Using Multitasking on iPhone 4 and 3GS in iOS 4.1

With the new iOS4.1 operating system, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS can now multitask natively. Let’s see how to multitask in iPhone 4 or 3GS with iOS 4.

Step 1 :
In iOS4.1, when you you exit an app by pressing the home button, it stays running in the background.

Step 2:
Double tap the iOS 4.1 iPhone home button to see all the running apps will appear at the bottom in the multitasking dock of your iOS 4.1 iPhone.

Step 3:
Scroll right and left to check out which apps are running and select the app you want to open on your iPhone 4 or 3GS with iOS 4.1.

Step 4:
When selected, the app will open and seamlessly switch with the previous app you were running in your iPhone 4 or 3GS with iOS 4.1.

Step 5:
To close an app and make it unavailable in the multitasking dock on your iOS 4.1 iPhone, simply press and hold the icon and click the (-) minus symbol that appears in the upper left corner of the icon.

Via downloadatoz

Review : AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition CPU Processor

Based on AMD‘s flagship Deneb processor die, the 720 has the full 6MB compliment of L3 cache. It also runs at a reasonable 2.8GHz frequency. As a Black Edition chip, it even has an unlocked CPU multiplier for easy overclocking.

There is, however, something missing. AMD has disabled one of Deneb’s four cores. The Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition is a tripler, as indicated by the ‘X3′ moniker. It’s here that your luck will be tested because it’s possible to unlock the hidden core in the BIOS of most AM3-socket motherboards.

When it comes to core unlocking, there are no guarantees. But with just one hidden core, your odds are at least better than the AMD Phenom II X3 550 BE, which has two hidden cores and double the chance of one being broken.

We were hoping to make this review a tale of two halves. The first was to be a story of the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition in standard triple-core trim, the second was to include revelations of a fourth core freed from its digital shackles.

But like the other two AMD chips with hidden cores (that’s the Athlon II X3 435 and Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition), the triple-core 720 disappointed. The fourth and final core in our review sample is a dud. At least it proves AMD doesn’t try to influence the press by handing out carefully vetted samples.

Anyway, the result is thatthePhenom II X3 720 BE must make a case for itself purely as a triple-core chip. Unfortunately, that’s a tough ask. As an all-rounder, the 720 is reasonable. It’s notably faster than the dual-core Phenom II X2 550 BE in multi-threaded software such as video encoding. Similarly, it has the edge over AMD’s bargain-priced quad, the Athlon II X4 620, in games.

The 720 also overclocks fairly well, hitting 3.8GHz on air cooling and a tweak of the CPU voltage settings. Problem is, while the 720 isn’t awful at anything, it also falls well short of excellence across the board. In a word, it’s mediocre. If you are a hardcore gamer, the high-clocking Phenom II X2 550 BE is probably a better bet. For everyone else, the quad-core Athlon II X4 620 makes more sense and costs less.

Good :
With Intel sticking to even core counts, it was almost inevitable that AMD would step in with some triple-core chips. The Phenom II X3 720 BE certainly makes for an interesting triple-core option and is worth a look if you’re looking for a true all rounder with a very low price tag.

Bad :
If you know what you want from your PC, odds are you won’t like the triple-core 720. Adequate at all things, it’s not great at anything. Whether it’s gaming or encoding, there are better chips for the money. And remember, there are no guarantees when it comes to unlocking that hidden fourth core.

Via techradar

Review : Intel Core i7 970 CPU Processor

The Core i7 970 is a bit cheaper than Intel’s top six-core chip, the Core i7 980X. But it’s still a tough ask given that AMD will sell you its own six-core Phenom II X6 1055T CPU for around one third the price. What the AMD chip doesn’t give you, however, is the very latest technology. The Core i7 970 sports literally the most advanced PC processor die on the planet.

Part of the 970′s advantage comes down to microprocessor architecture. Known as Nehalem, it’s as good as it currently gets thanks to features such as HyperThreading, a triple-channel memory controller and the super-fast QPI interconnect.

The Core i7 970 is also hewn from Intel’s latest 32nm silicon. That means the chip itself is physically smaller than most current quad-core processors including Intel’s own Core i7 870 and AMD’s Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition. In theory that means it should be cheaper to manufacture. For now, Intel isn’t passing on those cost savings to customers.

There’s no doubting the sheer power of the Intel Core i7 970. Try this for starters. In our HD video encoding benchmark it bangs out nearly 42 frames per second. That absolutely blows away both the quad-core Intel Core i7 875K (27 frames per second) and the six-core AMD Phenom II X6 1090T BE (26 frames per second).

It’s a similar story in the professional 3D rendering test. The 970 is miles ahead. Arguably even more impressive are the game and file decompression results – benchmarks that do not normally favour CPU parallelism. The Core i7 970 is usefully ahead of the Core i7 870 and more than 50 per cent faster than the Phenom II X6 1090T.

In performance terms, therefore, no compromises are required. That’s because the 970 backs up its hefty parallelism (six cores and 12 threads) with a 3.2GHz clockspeed. Whatever the workload, it’s damn quick. In fact, the only CPU that operates in the same ballpark is the Intel Core i7 980X, which is of course a slightly higher clocked version of the same six-core processor die.

The one area where you might expect all those cores and threads to cause a problem is overclocking. But even here the Core i7 970 puts on a decent show, ramping up to 4GHz courtesy of nothing more than an air cooler and some voltage tweaks. It’s all very impressive until you remember the price. It’s possible to buy a very nice desktop PC, complete with processor, graphics and screen, for the cost of this CPU.

Good :
In a word, performance. Whether it’s games, media encoding or just multi-tasking, the Core i7 970 has delivers rude amounts of it. But what else did you expect from six of the most advanced processor cores money can buy. The damn thing even overclocks well.

Bad :
In a word, price. Awesome as the Intel Core i7 970 is, it’s also awesomely expensive and simply poor value compared to quad-core processors costing one third the price. In fact, if you’re willing to spend this much, you may as well go all the way with the Core i7 980X.

Review : Intel Core i5 655K

One of a pair of new K Series processors aimed at overclocking addicts, the Intel Core i5 665K’s stand out feature is an unlocked CPU multiplier. Previously only found on ultra expensive Intel Extreme Edition models, an unlocked multiplier allows for CPU overclocking without stressing other parts of the system.

Indeed, it’s the unlocked multiplier that explains why the Core i5 665K is marginally more expensive than the closely related Core i5 661 despite a slightly slower 3.2GHz standard operating frequency.

What’s harder to justify is the how the dual-core 665K stacks up against quad-core processors from Intel and AMD. The likes of the Intel Core i5 760 and AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition are both cheaper and more powerful. As for the six-core AMD Phenom II X6 1055T, the less said the better.

Intel’s Nehalem CPU architecture is a scorcher in quad and six-core trim and it makes for an impressive in dual-core chip, too. Running at the standard 3.2GHz clock (add a few hundred more MHz when Turbo Boost kicks in), the dual-core Intel Core i5 665K is a match for quad-core processors such as the AMD Athlon II X4 620.

For that you can thank HyperThreading, which allows the Core i5 665K to simulate the presence of an extra pair of cores. What’s more, you get an integrated graphics core built into the CPU itself (note, however, that not all LGA1,156 motherboards will support the graphics functions).

But none of this is enough to match more powerful AMD quad-core processors such as the Phenom II X4 965 BE or Intel’s own Core i5 760, all of which are actually cheaper and hammer the Core i5 655K in literally all of our benchmarks.

Incredibly, the six-core AMD Phenom II X6 1055T can also be had for about £10 less. That’s a chip that hoses the Core i5 655K even more comprehensively. The 655K has a tough time justifying its existence.

All of which leaves us wondering whether the 655K’s unlocked processor multiplier can make the difference. The simple answer is no. In our testing, the Core i5 655K actually overclocks better via the baseclock, not the multiplier. Still, overclock well it does, hitting 4.2GHz with a little help from some extra voltage.

Unfortunately, Intel’s similarly priced quad-core processors will also nail 4GHz or higher, leaving 655K back where it started – bringing up the rear.

Good :
If dual-core computing was state of the art, this chip would be our weapon of choice. Thanks to HyperThreading, Turbo boost and the awesome Nehalem architecture, it’s a seriously quick dual-core processor. It also runs cool, uses little power and overclocks well.

Bad :
Unfortunately, dual-core computing hasn’t been cutting edge since 2006. The Core i5 655K therefore costs too much and delivers too little processor performance compared to similarly priced quad and six-core alternatives. As for the built-in graphics core, it’s no good for gaming.

Via techradar

Guide : Unlock iPhone 3G, iPod Touch 2G on iOS 4.1 By ultrasn0w

You Must Have :
1- ultrasn0w
2- Cydia

Important Note:
Before you go a step further, there some things that needs to be known. By unlocking your Apple device, you violate their terms and so, void your warranty. Also, you first need to jailbreak your iPhone 3G or iPod Touch 2G.

1. Start Cydia from your Springboard.

2. Touch the “Manage” tab located on the bottom of the iPhone’s screen and then, select “Sources”.

3. Select the “Edit” option and then touch on “Add“. Type ‘repo666.ultrasn0w.com‘ in the box, followed by a “Add source” click. Once you’re done, touch the “Return to Cydia” button.

4. Have patience for a while, until the installation completes. Afterwards, go to Cydia a search for “ultrasn0w 1.1-1“. Install this iPhone application too. She will do the entire job.

5. Have patience a little more and, after the process is complete, you are done. You can now use iPhone 3G on any carriers.

Via downloadatoz

Guide : Repair iTunes 10 won’t Sync Music to iPhone 3GS or iPod

To Repair iTunes 10 cannot sync music with iPhone 3Gs, you needn’t to downgrade your iTunes 10 to iTunes 9. All you need to do is just as follows:

Method 1:
1. Go to your iPhone tab in iTunes 10, and then go to Music, Pictures, etc.

2. Recheck the them and apply/sync in iTunes 10.

Method 2:
In the transition from iTunes 9 to iTunes 10, all your music gets unchecked.

1. In order to sync anything over, it has to be checked.

2. Go to the top of your Library to “Music”. Make sure you are in that directory.

3. Go to to “Edit” (usually at the top of your screen) then “Select All”.

4. Right click your mouse then “Check Selection”.

This will check your entire music library. Then you can sync your iPhone, iPod to iTunes 10.

Via downloadatoz

Sony Bloggie Touch Review

Flip Video may have been the first out of the gate with a touchscreen pocket video camera, but Kodak, Samsung, JVC and now Sony have followed — all with more compelling packages than Flip’s offering.

Sony’s new Bloggie Touch features a snappy 3-inch touchscreen LCD, an f/2.8 lens with auto macro, and full HD 1080p resolution recording at 30 frames per second.

There’s also electronic image stabilisation and 4x digital zoom. The lens is 37mm, which isn’t particularly wide. Inside is Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensor capable of taking still images at 12.8 megapixels. Most of the controls are on the touchscreen itself, but thankfully Sony has relegated the recording button to a physical one just below the screen. There’s also a mini-HDMI port on the side.

Though the Bloggie Touch has two holes on top, it doesn’t mean there is a stereo mic; audio is mono recorded in MP4 AAC format. There are no headphone or mic jacks, either.

The Bloggie Touch has a brushed metal casing and is available in black, pink, silver and blue versions. Unlike overseas markets, which will get two different capacity versions of the device (4GB and 8GB), Australian consumers will only get the 8GB model for AU$299. The battery is charged by the flip-out USB connector and is supposed to be capable of recording 110 hours of continuous video. All software and manuals are embedded in the Bloggie’s memory.

The whole thing is a refreshing break from the presentation we’re used to seeing from large manufacturers.

Sony Bloggie Touch Specifications :
Battery
Battery type(s) – Lithium ion
Camera
Optical sensor – CMOS
Focal Length – 37 mm
LCD screen size – 3 inch
Digital Zoom – 4 x
Video camera format – Hard Disk
Connectivity
Connection types – HDMI, USB
General
Dimensions (W x D x H) – 52 x 15 x 107 mm
Weight – 125 g
Image Capture
Digital still shots – Yes
Lens Aperture – f/2.8
Image stabilisation – Electronic
Sensor Resolution – 12.8 megapixels
Sound
Built-in microphone – Yes
Storage
Internal memory – 8000 MB
Video
Video capture format(s) – MPEG-4
Video capture resolution – 1920 x 1280

Via CNET

Repair iPhone, iPod and iPad can’t Sync with iTunes 10

Overview: Guide on how to fix iPhone, iPod Touch 4 or iPad cannot sync with iTunes 10. A lot of users found that they cannot sync their iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod) with iTunes 10. When they try to sync the iOS devices with iTunes 10, there will be an error message “An unknown error occurred (13010)” displayed in iTunes 10. Here, we will show you how to fix this problem.

How to fix iPhone, iPod and iPad can’t Sync with iTunes 10

There are more and more issues after upgrading to iTunes 10, the ugly icon, “traffic light” window control buttons, the gray sidebar and iOS devices cannot be sync with iTunes 10.

Fortunately, you can now fix iPhone, iPod and iPad won’t sync with iTunes 10 by the following tips:

1. Reinstall iTunes 10
In some cases this issue can be resolved by completely removing then reinstalling iTunes 10 as described in this Apple Knowledge Base article.

2. Remove iTunes 10 third-party backup or antivirus software
If you’ve installed software for an external hard drive or another device, it may include an automatic backup utility that recognizes the iOS device as a storage device, interfering with the normal sync process. Try uninstalling any such software then re-syncing.

3. Disable network connection
In some cases, simply disabling your network connection (turning off AirPort or unplugging your Ethernet cable) will resolve the slow or stuck backup phase. It appears that iTunes performs some data network data transfer during the backup process which can, for unknown reasons, take an extremely long time or become stalled.

4. Restore instead of update
Backup your iPhone or iPod touch 4, then perform a restore process instead of using the check for update function. This may allow the iPhone or iPod touch 4 to successfully receive the iOS 4.0 update, after which sync processes should occur at normal speed.

5. Switch USB ports
Try switching your iPhone or iPod touch 4 to a different USB port. In particular, if you are using a hub or other intermediary device, try connecting the device directly to your computer.

6. Delete iTunes 10 .plist
If you are using Mac OS X, delete the following file:

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.itunes.plist then restart your iTunes 10.

Via downloadatoz

By Ping Now Listen Socially

Ping is here as a part of the most recent iTunes updates for your computer and iPhone. We’re here to help you understand the ins-and-outs of the first social network from Apple.

In Wednesday’s special event, Steve Jobs demonstrated Ping, a music-centered social network included within iTunes. It combines elements of Facebook, Twitter and music recommendation services like Last.fm. After the announcement, fans eagerly waited to download iTunes 10 to try it out. After about eight hours of waiting, users finally got to install iTunes 10 and found that Ping… didn’t quite match the demo.

Whether in iTunes, on your computer, or the iPhone iTunes app, it is fairly simple to find a song or album and “like” it. This feature works exactly as advertised and will feel familiar to existing Facebook users. You can only choose tracks from the iTunes store to like or share, not from your own collection, even if you own the iTunes version of the track. Another, more obvious, limitation is that you can’t recommend songs iTunes does not carry, like the Beatles. The ability to “like” something is currently limited to music in iTunes, and the option does not appear for movies, podcasts, etc.

Setting up your Ping account needs to be done from iTunes on your computer. Upon initial setup, you can choose privacy settings, put in profile information, upload a picture, and choose 10 of your favorite songs to demonstrate your tastes to visitors of your profile.

One of the challenges with Ping is to find the artists that you want to follow. When iTunes 10 was first released, there were only about 15 artists that you could follow. That number is growing, but very slowly. Chances are, if you try to find your 10 favorite artists, only one or two may be available to follow in Ping. Luckily, you can “Like” and comment on albums from every artist in iTunes, regardless of whether you can follow them or not.

While picking artists to follow is challenging, finding your friends is no easier. When first launched, Ping had the handy option to scan your Facebook friends for other Ping users. Unfortunately, this option was pulled within hours due to a contract issue with Facebook. While many other sites give you the ability to import addresses or scan your address book from sites like Gmail or Yahoo, Ping doesn’t offer that either. The only way to find friends is to search for them one at a time, by name or email address.

iPad users who are frustrated by how long it is taking to get iOS 4 features on their devices will have a new reason to be frustrated. The iPad’s iTunes app will not have access to Ping until November, when the iOS 4.2 update is released. Since there is no website for Ping, that means there is absolutely no way to access Ping from the iPad.

It’s obvious Ping isn’t designed to be a replacement for Facebook, but rather for more music-focused services like Myspace and Last.fm. In both cases, Ping currently falls short. However, with over a million people signed up to date, it’s obvious that Ping really has the the interest needed to grow into a great music-focused social tool.

How To Get Colored Sidebar Icons in iTunes 10

No one likes the colorless user interface of new iTunes 10 ! Apple have made the icons in the iTunes 10′s sidebar colorless with their new release. There is a tweak (by Drien) to bring back the colored icons from the old version (9.2).

This is how you can get colored icons in iTunes 10 again:

1- First download iTunes10colors.zip

2- Go to the “Applications” folder and right click and select ” Show Package Contents ” on iTunes to show ” Contents ” folder.

3- Make a backup of the file ” iTunes.rsrc ” before replacing it. You can do it by copying this file to your desktop.

4- Extract the iTunes10colors.zip and copy the ” iTunes.rsrc ” file from it
Paste and replace it in /Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Resources/

You are done! Enjoy the colorful iTunes 10!

Note: If any error occurs or if iTunes did not start, Copy the backup you just made to the same destination

Via tipsneeded