Tips and Tricks

Ever since version 1.0, the iPhone has automatically backed itself up every time an iTunes sync was started. The feature makes sense on a phone and has definitely saved my bacon quite a few times. However, with the iPhone 2.0 update, the backup feature has gotten arguably out of hand. Most users report obnoxiously long backup times which make it extremely frustrating to refresh your iPhone's information.

So if you're tired of automatic backups that take forever, here's how to disable them.

Many users (myself included) have been experiencing a lot of problems lately with apps on their iPhone crashing or simply not even launching. Two solutions to the problem have been discovered, but the first is definitely less than ideal. One reader of iPhone Atlas claims that the problem can be fixed by reducing the number of apps on the iPhone.

Mr. Zdziarski's discovery of a remote blacklist that gives Apple the ability to zap apps from your phone remotely was pretty concerning for us jailbreakers and NetShare owners, and even though Steve said it's only for zapping the malicious/dangerous ones to keep us secure, it's still a little frightening (though understandable I suppose) that it was kept a secret. For those who don't like the idea of Apple periodically checking out their iPhone, Mr. Zdziarski has posted a way to disable the feature.

Not sure what to do with all that extra change? Here's a good tip: use it to buy iPhone apps. You've probably seen one of those Coinstar machines at your local grocery store or the like. But now you can use all that change you've been collecting and turn it into apps for your iPhone or iPod touch. Coinstar has recently begun offering the option of getting certificates instead of cash, minus the coin counting charge. One of the certificates you can get is for purchasing things in iTunes, including iPhone apps. You get some new apps and you avoid their 9% coin counting charge. [via TUAW]

If you listen to music on your iPhone while surfing the web or using other applications, you may occasionally need to access the iPod or its controls. Sure, you can hit the home button and jump into the iPod, but iPhone has a much more elegant way of accessing iPod controls. Ever since the iPhone update in September (v1.1.1), double clicking the "Home" button on your iPhone brings up a set of controls for volume, skipping tracks, and pausing your music without leaving the current application. There's even an "iPod" button that takes you right to the iPod application. But the fun doesn't stop there, so read on for more "Home" button tricks.

Since iPhone 1.0, tapping the "Status Bar" in Safari would scroll you instantly to the top of a web page. With the iPhone 2.0 update (available for the original iPhone and pre-installed on the iPhone 3G), Apple's added the same functionality system-wide. Tapping the status bar (the topmost bar where the clock resides) in nearly every application will now scroll you immediately to the top of a list or page. This is especially handy for scrolling through contacts, songs, or anything else with a particularly long list of information.

Wish you had a dock for that iPhone 3G but not willing to dish out the $29 for a piece of white plastic? Flickr user mdrengl decided he didn't want to either. Instead, he modified his old iPhone dock to work with the 3G. If you don't mind carving into your dock with a knife, then check out the instructions after the break.

Here's a tip for you Apple TV owners. Navigating the Apple TV is usually pretty easy, but trying to enter text to do something like search YouTube from your TV using that tiny little Apple remote is a major pain. Fortunately they built a feature into their Remote app for the iPhone that solves this problem.

Still not happy with the iPhone 3G's battery life? Looking for something to give it that extra little bit of juice? The people over at Geek.com have taken a look at two of the most popular external battery packs for the iPhone 3G: the Kensington Mini Battery Pack and Charger, and the Mophie Juice Pack. TUAW's Steven Sande also suggests the RichardSolo Backup Battery For iPhone / iPod.

Now that AT&T has removed the complimentary 200 SMS messages from the iPhone 3G data plan, I'm betting that some are looking for a cheaper alternative to sending texts. Luckily, AIM for iPhone supports sending text messages via the AIM service, which is totally free. To use this method, sign in with your AIM account on an iPhone. When you're all logged in, tap the "new message" icon. Where you would normally specify a username, enter a mobile number instead. Be sure to add '+1' and the area code before, though.