iOS4 update to 4.2

With the newly released iOS4 update, the iPhone 4, 3G, and 3GS all receive a number of new features. These features include, AirPlay, AirPrint, and messaging with text tones.

AirPlay:

AirPlay allows users to wirelessly stream their pictures, videos, and other digital media from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to Apple TV. This enables users to watch their movies on the televisions instead of on the smaller screens of the other devices.

AirPrint:

AirPrint allows users to print almost anything from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. There aren't many printers currently on the market that support AirPrint, but in December a large firmware update for some existing printers will enable them to make full use of AirPrint.

Messaging with text tones is something that most phones have had for a long time, but Apple is just getting around to adding it. It allows users to select specific tones for texting, depending upon who sent the text.

iOS 4.2.1 jailbroken

For readers who do not know what jailbreaking is, it's a method that allows users root access to the operating system of the phone. Jailbreaking opens up applications to be downloaded and installed that are otherwise unavailable through the Marketplace or App Store. While there are many upsides to doing this on your phone, there is one downsides.

The biggest downside to jailbreaking your phone is the possibility that it will brick your phone. Which does exactly what it sounds like it would do, makes your phone as usable as a brick. This essentially renders your phone completely useless and you would have to go through the restoring process that is required depending upon which type of phone you have.

The jailbreaking tool ultrasn0w will soon be released, it jailbreaks iOS 4.2.1. The tool isn't ready to work on the iPhone 4, but it will work on the iPhone 3G and 3GS. If you're interested in jailbreaking your phone, make sure to keep a look out for the new ultrasn0w to be released sometime in the very near future.

Creating a YouTube video in iOS4 and Android

I was recently given an assignment to create a video that was to be uploaded to YouTube. Originally, this seemed like a difficult task. After trying to figure out the logistics in my head, I realized I had an iPhone 4 that had the ability to do just what the assignment called for. I decided I would make a video going through the Android marketplace, luckily, my roommate has a Verizon Droid that runs Android.

All it required was to switch the camera over to video instead of still shots and hit record. I had rehearsed my scripts quite a few times before I made the video. Without any extra applications I was able to create the video and even had the ability to trim what parts of the video I wanted. It was an editing tool, but a very crude one at that. Uploading the video was simple, a button in the bottom left corner of the screen needs a click and then you are given a few options. Out of these options one of them says, "Upload to YouTube." Give this button a click, sign into your YouTube account and boom! it starts to upload.

I had a very different experience when I was attempting to use an Android device to upload a video onto YouTube. I used a Droid to capture the video. Capturing the video was as simple as iOS4 but when it came to actually uploading the video to YouTube it was quite a different story. Instead of the simple login page that I was shown on the iPhone. I had to log in to my gmail account and have all of my information sync onto the new device. Once I did that I was finally able to upload the video and it took a bit longer than the iPhone did.

Overall, both experiences went rather smoothly. The only hiccup in the process for Android was logging into the user YouTube account. Both of these user experiences are simple and straightforward.