Customer Reviews

iPhone: The Missing Manual, 3rd Edition

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the current manual for the iPhone 3Gs and the upgraded iPhone 3G 3.0 OS. Though unofficial, if you want to understand the powerhouse in your hand this comes highly recommended. Author David Pogue, et al, has written an extremely user-friendly text with useful graphics. It's great to be able to navigate through the new 'cut, copy, and paste' feature with relative ease. In my review of the 2nd edition I stated that this book was a whole lot more usable than the online instructions. It is. And again for reference you can purchase the electronic version from the iTunes App Store on your iPhone (iPhone the missing manual, third edition). I prefer the book itself since that is the way humanity has received it's wisdom for millennia. And all it takes is a little study with this manual to control the smart phone of the ages.

This book covers all iPhones including the new 3GS and software 3.0. It can be bought as a hard copy or a PDF (Portable Digital Format) or as ePub (which you can put right on your iPhone or iPod Touch). If you like, you can buy both the hard copy and eBook for a discount special price from O'Reilly's website, the publisher.
For this review, I am using the PDF version and reading it on my Mac. I also put the ePub version on my iPhone, then if I am away from home and I need to look up how to do something, I have it right there with me. Advantages to having the electronic version of this book is that it is easy to search in Acrobat. I can also enlarge the text on the screen if my eyes are tired.
I am a new iPhone user, but I am not on an AT&T monthly plan. I had been thinking of buying an iPod Touch, but knowing that the iPhone is an iPod Touch and then some, I talked my brother into selling me his 3G iPhone for the cost of him buying a new 3GS iPhone. He was happy to do that since he got the new model iPhone for "free" and I got a very cool device that is an iPod Touch and much more. It has a camera, GPS, microphone, speakers and the ability to be a cell phone.
Not having owned one before yesterday, I had very little experience with how to use it. iPhone The Missing Manual is a real boon for me. Besides learning how to use my fingers to navigate through all the iPhone areas, I am learning a wealth of other cool things I can do with the iPhone.
For the beginner, it is nice to get a description of the seven basic finger techniques for doing things--tap, drag, slide, flick, pinch, spread, double-tap and two-finger tap.
Already on day two I have used the iPhone to make calls using Skype (calling other people's phones) and I was extremely pleased at how well it works. You have to have Wi-Fi for any internet usage on the iPhone if you aren't on a cell phone plan. With Wi-Fi (which I have in my house) I can also get email and answer it, go to web pages, use FaceBook and Twitter and upload photos directly from the iPhone to a MobileMe web gallery. Thanks to this book, I also figured out other people can upload their photos to my web gallery rather than send them to me as email attachments which I would have to download to look at.
Another really cool feature of having an iPhone and a MobileMe account, is that you can enable a feature called "Find My iPhone" in case you lose it. If you just lose it in the house, you can make it beep loudly for a couple of minutes which should make it easy to find. If you have lost it somewhere else, you can send a message to the iPhone asking whoever finds it to return it. If the person isn't honest and doesn't return it, you can also find the area on a map from the GPS in the phone to locate the phone. Besides all that, you can remotely wipe the iPhone to protect all your personal data. That is such a cool feature. Anyone who uses an iPhone should definitely also have a MobileMe account just for that. MobileMe is great for a lot more though.
If you think an iPhone doesn't have much to it--think again. This book is 418 pages. Sure, some of the information doesn't apply to me, but there is a lot that I can use.
David Pogue is always worth it, and I definitely recommend this book.

Call me dense, too busy to learn the hard way, technologically challenged but do not call me late for supper! I will not make apologies for wanting to learn from the best how to use the Iphone 3GS to its full extent and with the help of iPhone: The Missing Manual: Covers All Models with 3.0 Software-including the iPhone 3GS I am finally well on my way. What appears to be a cut and dried device is undoubtedly much more. Yes, I did go to the Apple Website and I went through some tutorials when initial questions arose. But like a wise reviewer pointed out some people prefers to learn the old fashioned way: with a book. I have purchased several books on computers throughout my time using computers. No, I am not very fluid on computers, even though I have to admit to myself I have learned quite a bit over the years and it makes me proud to realize I was not the "zero to the left" once I feared I was when it came to computers.
David Pogue's is a fine and well informed teacher. He knows a lot more than the average user. I have bought his book on Leopard (when I finally made the switch from PC's to Apple, so glad I did by the way), also the one on Office 2008 for Macintosh so I knew that he is a capable, competent source writer. At one time I even got mad to be buying so many books but that is what some must do to learn and I am one. The Iphone book by David Pogue is a delightful, entertaining, visual learning experience. I had my doubts what book on this subject to buy because similar books had release dates before the 3GS came to the market. I kept waiting and looking for reassuring reviews on what book dealt with the 3GS and was considered at least a 4 Stars. I realized soon enough that the number of people flocking after books for Iphone 3GS was extremely limited (is it because the average owner is more savvy? do not need to purchase additional resources and are content with Apple's?) so I couldn't single out the best of the bunch. Finally I gave Mr. Pogue's book a try and as I have been reading it at night, in bed might as well say it because I find it a very relaxing learning environment, with the wonderful Iphone 3GS laying right besides me and ready to interact with, I discovered that for the money you can not go wrong with this book. He is funny, all of a sudden he will say something very amusing, it is just his style. But he also seems to be a 5th Degree Black Belt on the subject at hand. Yes, this is an updated version and it definitely covers the 3GS. Thought I write this review when I noticed how few were available. I am sure other authors writing on the same subject have the potential to be as good as Mr. David Pogue but I chose his book for I know he knows. 5 Stars, Love the Iphone 3GS with its camera, video capabilities, voice memos, wallpapers, bluetooth, etc etc. For such a streamlined device it sure packs a lot of goodies!

If you have a new iPhone 3g/3Gs, and are looking for a great guide, and a great read, this is the book for you! I have another book by David Pogue, "Windows Vista, The Missing Manual", so I expected this to be good....and it is.

Many great tips, that I would have never figured out on my own, are in this book, and are highlighted in a light colored yellow box...so you'll pay attention to them. Everything that I needed and wanted to know I found in this book and then some. Pogue even adds some humor here and there, which keeps it from being boring. He has a way of explaining things so they make sense, and is easy to follow.

A great read, whether you just got your new phone, or are thinking about one...lots to learn on this tiny pocket computer that happens to be a phone! Very up to date, covering firmware version 3.0 and the 3Gs model, including the video camera, copy and paste, voice recording, compass, etc.

Highly recommended!

When I retired five years ago, I was officially --and literally -- left to my own devices -- no more in-house tech support or paid consultants to keep my gadgets working. Between David Pogue's column and the kindness of friends and strangers, I was keeping my computer and other electronics working most of the time.

Until I got an iPhone, and in particular the 3GS, which had these apparently great new apps for people with low vision (a state I am slowly inching toward). I knew I would love it if only I could figure out how to use it. Unfortunately, staff at two different Apple stores weren't much help - those nifty new features were too new, and none of the staff I talked with even knew about them, much less know how to use them. I thought my iPhone days were numbered. Then I went to the library and discovered Pogue's book on the iPhone in the New Books section. After reading the first couple of chapters, I had to buy it.

Next to my dictionary and thesaurus, it has become the most useful reference book I own. It is highly readable, and the information is organized and indexed logically and intuitively, especially for a post-war baby like me. I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewers who praised this book. It was one of the best investments I ever made. The author truly has a gift - and a calling in helping laypeople like me become more tech savvy.

Starting with an iPod Touch, I didn't think I would have much to learn about the iPhone. Even after I got one, I felt right at home. My boss also happened to get an iPhone and was asking me a lot of questions, so I pick this book up for him. I was so impressed with it that I bought a copy for myself. I have learned a lot of things I never would have even thought of thanks to this book. This is the book that SHOULD come with every iPhone sold. But it doesn't, so do yourself a favor and buy this book.

I have purchased many of Mr. Pogue's "missing manuals" over the years and have never been disappointed. This is another good one that covers the iPhone way beyond what one really needs. It is just nice to have in the event any question ever surfaces regarding this fine Apple product.

I had ordered the original edition of this book. I learned so much from it that I ordered the new edition when it came ou. It not only addressed the newer phone, but also the free upgrade for the older version (which I had downloaded). When one of my sons, one of my daughters-in-law and one of my granddaughters bought their IPhone, I sent each of them a gift copy of this book, They were all very grateful. Pogue writes clearly and beautifully and seems to know everything about whatever subject he takes on. I recommend this boo not only to new IPhone G3s owners but also to any one who has purchased the older G3 version and installed the free upgrade.

When you read David Pogue's biography on his website, you discover some interesting tidbits that you never knew before. For example, I knew that Mr. Pogue's background before becoming a technology guru was as a Broadway composer and performer. What I did NOT know was that he grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on the east side of Cleveland. I've lived in the Cleveland area my whole life and recently worked near Shaker Heights in Beachwood, so I feel a little obligated to show some love to a fellow Northeast Ohioan, even if he's moved to The Big Apple (note to LeBron - Don't follow David Pogue). There's no need for the geographical nepotism, though, as I have nothing but praise for David Pogue's latest edition of iPhone: The Missing Manual.

Pogue started "The Missing Manual" series of books in 1999 as an answer to the dry, highly technical manuals which come with many pieces of technology, both hardware and software. These books have become even more invaluable now that manuals are either a PDF file on a CD or kept on a website for download. Some people just want to know how their technology works without having to take a Master's level course first. David Pogue's writing is down to earth, funny, and USEFUL, taking a look at every feature the iPhone has to offer and breaking it down into how it's useful and how it works. You actually ENJOY reading and learning about technology.

Much like his biography, there are plenty of details about the iPhone which you may already know as you discovered them on your own or through research on the Internet, while there are plenty of other details which make you go, "I HAD NO IDEA!!!". One such detail was the ability on an iPhone 3GS to set the lighting level of the camera by tapping on the viewfinder. The iPhone analyzes the lighting level of that particular location and adjusts the entire picture accordingly. My wife has owned a 3GS for almost a year and had no idea this was available. My "lowly" 3G can't even do that, so I had no idea, myself. Now, imagine reading an entire book full of these little facts. You really do become an iPhone expert as a result.

This was my first excursion into "The Missing Manual" series and I am definitely going to check out other titles available, both by David Pogue and by other contributers. If they're written as well as the iPhone edition, then technology has become much more accessible to the common user. I highly recommend reading "iPhone: The Missing Manual, 3rd Edition" and hope that you find it as useful and entertaining as I have.

The little instructional guide that you get with your iPhone will get you up and running, but if you really want to maximize the use of your iPhone you need a book like this one. Remember, this is really a computer that is masquerading as a cell phone. There are many hidden controls and tips for use that will make your iPhone even more incredible than you think it is. The book is easy to read and allows you to jump around to subjects that are most important for you. I could go on, but enough...I am glad I bought the book and suggest you strongly consider doing the same.