How To Exploit Accessibility Function on iOS5

Apple through iOS5 has carry on the tradition of allowing the less fortunate (disable) the opportunity to use their product via the accessibility features.
I have found one of the most useful features that is packed into this feature that many might have already missed.
An option NOT to use the dedicated HOME button.
As the iPhone and iPad is minimalist in nature, the Home button is the most used button to exit an apps or to do some there things like getting to the search page or to open the multitasking bar. Home button will fail one day due to repetitive usage though it is supposed to outlast the phone's lifetime (usually 2 years before the battery starts to give show problems in holding charges?).
Here is how you can exploit this features to your advantage.
1. Open SETTINGS-->GENERAL and click on ACCESSIBILITY

2. Look for AssistiveTouch at the bottom and activate it.

3. Suffice to just toggle AssistiveTouch. Leave everything else standard.

4. DONE! Now exit and look for the small little white button on the screen

White Button Of Magic

5. Click on it and you will get the screen below.

 6. Now you can even control these items by pressing the DEVICE icon! The HOME icon will bring you..well..HOME without pressing the physical dedicated button anymore!

 7. Gesture icon - i am yet to exploit it, but suffice to say, the HOME icon alone already more than sufficient to activate this to be used.

 The white round icon will blur out when inactive and will not hinder your other touch function. It will automatically moves itself if the keypad are activated. It is also movable by dragging and placing them at 8 corners of the phone screen; lower and upper left and right, and 1/4 screen location from top and bottom (imagine you draw a square from Control Panel - Photos - Instagram-Super...Pro-Control Panel) of all four corners.

placed at the bottom left.

 After using it for about 2 days, i must say i now feel funny to be pressing the physical HOME button. The icon works for everything iOS5 every build for including double-tapping it in LOCK SCREEN to activate the camera. Double-tapping in any screen activates the multitasking bar, tapping once on home screen brings up the SEARCH.
Try it on your iDevices and see how you like it. I personally love this.

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iMessage : Update

My review on iMessage says that it will ride on Wi-Fi and in the absence of any Wi-Fi services, it will revert to carrier-rated SMS plan.
Over the weekend, i found out that it actually allow the usage of DATAPLAN to be used for the messaging, that is provided the other party has already updated their iDevices to iOS5.

So, there you have it. With this confirmed, this meant that Whatsapp among iDevices users will soon become redundant. All that is needed is to update to iOS5.
If you already on some sort of data plan, by all mean use it. If you aren't, it's time to consider doing so. What is an iPhone without data plan? It's plain ol' boring...err...Blackberry (also without it's data plan or BIS or BES or B-whatever).
With that too, please bear in mind to protect yourself from excessive data plan charges while on ROAMING, please disable the data roaming when you are out of the country.
I will not be responsible for excessive charges you (soon to) incur ;-).

Next Review : Assessibility Function To Replace HOME Button

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iOS5 Camera & Photo Enhancement

Lets face it. When we purchase a mobile phone, the specs of the camera will be one of the consideration. Of course nothing beats using a real camera to take a picture, much like using a real video camera to capture a video. There is a saying that goes like this

"A camera in hand is worth 1000 in the dry box"

The latest iPhone 4s is equipped with a 8megapixel camera. Couple that with the just launched iOS5, it is like a totally new ball game altogether.

My iP4 comes with 5megapixel camera which functions as it should. Sometimes, the noise level on low light condition makes the photo blurgh...like the one seen here. I have been extensively using PSMobile apps, which is actually a compact version of the PhotoShop software used widely to manipulate/enhance a picture. I use Instagram as well, for that known cropping and simple color enhancement (and i find the bokeh or tilt-shift function to be overused by some Instagram-ers to the extend their pictures looked...ugly)

If you are an iPhone user, i bet you have that apps called BigButton too, which essentially allows you to take a photo by tapping anywhere on the screen. Usually, with the one-point focus in iPhone4, it could be disastrous.

So, what did iOS5 added on?

It added a function on one of the five buttons found on iDevices - you can now use the VOLUME UP button as the shutter release! This mean you now have a more ergonomic (and less chances of dropping your phone) way to take a picture horizontally!

Taken/cropped from Apple.com website

Got you sitting up straight now?

Here are more good stuffs.

For the purists and wannabe "photographer", there is the build in grid lines that allows you to "compose" your photo according to the one-third rule. You can enable this function via the Option tab on the screen. Same way, HDR could be activated as well if so needed.

Sweet!

Ever missed a moment because you had to SLIDE to unlock, then look for the camera icon, wait for it to boot up and that beautiful bird that made your eyes look twice just walk flew away? iOS5 has allowed you to activate the camera icon by double pressing the HOME button.

Saw the camera icon on lower right?

That got to shave off like 5 seconds when it mattered most. Just remember not to drive and use any devices, these are not iAccidentProof.

So, what else in store with this iOS5? Apparently, Apple decided to "undercut" some apps too. What you need some apps to do, such as removing red eye, cropping and auto enhancement comes with the iOS5.

Does it really matter? IMHO, yes. It does. Why would one not use an in-built function to do what other apps can do? No?

The Babe and The RayBan. Enhanced.

What you see above is NOT an apps, it's an in-built function accessible at the picture you view in iDevices. Clearly seen are the two other function (red eye reduction and cropping). The red eye reduction is a good addition as the iDevice's flash can be harsh. Unless it's Halloween's night, i don't think anyone would want to be seen like an animal (outside of bed).

Yeap - that is what i will do when she grew up and boys come a-calling. CONSTRAIN! ;)

 Done with the enhancement portion, the usual single focus and exposure lock stays as standard from the old OS and iOS5. What gives this one more level of ooomph is the function where you can opt (via SETTINGS) to load the photos iCould. Then, it automatically sync with all iDevices you have (like iPad) for viewing or instant editing before showing the bird to others.
Lastly, the iOS5 gives your pictures an opportunity to be placed into user-defined album. Now you can have "Birds", "Bees", "Neither Birds or Bees" in your Photo Album. More ways to get organised. Important if you are a picture hogger where 1/3 of your iDevices disk space are dedicated to pictures.

Still not convinced and want to wait for the bootable iOS5 Jailbreak? Slowly wait - at this stage, it might be faster over the average broadband connection and install them into your iDevices.

Possible future posting : Reminder, Newsstand, Calendar, Mail, etc. Stay tuned to TriStupe.com for review on iOS5.

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iMessage

Along with iOS5 comes Apple's answer to RIM's BBM. We all know there was an outage of service last weekend for RIM devices where millions of users could not receive their email (gasps!!!) and BBM (Louder GASPS!!!).
With all due respect to Blackberry users, the BB device is the perfect portable business device if you don't get blind looking at the small screen and slow browsing speed. For Social media purposes, BB is great too.
However, things are set to change with Apple's iMessage.
Wait, it already changed with iMessage!
(yes, i know i am Apple Fan Boy, so are you that is reading this, no? ;-))
What is iMessage?
Per Apple's release note, iMessage will:
- allow users on iOS5 to send and receive unlimited text, photos and video messages
- allow messages to be tracked and confirmation on delivery status (like the double tick on Whatsapp)
- allow group messaging and data encryption (sound like James Bond already?)
- works on both cellular line and Wi-Fi*
*What this really meant is if Wi-Fi is not available, the message will be sent as SMS. So, local charges applies. :)

Supercool

The whole deal sounded very much like Whatsapp. The beauty of it is that unlike Whatsapp that could have delay in sending the messages due to congestion at the server, iMessage can be another alternative. You no longer need to toggle between the two if something really important needed to be shared (like just how much you adore TriStupe.com).
iMessages will be BLUE in the screen with the notation that they are "iMessage". This way, you can also keep track if the sms you sent are through your service provider or Wi-Fi.

With TimeStamp and Delivery status, no less

As i was experimenting them, i noticed that as the other party converse with you, a "bubble" with three dots will show up indicating the other party to be typing a message. That way, you won't need to wonder if you are being ignored...or otherwise ;-)

Dot.Dot.Dot. Someone is responding!

This iMessage is like added a notch up on your Social life quality. You no longer have to reply on Whatsapp if you have full Wi-Fi connection at home or work or travel. At most, you will only incur an international SMS rate, which will be way lower and more manageable compared to data plans (on some certain network carrier). Update : See here for updated info on this
Upgrade your iDevices now to iOS5.
By the way, iMessage works with both phone number and email. Users/owner of devices without cellular network but with Wi-Fi such as iTouch and iPad can use them to iMessage other users already on iOS5.
So, how? time to lay that BB of yours to Gadget Heaven?

Next Post : The Spanking New Camera Capabilities
Important Click here for update on iMessage

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Have You iOS5-ed?

Much awaited iOS5 or the operating system of all the "i" devices (iPhone & iPad) was launched yesterday October 13, 2011. Users that ran their iTunes automatically will see a prompt (if they are connected to the Internet) to update their iTunes software to 10.5. Upon downloading the software, user that sync-ed their iDevices will find the prompt that ask them if they want to upgrade to (the much awaited) iOS.

Depending on your Internet broadband (how we have progressed from 56kbps connection and those sweet hum of those old modems!), the download ranges from hours to 10minutes.
I got mine done on the 20Mbps connection that was just sweet.
The usual "backup" will be performed as a restore point later. No sweat there.
The phone will then go into recovery mode as the software extract and install into your iDevices. The process takes anything from 30minutes to an hour (30 on mine and 60 on wifey's, i have less photos in my phone).
Upon completion, the iDevice will reboot and you will be greeted with a screen you have not seen before in any iDevices.

How cool is that? For once, it's interactive!
Pressing through the setup process will show you the few screen below. Click to enlarge.
Once you are done going through the whole process of setting it up, which include (new) the iCloud, which is a virtual storage space provided by Mac. The space allocated per phone is 5gb which can be used to backup, among other things, your phone contacts, emails, photos etc.

If you are the anal type and do not want your information to be floating in cyberspace, there is always the more traditional backup into the computer that you are using (iTunes allow up to five authorised PC, if you do not know. Just remember to de-authorise PCs that you decommission).

If you opt for iCloud backup, it will automatically backup (over wifi or data plan, you choose) the items you choose to backup (can be accessed in SETTINGS).

While the "Find My iPhone" apps has been available for some time, iOS5 integrate them into the package. It is important especially if you misplaced your iDevices and you can either try to locate it or erase/lock the phone for good.

Lastly, it has an option to set the phone to automatically send data (diagnostic & Usage) to Apple to "help improve their service".

Once the whole process is complete, your iDevices is ready to roll.

Not.

Here is the thing. Once you are done with the setup on the phone, the slow painful process begin.

The device actually have not finish "restoring" your phone. You will find that all Apps (though the icons are there) will not be usable. It has simply NOT downloaded yet onto the Device.

Expect to spend another hour to allow ALL (yes, all your apps ever downloaded and residing in your iTunes' library). A bit more on the songs you want to sync. A lil more for the videos. If you have a 16gb iDevice, count yourself lucky as there is only that much it can take. But if you are on 32gb and has the tendency to load them up to the brim just to tell others "Yeap, i have it", be prepared to wait.

And as usual, once they are all done, comes the tiring process of re-grouping your apps into their folder (i admit i am anal about being organised).

So, was it all worth it?

There are two school of thoughts; Those that has been using jailbroken iDevices and those that has swear by "original OS". Jailbreaker will laugh at what iOS5 has stating that their devices has already have those features. Those playing it safe will be in awe.

The GUI has improved. There is a "pull down" notification bar that imitates those other operating system (Androids to be specific).

Yeap, notification drop down bar. New in iOS5. Weather  update and Stock update(disabled) available too!

So what else is new at the first glance? For those of you that tweet, it allows you to directly tweet from the photo album! This is a first in iOS. It cuts down the amount of buttons to press for that instantaneous update. :) I would say it's cool feature (not that i tweet a lot...it's still less than 4,500 in 1 year plus).

select the picture and you get TWEET as an option too!

The Apps in Apps store has seen tremendous updating the couple of days and i believe, it is part of the launch of iOS5 to ensure that these apps work seamlessly with the OS. One of the biggest improvement IMHO will be the Facebook apps. Those of you in my FB list would know how viciously i use that social media platform to update on social events and happenings.

a scroll/hidden tab exposed when you press the "three line bar".

Facebook experience is now "enhanced" and just too bad they can't play Video directly still. That would be a dream. A friend that has iPad reported that the new Facebook Apps for iPad now allow direct photo upload into album. That is certainly a big step towards making the PC redundant!

So, have you iOS5? It's definitely worth the wait.

Ability to update the future iOS software "over the air" or via wifi. No need iTunes or cable, anymore

Next Post : iMessage - How Apple will make BBM redundant.

*this post is dedicated to TSB. His last Facebook update was "Downloading ios 5 ;-)". It was about 2hours before he passed away. I supposed he decided to download it, go for a run while the iOS downloaded, come back and ready to write a review on it. Let me complete this for you, but i know, you will write it way better than i could. RIP brother.

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