iPod Transfer, iPod Backup, iPod Converter

AT&T will say it’s Apple fault. Apple will say it’s AT&T’s fault. Either way, there’s a solution to get rid of that nagging problem that won’t let you send texts on your iPhone.

I received a text from a friend of mine today, but when I went to reply I was soon greeted with an automated response from AT&T saying I was trying to contact a non-existent phone number:

From: 1 (121) 611-611
Error invalid number. Please re-send using a valid 10 digit mobile number or valid short code.

I believe this problem stemmed from me adding a person to my iPhone’s contacts without the area code. Even when I went back into my contacts to edit the phone number with the area code, I was unsuccessful at shaking the error. Making a completely new contact and clearing the conversation’s contents didn’t resolve the problem either. The real solution, as it turns out, is to totally delete the conversation from the Text Messages screen.

To delete the entire conversation, tap the Edit button on the main Text Messages screen. Press the minus symbol next to the problematic conversation and confirm that you want to delete it. That should be all you need to do, aside from adding the area code to your contact’s phone number.

With just a few weeks left before Christmas, the holiday shopping season is flying by. If you’re trying to figure out what to get for an iPhone or iPod owner, here are 11 ideas to point you in the right direction.

Apple’s portable devices are among the most popular gadgets in the world. Who doesn’t have some kind of iPhone or iPod at this point? That’s why you can’t go wrong buying a gift that takes that special someone’s iPhone/iPod experience to the next level. There are tons and tons and tons (am I making myself clear?) of accessories and extras on the market, which makes finding a place to start shopping in this category difficult. Look no further, MacYourself’s 2009 Holiday Gift Guide features great products just about anyone would enjoy.

iHome iP9SR Clock Radio for iPhone/iPod

Price: $79.95 (previously $125.84)
iHome makes quality products and has been a popular choice for iPhone & iPod owners over the years. This particular model is a clock radio that plays and charges Apple devices with superior sound quality. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to their own custom iTunes playlist?

Nike + iPod Sport Kit

Price: $27.47 (previously $29)
It’s the perfect gift for athletes and health freaks who own an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPod nano. One receiver is connected to the nano (the others already have it built in) and the second receiver is placed in the individual’s Nike+ shoe. Real-time data is then sent to the iPhone/iPod to track time, distance, calories, and more during workouts.

Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone & iPod touch

Price: $87.10 (previously $139.99)
Satellite radio jumped on the iPhone bandwagon earlier this year with their free App Store app (which requires an online streaming subscription). Then they took it a step further with this device, which serves as a car dock for the iPhone and iPod touch. It includes a satellite radio antenna so users can listen to exclusive content on the road while charging their Apple product’s battery at the same time.

BodyGuardz Clear Protective Film for iPhone 3G & 3GS

Price: $17.04 (previously $29.99)
The worst thing about cases and protectors for electronics is that they add weight and cover up the device’s sleek design. An excellent solution to that problem is skipping the bulky cases altogether and applying a transparent film or skin instead. It improves grip, protects against scratches & filth, and comes off with no sticky residue.

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Price: $39.00
Is one of your friends or family members a world traveler? Staying connected while out of the country can be difficult, so Apple cleverly put international power adapters for all of their products in one convenient package.

Belkin Mini-Stereo Cable

Price: $8.86 (previously $14.99)
More of a stocking-stuffer than a real gift, this cable can take audio from any iPhone or iPod and feed it to other sources such as car stereos, home audio systems, and portable speakers.

Plantronics Voyager 520 Bluetooth Headset

Price: $44.16 (previously $99.95)
With talking on a cell phone while driving being against the law in many U.S. states, a Bluetooth headset is a smart gift idea for anyone – even if they don’t own an iPhone. For those that do, this is a well-priced option to allow them to talk hands-free on the go.

Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote & Mic

Price: $69.99 (previously $79.99)
While most people are just fine with them, the earbuds that come standard with iPhones & iPods are often criticized for subpar audio quality and falling out of the ear too easily. Apple’s new in-ear headphones, however, offer a better listening experience at an affordable price.

3GJuice Deluxe iPhone/iPod Battery Charger

Price: $55.95 (previously $65.00)
It seems like a battery can never last long enough. No matter how much capacity improves with each product revision, we want more. This add-on for iPhones and iPods plugs into the dock connector and can effectively double battery life. Busy people who aren’t usually near power plugs will benefit greatly.

Apple Component AV Cable for iPhone & iPod

Price: $49.00
Wouldn’t it be cool to hook up an iPhone or iPod to an HDTV and watch videos on the big screen? Movies, TV shows, and podcasts don’t have to be stuck inside that tiny gadget. Using Apple’s audio/video cable is an easy way to broadcast content from an iPhone/iPod to a TV – especially at a friend’s house.

Apple TV with 160GB Hard Drive

Price: $229.99
The previously-mentioned component AV cable is great for traveling, but not ideal for home use. At home is where a more permanent solution is needed. Apple TV is essentially a big iPod for the television. It can stream or store music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, photos, and more. Where it really shines, though, is instant movie rentals – right from the couch without ever touching a computer.

Prices accurate as of 12/5/09 and are subject to change. Please note that some of the products listed above have not been tested by MacYourself. They are presented here for informational purposes and not necessarily as endorsements.

A simple tidbit can help you take steadier photos on your iPhone and avoid common camera shake problems. In addition, there is a way to email full resolution copies of your photos instead of scaled down versions.

The iPhone is probably the most used camera phone in the world. While it may not be perfect, it’s certainly among the best out there. Don’t be fooled by the megapixel hype – an image is only as good as its lens and digital processor. A 5 megapixel camera with crappy optics will look far worse than a 3.2 megapixel camera with advanced optics. And when you also consider the auto-focus and tap-to-focus features in the iPhone 3GS, Apple’s offerings are just plain awesome. Of course, iPhone owners will want to take full advantage of these capabilities. Continue reading for two great tips!

Taking sharper, crisper photos

Have you ever framed a perfect shot on your iPhone only to have it ruined when you tap the shutter button? That slight impact is enough to shake the camera into blurriness, and it’s maddening. Some folks have downloaded applications from the App Store to help avoid camera shake and achieve sharper results. That’s one approach, but there is another that doesn’t involve third-party software.

Did you know the iPhone doesn’t take a photo when you press the shutter button? That’s right, nothing happens until you actually release it. As you’re setting up your picture in Apple’s Camera app, press and hold the shutter button down. Keep your finger held down until you get your shot just right. To take the photo, gently lift your finger off the iPhone’s screen and it will be added to your Camera Roll. Releasing is a lot less of a jolt compared to tapping the screen.

Emailing full resolution photos (and videos)

You’ve most likely noticed that the iPhone automatically resizes & compresses both photos and videos when you use the Share function to email them. Apple does this to keep file sizes small, but it’s annoying to people like me who don’t want to sacrifice quality. Luckily, there is a workaround.

Instead of “sharing” photos & videos via email, the trick is to copy them. You can do this by going to the Photos application and pressing the button in the lower-left corner. Select the photo(s)/video(s) you want to send by tapping on them and then choosing the Copy option on the bottom of the screen. Next, go into the Mail application and paste the content you copied into a new message. When all is said and done, my iPhone 3GS can send full size media to anyone via email. Photos send at 2048×1536 instead of 800×600 and videos send at 640×480 instead of 480×360. Much, much better.

When you’re traveling with your iPhone, you occasionally need to turn off the cell network receiver by enabling Airplane Mode. Although this setting turns off all radio signals, WiFi and Bluetooth can be re-enabled individually.

As its name suggests, the most common place to use iPhone’s Airplane Mode is indeed when you’re flying through the air. You can stop all calls, texts, and cell data with Airplane Mode. Despite government laws that prohibit cell phones from being used on aircraft, your iPhone doesn’t have to stay in your pocket. In fact, the iPhone is a prime candidate to take advantage of the WiFi internet access airlines are starting to offer on some flights. And what about your travel companion who also has an iPhone or iPod touch? App Store games that support Bluetooth multiplayer are perfect for long flights too.

Airplane Mode isn’t only for flights, of course. When you’re traveling internationally and don’t want to rack up mind-blowingly expensive roaming charges, you can turn off cell phone capabilities and use your iPhone as an iPod touch instead – with WiFi and Bluetooth.

Enable WiFi while in Airplane Mode

1. Tap the Settings icon on the home screen.
2. Toggle Airplane Mode from Off to On. This turns off all of the device’s wireless signals.
3. Tap the WiFi menu option.
4. Switch WiFi to On and select a network if one is available.

Enable Bluetooth while in Airplane Mode

1. Tap the Settings icon on the home screen.
2. Toggle Airplane Mode from Off to On. This turns off all of the device’s wireless signals.
3. Select the General menu option.
4. Choose Bluetooth from the menu.
5. Switch Bluetooth to On and select a device to connect to, if available.

And with those simple steps you can put an iPhone in Airplane Mode while surfing the web via WiFi and interacting with other devices via Bluetooth – essentially turning it into a fancy iPod touch.

Today is the big day that AT&T finally unleashed MMS (multimedia messaging service) for iPhone users. Most people are reporting success so far, while others are experiencing issues. And one issue might not be a real problem at all.

First, some background information that may help explain why it took so long for this day to come. When the iPhone was first introduced, Apple and AT&T were hoping that email would take over as the main method of sharing photos between friends & family. Email is easier on the network because wireless carriers have to maintain specialized systems just for texting. It’s also a convenient way to get images from the phone to a computer. Unfortunately, for this plan for work, the rest of the world’s phones had to follow suit and emphasize email as well. And while smartphone adoption is increasing, the mobile phone industry just hasn’t gotten there yet.

Rather than wait for everyone else to change, Apple reluctantly integrated MMS functionality into the iPhone 3.0 software update in June. Most of the world could use MMS on iPhone 3G and 3GS models right when 3.0 was released. In the U.S., however, AT&T needed more time to prepare its large network for the massive demand. Say what you want about AT&T – yes, they should have been ready in June – but at least it’s here now and working for the most part. Who knows what kind of mass hysteria would have occurred if they enabled MMS on a strained network and it completely collapsed.

How to enable MMS on your iPhone 3G or 3GS

This part couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is plug your iPhone into your PC or Mac and click the “Check For Update” button on the sync page in iTunes. A small carrier update will download and install almost immediately as long as you’re already running iPhone OS 3.1. Now, here’s where some people are having trouble. You must turn your iPhone completely off, let it sit for a few seconds, and then turn it back on in order for the update to take effect. If you skip this important step, the update will do nothing. Unfortunately, a lot of folks are getting confused and missing this part.

How to actually send MMS messages

Now that you’ve updated and restarted your iPhone, you’re ready to go! Going into the Messages application will reveal a tiny new camera icon next to the message text box. Press this button and two options will come up: “Take Photo or Video” or “Choose Existing”. It’s pretty self-explanatory from this point. Here are most, if not all, of the ways to share media and information via MMS:

• Launch the Photos application and select the Camera Roll or an album of your choice. Press the button in the lower-left corner and then select up to 5 photos or videos by tapping their thumbnails one at a time. Next, press the Share button and select MMS from the menu.
• Also in the Photos application, while viewing an individual photo, tap the button in the lower-left corner, and choose MMS from the menu.
• Open Contacts and select one of your entries to view its details. There is a Share Contact button at the bottom of the screen – tap it and select MMS.
• Launch the Maps application and pinpoint a location of your choice. It can be your current location or something you’ve searched. View that location’s information page and go to Share Location > MMS.
• Launch the Voice Memos application and then record a message or select one that already exists. Press the Share button and choose MMS from the list.
• In just about any application, you can copy up to 5 images at once, go to Messages, and then paste them directly into the text box for a new message.

I think that just about covers it. I successfully sent 5 pictures in a single message to a Verizon Wireless phone and it went through quickly and easily. It’s likely most AT&T iPhone users who are experiencing slow network performance will see improvements over the next couple days as usage levels go back to normal. Everyone and their entire extended family is trying this out today.

How has your iPhone MMS experience been so far? Are you going picture/video crazy or was it not really a huge priority for you?

The iPhone is Apple’s hottest product – and for good reason. It’s packed full of little tips and convenient features that seem to gradually pop up over months of use.

Apple released the latest version of the iPhone and iPod touch OS (3.1) this week. While it was mostly bug fixes and minor enhancements, there is one feature that got me excited (more on that later). But on top of that, there are some cool tips & tricks left over from 3.0 that weren’t covered in our original article, “9 of the coolest lesser-known features of iPhone OS 3.0 update.” So let’s play catch up first and then get to what 3.1 brought to the table.

Data detectors in Notes and Calendar events

Mac OS X makes heavy use of data detectors, and now Apple is working the technology into the iPhone and iPod touch. When an email address, phone number, or physical address is added to a note in the Notes or Calendar application, they are automatically recognized and linked accordingly. The email address can be tapped to type a new message, the phone number can start a call, and the physical address can be pressed to view the location in Google Maps.

Show duration of recent phone calls

The iPhone logs recent calls in the Phone application by name and then groups them by date. And while it shows those two bits of information at a glance, it doesn’t list how long each call was or exactly when it took place. To view the duration of each call to a certain person on a given day, just tap the blue arrow on the right side of the screen. The next page will display the call times and lengths.

Calculator copy & paste

It might be obvious to some, but not everyone would think to utilize copy & paste in the Calculator application. And yet, there it is. Pressing and holding the display area of the calculator (towards the top) causes a little popup to show, which allows you to copy the current number into memory or paste a previously-copied number into the app. This capability makes the Calculator so much more practical than in versions 1.0 and 2.0 of the iPhone software.

Spotlight search tweaking

As we all know, Spotlight search functionality was incorporated into the iPhone and iPod touch OS in 3.0. What you may not know is that you can edit what the device searches for and how it is displayed. Going to Settings > General > Home > Search Results brings you to a screen that lets you exclude certain types of content from searches. Plus, using the handles on the right side of the screen, you can drag each category up and down to prioritize your results.

Attach more photos & videos to emails

The iPhone and iPod touch can be used to email multiple photos within a single message by going to the Photos application, pressing the button in the lower-left corner, selecting up to 5 photos/videos, and then pressing Share. That’s great, but the maximum of 5 photos/videos doesn’t always cut it. Luckily, there’s a workaround. Instead of pressing the Share button, try selecting your desired number of photos/videos and then tapping Copy. Now go to the Mail application and open a new message. Press and hold in the content area, then tap Paste. All of your copied media will transfer over to the email and can be sent off. I should mention that while this method does allow you to send more than 5 photos/videos, it probably isn’t unlimited. There must be some kind of size limit depending on your email service provider. However, I was able to send 19MB of content in one message (7 photos, 1 video). Give it a few tries to see how much you can get away with.

Save a copy of video after trimming

This is the feature I was most happy to see in iPhone OS 3.1. After capturing a video with the iPhone 3GS, users are able to “trim” or edit the video by cutting off some of the beginning & end. The only problem was that, at first, those edits were destructive. When they were saved, the original uncut video clip was overwritten. It actually stopped me from trimming video on the phone altogether. But now with the 3.1 update, Apple has added an option to “Save as New Clip” whenever a video is trimmed on the phone. It really is little things like this that make or break cool features, so I’m glad they made it right.

Are there any other iPhone or iPod touch tips & tricks out there?

While there are countless internet radio applications available for the iPhone and iPod touch, Pocket Tunes Radio is unique in that it offers satellite radio streaming and a diverse selection of other content.

Developed by NormSoft, Pocket Tunes Radio for iPhone is available from the App Store for $9.99. Although it’s a bit pricey compared to many other apps in this category, the cost is warranted if the distinctive features it offers appeal to you. The biggest reason to plunk down the cash for Pocket Tunes Radio is if you’re a satellite radio subscriber.

Sirius and/or XM customers have a choice when it comes to listening to satellite radio content on the iPhone – the official Sirius XM app or Pocket Tunes Radio. I’ve used both somewhat extensively and have found that, while the Sirius XM app is very polished and well done, Pocket Tunes Radio still holds a few advantages. For example, subscribers who are still able to access free online streaming will not be able to use the application from Sirius XM. Although their app is free, it requires a $2.99/month premium streaming package. Pocket Tunes Radio, on the other hand, is compatible with both free and premium satellite radio streaming accounts. The other reason some may choose to go with Pocket Tunes Radio is if certain content such as Howard Stern, NASCAR, NFL, MLB, etc. is needed. Popular channels such as these are not available on the Sirius XM iPhone app.

Using my XM premium online subscription, I found Pocket Tunes Radio to be a solid product. Signing in to my account was easy, as was browsing channels and listening to exclusive satellite radio content such as Opie & Anthony. The sound quality was decent, but I expected far less buffering interruptions considering the low bit rates. In fact, buffering was a somewhat common occurrence whether I was on WiFi, 3G, or EDGE. When it did maintain a steady connection, though, it was a pleasure to use.

Outside of the satellite radio world, Pocket Tunes Radio boasts a few other key features. For starters, radio stations from AOL, Yahoo, and other sources are present in a variety of genres. The amount of choice users have is unbelievable, which means you’ll be hard-pressed to not find something you enjoy. I particularly like the idea of building a web browser right into the application. Since multitasking is not yet possible on the iPhone and iPod touch, you’re stuck in the Pocket Tunes Radio app as long as you want to keep listening. By putting a web browser in the app itself, it’s easy to stay productive by checking emails, news, etc. at the same time. The ability to search for stations and flag your favorite channels add to the overall package as well.

Overall, Pocket Tunes Radio is a quality application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Available from the App Store for $9.99, it’s worth the one-time investment for music maniacs and satellite radio subscribers who aren’t satisfied with Sirius XM’s own app. Although it’s not as unified and seamless as Sirius XM Premium Online for iPhone, its wider range of content and compatibility with free streaming accounts make it a great choice for many users. Take a look at NormSoft’s website for more information about some of the features not covered in this review.

Pocket Tunes Radio Wrap-Up

Pros:

• Supports Sirius/XM online streaming accounts (free and premium)
• Offers more satellite radio content than the official Sirius XM app
• Massive library of internet radio stations and genres
• Integrated web browser makes up for iPhone’s lack of multitasking
• Works over WiFi, 3G, and EDGE connections

Cons:

• Buffers somewhat often considering low bit rates
• Not as polished as the official Sirius XM app

AT&T iPhone customers may experience a problem when attempting to use the device’s Merge Calls functionality. The reason behind the issue will likely ruffle a few feathers, but the solution is fairly straightforward.

After purchasing my iPhone 3GS a month ago, I was like a little kid on Christmas with a fancy new toy. I had to try everything out at least once and sloppily drool over all the cool things it could do. Then I hit a roadblock: the iPhone’s conference calling feature (also known as 3-way calling) did not work! No matter how many times I tried, merging the calls was not happening. I decided to wait a week or two to see if the problem might work itself out – perhaps it was just a glitch related to the activation of my new account? No such luck.

About a week ago I decided to contact AT&T customer support to see what the deal was. Apple prominently advertises 3-way conference calling as a feature of the iPhone, so there had to be something wrong that was causing this problem to occur. I emailed AT&T and received a prompt response 4 hours later. It turns out conference calling is not enabled on iPhone accounts by default! Here are snippets from AT&T’s response:

Thank you for taking the time to e-mail AT&T regarding not being able to use 3 way/conference calling on your iPhone because AT&T does not automatically enable this service and you would like this service added to the [phone number removed]. My name is [name removed], and I am happy to help you with your inquiry.

I apologize that the 3-way/conferencing calling feature is not automatically provisioned for your 3GS iPhone. I have added the services effective [removed date]. Please power your phone off for 60 seconds then power your phone back on. Attempt to make a conference call on your iPhone.

Sure enough, I restarted my iPhone and was successfully hosting a 3-way conference call within seconds using the Merge Calls function. I was incredibly impressed by how quickly AT&T customer care handled my inquiry, but baffled as to why it needed to be done in the first place. Why are they not enabling conference calling automatically on all iPhone accounts? Wouldn’t it be simpler to activate the feature from the start by default rather than field large volumes of customer service requests? Whatever the reason, at least there is a known solution for fixing iPhones that won’t merge calls.

If you’re interested in contacting AT&T customer care about this issue yourself, here are the simple steps I took to get it addressed within hours – and without talking to a single person on the phone.

1. Log in to your AT&T myWireless online account. If you aren’t already registered, now might be the time to do it. It’s free and gives you convenient access to all of your account information.
2. Once you’re logged in, click on the Contact Us link towards the top of the page (next to where it says “Logged in as: [Your Name]“.
3. On the next page, click the E-mail Us link under the Customer Service heading.
4. Enter your contact information now if it’s not already filled in, and click Next.
5. Choose “Phone” as the Email Subject, “I have a question about a feature” as Sub-topic 1, and click Next.
6. Fill in the rest of the form and be sure to say that you’re using an iPhone and you want 3-way conference calling enabled on your AT&T account. You might also want to mention that the phone itself is working fine, just in case they get confused and think you have a defective unit.

Send off your request and AT&T will normally respond within 24 hours (possibly longer during the weekend). As mentioned earlier in this post, I received my response in just 4 hours and the matter was taken care of with no further involvement on my part. Maybe if enough people bug AT&T about activating 3-way conference calling they will get the hint and start enabling the service when iPhone accounts are first opened.

Feel free to share your experiences with AT&T support in the comments below! It will be interesting to find out if they make activating conference calling just as easy for everyone else.

There are a ton of misconceptions floating around about Apple’s use of the AAC audio codec in the iTunes Store instead of the more widely known MP3 format. A closer look reveals they’re making the right move.

The biggest myth out there regarding AAC is that it’s an Apple owned and controlled format. This couldn’t be further from the truth – it’s actually an international standard approved in 1997 by a number of other organizations unrelated to Apple. Anyone is free to license it, if they choose. The confusion was most likely spurred by Apple’s FairPlay DRM system, which locked down music files purchased on iTunes to a limited number of Apple-only devices. Since iTunes is now completely DRM-free, those limitations are gone.

But, still, confusion and mistruths remain. Even without DRM restrictions, a lot of people are under the impression that AAC is a proprietary format used by Apple to lock users into their iPods and iPhones. This is absolutely not true. The DRM-free AAC files now sold through iTunes are compatible with a wide range of competing devices such as the Microsoft Zune, Sony PSP, all of the current generation gaming consoles, and a number of mobile phones/PDAs. How can anyone claim AAC is proprietary when nearly all of Apple’s major competitors support it?

While all of this is good to know, it still doesn’t explain why Apple chose to go with AAC over MP3 in the first place. Put simply, AAC (which stands for Advanced Audio Coding) is the successor to the MP3 format. Its true name is MP4, which means that it’s next in the line of progress after its more common counterpart. Think of AAC as a new and improved version of MP3, because that’s exactly what it is. It boasts a more efficient compression scheme that helps save disk space, improve audio quality, and even increase battery life.

The main advantage AAC holds over MP3 is the promise of less quality loss at the same bit rates (and therefore the same file sizes), especially with files encoded at lower bit rates. To give you a better idea of what this means, Apple claims a 128 kbit/s AAC file should sound as good or better than a 160 kbit/s MP3 file. In the end you’re left with comparable or higher quality music and a smaller file.

In addition to the efficiencies of AAC, there are other pros to consider as well. Since it is a codec designed to address many of the inherent flaws of MP3, AAC offers more audio channels & frequencies and is generally more accurate & flexible. This is a big deal to the folks who create the music files because it gives them more control. Another factor that likely contributed to Apple’s decision to support AAC is the royalty fee companies are forced to pay for electronic MP3 distribution. Although both formats have similar general licensing fees, AAC does not require this additional royalty fee.

There’s a bunch more to talk about when you get down to the nitty gritty details of each codec, but that goes beyond the scope of this article. The main goal was to clear up any misconceptions users may have about AAC and why Apple does not sell MP3 files in the iTunes Store. While competing digital music stores like Amazon and Walmart may be MP3-only, that doesn’t mean Apple is trying to lock us in with a proprietary file format. They’ve simply made an informed decision to offer their customers the best value possible, while still allowing them to go outside the iPod + iTunes ecosystem if they choose.

Read more about AAC and MP3 on Wikipedia, as well as Apple’s own website.

Although I’m not the world’s most dedicated hardcore gamer, I still enjoy a little fun on my iPhone. Lately there have been 3 games I just can’t put down. Take them for a spin yourself and get addicted!

Gaming has somewhat surprisingly become one of the biggest selling points over the past year for the iPhone and iPod touch. Developers are flooding the App Store with new games every day which push the envelope in both creativity and flashy graphics. Personally, I like the simpler games that make me think and keep me challenged for a while, rather than the one-and-done nature of some gimmicky games. NineGaps, Paper Toss, and Land of the Lost all fall into that category.

1. NineGaps

The first game I’ve been hooked on is NineGaps from Quadion Technologies. Available from the App Store for just 99 cents, it’s a math puzzle game that puts your brain’s processing power to the test. It starts off with a 3×3 grid of spaces where you must drag the available numbers (1-9) into the correct spots to complete the indicated mathematical expressions in the shortest time possible. While a certain move may seem right at first, you might be shocked to find that it wasn’t correct at all. This forces you to rethink the placement of numbers you’ve already used and how the remaining ones will come into play.

If it sounds a bit like an fast-paced elementary school class exercise, that’s because it kind of is. In fact, the user interface is school-themed with entertaining sound effects to match. Don’t think that means it’s easy, though. Far from it! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve frozen midway through a game and cracked under pressure. Getting the correct answers and beating the clock is somewhat stressful and at the same time extremely fun. The folks who put this game together did so with great attention to detail, which results in a polished, fantastic looking iPhone app that anyone can enjoy.

2. Paper Toss

Another one of my recent addictions (brought to my attention by MacYourself co-founder Frankie P.) is Paper Toss from Backflip Studios. You can get it for free from the App Store at the moment, but the developer claims this is only a short-term offer. If you work in an office setting, this game will immediately strike a chord with you. Forced to be creative with the mundane objects in an office, throwing balls of paper into trash cans from afar is a reliable time waster for workers — and now iPhone users.

All you need to do to play is flick the screen to send the paper ball in the general direction of the trash can. Well, maybe that’s not all there is… a pesky fan can send your paper flying in the opposite direction. Your job is to toss the paper at an angle that accounts for the given level of wind resistance in order to still reach the trash. It’s unbelievably addicting — like me, you might find it hard to walk away. All in all the game is really well done with great visual settings and enough variables to make mastering it a challenge.

3. Land of the Lost: Crystal Adventure

Based on Will Ferrell’s not-so-well-received summer movie, Land of the Lost, the iPhone game from NBC Universal is still a hit. You can get it in the App Store for free and weave your way around endless obstacles to get through its 25 unique levels. There’s not much pizzaz to the game — you’ll know exactly what to expect after the first level — but the difficulty of cracking each puzzle is reason enough to continue playing.

The main goal is to lead Will Ferrell’s character to the end of each level by pushing big boxes/crates out of the way and into the right places. One bad move can leave you with a shortage of boxes to help you make it past the obstacles, so bit of strategy and forward thinking is required. It can be frustrating to move the character to the exact spot you had in mind (tap the screen precisely), but an undo button helps with that and makes this a fun game nonetheless.