iPhone 3G Portable Genius (Paperback)

by Paul McFedries (Author), David Pabian (Author)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You love your iPhone 3G and you’ve found out that it’s mighty simple to use out-of-the-box, but you might not know that some of its most useful and powerful features are hidden away in obscure parts of the system. You’ve found out that your iPhone 3G doesn't get in your way when you're trying to be productive or creative, but sometimes it will do something (or force you to do something) that just makes you want to scratch your head in wonderment. You’ve found out that your iPhone 3G's robust design makes it a reliable device day after day, but even the best-built machines can have problems.

When you come upon the iPhone 3G's dark side, you might consider making an appointment with your local Apple Store's Genius Bar, and more often than not the on-duty genius will give you good advice on how to overcome the iPhone 3G's limitations, work around its annoyances, and fix its failures. The Genius Bar is a great thing, but it isn't exactly a convenient thing. You can't just drop by to get help; you have to make an appointment; you have to drag yourself down to the store, perhaps wait for your genius, get the problem looked at, and then make your way back home; and in some cases you may need to leave your iPhone 3G for a while (No!) to get the problem checked out and hopefully resolved.

What you really need is a version of the Genius Bar that's easier to access, more convenient, and doesn't require tons of time or leaving your iPhone 3G in the hands of a stranger. What you really need is a "portable" genius that enables you to be more productive and solve problems wherever you and your iPhone 3G happen to be.

Welcome, therefore, to iPhone 3G Portable Genius. This book is like a mini Genius Bar all wrapped up in an easy to use, easy to access, and eminently portable format. In this book you learn how to get more out of your iPhone 3G by learning how to access all the really powerful and timesaving features that aren't obvious at a casual glance. In this book you learn how to avoid your iPhone 3G's more annoying character traits and, in those cases where such behavior can't be avoided, you learn how to work around it. In this book you learn how to prevent iPhone 3G problems from occurring, and just in case your preventative measures are for naught, you learn how to fix many common problems yourself.

This book is for iPhone 3G users who know the basics but want to take their iPhone 3G education to a higher level. It's a book for people who want to be more productive, more efficient, more creative, and more self-sufficient (at least as far as the iPhone 3G goes, anyway). It's a book for people who use their iPhone 3G every day, but would like to incorporate it into more of their day to day activities. It's a book we had a blast writing, so we think it's a book you'll enjoy reading.

Look Inside the iPhone 3G Portable Genius (Click on Images to Enlarge)

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Tips from iPhone 3G Portable Genius (Click on Images for More Information)

Top 10 iPhone 3G Tips

Killer iPhone 3G Apps

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Product Description

The Genius is in.

You don't have to be a genius to use the iPhone 3G or the new iPhone 3G S. But if you want to get the very most out of them, put this savvy Portable Genius guide to work. Want to download the hottest new apps from the App Store? Record videos and voice memos? Send photos, videos, maps, and more via MMS? Control calls and tunes by voice? You'll find cool and useful Genius tips, full-color screenshots, and pages of shortcuts and tools that will save you loads of time and let you enjoy your iPhone to the max.

Paul McFedries is a Mac expert and full-time technical writer. Paul has been authoring computer books since 1991 and he has more than 60 books to his credit. These books include Macs Portable Genius, Switching to a Mac Portable Genius, and Teach Yourself VISUALLY Macs. Paul encourages all readers to drop by his Web site at www.mcfedries.com.

Portable GENIUS

Fun, hip, and straightforward, the new Portable Genius series gives forward-thinking Apple users useful information in handy, compact books that are easy to navigate and don't skimp on the essentials. Collect the whole series and make the most of your Apple digital lifestyle. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; illustrated edition edition (August 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047042348X
• ISBN-13: 978-0470423486
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,834 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #24 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Handheld & Mobile Devices
  #31 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Macs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough and very useful information, August 5, 2008

By	Gerry Power (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Out of the box, the iPhone is a wonderful device, with simplicity being one of its greatest strengths. But under the hood, there are incredibly powerful features that can make you really productive - this book is required reading to get the most out of your new iPhone 3G. In addition to plenty of information on the basics of use, it's loaded with information on the not so obvious, or hidden, features. For example it provides info on special gestures in Safari to make navigation easier, or that Safari can also do RSS feeds. Every other major application is covered as well with many tips to help you get the most from them, such as creating ringtones with GarageBand, customizing your Mail inbox, to using MobileMe. This a very well done and thorough treatment of all things iPhone, and despite being a technical person who uses a Mac everyday, it helped me discover plenty to get the most from my iPhone!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great look into the iPhone 3G., August 5, 2008

By	David Ridilla (Luzerne, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I consider myself pretty tech suave and have been watching the iPhone 3g from when it just started as a rumor until I had one of my own. Being one to keep an eye on the cellphone market, I believe that the iPhone 3G blows away all other hand-helds available right now.

The reason the iPhone 3G (and the original iPhone) is so ahead of the competition is because of the Cocoa Mobile developing platform Apple has created. The interface on the phone is so intuitive that everything just makes sense and it is done in a way that is less hassle than Windows Mobile, PalmOS, etc.

With that being said there are a lot of features that both the common consumer and the tech-head will miss in the iPhone's software. Anyone who is looking to really explore the full features of the iPhone and iPhone 3G should pick up iPhone 3G Portable Genius. After reading it I find myself having to explain new shortcuts and gestures to my friends and find my own experience more knowledgeable and complete.

Part of the reason I enjoy this book is because it really goes into why the software behaves like it does and has accompanying screen shots for all its sections. On top of that, don't-miss tips are highlighted in their own bubbles so they don't get lost in the main body text. Combine that with a good chapter layout and Portable Genius becomes a great reference manual to have on hand.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Material Presented in User-Friendly Format, August 8, 2008

By	Camille H. Hemmer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The iPhone 3G Portable Genius is an excellent guide to maximizing the capabilities of the iPhone. The material is presented in an intuitive, and logical, fashion and the directions are easy to follow. I learned more in two hours with the iPhone 3G Portable Genius than I had absorbed over a period of several months.

If you own either version of the iPhone and are interested in making the most of it for your particular needs, you will find the Portable Genius extremely helpful. The screen shots which are included in every chapter are thoughtfully designed and easily comprehended learning tools. Paul McFedries and David Pabian have created a comprehensive and functional guide which I will keep close at hand and share with friends and family.