I like Twitter, especially at it keeps messages short by limiting users to only 140 characters per message.

If you wish to send web links using Twitter, precious characters can be used up by sending long URLs. However, Twitter gets around this by converting URLs into TinyURLs. These are, as the name suggests, tiny URLs that, when clicked on, take users to the webpage of the longer URL. TinyURLs are also useful in emails and forum postings as their short length prevents them being broken.

However, there is a downside. The TinyURL link doesn’t give you an indication of the website you will be taken to if you click on it. For instance, you can go to Mactropolis.com via the link http://tinyurl.com/5s2qle but you wouldn’t know that from the TinyURL. As it is a dangerous online world, some users may wish to know where they will be sent before they arrive

Fortunately, TinyURL have thought of this and provide two options:

The first, is for the creator of the URL to send a TinyURL that contains a preview link, for instance http://preview.tinyurl.com/5s2qle

The second, is for the recipient to activate a TinyURL Preview cookie on his or her web browser. If the user does that, he or she will be taken to a TinyURL page that shows the full URL and, from there, the person can then decide whether or not to proceed.

You can obtain the TinyURL Preview feature by visiting http://tinyurl.com/preview.php

written by Mike Bradbrook \\ tags: TinyURL, TinyURL Preview, Tips, Twitter

While at Macworld Conference & Expo 2008, I was able to attend some of the user presentations but due to schedule clashes, I couldn’t see all the ones I had wanted to. Fortunately, Macworld have posted QuickTime videos of a selection of the presentations from both the 2008 and 2007 Macworld Conference, so now I can relive the ones I went to and catch the ones I missed.

Presentations include tips on using OS X, the iPhone, the iPod and an introduction to Microsoft Office 2008.

You can watch the presentations now at Macworld Encore.

written by Mike Bradbrook \\ tags: MacWorld 2008, Macworld Encore

As crazy as it seems, apparently this is true (and a crazy McGyver trick indeed!)

The SIM card slot at times does not seat the SIM card all too well. If you’re noticing low signal strength with your iPhone, this may be the problem. The SIM needs to be seated correctly or your signal strength can really, really suffer!

To fix the problem all you need is Scorth tape. Apply it to the blank side of the SIM. This will bulk up the SIM enough to ensure a snug fit, and therefore improved signal strength.

I can’t recommend this procedure as I’m sure it would void your iPhone warranty should things go wrong. However, this really is so simple it should (and apparently does) work.

In my next tip I will show you how to reverse the direction of the earth’s rotation using only a pocket knife and a small piece of chewing gum.

[via iPhoneAtlas]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: iPhone, iPhone SIM

Did you ever wonder how much work it would be to write native iPhone apps?

Well with a new sevice from Psykoh, LLC called jiggy it just got a whole lot easier.

Now you can write java code and run it on your iphone as a native app with a icon on the home screen like all the other ones. All you need is a browser and an iPhone with installer, and you can get jiggy.

This works of course for the iPod Touch as well.

For more visit JiggyApp.com.

written by MoBurkhardt \\ tags: iPhone, iPod Touch, Java, Native Application

It can take some frustration to get the iPod Touch hack working, particularly if you’ve upgraded iTunes to 7.5 and have already got your iPod Touch at firmware version 1.1.2. My link to Crunch Gear (see earlier post’s comments) goes through the high-level steps but I thought some might want a little more guidance. If you do, read on… Note: I can only confirm this works on Intel Macs. PPC Macs are still not fully supported. If you needed another reason to buy a new Mac, you now have one! Also, this is done at your own risk so don’t come crying to me if your iPod is bricked (this is very unlikely to happen though).

Continue reading »

written by Mike Bradbrook \\ tags: iPod Touch, Jailbreak

Mac OS X Leopard has hundreds of features. Some of these go by unnoticed, even when mentioned in the full list on Apple.com. One of these features is the Spotlight calculator. If you a type simple problem into Spotlight the first result will be the answer. Same thing goes with words. If you type a word into Spotlight the first result is the definition, then you can click the definition to open it in Dictionary.app.

This is very useful to solve a problem quickly, and you don’t have to open any applications!

written by Jack \\ tags: calculator, leopard, math, spotlight