The General iPhone Thread and FAQ

[robban]

Just in case you missed the news that Skype is joining the party tomorrow, Tuesday 31 March

[Ouchboy]

I don't know if this is already posted.

Is a guide so you have a guidance of when to buy your iphone. People usually get frustraed with mac because they do not announce when the new model or product is coming, so some people have the bad luck of buynig something 1 day before the new release

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#iPhone

[Worm_Buffet]

It's a very useful link if you are considering to purchase an apple product.

All signs point to a new iPhone coming out in July.

[Ouchboy]

Yeah, it's not 100% but is good enough for ameasure. Keep track of the rumours under the time.

[Principia Discordia]

A quick question,

I have a loaner iPhone I'm using since my regular Ericsson phone broke. I'm aware of the ridiculous charges I can incur while surfing, so I don't do it. My question is, I bought a few small games fron iTunes since I'll be getting an iPhone in a few months anyway, can I safely assume that most apps don't connect and upload/download data without my knowing it?

[dawiz]

	Quote:	Principia Discordia
	A quick question, I have a loaner iPhone I'm using since my regular Ericsson phone broke. I'm aware of the ridiculous charges I can incur while surfing, so I don't do it. My question is, I bought a few small games fron iTunes since I'll be getting an iPhone in a few months anyway, can I safely assume that most apps don't connect and upload/download data without my knowing it?

Hi,

I really don't mean to scare you here: but I suggest you get yourself a data volume plan as quickly as possible (they usually don't cost that much, really). By far most applications on the iPhone constantly use the data connection in the background. That's also true for most games - they often send game data, scores etc. to servers on the web. The phone also automatically updates stock info, weather data etc. in the background, even if you never opened these applications. Even the voice mail system uses data packages if you're on Swisscom.

there are two ways to make sure the phone doesn't transmit any data: turn on the airplane mode (which also shuts off your voice line) or enter a bogus GPRS access point - but for the latter to work you need to jailbreak your phone which you probably won't want to do on someone else's phone.

What provider are you on?

regards,

Peter

[cyrus]

	Quote:	Principia Discordia
	A quick question, I have a loaner iPhone I'm using since my regular Ericsson phone broke. I'm aware of the ridiculous charges I can incur while surfing, so I don't do it. My question is, I bought a few small games fron iTunes since I'll be getting an iPhone in a few months anyway, can I safely assume that most apps don't connect and upload/download data without my knowing it?

Most games won't, but many apps use the internets, but it should be obvious from their function.

[Worm_Buffet]

You can check your data usage under Settings -> Usage -> Cellular Network Data.

[krlock3]

thats wrong. iphone apps do NOT download data in the background.

they only download data when opened specifically by the user.

the voicemail im not so sure, however i would strongly suspect that you are not charged for that data download.

on the other hand, if you are using a lot of apps and the internet, it is very important to get a data plan as dawiz suggests.

	Quote:	dawiz
	Hi, I really don't mean to scare you here: but I suggest you get yourself a data volume plan as quickly as possible (they usually don't cost that much, really). By far most applications on the iPhone constantly use the data connection in the background. That's also true for most games - they often send game data, scores etc. to servers on the web. The phone also automatically updates stock info, weather data etc. in the background, even if you never opened these applications. Even the voice mail system uses data packages if you're on Swisscom. there are two ways to make sure the phone doesn't transmit any data: turn on the airplane mode (which also shuts off your voice line) or enter a bogus GPRS access point - but for the latter to work you need to jailbreak your phone which you probably won't want to do on someone else's phone. What provider are you on? regards, Peter

[krlock3]

hi PG,

did you solve your iphone woes?

	Quote:	Papa Goose
	Hi folk, Spot the iphone virgin I bought my iphone today, and it hooked up to the sat nav in the car on the way home no problem, and I recieved calls (kept my old number). I got home setup apple id and itunes, and incorrectly entered the phone number, but didn't notice. I did the sync' of the phone, then started to wondered why the phone had not rung. I checked and I noticed my mistake with the number, the phone number is incorrect in itunes, and the 'My Number' display on the iphone, since the sync'. It will send and receive text, and make calls, but will not receive them, I do get a voice message in German/French/Italian (none of which I speak well enough), which I think says the phone is blocked! Also it will no longer accept bluetooth although it is turned on, but the icon is grey, and the icon to the left of the time switches betweens a small capital E & 3G, should it do that? I've checked the manual, and the apple support, but couldn't find anything useful to tell me what the problem is or how to fix it... so hopefully the EF cavalry can come to the rescue. It's made worse by the fact that I go to France 1st thing Monday, so need to try and sort this out quick sharp, so any ideas? Thanks in advance PG

[Principia Discordia]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'm with Swisscom but on a corporate network, I did a little research and according to my most recent phone bill it seems that I'm already on a 1sfr./MB data plan through work. I'm going to verify that before I go hog wild with surfing, but I think I'm safe.

The iPhone is without a doubt the most amazing electronic device I've ever seen. I can't believe all the stuff this thing can do.

[dawiz]

	Quote:	krlock3
	thats wrong. iphone apps do NOT download data in the background.

You might want to read this thread: http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/.../t-499099.html

Especially this post: "It is due to background things that the web apps do. I had an unlocked iPhone with no data plan atall, and I noticed in the data logs that data was being sent. So it just happens in the background, which is ok if you have the unlimited data, but not for me! Anyways, download boss prefs and turn of edge if you dont want the small data charges to keep appearing."

Peter

[cyrus]

	Quote:	dawiz
	You might want to read this thread: http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/.../t-499099.html Especially this post: "It is due to background things that the web apps do. I had an unlocked iPhone with no data plan atall, and I noticed in the data logs that data was being sent. So it just happens in the background, which is ok if you have the unlimited data, but not for me! Anyways, download boss prefs and turn of edge if you dont want the small data charges to keep appearing." Peter

That's for unlocked/jailbroken iPhones, if you do that, you really should know what you're doing.

[Worm_Buffet]

I think there is a disparity in the definition of "in the background" here.

It is true that an app cannot run in the background and download data when it is not open. However, it can download data while it is open in a way that it is not immediately obvious to the user.

[krlock3]

The experience of one user on a random forum is hardly convincing material, Dawiz. Surely you know better than that!

hehe i was thinking of writing that my iphone can hypnotise people and then linking my next post to this one as proof. Hey, it must be true.

Apple have stated in the past that apps do not download in the background. However, the reason that they stated that is because app developers WANT background downloading, or Push Notification, as they call it... and a good portion of users do too. It has been on the horizon for awhile, but AFAIK apple have not yet given a definite timescale for it.

Whats the reason for it, some might ask? Well, lets say you use an iphone app like IM+ or Fring... well they are instant messangers but people can only see you online when you actually open that app. With push notification, the app can be running in the background without you switching it on... therefore when someone messages you a popup or alarm could sound, and then you can enter the app. Thats a good thing for the user experience... not so good for the phone company who prefers to charge you extortionate amounts for sending text messages. Probably thats why it has been thus delayed.

In any event, when push notification arrives, then you definitely might like to be careful with your data usuage. Until then, any discrete data usage, i.e. not instigated directly by the user, is likely to be more or less nil.

[Worm_Buffet]

Apple stated at the 3.0 firmware event that they would finally roll out push notification for 3rd party apps with said new firmware in July.

The reason for the almost one year delay was apparently that they just had to make it even more amazing.

[dawiz]

	Quote:	krlock3
	The experience of one user on a random forum is hardly convincing material, Dawiz. Surely you know better than that!

It's not just one user - if you google a bit, you'll find any number of accounts by people who were greated by massive data bills after stays abroad, where their domestic data plans don't work.

The number one problem is that the iPhone's Visual Voicemail system constantly checks if new voice mails have arrived. Voicemails are transmitted via GPRS to the phone. Even if you don't receive any messages, data is transmitted. That's also the reason why voice mail doesn't work anymore abroad when you turn off data roaming.
On Orange, the voicemail system has been disabled, that's why I asked what provider the OP was on. On Swisscom phones it's enabled. This won't lead to huge amounts of data being transfered - but since data charges are exorbitantly expensive if you don't have a plan, even a couple hundred kbs can cost you a lot.

Location services also regularly transmit data. This can be disabled.

Also it doesn't seem to be entirely clear if the App Store will check for upgrades in the background.

Peter

[krlock3]

	Quote:	dawiz
	It's not just one user - if you google a bit, you'll find any number of accounts by people who were greated by massive data bills after stays abroad despite not deliberately having used data services. The number one problem is that the iPhone's Visual Voicemail system constantly checks if new voicemails have arrived. Voicemails are transmitted via GPRS to the phone. Even if you don't receive any messages, data is transmitted. On Orange, the voicemail system has been disabled, that's why I asked what provider the OP was on. On Swisscom phones it's enabled. This won't lead to huge amounts of data being transfered - but since data charges are exorbitantly expensive if you don't have a plan, even a couple hundred kbs can cost you a lot. Location services also regularly transmit data. This can be disabled. Also it doesn't seem to be entirely clear if the App Store will check for upgrades in the background. Peter

But thats not the same thing at all.

As i keep saying, there is a difference between deliberate usage and discrete usage. In the vast majority of cases people who have large bills from foreign usage did deliberately, and not discretely, use data services but were unaware of how exorbitant data charges for foreign usage normally are.

"location services" or, more correctly, applications that have a location component, only transmit data when the application is opened deliberately... directly by the user.

Foreign data usage can be eliminated by keeping the data roaming setting to "off" which is the default postion for this setting. In other words, in order to use data services when abroad, you have to disable this setting. Opening an app without doing this will not work. The iphone will warn you that by turning on data roaming, you risk substantial roaming charges.

[krlock3]

	Quote:	Worm_Buffet
	Apple stated at the 3.0 firmware event that they would finally roll out push notification for 3rd party apps with said new firmware in July. The reason for the almost one year delay was apparently that they just had to make it even more amazing.

I see that you are right.

[Ed Pummelon]

For those of you on Orange contracts who have not yet heard, the Visual Voicemail function is now (finally) available.

According to Macprime commenters (German link), there are mixed experiences of getting this set up. You need to contact Orange Customer Care, and as per the launch, it seems half the staff don't know what's going on.

Having seen that, and given the inefficiency I and others on here experienced when they launched the product, instead of going straight to the call centre, I sent an email yesterday afternoon requesting the service. That way they could work out what do to without me having to hang on the phone while they figured it out...

A guy called me back at 8am today, saying it would be activated in the next 10 mins. I waited 10 minutes, switched the phone off and back on, and it works.

As a side note - be aware before you do this that doing so will delete any saved messages and your personal greeting.