Here’s a welcome surprise for you: Google has now created Google Sync for iPhone so that you can sync up your Google Contacts and Google Calendar. They are doing it by making their data look like an Exchange server — meaning that if you’re not already using Exchange on your iPhone for work, you can point it at Google’s servers (see full instructions here) to get your contacts and calendars pushed out to you. Nice? Nice.
Of course, if you’re already using Exchange for work but still want to get your Google data on your iPhone, you’d going to need to get a solution to sync your Google data down to your desktop and then get it from your desktop to your iPhone either via USB tether or via MobileMe. You can learn more about how the two work together in Rene’s excellent article on that very subject.
Now, Google, just get Gmail to look like Exchange and we’ll be happy campers. Actually, you know what, just fix IMAP, that’ll be enough.
Quick Update: As I just noted over at WMExperts, Google licensed Exchange Active Sync (EAS) from Microsoft, which is a shot at RIM but also, maybe, a shot at Apple. Rene just pointed out to me that given all of Google’s recent moves with the CalDAV/iCal system, they might have kept on pushing to make the stuff that Mac uses the industry standard. Instead, Google and Microsoft are suddenly working together on using EAS. [Via iPhone Blog]
Out of nowhere Apple has quietly released a new firmware update for iPhone and iPhone 3G. This latest release, 2.2.1, weighing in at 246.4 MB, is said to have have improved general stability of Safari and has addressed the issue where some images saved from Mail did not display correctly in the camera roll. It is unknown at this time if Apple has snuck in any other tweaks or features, to follow along and report any findings be sure to head into our forums to the newly started thread - iPhone software 2.2.1 released?
To update simply connect your iPhone/iPhone 3G to your computer and “check for update” via iTunes.
Note to Jailbreakers/Unlockers: Do not update your iPhone/iPhone 3G until the all clear is given by the iPhone Dev Team.
LifeHacker: iPhone/iPod touch only: Ever with you could print a picture from your iPhone without going through the hassle of syncing, locating, and printing the picture? Air Photo wirelessly prints any photo from your iPhone with two taps. The application works in conjunction with an Air Photo Server app that runs on your Windows or Mac PC. Assuming the server is running on your desktop, printing a picture from your iPhone is dead simple: Just launch Air Photo from your home screen, pick the picture you want to print from your camera roll or other albums, then simply hit Print. Air Photo takes care of the rest. Naturally, the iPod touch doesn't actually take any pictures of its own, but Air Photo is still capable of printing any pics you've synced to your Photos. It may not be something you'll use every day, but it's a really cool little trick—essentially bringing PictBridge-like functionality to the iPhone. The Air Photo Server is a free download for Windows and Mac OS X; the Air Photo iPhone app will set you back $US1.99 from the iTunes Store. If you're an HP inkjet user, check out HP iPrint Photo, a free iPhone app with the same goal that only supports HP printers.
It's another application which helps us to have copy/paste function on the iPhone. The similar app called MagicPad, which has hit the App Store August last year, can only copy and paste text from within the app. But now, an app called Clippy, which has no problem with cross-app copy and pasting, but unfortunately it works only with the jailbroken iPhones!
"After installing the application, type any text you want and simply hit the "123″ button on your keyboard to show the copy/paste buttons. Tap "copy" and start selecting the text you want to copy. Tap "copy" again to end the selection. Then tap "paste" to paste this text where you want it to be." This implementation isn't up to Apple's standards for grace and ease, but it seems workable.
