"Don't Panic!" A new animated Wallpaper for iPhones

*Click the image to the right to see the animation*

Along the same lines as the animated boot logo for jail broken iPhone's that I mentioned last week.. I have made a version to use as your wallpaper on your iPhones, you iPod touches.. However, for it to be animated, you will have to be jail broken.

The reason being, Apple does not let you use an animated Gif file as a background. It will display it, but will not animate it. The end result is, you background is the first frame of the Gif file. When you phone is jail broken however, we are able to use an HTML file as the wallpaper... and let that HTML file call and open the Gif.

Too complicated? No worries. If your phone IS jail broken, you can open up Cydia and search for "dont panic wall" you will find it. If you are not jail broken, all is not lost! You can still use one of the non animated versions of this image if you want. I have a few over at Deviant Art.

At the time of posting, the package has not made it onto the Cydia servers yet. Give it until tomorrow.

Verizon States: LTE iPhone is coming and iPhone Launch, Biggest Ever

Verizon Wireless's Chief Executive, Daniel Mead, spoke with the Wall Street Journal recently. In this interview, Mr. Mead takes a moment to refute the claims in the media, that Verizon's iPhone 4 launch, was less that they had expected. These reports come from the observation that Verizon did not encounter incredibly long lines of people on launch day to purchase the iPhone 4.

Daniel Mead countered this by stating, the short lines were a result of an "intentional strategy aimed at spreading out the purchasing activity." Mead pointed out that unlike AT&T, their web servers did not melt down and force everyone to visit a retail store. Instead they had a 3 stage launch, which efficiently distributed the phones to the masses in stages.

March the 2nd! Mark it on your iCals!!! The iPad 2 is coming!

That's right folks! You have all heard the rumors, well today Apple confirmed them by sending out invites to the media for a March 2nd iPad 2 unveiling! The web went into a flutter yesterday with rumors of the March 2nd launch date for the iPad. Which was promptly followed by a bevy of rumors, that stated the iPad 2 and iPhone 5 would be delayed by as much as 3 months. This was confirmed today to not be the case.

The event will be taking place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 10:00 am, in San Fransisco. Our friends at Loop will be there live blogging the event. I will fill you in with any info as I get it!

With my birthday right around the same time... I know what I am getting!! What a first quarter this will be for me... Got the new Verizon iPhone and now the New iPad 2!

Source and image: Loop

iPads selling out! iPad2 is coming!

As we all know by this point, when Apple intends to release a new product, they stop stocking it in their stores.
Much like they are currently doing with their MacBook Pro's, the iPads are running out of stock quickly around the world!

The first to report being out of stock was Carphone Warehouse in the UK. They are completely out of the 3G models and now sold out of the 64GB WiFi model. In Canada, Futureshop is sold out! Here, Ingram Micro is sold out! These are all really big retailers, not small mom and pops that Apple would let run low.

I believe it is safe to say, we are less than 2 weeks from an announcement of the iPad2!!! So if you are planning to buy an iPad right now, unless you get a REALLY good deal, like the 3G iPads that are being sold in the UK by various Carriers for just £99! Yep... Definitely something is coming!!!

Keep your eyes peeled.. The new MacBook Pro is coming likely next week... And the iPad2, soon after!

Source AppleInsider

Don't Panic Animated Boot Logo

Yesterday I made and released an animated boot logo for the iPhone 4. In order to use this, you MUST be jailbroken and you must have animate installed. Once installed, reboot your iphone and you will see your Apple, transform into the "Don't Panic" Smiley from "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Universe" by Douglas Adams.

Version 1.1 of my animated boot logo is already uploaded and awaiting approval. The animation is smoother, longer and has better color in the new version.

So go download greenpois0n, JB your iPhone and check this out at http://modmyi.com/info/dontpanicanimatedbootlogo.php

iPhone 4, Wins Best Mobile Device!

I received an invitation for the Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona. However, due to work, I was unable to attend. But that does not stop me from reporting the news from there to you. Especially when that news is Apple related!

The Mobile World Congress is a trade show geared towards mobile devices, much like CES

iPad2 Coming Soon.. iPad3 Right Behind?? Not Likely..

By this point, we have likely all heard the rumors. The ones that say Apple will release an iPad 2 AND an iPad 3 this year. This is obviously outside of apple's Standard Operating Procedure of An update every 12 months or so. Nor does it really make sense from a marketing point of view. I mean, would you buy a 2011 Corvette, if the 2011.5 Corvette was going to be redesigned with more Horsepower? Nope.

App Review: Google Translate Saves the Day!

If you are like me, you speak only one language well. You may be able to muddle through a couple others, but English is the only fluent language you have. Well, in today's modern world of interconnected communities, English alone is just not enough! In my town, we have a very large Spanish speaking community. I even have several Spanish speaking clients. Which often times makes communication a little difficult for my clients and I.

Enter Google Translate.

ZaggMate iPad Keyboard: A Review

My wife had mentioned to me,, that if the iPad had a keyboard she would likely not need a laptop anymore. So I took the opportunity to purchase her a ZaggMate iPad keyboard for $99 at Best Buy
After letting her play with it for a while, I borrowed it from her, so I could give you my honest impressions with the unit.

Verizon and the iPhone: First Impressions

Early on Tuesday the 10th, I received my very own Verizon iPhone. FedEx diligently brought it right to my door, where my wife collected it and in turn, promptly called to give me the good news. I took off for home and collected my new phone. Getting it up and activated, was of coarse a breeze. Just plug it into your iTunes and wait a moment. Within moments of activating it, my text messages started flowing in. That familiar SMS app sure is a nice treat, after using a LG EvoTouch for the last year.

Georgia to Consider iPads in lieu of Text Books

Yesterday, Tommie Williams, The Senate President pro tem announced that State Educators and legislators are considering an offer made to them by Apple last week, that would put iPads in the classrooms of middle schools thru out Georgia instead of books.

Mr Williams is quoted as saying,

“Last week we met with Apple Computers, and they have a really promising program where they come in and their recommending to middle schools – for $500 per child per year, they will furnish every child with an iPad, wi-fi the system, provide all the books on the system, all the upgrades, all the teacher training – and the results they’re getting from these kids is phenomenal.”

I got mine!

I got my Verizon iPhone order!!! Did you get yours? Verizon says it will be shipped by 2/09/11!!!!

Verizon Asking Employees Not to Buy iPhone yet.

Verizon has sent out a memo Asking all of their employees and the families of their employees, to please not buy the iPhone until they have met with customer demand for the device on their network.


In a recent email sent to their employees, Verizon said the following....

"Focus on Customer Is Key to Verizon iPhone Launch. To help ensure we meet customer demand for iPhones, Verizon is urging employees and their families to postpone purchases of the popular smartphone, whether online or in retail stores, for the time being."

“Customers and non-customers alike have waited for years to see this product on America’s most reliable wireless network,” notes Verizon Wireless Chief Operating Officer John Stratton. “Demand will be unprecedented.

“Now it’s here. This is our chance to show those millions of people what it means to be a Verizon customer — providing them the best network, joined by the very best customer service and support, all adding up to a world-class customer experience.

“Part of that experience is ensuring we’re able to meet our customers’ needs in the midst of what will surely be unprecedented customer demand.

“I know customers aren’t the only ones who are excited – employees are, too. While I share your excitement, over the coming weeks we all need to do our part to meet our customers’ needs — this means putting our customers first.

“After all, that’s the way we do business. That’s the Verizon Credo in action.

“This is an historic moment in time to rally together and show our loyal customers and new ones what our culture is all about.”

Personally, after the run around I have been given by Verizon today, I am HAPPY to see they are at least trying to make sure the iPhones are available for their customers first.

Source TIPB

A look at Business Apps: LockInfo

As I have mentioned before, a big part of my job the last four years, has been to find new and innovative ways to incorporate iPhones and iPads into Microsoft Exchange environments. Most of my users are accustomed to Blackberries and they expect their iPhones to behave in the same manner. One of the largest complaints I received from my users early on was, there was no way to see your email and calendar at a glance. So being the good little Consultant that I am, I went in search of an answer. What I found, is nothing short of amazing!


First I would like to say, Apple made a HUGE mistake when they chose to not allow Apps and Developers to use the lock screen. The lock screen can do so much more and SHOULD do more. But nope. It just sits there with a clock on it and a pretty background. If you have an iPad, the problem is exacerbated by the fact that you have a HUGE chunk of prime grade A digital real estate sitting right there.. And what is on display? Your geeky Star Trek background and a clock. Well no more! This app changes all of that! And how do they do it, when Apple strictly forbids this type of behavior? Why they sell it on Cydia, that is how. Cydia is the Jail Broken App store, filled with themes and all manner of Apps that Apple would not allow onto the App Store. So first things first, you gotta Jailbreak your iDevice.

Once that is done, head on over to Cydia and buy LockInfo It is a steal at twice the price! Lockinfo allows you to display all kinds of information on your lock screen. For example, you can display you calendar, mail, text messages and missed calls on it right out of the box. That's not enough for you? Want to display the Weather or any other bit of info? No problem! LockInfo has a plugin system and people are all the time developing new plugins for all your favorite apps. I now run LockInfo on my iPad and just love it! It has never been easier to see if I have anything pending, or an important email has come it. I highly recommend this to everyone!

I was going to write you up a tutorial on how to install and use it, but iClarified has already beaten me to it and done a very nice job at that! So click this link and check it out!

Latest iPad2 Rumors? Thinner, More Ram, Anti-Reflective Screen?

That's right folks! The latest batch of rumors are out about the iPad2. An analyst from Concord Securities is claiming to have knowledge about the next model of the iPad. AppleInsider has reported that Ming-Chi Kuo, has stated the iPad2 will NOT have the retina display. This fits in with other reports I have been reading that the Retina display is actually slated for iPad3. He has also stated that as previously mentioned on this blog, the iPad2 WILL have the Cortex 1.2 Ghz A9 Dual Core Processor in it, as well