Anyway, I do wish to offer something to the community of iPhone/iOS users, so I have setup a new blog at iphone-vt.com … which is a newly templated wordpress.org site I setup with a full community forum space to boot! So I really hope that this can be a specifically related Vermont based iPhone/iOS forum for us all to get things good from and give to it.

With this move I also am in need of adding a few editors to add content on at least a weekly basis. Is anyone out there interested? Presently, this site is garnering something under 50 hits a day, but I recon it will up with more content… anybody game? It would be nice to get reviews of Vermont built apps, hardware, or anything people would like to share about their iOS experience.

Please contact me and we’ll get it all moving in a good direction.

Anyone else, who would just like to participate or get help, visit the new Vermont iOS Forum.

Be sure to subscribe to the new blog location and engine by clicking here!

So come visit the new iPhone Vermont blog!

Making the switch?

I just got off the phone with AT&T and this is what I learned about upgrading:

I can get the new iPhone4 for $199 or $299 as advertised! SWEET

They base this on the full year of unlimited data and probably my high usage (1400 min family plan, which I go over on a lot on account of this being my only phone).

BONUS: I can KEEP my unlimited data plan for $30 p/mo as I am “grandfathered” into that plane.  BUT, if I downgrade to the 2GB plan at $25, or the 250MB (doh) plan at $15 p/mo I can not reclaim it.  Let’s see, which should I do!??  DUH!

Selling:  I went to Gazelle.com to sell my iphone 3Gs the week of the iphone4 announcement and they would give me $272!  Sweet, only $28 bucks less than I paid last year.  But, I went there today and they only offered $189!  OUCH!  So I have a iPhone 3Gs up for sale for a good price, anyone?

So, why upgrade?  Well… let me count the reasons:

1: I have three kids and take all my pics and videos with the iPhone.  The quality is iffy at best, unfortunately, but regardless, the best camera you own is the one you have on you… so my best camera is my iphone. The iPhone 4 significantly improves on this, flash and all!
2: I was actually considering something like an iFlip to improve that issue #1, but now I won’t have to spend that money and carry another device.

I was at the Michael Franti concert in Burlington (AWESOME concert!) and watched as many people video’d using iFlips and point & shoot cameras getting great quality, while I was stuck with pretty useless footage.

So, how about you? will you upgrade? If you don’t have an iPhone, this is THE one to have with pretty darn amazing specs.

Update: reported locations with 3G in VT include; Burlington, S.Burlington, Brattleborro, St. Albans, Stowe, & I just hit a 3G in the mountains between Eden & Belvidere (basically in the middle of nowhere)

Though significantly spotty, 3G has been turned on in VT. Reports from Morrisville have several Twitter users reporting 3G which may be stable for up to 5min before resorting to Edge.

Hopefully these kinks are being worked out as I write this, but for now, as I write this in Manchester Center, in southern VT, there is no 3G here yet.

BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec 16, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ —-AT&T* today announced an update on the availability of its third generation (3G) mobile broadband network in Vermont.

“Vermonters are keenly aware of the value and importance of having access to high speed voice and data networks within the state and the news of AT&T’s introduction of 3G capabilities to their network is welcome, indeed,” said Thomas E. Murray, Executive Director of the Vermont Telecommunications Authority. “The VTA values the investments of partners like AT&T in Vermont as the VTA works toward fulfilling its mission to make broadband and wireless coverage available across the state.”

AT&T’s third generation (3G) mobile broadband network opens the door to a new era of mobile services and feature-rich audio and video content for AT&T customers. As part of AT&T’s initial network upgrade plan, 3G will go live on a rolling basis starting in Bennington, Brattleboro, Brownsville, Killington, Vernon, Warren, West Dover and White River Junction sometime this week. By December 31st, 3G will be added in Burlington, Colchester, Essex Junction, Fayston, Hartford, Jamaica, Jeffersonville, Middlebury, Rutland, South Burlington, St. Albans, Stowe, Waitsfield, West Rutland, West Townshend, West Wardsboro, Williston and Winooski.

This year’s 3G expansion is the first part of an ongoing network upgrade in Vermont. Additional coverage enhancements, including early first quarter 3G expansions in Barre, Montpelier and Northfield are already planned for 2010.

The network extension is part of AT&T’s ongoing efforts to drive innovation and investment to deliver the benefits of smartphones and mobile broadband for customers. More smartphone customers have chosen AT&T over any other U.S. competitor, and AT&T is committed to driving continual enhancement of network capabilities to meet these customers’ ever-growing mobile broadband needs.

“Delivering dependable wireless coverage for consumers and business customers who need to stay connected to work, family and friends is our ultimate objective,” said William Leahy, vice president of Atlantic region legislative and regulatory affairs for AT&T. “Our ongoing investments in the state will help us ensure that our customers have access to the wireless services that help drive economic growth.”

In addition its local 3G expansion, AT&T has integrated all legacy Unicel cell sites in Vermont into AT&T’s existing nationwide network and added a dozen new cell sites across the state. AT&T closed its acquisition of Unicel’s Vermont assets in December 2008.

“It has been an exciting first year for us in Vermont and we are thrilled to bring 3G to the state,” said Steve Krom, vice president and general manager, AT&T New England. “We know that demand for wireless bandwidth is growing, whether it’s for sharing video and photos with friends, watching a movie, checking the latest scores, or listening to music on a phone, netbook or other mobile devices on the go.”

AT&T matches its network investment with unsurpassed choice in the range of devices, services and applications compatible with its 3G network – the nation’s fastest, according to independent testing. AT&T offers a wide variety of devices from more than a dozen manufacturers, including handsets that are compatible with six different operating systems and five different e-mail applications. Our Media Mall 2.0 offers more than 90,000 content options, and customers can download additional applications over the Internet. Additionally, AT&T supports a community of more than 20,000 application developers via its devCentral portal.

AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband network is based on the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) family of technologies that includes GSM and UMTS, the most open and widely used wireless network platforms in the world. AT&T’s 3G network is available in more than 350 major metropolitan areas. AT&T also offers 3G data roaming in more than 100 countries, as well as voice calling in more than 215 countries.

To find out more details about AT&T’s wireless coverage in Vermont or anywhere in the United States, consumers can go to http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/. The online tool provides up-to-date wireless coverage information for specific locations. The tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark. There are ten AT&T-owned retail locations in Vermont. AT&T’s products and services are also available at a number of authorized dealer and national retail locations.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit www.att.com/networknews.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

But, here is one I had to share:

Thanks to ismashphone.com for this one.  I just did this and it was really easy and very cool.  Let us all know how you do with it.

 

Netshare

There have since been several jailbroken alternatives to enable iPhone tethering. PdaNet, made by June Fabrics, has been available for Palm OS, Windows Mobile, and jailbroken iPhones for a long time. Since the jailbreaking phenomenon, PdaNet has been one of the most downloaded applications in Cydia through the ModMyI depository. 

Go here to read more about PdaNet, and here to learn about other useful jailbroken iPhone applications. 

PdaNet

Fortunately for us iPhone users, applications like PdaNet will no longer be necessary, because full (legit Apple built) internet tethering is now available on the iPhone OS 3.0. PdaNet is one of many applications that have become obsolete since the release of iPhone OS 3.0. 

The new iPhone OS 3.0 was released today, but was installed by many users last week thanks to the torrent leak of the iPhone OS 3.0 Golden Master. The new firmware is great, and offers many excellent new features. 

The problem is, however, that due to AT&T’s incompetence, internet tethering and MMS messaging will not be available to 3.0 users until the end of the summer at best. The reason that tethering is delayed is because AT&T is still trying to form some kind of a pricing plan (to maximize the amount of money they rob from you.) 

Allegedly, the pricing plan we’re most likely to end up with is $70/month for unlimited tethering. Something tells me only 7 people in all of America would actually pay $70/month for tethering. Hopefully AT&T will realize that. 

All that aside, someone has created an amazing way to activate internet tethering on your iPhone 3.0, today! 

Screenshots of my iPhone tethering in action:

1. Install iPhone 3.0:

Get On With iPhone 3.0: Download and Install Now

2. Go to http://tr.im/oS1h

On your iPhone, in the Safari browser, go to the following website: http://tr.im/oS1h

3. Go to Mobileconfigs and download

Press Mobileconfigs. Find your country, select your provider, and press download. 

4. Press Install and Confirm

The message reads: “IMPORTANT: The authenticity os “US AT&T” cannot be verified. Installing this profile will change settings on your iPhone.” Changing settings is exactly what we’re trying to do. Confirm with “Intall Now”.

5. Go to Settings>>General>>Network>>Internet Tethering

7. Bluetooth or USB

Decide how you’d like to tether. Follow the instructions on the screen (it’s almost automatic). 

WARNINGS:

• AT&T could be charging you. Nobody knows.
• Do this at your own risk.

How To Activate Internet Tethering Now On iPhone OS 3.0 : iSmashPhone

Internet_tether_logo

Yesterday, in a haze of activity in a home where we have a newborn (part of my story here), I decided i needed to finally mow my lawn for the first time in this season.  Using my handy cathcart jeans, which I seek out as a favorite pant style solely for the purpose of using the tightly integrated side pockets to hold my iPhone, I set out on a borrowed mower since ours is stubbornly not starting at the moment.  At some point yesterday, as we all ran inside to dodge the falling rain, I noted that my iPhone was no longer at my side.  It was late and I was tired, a constant state for me these days, so I gave up the hunt and went to bed.  Today, actually just now, I decided it was time on this sunny morn to have a look around and backtrack where I have been.  Sure enough, there it was, in the middle of my lawn having been driven over more than once I am sure, by my lawn mower.  Amazingly it was never touched by a blade, though likely run over by a tire once or twice.  It lay there all afternoon yesterday, including while it rained.  I now have it charging up as I write this.

This thing had been amazing… I have dropped it at least 300 times if not more.  And it wasn’t until I was in El Salvador last autumn when I dropped it while running down some steps and it flew out of my hands as though I had thrown it that a crack in the screen accured. Since then I have done that same move or similar to it and it is cracked worse. 

I have “loved” this phone deeply; love implying that things we love we use ferevently, like an old dogeared book.

So what about the birthing?

Well, I want to not recommend using your iPhone to listen to music while your wife, or you are performing a REALLY important task, like giving birth. 

Last wednesday the 3rd of June, as my wife was pushing our newborn 3rd child into this world and we were listening to a sublime playlist comprised of native and eastern spiritual tones someone decided to call me… oops.  It was the chiropractor who promised to come into the hospital to adjust my wife while in labor, but the timing was too late and awkward while my wife pushed for this little guys life.  Needless to say I got our music back rather quickly, but still… take my advice… if you are preparing for a birth do one of tow things, use the iPod for that perfect playlist or turn the phone part of your iPhone off, put it in airplane mode!

There is also the Viximo iPhone application called VixML to help you with drag and drop + a little basic web coding language.  Their auto generated email to me included this little overview:

“VixML allows designers to create rich iPhone content. And who created VixML? Viximo did! We’re an internet startup in Boston, Massachusetts that distributes user-created virtual goods to websites and mobile devices like the iPhone.”

Registered users of VixML are given an SDK (software developer’s kit) and all the tools needed to create your own app and submit it to Apple.  Pretty cool.

And of course there is the Apple SDK itself, downloadable for free to anyone at apples developer site (once you register yourself there).

I’ve got a string of things I’d like to see on the iPhone, You?

The iPhone app allows a great access to your iPhone while it is on the same network.  It is called Phone view:

So go get it adn enjoy!

MACHEIST 2009

Also, just so you know, 3G will NOT be available until later this year… so it is Edge for now… breathe…