (That’s nice parlance.)

For those of you who do not know how to read radio signal strength indicators (and that’s very likely most folks), they’re expressed in negative numbers. The higher the negative number, e.g., -108, the weaker the signal. Conversely, the opposite is true: The lower the negative number, e.g., -16, the stronger the signal.

My iPhone 3GS is jailbroken, and one feature I have employed on it is a numerical signal strength indicator for the Cellular and WiFi signals. Here are two screenshots to illustrate.

UPPER LEFT CORNER: Cellular signal strength indicator using "Bars" - Note also, the WiFi signal (on the RIGHT of the AT&T) is much stronger than the cellular signal.

UPPER LEFT CORNER: Cellular strength indicator using the accepted numerical standard - Note also, the WiFi signal (on the RIGHT of the AT&T) is much stronger than the cellular signal.

Oh!

And if you’re looking for a job…

Apple Computer is looking for Antenna Engineers, too!

Read on to see their mea culpa and want ad.