Tech Yourself Fool Has A Secret About the New iPhone's Features

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replying the story in its archived form does not constitute a re-publiccation of the story.

I don’t know…maybe you heard about the new iPhone coming out last Friday? 

Of course you did.  You heard it was new and cool and had awesome features.

Well, that’s true.  The iPhone 3G has true GPS and the faster “3G” (that’s the faster network that carries your voice and provides internet when you are away from a wifi network) but the fact is, since there are even more, and better features in the new 2.0 iPhone software, you can get the best of the new features on even the older version of the iPhone by simply doing the free software upgrade.

There’s a lot of new features in the new software and we can’t go over them all, but the big ones in my mind are:
1.    MUCH improved business and email support
2.    The ability to finally install other applications on the iPhone via the App Store.

If you wanted an iPhone before but your IT guy at work said “No! It doesn’t support our Exchange Email System!” then nows the time to go back and ask again because Apple has added that.  It allows you to sign in and get your email, contacts and calendars pushed to you, just like on the famous Blackberry!

That’s cool and all, but here’s the big one:  Games, Instant Messaging, and all kinds of fun stuff can now be installed on your iPhone with very little effort though the App Store!  As of now, nearly any company or indie programmer can make a game or Twitter client or whatever and either give it away or sell it on the iTunes App Store and with just a few swipes and presses, you can have it on your iPhone.

Check the video by going to the Featured Video tab for a short demo on how it all works.

So what are my favorite apps so far on the iPhone?  Here's my top 5:

1. Twitterific / Twinkle A tie between 2 very good Twitter clients.  Twinkle is free while the free version of Twitterific has ads.

2. Pandora.  Who says the iPhone doesn't have radio?! This app that plugs into the awesome Pandora website streams music tailored to my specific tastes.  Beat that FMs!

3. More Cowbell.  Watch the video.

4.Tap Tap Revenge.  Its like a Dance Dance Revolution for your fingers and its great in 2 player mode!

5. Remote. This is a free one created by Apple and it allows you to control your iTunes or Apple TV from anywhere you can get on your wifi network.  Its really great for lazy people or those that keep their computer in a back room.

Below are some related links about the iPhone if you want to know more:

Apple's Guided Tour of the iPhone 3G

Engadget's iPhone 3G Review

MacWorld's 2.0 iPhone Software review

Oh!  One last thing!  Send us your technology questions!  ...they don't have to be just about your computer making a weird noise or what the deal is with that cup holder that comes out when I hit the eject button, they can be about anyway technology influences your life!  Once we get a few, I'll answer them in a future episode!  For now, email them to mike[at]toastedrav.com and please put "Tech Yourself Fool Question" in the subject.

Later!

This article also has 1 video attached to it.