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If you have updated your iphone to OS4 (available today and way cool)…You MUST learn about multi-tasking and how to close apps! If you don’t exit apps completely, they will keep running in the background and drain your phone battery in just a couple of hours.

Multi-tasking is the feature that allows you to keep one app running while you do something on another app.  Say you are surfing the net on Safari, and you want to check an email, you can have both running at the same time.  When you go back to Safari, the page will have loaded in the background.

(Previously, you could be on a phone call and check your email, but couldn’t switch back and forth between two apps.  Note: only certain apps that have been updated for OS4 will work with multi-tasking.)

With OS3, until today, when you pressed the round home key below the main screen, you exited the app you were in.  Now, it doesn’t necessarily exit. And running more than one app at a time will EAT UP your battery life (drain it faster).

There are no manuals so here’s

HOW TO USE MULTI-TASKING

From any screen–the home screen or while in an app–double press the home button  (the home button  is the rounded square button below the touchscreen).

This will bring up the multi-task app dock at the bottom of the screen.

You’ll notice that the home screen and icons will appear faintly in the top half of the screen. (In the picture above, you notice that OS4 lets you use a photo–like the one of us at the falls–as a background on your home screen that sits behind your icons.)

You want to pay attention to the apps at the bottom.  All apps that are running will appear here in the multi-task dock.

Here you can switch between apps by single tapping the icon. Be sure to swipe left or right to see more than the four icons at the bottom if you have more than four apps running.

To switch back to another program, double press the home key to bring up the multi-task dock and tap on the app you want to return to.

More importantly, you want to close all apps you are not using! Because they are wasting precious battery.

To check which apps are running and close those you don’t need:

1. Bring up the multi-task dock by double-clicking the home key.

2. Tap and hold any icon (like you do to move icons around the home screen).  A minus sign (-) will appear near each app icon.

Tap on any app in the multitask dock..then press on the app you want to close

3. Tap on the minus (-) sign to close the app.

I can’t emphasize enough to close all apps that you are not presently using.

That should do it.

so…I’ll keep giving you tips as I learn them…

Next up:  Easy iPod and Pandora control.

Featured, how to, iphone »

Another brilliant app for the iphone! I’m all for one less trip to the bank. I use Direct Deposit when I can, but for those business consulting checks, personal checks and for those giving me checks for my sideline Avon business (hey, I love their products), I usually have to make a trip to the bank.

Because I work at my home office, I don’t get out some days. While Chase employs a 24-hour hold on funds for all checks deposited,(whether you bring them to the bank or use the new iPhone app deposit), once you add in how many days until I get out and actually go to the bank, it could be a week before I see my money! So, you can see why I’m so excited about the updated Chase Bank iPhone app! Using your iphone, simply photograph the front and back of the check and within 24 hours the funds are available.

Here’s How to Deposit Checks into your Chase Account:

REQUIREMENTS to start:

• A bank account at Chase bank (If you had a WAMU account, it was converted.)
• Online banking access to your accounts (go to Chase’s Website to set up your accounts if you don’t have online banking).
• An iPhone with firmware OS 3.1 or later (if you have an iPhone 3G or 3GS, consider updating to OS 4)

Here’s how to set up Chase Mobile if you don’t have it:

1. Sign up for Chase Mobile –follow the directions, click on the confirmation link in the email they send you.

2.  Go here to get the Chase app for your iPhone and follow the instructions. (You can also search the app store on your iPhone or in iTunes. Type “chase mobile banking” in the search field.)

3. If you downloaded the app into iTunes, connect your phone and sync it so the Chase Mobile app is transferred to your phone.

4.  Tap on the app to open it.

5. Tap on “Log On .”

6. Enter the email address and password you use for your online banking.

7. The first time you do this you will need to get an identification code.  A window will pop up on your phone. Choose to have the identification code texted to your phone.

8. When the text comes in, jot down the identification number.

9. Go back to the Chase app and log in again (it doesn’t multitask yet).

10. When it asks for the identification number after you log in, type in the number.

Now you are ready –How to Deposit a Check with Your iPhone:

1. Open the Chase Banking app on your iPhone (see steps 4 & 5 above).

2. At the bottom of the screen tap on the check icon “Deposits”.

3. Tap on Deposit to and choose the account to which you want to make the deposit.

IMPORTANT NOTE for those who have JOINT ACCOUNTS: You can only deposit to accounts where you are the primary account holder –another words, if your spouse’s, or significant other’s,  name appears first on the account, you can’t make the deposit with your iPhone.  You will receive a message saying that the account is not available for Quick Deposit.  The primary person will have to make the deposit in the usual manner or on their iPhone.

4. Tap on the Deposit Amount line and type in the dollars and cents you will be depositing. (Chase’s support representatives instructed me that the deposit won’t go through if the amount you type in doesn’t match the amount of the check exactly.)

5. Tap on “Check Front.” This will open your camera within the Chase app.  You will see a blue box onscreen.  Place the check, face up, on a black non-reflective background (I use my iPad case or a black binder I have). Position the check within the box so that the whole check is fully visible. Tap on the camera icon. Even though you pressed the camera to shoot the photo of the check, the photo isn’t taken until the app determines that you are holding the iphone steady.

Once the photo is shot, double tap on the check image.  If it appears to be in focus, tap on “Use.”  If it’s blurry at all, it is best to tap on “retake” to reshoot the photo of the check.
The photo of the check will now appear on the Quick Deposit screen next to “Check Front.”

6. Tap on “Check Back.”  Repeat Step 5, this time turning the check over so the back of the check is face up.  (Don’t forget to endorse the check before shooting the photo!)

7. Tap on “Next.”  The Verification Screen will appear.  It is ESSENTIAL to check the routing number and checking account number listed onscreen against what’s on the check. If either are incorrect, you can correct them on this screen. If these numbers are incorrect, the deposit will not go through!

If the photos aren’t clear enough, it won’t be able to read the scanned check amount, and an window will pop up telling you that the photo isn’t clear enough.

TIP:  Take the photo where there is a LOT of light– under a lamp, near a window– because even though the picture may be clear, without enough light it may be too grainy.

8. Press “Submit.” This will take you to the final screen where you can deposit another check if you have one.

You should now be able to see your pending deposit.

9. Go to the accounts page by tapping on the “My accounts”  icon at the bottom of the screen.  Press on “see Activity’ in the account box. This will bring up the recent transactions for that account. In the “Online Deposits” section, you should now see the check amount listed as a pending deposit.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

Be sure you have enough light to take the photo of the check so it won’t be blurry or grainy.

Place the check on a dark, non-reflective background when taking the photo.

Absolutely compare the routing number and checking account number in the Verification screen to those on the check (Step 7 above).  (I already have found it made a mistake).

KEEP THE CHECK for your records and in case the deposit doesn’t go through.

Like any other way you may do your banking, always double check all of your work so the money is there as expected.  I recommend that you check your account transactions again after 24 hours to be sure there wasn’t a problem with the deposit.

Now I may never get out of my pajamas and leave my home office! So much for knowing my bank tellers…

Uncategorized, iphone »

UPDATE 7/23/10  - Refunds are available! See new post.

UPDATE: Still no word from Apple on how to get a free case…but here’s a bandaid for the solution in the meantime...(good for a smile)

Apple says all smart phones have Antenna Problems

In today’s  last minute press conference, Apple’s Steve Jobs addressed the recent reports of iPhone problems–reception signal bars issue and “Antennagate” (where Apple has been lambasted for their antenna design “flaw” that drops calls when held a certain way).  As I mentioned in my earlier blog, Apple released an iphone OS4 update that is available when you sync your iPhone to iTunes. (You may want to click on “check for updates” if it doesn’t come up automatically.) And, by the way, I did notice that the reception bars were reduced by a bar but nothing has really changed. It just explains why I can’t make a call in areas where the phone previously showed that I should be able to–actually makes me feel better (Oh, it’s not me…there’s just no signal here!)

In the earlier blog I also mentioned that the answer to the problem of dropped calls on the iPhone 4 was to use a case.  So, what makes sense?  Give everyone with an iPhone 4 a case. And that’s what Apple is doing.

Everyone who buys an iPhone 4 from now until Sept 30 (and if you can buy one…tell me where you found it in stock!), will get a free case. Everyone who has already bought an iPhone 4, will get a voucher for a free case.  Everyone who bought an apple “bumper” case will get a refund–you’re out of luck if you bought another manufacturer’s case, but most items can be returned to where you bought it if it’s within 30 days.

Next week, Apple will put up a form on their website to get refunds and iPhone 4 cases. Exact details of how to get the case will be posted in an update of this blog so check back next week.  In the meantime…in the press conference, Jobs suggested that someone come up with a bandaid solution…some quick-thinking entrepreneurs took him up on it.

And, as the YouTube video says above, and was stated on July 2…if you don’t like your iPhone 4 and it’s within 30 days, bring it back for a refund.  There will be no restocking fees.