Connect to iTunes

One of my favorite things to consult my friends and clients about is their iPhone.  So this is the first in a series of on-going posts on maximizing your iPhone's usability. 

Connecting your iPhone to iTunes is probably the single most important piece of getting the most out of your iPhone.  Unfortunately there are so many users I've talked to where they've never connected their phone to iTunes after they first bought it.  If you're in this boat, you're ship is still at dry dock.

Backup

One of the main advantages to connecting to, or syncing with, iTunes is backup. All your app and song purchases are transferred back to iTunes on your computer, and, if you have it set up, your contacts, address book and calendar are also synced to your Mac Mail, Address Book, and iCal respectively (or Outlook if you're stuck on a PC). Conversely, if you add contacts and appointments on your machine, it will sync those to your phone.  Simply make sure these settings are enabled when viewing your iPhone Setup. Finally, if you break or lose your iPhone, or simply upgrade to a new iPhone, all this data will be transferred exactly as you left it to your new iPhone.

iOS Updates

iOS is the operating system your iPhone uses.  The iPhone is probably the first phone that gets seriously better with time because of these OS updates Apple releases.  New features, speed and security enhancements, multitasking, folders and more. Literally hundreds of features and enhancements have been added since the first iPhone was released.  If you don't have app folders on your iPhone, connect to iTunes.

While there are other benefits, such as arranging app icons, selecting which music playlists are synced, photo management (and backup), backups and iOS updates should be reason enough for you to connect your iPhone to iTunes on a regular basis.  Keeping a backup of your iPhone's data will be a life saver, and you'll thoroughly enjoy all the cool new features iOS has to offer.  The iPhone is the one phone you'll own that will actually be a better phone than than the day you bought it.

If you'd like to learn more about how your iPhone can work for you and your business, I'd love to hear from you.  Shoot me an email today.

Interview: Geordie Romer on Social Media

Geordie Romer is an active Social Media user.  I seem to bump into his tweets, posts and other web interactions on a regular basis.  So as a follow-up to my Social Media post, I decided to ask Geordie a few questions about his experience with Social Media:

Hi Geordie, thanks for taking the time to answer some questions regarding your use of social media. How about a brief introduction on who you are and what you do?

Sure Shon.

I am a real estate agent in the Leavenworth and Lake Wenatchee area. Most of my clients are buying or selling vacation homes in the Leavenworth area and most of those buyers (and many sellers) live in the Seattle or Bellevue area. Real estate has really made a switch in the past few years and the internet is a big source of information for consumers, especially in my case with out of area buyers.

I notice you use Twitter quite often, and I of course know you via LinkedIn.com. What other social media services do you use?

Click to read more ...

Web Browsers

Since building great websites is my business, I like to keep up with the latest and greatest.  However I also know that there are a lot of people who don't (or just don't know how) update their computers and browsers.  While Microsoft tries with its not-so-auto "auto update", it still requires a push now and then from you, the user, to get those important security updates and new features. So you might want to go to your start menu, highlight "all programs" and at the very top you should see the "windows update" link. Run that a few times. 

OK so now that you've got the latest and greatest Microsoft has to offer (you should be using Internet Explorer 8), why not venture out and try something new?

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox is whats called an open source web browser.  This means that anyone who would like to help improve the browser, most certainly can help.  Its kind of like Wikipedia, where anyone can contribute.  Currently Firefox has the 2nd largest install base, and is only gaining in popularity.  Mozilla updates Firefox often, is considered very secure, and had boat-loads of plug-ins (tools that integrate into the browser to make certain tasks simpler).  Firefox sports a clean interface and displays web pages properly. Dempsey Design Approved.

Download Firefox

Apple Safari

My personal favorite browser is Safari.  Safari sports an even cleaner and streamlined interface than other browsers.  I find it speedier than other browsers, and prefer its RSS reader.  The Top Sites feature is pretty nice too.  Apple also frequently updates Safari and is also considered to be very secure.  Safari also renders Dempsey Design sites properly.

Download Safari

Google Chrome

If I'm forced to use a PC, my web browser of choice is Google's Chrome.  I also enjoy Chrome's very simple interface (you can use the address bar to search, type in the URL).  Chrome also seems much quicker than any other browser for the PC.  Who knows the triple dub better than Google? Chrome is also newly available for Mac users as "Chromium" but is still a pre-alpha build (not ready for widespread public use).  Chrome is also built on the same technology as Apple's Safari.

Download Chrome (PC)

All of these browsers are free.  Everyone has their own preference, but I highly encourage branching out and trying something new.  None of these browsers are so different you won't be able to find your way around and more than likely you'll find a feature you really like. In no way is this a definitive guide, it is merely meant to create awareness about alternatives.  All of these browsers provide a better internet experience than Internet Explorer currently provides.  Do you have a favorite browser? Sound off in the comments!