Customer Reviews

iPhone: The Missing Manual, 4th Edition

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been an iPhone owner from the first generation of them. Admittingly, I was not completely pleased with the first gen of iPhone's because it felt lacking with so few applications available (unless it was jailbroken). It was a cool device at the time, but I found the Blackberry Curve a little more beholden to my likes and needs ... that was until the 3G, 3Gs and now the iPhone 4 with iOS4 came along. A completely different brand of machinery and intelligence.

I love David Pogue's Missing Manuals. My tech bookshelf is lined with his familiar green covers that range from Apple applications and OS's to Windows Operating Systems. He just writes a good book that is accessible to both the beginner and the expert. There is always more to learn.

I have been waiting patiently for the release of this book and was thrilled to get it. The iPhone iOS4 can get as complex as you want it to. Even if you are an advanced techie or iPhone user, this book will STILL have something in it so that you will feel you've gotten your dollar's worth. There are several iPhone books out there now but I am going with the tried and true Pogue book because I know and appreciate his writing and presentation style. The content is not so dry and boring that it loses you -- he writes in a very engaging manner and he can reach the novice and expert alike.

The book is printed on nice coated paper with beautiful, clear screen shots. I bought the book so that I could delve into iMovie for iPhone. At first I was a bit disappointed that it was not addressed more in depth until I read into the section more and discovered that he is offering a download that explains the use of iMovie. This book is filled with resources like that.

Besides learning a lot from the book and taking your iPhone to it's max usage and getting the most out of it ... you are also provided with further jumping off points that allow you to delve into areas that interest you more. For me that's iMovie. Just an example.

For the money you've put into buying your iPhone and potentially extra apps, a resource like this will stretch your dollar even more by helping you to get the most use out of it.

I am an iPhone 4 first adopter who dealt with the "death grip" (he even addresses that in the book). I feel like I have a pretty darn good grasp on this piece of hardware but also know that there is much more to be learned.

I love David Pogue's books and this one really does not disappoint.

5 stars!

Love this book, I did not know my new phone could do all of these things! While I was able to figure out many of the great features of my new iPhone4 without any manual, I was honestly shocked to read about all the cool features I had yet to discover. This manual has an easy to read layout, including lots of helpful pictures and helpful user tips. My iPhone4 is my first smart phone ever, but I am not a technical novice. However, savvy users with iPhone experience may not learn quite as much as I did - but I can't imagine that anyone could discover all the cool features on their own. I started reading the manual thinking I would just scan the first chapter or two, but I ended up reading it cover to cover. I am using my iPhone more than ever, and smarter than ever.

If you are interested in this book to disover what an iPhone/smart phone is all about, I would recommend it. I can't believe I waited so long to even get a `smart phone', but now I know it is something that will change the way I manage my life as it sooooo much more than just a phone. I'm even reading books on the thing, plus booking/tracking airline flights, ordering lunch, organizing my health records with doctor information, searching for local business using its automated gps positioning (not to mention mapping directions), listening to music, watching TV shows, reading the daily news on dozens of news sources, playing games and so much more.

David Pogue is so good at what he does he could get hired by Apple or Google immediately and instantly improve their technical documentation department ten-fold. The Missing Manual line of books is so good that it's like candy for the tech reader that wants to learn more about nearly any technology on the market.

With 'iPhone: The Missing Manual: Covers iPhone 4 & All Other Models with iOS 4 Software' Pogue has done it once again, improving on the previous edition of iPhone TMM by covering the new, gooooorgeous 4 line of phones. People like Pogue blow me away, they are people that seem to be able to get 25+ hours out of every day that most people only use/get 1440 minutes. I don't know how he is able to turn around such quality books in such a rapid amount of time, it's sick.

From the writing to content to design to the total package, if you want a book that will cover the iPhone top to bottom in a fun, educational way look no further.

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

really more appropriate for 3g version, gave it away to someone with that phone. should have checked out date of aug 2010 for publishing.

I have found all of David Pogue's books very helpful, including this one. This is the same book as the one for the original AT&T version of the iPhone 4. It hasn't been updated for the new Verizon version, but those few items that differ probably weren't worth publishing a whole new book. I assume that there will be a Missing Manual for the iPhone 5 that is supposed to come out this summer, if I understand correctly. The book is so much easier to peruse than going to the online guide on the Apple Web Site. It also adds a number of helpful tips that either don't appear in the online guide, or are not made very clear. Plus I really dislike trying to learn how to make the best use of a new device by flipping back and forth electronically to find the information I want. If and when I upgrade my iPhone and iPad, I will buy anything David Pogue has written about it (in print form.) Available from Amazon.

First off, let me say, I'm a VERY experienced computer and camera user, but still, I'm the kind of guy who reads owner manuals (or books that are better than owner manuals) right away. With new tools, computers, apps, cameras or smart phones, I want to know as much as I can as quickly as possible. In that regard, this book is great. Pogue's writing style is easy to read (but not as witty, irreverent, nor fun as Blatner), and he covers a lot of ground.

I will say, as I read it, I did find myself sometimes asking, "How do I do blah-blah?" or "Is it possible to blah-blah?" They seemed like logical questions at that point in my learning that weren't addressed. I could find the answers, but had to look for them, or they came along later. It's really a minor issue, but it made me feel that Pogue was not a perfect teacher for MY way of thinking/learning. (This is my first Pogue-written book)

On the other hand, lots of the kinds of helpful details I want to know were revealed. Did you know that the camera takes the photo when you take your finger OFF the button? Touch it, hold it, get steady...then release. Same with the keyboard. There are times that touch and slide will save a few taps. Did you know that "predictive text" actually enlarges the target area for the keys of the anticipated next letter? The book is chocked full of details and tips and good context about why to do something a certain way rather than a different way.

The phone aspect is not the reason I got an iPhone. Rather, what's important is much of the other features so that I can have stuff (say, images and music) with me or access to data where ever I am. This book has been excellent getting me up to speed with this very cool new tool.

Ahead of the curve -- as of yesterday, the "Missing CD" that's touted on the inside back cover as part of the deal with buying the book is still missing... it's not yet available at the missingmanuals.com website.

PS -- As a personal bonus, I was blown away seeing on pg 406 a photo of the foxL compact speaker I'd shot for a client. Who knew?

As ususal, David Pogue has gotten it right. As with all his books, the information is clear and concise. I would encourage anyone who has an iPhone 4 to buy the book and use it. Also, as usual, Amazon.com has the best price.

I LOVE the "Missing Manual" series and have them for most of my Apple products. They are great for getting the most out of your device, OS, apps, etc. and an entertaining read.
This version, however, was somewhat disappointing in that, while acknowledging the Verizon version of the iPhone, it doesn't point out the substantial differences in many features vs. the AT&T version. This is especially evident in the handling of calls. Call waiting, voice mail, etc.
Otherwise, it had the same great information written in easy to read format and adequately referenced with an index so it can be used as a trouble shooting and reference guide as well.

I do not know how Apple expects purchasers to know or learn all the information in this book on their own. Since getting it friends that have had the phone for awhile were unaware of of the many things I learned from the book.

I would suggest Apple put the book next to all the other somewhat questionable add-ons they want to sell because this is really necessary to get the full use that the Apple designers built into the device. So often the technical people are in their own world and think we are all with them on every development.

David Pogue deserves a huge THANK YOU from us and especially from Apple.

Excellent documentation that Apple left out of their instructions. User friendly and written in easy format for all aspects of the iPhone.