MacOldie

iPad keyboard dock: what we need for the iPhone

That Apple introduced an external keyboard as part of the main iPad presentation is very telling. It proves that Apple realise the need for a faster, more tactile means of input. In the main, though, they are addressing prior concerns about the incompatibility of viewing and typing angles. What was not mentioned, of course, was the possibility of using this new keyboard dock with the iPhone. Ever since the iPhone was introduced there has been a demand for an external, possibly Bluetooth, keyboard. But at every stage Apple has blocked any hopes of such a device. Many people would have settled for the standard Apple Bluetooth keyboard, but the new version with the dock seems right in every respect. Without doubt the iPhone will fit the new keyboard; but will it work? I feel sure it will be made to work, unless Apple is bering very devious and hoping that the keyboard will be a unique selling point for the iPad only.

USB charger standardisation in Europe

By Michael Evans

AS FROM NEXT YEAR all mobile phones sold in Europe must be capable of being charged via a USB cable and this is a welcome development. No longer will there be dozens of different types of charger, all with different connectors. Consumers will be able to keep one charger--a USB device similar to, for instance, the iPod power unit--and use it for all future phones. The word is that mobile phone manufacturers will cease to provide chargers in the box, merely a USB cable for connecting to a computer or universal charger. EU officials believe this new law will save thousands of tons of useless chargers being dumped every year. 

One problem, though, is the bewildering array of USB connectors found on a wide variety of devices. For some years the USB Mini connector has been common on cameras (for data transfer, not for charging) but recently we've seen the USB Micro-B connector appearing on devices such as the MiFi and the Morphie Juice Pack for iPhone. While this connector, the flatter Micro-B, is likely to become the de facto standard for most small devices, it is currently new and little supported.  I wanted a USB-A to Micro-B cable for the MiFi and had great difficulty locating one in Tottenham Court Road. One shop asked £15 for a one-meter cable and I thought this excessive. Fortunately, the internet came to the rescue and I found Cable Universe who supplied a 1.8-meter for £1.73, including tax. This is a very fair price and I bought two for under a third of the £15 in-store offer.

I then turned my attention to the Sony Reader which, in addition to the Mini USB connector, has a jack socket for charging. Strangely, the device will charge though the USB cable provided it is connected to a computer running the Sony reader software, but it will not charge from a hub or from a wall charger via the USB Micro socket. I discovered, though, that the reader shares its jack and charging arrangements with the Sony Playstation, so I was able to buy a USB-A to Jack cable from a local games shop.

Armed with just three USB cables (with Apple, USB Mini and USB Micro-B plugs) I can now travel light, with only one USB charger--either the handy Apple device or a multi unit such as the four-outlet Kensington charger available from the Apple Store online. This should be the future, but we do need to standardise on the smaller Micro-B USB plug. Experts tell me that the Micro-B is both smaller and sturdier than the Mini, so let's hope we find this on more devices.

The great British plug meets its Waterloo

WE HAVE LONG been admirers of Apple's diminutive iPod/iPhone power US power adaptor with its minimal volume and folding prongs. Michael even bought a couple on his recent visit to Washington and has equipped them with euro-plug adaptors. Even with this add-on, they are smaller than the normal adaptor.

So we were pleased to see  the UK version of this minimalist approach appearing in the Apple Store this week. This is slim and makes the best of the bad job of the massive triangle of pins we have to put up with. The whole is slimmer than the normal 13-amp plug.

Britain has the world's largest industrial-strength plugs, complete with internal fuses and every safety precaution known to man. You could power all the lights of the Titanic from just one of these gems of over-engineering. Time was, we had neat two-pin plugs and even mini three-pin plugs especially for low-power devices, but they have all been banished by our 'Elf 'n Safety gauleiters. It is encouraging, therefore, to find Apple doing its bit for us mortals owning devices that consume less than 5 Kilowatts.

Our over-size and over-kill domestic electrical arrangements have so far withstood the conformist pressure from the European Union. While a changeover would be a costly nightmare, I am a great admirer of the standard European two-pin plug system. Sockets take either a round, heavy duty plug with side earth contacts or a simple slim two-pin unit which satisfies the majority of computers and peripherals. 

Meanwhile we British struggle on with our muli-sockets the size of a London bus with a cable of a diameter normally reserved for 20 KW electric cookers. 

The back of your 40-in TV or the underneath of your computer desk normally houses several of these hippopotomi basking in complete safety and capable of dealing with anything that lightning, kids or the downright foolhardy can throw at them. At least we're safe, even if we were to plug in the Titanic by mistake.

Review of Piel Frama iPhone case

by Michael Evans

AFTER A FEW days' use of my new Piel Frama iPhone case I remain extremely impressed with its quality and functionality. I'm reminded how much I used to love Piel Frama's leather Treo cases in a past iLife. This is a top-quality product and it complements perfectly the quality feel of the iPhone. It will appeal to the most fastidious of iPhonistas, and I should know.

The iPhone slides into the soft-leather-lined interior remarkably easily, without being too tight but with complete security. Although the phone cannot be docked while in the case, it is a moment's job to slide it out into nakedness. You can, of course, attach the sync cable to the phone while in the case; it's just that the leather prevents seating in the iPhone dock. The leather frame around the screen is pretty unobtrusive (unlike in the case of some cheaper designs I've seen in the Apple Store) and doesn't hinder the fingers when typing. Just occasionally I have found a little difficulty in selecting text to the far left, but you soon get the knack. 

Unlike similar Sena cases I looked at in the Apple Store last week, the Piel Frama protects the corners of the phone. With the Sena and other designs I could imagine damaged corners if the phone fell on a hard surface. What's the point of having a case if the corners, the most vulnerable bits, are exposed?

An unexpected bonus (not by design, I feel sure) is that the phone in the case stands upright on a table---either in portrait or landscape mode. In both modes the case flap acts as a hinge to keep the phone level without slipping over (as shown in the photograph above). It is thus ideal for watching videos (something that I am doing more and more often). You can even adjust the viewing angle easily in portrait mode or, in landscape, by putting a piece of folded paper under the edge of the flap.

The flap on my model uses magnets for closure. There is an alternative design with a press-stud flap, but this adds bulk and needs an extra action to close. The magnets (two of them) work well and I would recommend this configuration for general use. Incidentally, the flap folds back neatly so it doesn't get in the way of typing or phone answering. 

Inside the case are three compartments for credit cards or other odds and ends, plus a small cleaning cloth in a leather enclosure. A hole on the back of the case allows the supplied belt clip to be attached. I don't like this arrangement and prefer to keep the phone in my pocket. If you don't want to fix the clip there is a small plastic plug to fill the hole.

I forgot to mention in my earlier piece that these cases come in a variety of very attractive colours--including red, lime green, powder blue and tan. There are also customised designs to special order. My feminine side loves these colours but the remaining dregs of testosterone forced me to tick the black box. 

If you are hooked on the colours, do bear one factor in mind. The leather frame on the black case blends into the colour of the iPhone screen so it isn't very noticeable. If you have a contrasting colour the frame will be emphasised. You might like this or you might hate it. It's a small point, but worth mentioning. 

All the Piel Frama cases come in a sturdy box which makes them ideal gift material. And there's an extra goodie in the form of a small, pocketable spray for cleaning the screen. This did not work for me and I was about to fire off an angry email to the long-suffering Estefania Lopez when I read the small print: "Fill it with tap water, it's the best cleaning agent for screens". Previously I've bought special sprays at eye-watering prices and I now wonder if they were all filled with water. Sure enough, Eau de Thames in London does a sterling job. If you are super fastidious, fill the thing with Perrier.

The Piel Frama iPhone case costs €70 (£60 or $99) but this includes international next-day shipping. On my bill the case was listed as €49.34 plus €11 shipping and €9.65 value added tax. This doesn't look unreasonable to me. Lesser leather cases in the Apple Store in Regent's Street sell for £45 (€53).

[Note: the mini speaker sitting next to my iPhone in the picture is called an X-Mini and I purchased it recently from duty-free on a Lufthansa flight. No doubt it is available in the shops for less than the €30 I paid, but it is so cute I couldn't resist (update: loads available on Amazon for well under €30). Want-want took over from wait-wait.  It opens out on bellows and compresses back into a little plastic ball. It has USB charging and an iPhone plug. The sound quality is good for listening to podcasts and videos but clearly isn't going to rival B&W's Zeppelin. You do forego both the 50-in LCD and the Bose Surround Sound, but what the heck, it's a portable solution]

Piel Frama: Ideal case for iPhone?

By Michael Evans

THERE ARE almost as many different cases for the iPhone as there are phones out there on the market. I've tried a number and all have their pros and cons. Important for me, though, is protection of the screen. I don't want to rely on the applied screen protectors (excellent though they are) because they are not man enough for direct glass-breaking knocks. In my opinion you need something solid to keep the screen safe. I also like something that is tactile and pleasing to the eye, something that complements the intrinsic quality of the phone itself. 

Up to now I hadn't considered a wallet-style leather case, although I was a devotee of this configuration in my Palm Treo days. I still have several old ones sitting in a drawer. The best of these, in my view, are the very high-quality leather cases from Piel Frama in Spain. I was never disappointed with them and now that I see they have an iPhone version I thought I'd try one. 

They're not cheap: €70 for an iPhone case is steep by any standards. But the quality matches, and that price does include international shipping. The service isn't bad, either. On June 30 I placed an order for a black case after corresponding with the factory in Spain. Estafania Lopez emailed to say that the model is so successful that it was out of stock; delivery was estimated as July 10.  However, it seems that stocks arrived as soon as she pressed the send button. On July 1, the following day, TNT delivered my case. The 3G is all snuggled up inside as I write and I am delighted with the quality and appearance. 

As usual with Piel Frama cases, the inside is lined in a soft tan leather and the magnetic closure is neat and effective (they also do a flap press-stud closure if you don't want the magnetic). There are three inside pockets for credit cards and notes, but I don't like to add to the bulk of the phone so will probably not make use of them. 

Have I now found the perfect iPhone case? Watch this space. 

Steam-powered iPhone charger

Despite my love of the latest gadgets, I do have a soft spot for old mechanical contraptions such as typewriters, trams, cars and, of course, steam engines. So I am grateful to Engadget for news of the latest development in USB-charging power. An enterprising mechanic has harnessed a small steam engine to a generator in order to produce enough power to charge and run any device that can take a USB feed--including our beloved iPhone. Now this is much more fun than simply plugging the thing into the wall socket. It makes a lovely noise and you really get all the visual and audible clues that your device is being charged.

As Engadget says, this could be yet another example steampunk. There has been a recent revival in the construction of fantasy machines which look like Victorian science fiction but often contain modern equipment. An example would be a Mac Mini hidden inside a fantastic re-creation of Charles Babbage's difference engine. 

I rather fancy a replica of Stephenson's Rocket in my garage, powered up to provide light and heat. What a wonderful concept! Come to think of it, that steam USB charger isn't as daft as it sounds. All you need is a drop of paraffin and you have enough power to charge a phone. When all else fails, this could be the answer.

Ideal case for the iPhone

One of the attractions of getting a new toy such as the iPhone is exploring the range of accessories. Cases figure high on this list because, like most users, I want maximum protection with maximum ease of use. 

Some cases are just too bulky and yet offer little protection for the screen. Others, such as the rubberised condom style, need to be removed every time you dock the phone. Then there are the slim leather cases that offer style and feel-good factor but, again, offer little protection for the screen.

My Sena Ultra-slim Pouch is made from soft, high-quality leather and is of the slip-on type. It feels good and is a real quality item. The disadvantage is that you have to remove the phone for use, even to take a call--presenting the ever-present danger of dropping the naked phone. It also offers little real protection for the screen. 

My current case of choice is the Griffin Elan Form case which has a removable lower half to enable docking, plus a substantial clear-plastic screen cover that, surprisingly, doesn't make touch input difficult. The outer shell is covered in what I thought was a plastic leather-look but, according to the sales blurb, is actually a real leather coating. It looks good, whatever it is. 

I am also a fan of the Power Support Anti-Glare film for the screen. This is much better, in my opinion, than he crystal cover from the same manufacturer. The anti-glare has a slightly textured surface which does not attract finger marks but makes navigation and touch input more accurate and satisfying. What's more, this is one screen protector that is easy to apply. Getting rid of the air bubbles is easy on the iPhone because the hard glass screen can take more pressure from a credit card, the accepted implement for smoothing. This is one screen cover that actually improves the appearance while vastly improving the tactile feel and preventing smudges.

The anti-glare screen and the harder plastic screen insert of the Griffin case creates a very well-protected phone while input is only slightly impaired. For serious use, it is easy enough to slide off the bottom half of the case and remove the plastic cover. Incase make a similar two-part slider case but it does not have the hard plastic screen cover, thus leaving the phone more vulnerable.

Bluetooth Headsets

Am I alone in wondering about the effectiveness of Bluetooth headsets? I've been trying out the iPhone Bluetooth headset and love the design and the nifty way of charging via the combined iPhone/headset adaptor cable. It works well, although I have experienced some of the problems I've noticed with previous in-ear bluetooth devices. Callers often claim they cannot hear you properly. You do have to shout a bit. I have also never liked the multi-function single button--one press for this, two quick presses for that. I'm often left wondering just what is happening and what I've initiated.

I have tried the Apple device over several days but am not convinced that it is for me. I feel a bit nerdy wearing it in my ear and, frankly, it isn't all that secure. I can imagine it falling out and getting lost. I actually prefer the standard wired headset/microphone which comes with the iPhone. At least I can listen to music or a podcast and select a call easily. And callers are not always complaining. I have now improved on this by the purchase of the Sennheiser iPhone earphones. They are very comfortable, the sound is great and the microphone (with activation button) is very conveniently placed on the cable. Also, I have the feeling that it is less nerdy to appear to be listening to an iPod than to be ever ready for a phone call by wearing a bluetooth device.

Monkey Glands Extend iPhone Use

After two weeks with my new iPhone 3G I agree with other commentators about the limited battery life. A day out and about and I'm down to the last 10% of power. In fairness to Apple, the iPhone is just so handy and useful that I am using it for far longer than any previous phone or PDA. It's a fully-fledged computer, not just a phone. And my old Treo 750 wasn't much better on battery life if I'm being honest.

I am currently testing an auxilliary battery which plugs into the iPhone and can give up to two full charges. The small and neat Power Monkey, which looks nothing like a monkey, is proving to be a valuable addition to my portable arsenal. There are a number of similar devices such as the 3GJuice and the Kensington but on paper the Power monkey has the highest power capacity. It is British designed and you can see details at PowerTraveller UK.

Although the monkey is expensive at £65 it does come with an array of connectors for many mobile devices and a quality carry case. A bonus is a solar-panel charger so, in theory, you can have power wherever you go. I won't hold my breath for solar charging performance in Britain, but I am looking forward to trying out the device when I get back to Athens in October.